Category: weaving

April 9, 2017

The gospel of rug hooking successfully shared

EVFAC is located in Espanola, New Mexico, about a half-hour north of Santa Fe on the way to Taos.

My two-part class at the Española Valley Fiber Arts Center (EVFAC) finished up yesterday, and yes, peeps, we have welcomed at least one new acolyte to the fold. Woohoo! Felicity, who happens to also hail from Albuquerque, was already a fiberista first class: she knits, sews, weaves, dyes, and I don’t know what else. Except for rug hooking. She’s added that to her repertoire now. I suspect she’ll do some cool stuff with it all.

After an incredible drive up north that reminded me of why I moved to New Mexico – big, blue sky; purple mountains majesty; snow-covered peaks even in April… – I was unpacking and found that my other student had texted that she couldn’t make the class. (Fortunately, she lives near me too, so, hopefully, we can do a quick wrap-up here in ABQ.) When Felicity wasn’t there by 10:20, we got worried and called her. “Sorry! Be there soon!” She’d gotten caught in some traffic. Whoo, I thought wiping the sweat away, I’d been worried I’d turned two people off the craft.

Rug hooking student, accepts the gospel of rug hooking. — Felicity has become a student of the gospel of rug hooking. Woohoo!

Imagine my concern then when Felicity informed me that she hadn’t finished hooking her t-shirt mat, In fact, she’d not worked on it at all! Damn, what the hell had I done or said last week? But wait! I had it all wrong. She pulls out her monks’ cloth and tells me that she started a new rug! (I’d given them enough to do just that but figured it would happen after the first one.) She has all kinds of wool yarn sitting

Felicity said she’d send me pics when she finishes her project. But I really can’t wait to see what she does with rug hooking, how she integrates it into her other artistic endeavors.

around her house and decided she wanted to try hooking that! So, there she was trying different directions and textures. I though that it was very inspired of her to go all rogue like that. Sure, she couldn’t go through the finishing process, but I had a few small rugs on me that needed to be finished up; we used them as demos. Felicity’s clearly a quick study, so she’ll get hers done up, no prob. Even better, she was able to score a Puritan frame for just $70. It had been sitting around the store for months and was in great condition.

Purtaon rug hooking frame — Pic of a Puritan frame. (Sorry, no longer available from iloverughooking.com).

Because there’d been some issues getting the class online for sign-up, I was lucky to get two students, the minimum needed for a class to run. The good thing is that where our tiny class was located required folks to walk by us and naturally stop to check out what we were up to. Several women mentioned being interested. “Would they be running the class again?” It’s up to them to ~~bug~~ request that EVFAC do just that. I’m up for it. And since I joined the Center as a member (which amongst other things lets you sell in the shop and outside sales they sponsor plus provides discounts for classes and items for sale), I’ll be stopping by any time I’m up in that area. And there’s a wicked sounding, one-day photography class with my name on it.

Photo of yarn. — EVFAC is filled with all things fiber. You certainly can’t get out without buying something. (Read: good stuff and reasonable prices.) Classrooms galore. During our class yesterday, there were workshops going on in felting and quilting. A new weaver was trying to warp a loom, and spinners were hanging around the couches…spinning. What else?

EVFAC’s an hour and a half ride for me, but worth it. Do you have a fiber “facility” that’s not all that near to your home, but that inspires you to drive? Extol its virtues here.

And to those celebrating this week, Happy Easter and Passover! Tom, Tynan, and I will be taking some time off. It’s a good time to put away the social media for a bit and enjoy what we have.

January 10, 2017

Get your fiber…at the Albuquerque Sunport!

Picture of fiber art exhibit at Albuquerque Sunport. — One of the cases containing fiber art at the Albuquerque Sunport. You can see Cathy Kelly’s fabulous rug down in the bottom, left corner of the pic.

If you’re coming to the Albuquerque Sunport (that’s the Airport to anyone unfamiliar with the city) in January, you might be surprised to find a substantial fiber exhibit on the way to the parking garage. Yes, fiber! Tom and I went to see it this morning.

In mid-December the Fiber Arts Council put out a surprise call for artwork from supporting guilds. “Hey, we need your pieces tomorrow – Sunday – at Rebecca’s house. We’re installing it Monday!”

