Category: wool

October 31, 2016

Vending opportunity this weekend.

There’s no better fiber friend than one who surprises you with a vending opportunity. That’s exactly what my guild mate and yarn-dyeing-woman-extraordinaire Dagmar Beinenz-Byrd did during our latest AWAG hooking retreat a couple of weeks ago.

Mary bought the mug rug set on the left, but the one on the right will be available this Saturday during the High Desert Studio Tour in Albuquerque.

Because our guild is making rug mugs to sell (for charity) for next May’s Fiber Arts Fiesta here in Albuquerque, someone unfamiliar with the idea asked me to bring some in to show as examples. I brought their matching mugs even though buyers will just get the little rugs at Fiesta. Lucky for me, though, one member bought a set, and Dag invited me to sell them and some smaller mats at her house during the High Desert 8th Annual Studio Tour this coming Saturday here in Albuquerque. Woohoo! They make excellent Christmas and hostess gifts, you know.

If you live nearby, check out the High Desert website for a map of participating studios. There should be approximately 20 artists spread among the 13 sites. The tour includes painters, jewelry makers, potters, and different types of fiber artists – including Dag and me!

Not only did Dagmar dye this late fall-looking yarn, but she also knits extraordinary sweaters and sews and sells very cute project bags. — Not only did Dagmar dye this yummy, late fall-looking yarn, but she also knits extraordinary sweaters and sews-to-sell very cute project bags.

As I said, Dag creates fabulously colorific yarns at Zia Woolz. Check out her website and Etsy shop here. Not only that, she’s just fun to hang with. Plus she has absolutely AWESOME views of the Sandia Mountains from her living room window. And she makes a mean lentil soup.

If you’re in the area Saturday, stop by and say HI to both of us. Hopefully, I’ll have more info regarding yet another vending opportunity by then.

For those who might be interested, the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Council has put out the call for entries for next year’s Fiesta. Have a look or give a yell if you have any questions. Please join us for this great fiber event!

October 24, 2016

Where to find the fiber in Albuquerque this week

Looking for fiber in Albuquerque this week? And I’m not talking oat bran and pinto beans!

Look for the Adobe Wool Arts Guild's sign when you're at the Biopark. — Look for the Adobe Wool Arts Guild’s sign when you’re at the Biopark. Here are some demo particulars.

If you’re in the mood for hooking, try the Biopark’s Botanic Garden tomorrow between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. As I’ve mentioned before, the Adobe Wool Arts Guild demonstrates our craft/art (that distinction is a discussion for another day) on the first Tuesday of every month. As of last month, we’ve been doing it on the fourth Tuesday as well, same time. Why? you ask. Because WE LOVE HOOKING! And sharing it, of course. Stop by if you’re in the area tomorrow or even next week.

The ladies are ready to answer all your rug hooking questions when you visit Heritage Farm at the Biopark. — The ladies are ready to answer all your rug hooking and fiber questions when you visit Heritage Farm at the Biopark.

Maybe you’re already really into rug hooking and you’d like to try your hand at another fiber art. Knitting? Machine knitting? Spinning and dying your own yarn for your knitting project? Doll-making? Weaving? Quilting? No matter, we have pretty much all fiber activities covered come Saturday. The Yarn Store at Nob Hill in conjunction with Albuquerque’s Fiber Arts Council is holding an all-guild demo day (scroll down the page some) from 10:00 – 4:00 at Immanuel Presbyterian Church (114 Carlisle NE). All ages are invited attend and encouraged to try something new. See the poster below for more info.

Will we see at one of these fabulous fiber events?

demo-day-poster

June 27, 2016

Summer hooking New Mexican style

One set of mugs and rugs that's sold at the Railyards Market this summer. — One set of mugs and rugs that’s sold at the Railyards Market this summer.

Summer hooking New Mexican style is…busy! Mostly because I’m selling at Albuquerque’s Rail Yards Market so often. Then there’s a possible show in August that I may do with a friend. And let’s not forget the rugs that I’m coming up with in my head – for me! The Albuquerque Fiber Council’s Fiber Arts Fiesta isn’t until May of next year, but any rugs I submit have to be ready to go in March! Now’s the time to start baking those ideas.

Next mug and rug in the queue. I see bright colors with that black.

Mug rugs are selling best at the market. It’s not surprising; they’re pretty cheap – beginner’s rug buying – and I include a mug with them. They make nifty, little hostess gifts. Above is one that sold a couple of weeks ago. Let’s hope that the one I’m starting tonight sells just as quickly. You can see it to the left here; it’ll be done in t-shirts.

I can't wait to see how these hook up. — I can’t wait to see how these hook up.

After that, I’ll be doing a little experiment based on the bedsheet rugs. Check out these fat quarters I picked up just this morning in a local quilt shop – Hip Stitch. Sure sheets are nice, and I do love to up-cycle, but look at that batik! They’ll look fabulous with a tea cup and saucer I picked up at Savers.

Also on the frame this week, but not for much longer, is my current bedsheet rug. This one’s hooked into monks’ cloth rather than latch hook backing. Makes for a much tighter rug, though it takes longer to hook, certainly. It’s cute, though, and hefty enough for floor use.

MY current bed sheet rug. I'm trying to be "un-fussy" as someone put it in another blog. I'm making up the rectangles as I go along. Only rule: None of the rectangles can look alike. — My current bed sheet rug. I’m trying to be “un-fussy,” as someone put it in another blog, by making up the rectangles as I go. Only rule: None of the rectangles can look alike. “Summertime and the hooking is easy…”

In other news, let me first apologize for the quality of my pics lately. I finally realized that something was really wrong with the camera on my phone, a phone just purchased four months ago. I had Tom look at it after I tried to clean it yet again and wouldn’t you know it, it wasn’t dirty; it was scratched clear to hell! I grabbed his phone – same make and model, a little older even – and took a photo. Perfectly clear! We think I received a bad one. What are you gonna do? A new phone’s on order. We’ll make a close inspection of its camera when it comes in. Next week’s blog should have better pictures, though, in the meantime I’m using hubby’s camera. (See how much clearer the second, third , and fourth pics are above?)

