Maybe you forgot to sign up? Or you’re stuck at home, bored, having to quarantine? Actually, I hope you’re just looking to try something new with your hooking. The workshop runs this Wednesday, August 19, at 1 PM Eastern (that’s 11:00 AM Mountain, my time!) on Zoom. We’ve got a couple of openings still, so if you know how to pull a loop, you might want to join us. More info here.
KEEP STAYING HEALTHY AND WEAR THOSE MASKS!
SUNFLOWERS
I decided to talk sunflowers , mostly because I’m pretty sick of all the negativity surrounding us today. And yet…I bet there are folks out there that can find something disapproving about one of my favorite flowers. Too bad! Because, as I will remind you all, I AM THE BOSS OF MY RUGS. AND MY BLOG.
Now that that’s off my chest, I can go on. Sunflowers are starting to bloom here in New Mexico. The garden varieties and the ones that I find on my walks in the Bosque, the woods running along the currently almost non-existent Rio Grande River here in Albuquerque. Sorry! I’ll try to get back to being positive.
I recently finished “Melinda’s Rug,” and many of you have seen it on my social media accounts. It’s pretty in pastels. Just the colors that Melinda loves, particularly the turquoises. (An aside: It’s a housewarming present for the house she and Gary build over two years ago. I’m a tad tardy.)
But it’s not the first “sunflower” rug that I’ve hooked. In fact, I like to make at least one per year. And I always do one, a mug rug, for the silent auction at Mountainair’s Sunflowers Festival. Which will not be taking place this August. Thank you, Coronacootie. 🙁
I decided to take a look back and see the progression of this series of mine.
BTW: I’m not a botanist. So don’t hold me to a strict definition of sunflowers.
So, I hoped you enjoyed the “Sunflower Tour” as much as me. But maybe you’re a tulip person. Or you prefer zinnias. I’ve done those flowers too, but not like the sunflowers. They’re special. To me, at least. But if you’ve got examples of other flowers, please share them on our Facebook page. We love seeing beautiful things, no matter what they may be.
Till next week, please stay healthy. And positive. I know it’s hard these days. It can be depressing. But the country and world have gone through worse. Most of all, remember to be kind to the other folks out there. We’re all in it together.
BTW: If you have any interest in High on Hooking’s inaugural Zoom workshop Hooking With and beyond the Wool on August 19, it’s almost full. See details here.
Want to learn a new skill and recycle some old stuff at the same time? We’ll be doing just that in my workshop “Hook a Rug, Save the Planet.”
November 2, 2019
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Learn the basics of traditional rug hooking but with a twist – using old t-shirts, recycled wool strips, yarn, ribbon, and anything else you have in the house that you can pull a loop with. We’ll talk about “virgin” fibers, certainly, but we’ll do our part for the environment and save some money while we make something beautiful. During the class, you’ll learn how to:
• transfer a pattern onto a monk’s cloth backing;
• prepare your materials;
• begin hooking a mug rug and table “mat” or wall-hanging.
We’ll discuss various ways you might want to finish your rug after all the hooking is done. *No experience is necessary; just come prepared to play with color and textures!
Material students should provide: good scissors and quilting hoop if you have one. If not EVFAC will provide a 12” hoop for use in this class (available for purchase)
Material instructor will provide: Monk’s cloth backing; hooks; rug binding; extra frames to try; thread/needles; hooking materials
Laura is an experienced, albeit “less-than-traditional” rug hooker who owns a business, High on Hooking (www.highonhooking.com), selling hooked items primarily in local shows and on Etsy. She’s lived in Albuquerque for over four years, leaving gray New England for the Southwest’s sunny, open skies. In 2018, she was elected President of the Adobe Wool Arts Guild (AWAG), New Mexico’s only rug hooking guild.
This class requires a minimum of three students.
Non-Member: $80 (Member $65)
Materials Fee: $15
Materials fee is paid at first class meeting.
Class will take place at Española Valley Fiber Arts Center in Española, NM.
I know, I know, I’ve been gone a few weeks, but with all the fiber-phernalia going on in the Albuquerque area, you can’t blame me.
The New Mexico Fiber Crawl is an opportunity to explore fiber studios and farms, experience fiber demonstrations, attend special gallery and museum events, win prizes, and visit fiber arts shops.
Whether you are a fiber enthusiast, a visitor, a friend or a collector, the 2019 New Mexico Fiber Crawl is a great way to discover and enjoy the world of fiber arts in Northern New Mexico. You’ll meet the weavers, knitters, spinners, felters, embroiderers and new media artists who are sharing their love of the fiber arts at this event. Plus, you’ll have a great time!
And lastly, I wanted to show you what being a busy hooking bee finally did for me. Maybe you saw it on our Instagram post.
I started this rug over a year ago, worked on it sporadically till late November of 2018. (Because I’m not involved in enough stuff as it is.) After my vending year was over, I started hooking in earnest, finally finishing the hooking maybe a month or so ago. After giving my arthritic hands a break, I started the finish work. Everything was done and the High on Hooking tag sewn on this Sunday afternoon. Did you hear my sigh on relief?
Please share your spring fiber-phernalia here
and on our Facebook page.
Miss February here, but come Saturday I’ll be up in Española at the Española Valley Fiber Arts Center (EVFAC). Why? you ask. Actually, there are two good reasons, two very good reasons you might want to join me:
1. I’m teaching a class!
Chances are, if you read this blog, you’re already a rug hooker. Or you’ve developed an interest in hooked rugs, thought that you might even want to try hooking one yourself. This is your chance! Don’t wait, carpe hook! I’ll be running an introductory workshop, 10-2, this Saturday, February 16. It’s called: Hook a rug – Save the planet. You are very welcome to join us. No experience necessary; you don’t even need to bring anything (though some scissors would be helpful). Click for details on EVFAC’s website.
2. I’m giving a little presentation on what rug hooking’s like today.
When I’m out and about vending, folks stop by regularly to tell me how once upon a time they watched their mother or grandfather hooking rugs. Some even cut wool strips or pulled a loop or two. Like all things, rug hooking’s evolved since then. Mostly. Come on by EVFAC at 2:30, Saturday (yes, after the class lets out), and we can chat about the changes I’ve seen in the 15 or so years that I’ve been hooking. After that you can shop and see what other opportunities EVFAC has for the fiber-inclined.
See you Saturday!