Cathy Kelly and I were able to get a couple of pieces to Rebecca’s in time, so the Adobe Wool Arts Guild (AWAG) was definitely represented. The display is up until February 2, so if you live in the area, get thee to the Albuquerque Sunport. If you don’t live here, Southwest is the major carrier here when you arrange your airline tickets. 🙂

Sorry that I can’t provide the names of all the local artists, but at least you can get an idea of all the creativity that’s present here in Albuquerque. It’s one of the reasons we picked the city to become our new home last year.

Kudos are due to the set-up team and to all artists who made this exhibit happen on three-days’ notice! Carol Ellis, Board Member and Education Chair, thanks all for acting so promptly and for providing so many fabulous pieces of fiber art! We were able to use almost everything that was delivered. Additional thanks are due to Rebecca Wardlaw for collecting and organizing this Council Exhibit. Photos of the exhibit are featured on Facebooks pages of Rebecca Wardlaw and ABQ Fiber Arts.

–Written by newsletter editor Cathy Kelly

In the comments section below please share with us any and all fiber arts happenings in your neck of the woods.

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November 7, 2016

Thank you to ZiaWoolz!

Aren't these fingerless gloves yummy? Dag made them, and I had to have a pair. Actually, she spun and dyed the wool and then knitted them. My only problem was which color to buy! — Aren’t these fingerless gloves yummy? Dag made them, and I had to have a pair. Actually, she spun and dyed the wool, then knitted them with the resulting yarn. My only problem was which color to buy! If you’re a knitter, check out ZiaWoolz now!

I need to say a big thank you to Dagmar Beinenz-Byrd of ZiaWoolz and her family. They hosted me at Dag’s home studio for the High Desert Studio Tour this past weekend. I managed to sell at least half of my mug rug sets and a wall hanging.

After voting Tuesday, I’ll stop at Savers (with Tom, of course, who ensures that I get the 30% senior citizen discount!) to find an appropriate mug for the sister of the girl receiving my “Sparkly Snowman” rug and matching mug. “Grandma” purchased it Saturday and can’t show any favors, you know. That has to be done in time to shop for Christmas. Best to do it now…

The "Sparkly Snowman" has left the building. He was made with wool strips and yarns as well as sparkly netting. (Tom's threatened me about using that sparkly stuff again, It got all over the house.) — The “Sparkly Snowman” has left the building. He was made with wool strips and yarns as well as sparkly netting. (Tom’s threatened me about using that sparkly stuff again; it got all over the house.)

Because I’ve only got a few left, I’ll be making more mug rug sets the rest of November, at least. A setback, I learned I was wait-listed for the Rail Yards Holiday Market on December 11. After everyone heard there were 10,000 patrons last year, local artists understandably came out of the virtual woodwork. I’m a little down that I can’t count on vending at the market, but I’ll be able to use any inventory I make this month for next year and the Etsy shop that I’m planning to finally get to this winter. The only positive is that I might not have to stand in the cold for four hours much as I’d like to vend. The Rail Yards isn’t heated. Hell, there are scads of windows missing too which is part of the charm in warm weather. But I’ll definitely be there to shop all the other great artists!

The wide, wonderful world of Navajo rugs!

For those who remember my post last November on the Maxwell Museum Navajo Rug Auction, if you’re in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area on November 19, all are invited to this year’s auction. It’s at the Prairie Star Restaurant in Bernalillo. Preview starts at 11:00 a.m. and the auction itself at 1:00. I’ve included a couple of pics from last year.

Have you been to any interesting fiber arts events lately?

Thanks again, Dag and Wyatt!

Without doubt, the most spectacular rug we saw. It would've looked perfect under my dining room table. Unfortunately for us, the starting bid was $7500. No one bid on it, but all rugs not auctioned off were available for purchase after the auction at the starting bid prices. Maybe someone picked it up then. — Without doubt, the most spectacular rug we saw last year. I hope that someone’s enjoying it. I would!

August 9, 2016

Taking stock

The rug I was working on as I moved last summer. "Welcome to New Mexico." — The rug I was working on during last summer’s exodus: “Welcome to New Mexico.” Since then I’ve been taking stock of our first year here.

Taking stock – that’s what I did with some of the time I took off from the blog these past couple of weeks (which passed by REALLY QUICKLY). July 30 held particular significance and not just because it was the day before my kid’s 19th birthday. This year it marked exactly one year since we rolled into the state of New Mexico to stay.