Do you take a summer break from hooking and wool? Take up another activity? Or do you crank up the AC and loop away?

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?

May 11, 2016

Open workshop with Cheryl Bollenbach gone but not forgotten

Cheryl (r) and Dagmar hold up Dag's rug for show and tell Friday. Dag's son was the original artist, but she's the one putting the life into it. She's a fearless fiber artist who incorporated al kinds of new techniques into this rug. — Cheryl Bollenbach (r) and Dagmar hold up Dag’s rug for show and tell Friday. Dag’s son was the original artist, but she’s the one putting the life into it. She’s a fearless fiber artist who incorporated all kinds of new techniques into this rug.

Hard to believe, but it’s a full week later and the open workshop with Cheryl Bollenbach has come and gone.

Fortunately, the lessons learned and the camaraderie enjoyed go on. Case in point: many of us from the Adobe Wool Arts guild are gathering Friday for another round of dyeing. Okay, personally, I’m not doing any dyeing; I don’t even have any wool to dye. I’m just going to hang out and provide the comedy.

Even though I was working with t-shirt strips last week, it didn't stop me from purchasing some of Cheryl's wools. I loved the sparkly stuff; every rug needs a little bling in it. — Even though I was working with t-shirt strips last week, it didn’t stop me from purchasing some of Cheryl’s wools. I love the sparkly stuff; every rug needs a little bling in it.

Check out the stem action on Dagmar's rug. By incorporating cording and stitching and her own hand-dyed yarn, she punched up the texture factor. — Check out the stem action on Dagmar’s rug. By incorporating cording and stitching and her own hand-dyed yarn, she punched up the texture factor.

Linda's Celtic color-planning. Oh, my! — Linda’s Celtic color-planning. Oh, my!

I’ve included a bunch of pics I took last week. Some are of rugs, some are of rugs and their people, and some are just of folks concentrating on their hooking or having fun.

Mary and her dog sat next to me. SHe was so life-like (the dog, not Mary), that I had to reach over and pet her now and again. — Mary and her dog sat next to me. She was so life-like (the dog, not Mary; Mary is full of life), that I had to reach over and pet her now and again. Again, the dog, not Mary.

How my own psychedelic Tynan (the Welsh springer spaniel) is coming. BTW, he’s made out of old t-shirts.

Cheryl helped each of us develop some new skills, learn a few tricks, and look further into what it is we’re aiming to get out of this art/craft of rug hooking. She did some “long and lovely” dying in the Fry Daddy.

The other Linda's rug included her Mom. I salute Linda for learning hoe to do a realistic face. — The other Linda’s rug included her Mom. I salute Linda for learning hoe to do a realistic face.

Mary's mountainscape is full of color. It made her absolutely giddy for the three days. — Mary’s mountainscape is full of color. It made her absolutely giddy for the three days.

Cathy spent three days hooking and then sculpting these rocks. Very cool.

Friday, Cheryl finally put the “fire” into her presentation as she’d been promising: she demonstrated how we might enjoy aiming a heat gun onto decorated Tyvek to shrivel it. “Cut it into strips and you can really hook this up,” she told us. For those not familiar with Albuquerque springs, they tend to be rather windy. Indeed, Friday, Mother Nature let it gust. The doors of our police substation venue were desperate to open and close on their own; Linda was almost blown down as she stepped outside. Maybe fire wasn’t the best idea for the day especially given our EMS facility. Nonetheless, Cheryl was up for it. Alas, the heat gun on hand wasn’t. Too hot, it blew holes into the Tyvek. They were, we noted, quite interesting-looking holes. (Sorry, the wind precluded photos being taken.) Yet I’m sure something could’ve been done with that Tyvek and some wool and a little imagination. And even the foot-long, blue twist tie Cheryl deposited on my table Wednesday afternoon. That’s how she made us feel about hooking. Anything is possible.

Some of the colors I'm using on Tynan. — Some of the colors I’m using on Tynan.

The values of those same greens. I think that one of the most valuable things I learned was how to use my phone's camera to help me be a better hooker. — The values of those same greens. I think that one of the most valuable things I learned was how my phone’s camera can make me use color better and thus improve as a hooker.

A "long and lovely" cooking. — A “long and lovely” cooking.

...and voila! Here's the piece all dyed and washed and ready to use. And it's all mine because I won it! — …and voila ! Here’s the piece all dyed and washed and ready to use. And it’s all mine because I won it!

Darlene hooking her rose with those skinny, little #3 cuts.

Denise, still new to hooking, even did some proddy work. (I've never done that...) — Denise, still new to hooking, even did some proddy work. (I’ve never done that…)

Thank you, Cheryl Bollenbach, for an an informative and plain old fun three days. Kudos to Catherine Kelly for all your organizational work and to all the other members of the Adobe Wool Arts guild for the hospitality and friendship you’ve shown me these last several months since I moved to town.

Denise working hard. So is Pat behind her, Pat who's been hooking longer than most anyone! — Denise working hard. So is Pat behind her, Pat who’s been hooking longer than most anyone!

Much as Rug Hooking Magazine has the first rug last, Liz presented her first rug and her new second rug. Bravo, Liz! — Much as **Rug Hooking Magazine** has the first rug last, Liz presented her first rug and her new second rug. Bravo, Liz!