Wow! We can’t believe it either. At times it’s been tumultuous, there’s no denying that. The holidays, they were tough without family and friends. The kid crashing her car – no injuries other than to pride! – means that just like in high school, Tom’s stuck driving her back and forth to work till she saves for a new vehicle.

Big picture, though, the move’s been most everything we wanted.

Where Tynan and I walk in the Bosque along the Rio Grande. — Where Tynan and I walk in the Bosque along the west side of the Rio Grande. This is **city living Albuquerque style**.

CLIMATE:
Certainly, the weather’s wonderful: lots of sun, lots less winter (compared to New England). One day last January, we hiked in the snow on the east side of the Sandia Mountains then drove the 45 minutes to home where it was 55 degrees. No need for a stinkin’ snowblower here!

RUG HOOKING (this is a hooking blog):

You'll find many of AWAG ladies demonstrating rug hooking at Albuquerque's Biopark the first Tuesday of most every month. — You’ll find several of us AWAG’s ladies demonstrating rug hooking at Albuquerque’s Biopark the first Tuesday of most every month.

Who would’ve guessed that there’s such an active guild of hookers out here in Albuquerque? I’ve made some great friends this past year, even one, Melinda, who moved from New Hampshire about the same time I moved from Massachusetts. Now the two of us try to get a hooking afternoon in each week. Better yet, she and her husband are New England Patriots fans just like us. Tom and I are no longer alone in a sea of blue and orange Bronco fans.

"Desert Gone Wild" went to a good home just last week. — “Desert Gone Wild,” a table runner or wall hanging, went to a good home just last week.

As High on Hooking, I’ve managed to start selling pieces and been involved in not one, but two shows. The Adobe Wool Arts (ATHA) guild volunteered me as our representative to Albuquerque’s Fiber Arts Council which is currently planning next May’s Fiber Arts Fiesta. Then back in January, three of us headed down to Tuscon in Arizona for a hook-in with the Old Pueblo Rug Hookers. It was 80 degrees there! In January! I even managed a little sunburn!

You can't get much closer to a balloon without being in the basket. This one landed behind the house last fall. — You can’t get much closer to a balloon without being in the basket. This one landed right behind the house last fall.

HOUSING:
While we didn’t down-size like we planned (hey, with no cellar or attic, we realized we needed an extra room for the treadmill and bike), we found a great house close to the Rio Grande. That means the dog and I can head out to walk the scenic trails of the Bosque (the forest) whenever we wish. In summer this is best done in the early morning hours.) So far we’ve come across a snake, hawks and hummingbirds, lots of bunnies and geckos, two coyotes, and, just last week, a porcupine.

Tynan running free in the Bosque. Like, Just like New England, autumn is the best time to be in New Mexico. — Tynan running free in the Bosque. Just like New England, autumn is the best season to be in New Mexico.

PERSONAL:
I turned 52 this summer. Moving here signaled the start of the next half of my life. (You think I’m optimistic, but one of my grandmothers died as an active 93-year-old, and the other is still very much alive.) One reason we moved here — besides the BIG sky, the art scene, and there being less people — was for the outdoor lifestyle. We like to hike. Unfortunately, a couple of months before we left the east coast, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I won’t lie, it’s been a pain in my ass, amongst other places, but especially for my knees. That’s limited our hiking some. But I’m on a new med; here’s hoping it works without too many side effects (the scary kinds they recite to us in all the TV ads). And that the damn hot flashes stop soon. (I am 52.)

20160522_121931 — On the trail again at Tent Rocks.

Luckily, though, while my fingers have swollen some, they’ve suffered little pain. Maybe all the hooking keeps everything lubed up. Thank goodness. I know that most of you feel like I do: hooking is therapy. Without it, life would, to put it bluntly, suck.

Life here in Albuquerque definitely does NOT suck. There are all kinds of new experiences:

Wineries and old ruins and Indian pueblos and Petroglyph National Monument that puts volcanoes practically in our backyard!
Hot air balloons that float right over our house and sometimes land on the street right behind it!
Gardening in the desert – we’re not in Massachusetts any more where missing a day of watering isn’t be much of a problem. Worse, we pay for water here! But we’re learning all about drought-tolerant plants.
Meeting all kinds of fiber artists like weaver Donna Loraine Contractor.
Tapestry artist Donna Loraine Contractor in her booth at the 2015 Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival (Thanksgiving weekend). We met online well before I ever got here.
Cool nature stuff like Tent Rocks.
Attending rattlesnake aversion training with the dog. And a live rattlesnake!
Chiles, chiles, chiles!
Navajo woven rugs. Rugs hooked out of t-shirts by Guatemalan women and sold at Santa Fe’s International Folk Art Market.
Santa Fe and all it has to offer just an hour up the road.
Museums like the one dedicated to Georgia O’Keefe.
Mass Ascension at Balloon Fiesta!
New Mexico’s food scene rocks!

Tom posing in Tent Rock's curves. — Tom posing in Tent Rocks’ curves.

I could go on, but I won’t right now. There’s too much to do. Rugs don’t hook themselves. Plus, we have company coming early September through mid-October. I can play Julie McCoy to the relatives.

How’s your summer been going?

Mass ascension at Balloon Fiesta 2015. Have you ever seen so many balloons in one place? — Mass Ascension at Balloon Fiesta 2015. Have you ever seen so many balloons in one place?

"Welcome to New Mexico", 29.5"x20", $225, Recycled t-shirts — High on Hooking says “Welcome to New Mexico.” Stay for a while and see why we love it here.

June 15, 2016

New England chicks conquer their first East Mountain Fiber Tour

This wooly one welcomed us to Maple Winds Farm. Baa! — This wooly one welcomed us to Maple Winds Farm and the East Mountain Fiber Tour. Baa!

Last Sunday Melinda and I successfully conquered our first East Mountain Fiber Farm and Studio Tour! Not bad for two New England rug hooking broads interested in discovering more of New Mexico’s fiber art scene. About the same time that I moved out here from Massachusetts, Melinda and husband Gary, a photographer, were trekking from New Hampshire. Though they already had a place to live, having purchased a condo decades ago, so they got to skip the whole house-hunting exercise.

Anyway, last fall Melinda stumbled upon the Adobe Wool Arts guild doing our monthly thing at the Albuquerque Biopark. Oh, she tried to cut and run, but she was busted. Now, of course, she’s a guild member doing demos at the botanical garden with the rest of us. And looking for more fiber art. Which we found on the East Mountain Fiber Tour.

Yarns and Cathy Kelly's rugs available on our first stop on the tour. — Yarns and Cathy Kelly’s rugs available on our first stop on the tour.

The farms, shops, and studios on the tour are located in the area east of Albuquerque and her Sandia Mountains. It’s horse country – and sheep and goat and alpapca country. I’m sure there are more animals, but we weren’t there for them this time. Six stops made up the loop. Thank goodness Melinda was driving her SUV thingie; my little Honda Fit might’ve gotten stuck in a couple of rutted roads or driveways.

FIrst up: SandraSilk by Sandra Holzman. It was her studio, but with her were Robin Pascal of Perfect Buttons and Cathy Kelly with her hand-hooked rugs. Before you ask, yes, Kathy is a guild-mate of ours. Check out the pics.

Some of Sandra Holzman's beautiful handpainted garments. — Some of Sandra Holzman’s beautiful handpainted garments.

Melinda caught me perusing some of Robin Pascal's woven items. — Melinda caught me perusing some of Robin Pascal’s woven items.

At Edgewood Yarns and Fibers, I couldn’t help myself despite my plans (and Tom’s back home) not to buy anything. A gorgeous blue skein of yarn jumped into my bag and begged to come home with me. “Hook me, hook me,” it called.

After that it was farm time – sheep! We headed to Garcia’s Shaggy Wagon and Baa-Baa shop and then the Wool Shed at Maple Winds Farm. (Walking around the windswept farms, Melinda and I kept a good eye out for snakes. Didn’t see one, but then, we never saw a maple tree either.)

Someone might've been a little warm in the 90-plus degree temperatures. — Someone might’ve been a little warm in the 90-plus degree temperatures.

Last, but first in many hearts, were the alpacas of Hollywick and Whispering Spirit Alpacas farms. Whispering Spirit even had a newborn for us to ooh and ah at.

For those in the area, Melinda and I have vowed to do it all over again next year. (Maybe we’ll win the grand prize goodie basket we didn’t win this year.) I think I heard someone mention that the East Mountain Fiber Tour 2017 is planned for June 10 and 11. Be there!

Is there anything cuter than this baby from Whispering Spirit Alpacas. (Angela, we could've easily put her in the Fit.) — Is there anything cuter than this baby from Whispering Spirit Alpacas. (Angela, we could’ve easily put her in the Fit.)

What are your fiber plans this summer?