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New year, new lords and masters…

 

Fitbit on wrist in the new year.
Master #1 of the new year.

The new year is here a week. Already it’s gotten busier than intended given that I was trying to make 2019 more a year of making and less one of busy-ness and meetings and social media. Not that I have any intention – or ability – of getting rid of those latter items. They’re necessary (often evil) parts of an involved life. I just want them minimized some.

A week in and I’ve identified a couple of new masters and commanders demanding my fealty and, more importantly, my time. One was unexpected, and I’m here to warn all of the A-type personalities present. You Bs are probably safe enough and can just enjoy a good laugh. Type A folk: Do not get a Fitbit! Oh, you think it’s going to help you, ensure that you get all those steps in, make you healthy. (If you’re like me, you were already working out each day anyway.) Instead, the damn thing is just another mark to hit AND SURPASS EVERY SINGLE DAY.  Tom gave it to me for Christmas; I’ve wanted one for a couple of years, and since December 27th when I put it on, he’s regretted his generosity.

Tynan and I and the new Fitbit master out New Year’s Day morning just as the snow was starting. Oh, Tom came too. 🙂

Like I said, I work out most mornings, so that gives me a leg up on the 10,000 steps. Usually. Unfortunately, it can’t “translate” time and effort on the recumbent bike unless I thrash my Fitbit-clad arm about trying to fake the Master into thinking I’m walking (or running up Mount Everest). On those days, I know that I should just account for the exercise in my mind and not worry about making it to the magic – and completely arbitrary – number of steps. But I can’t, so I try to…compensate. Tom’s becoming irritated. I have to hide my furtive attempts to get to 10,000. The far bathroom’s good. I can pretend-jump rope in there or jog in place while I count to 50, 75. Playing keep-away with the dog’s toys is always good for a 100 or so. Then we take another walk around the block. The neighbors behind the house have seen me dancing in the kitchen like no one’s watching. Or should watch.

Results thus far:

  • I have hit the magic 10,000 number every day but two.
  • The dog is exhausted.
  • I’ve walked before and during one snowstorm, my first here in Albuquerque. It was beautiful. And worth more than 17,000 steps!
  • My dogs (feet) are barking, one knee is ready for a sling, and I’m pretty sure that my recent RA flare-up was caused by my new obsession.
  • The epiphany that if I join an online Fitbit community or even share results with a friend, the “friendly competition” would probably kill me. The dog would be collateral damage.

You’d think I’d give up on the thing after all this, but NO WAY! I’m loving it. Luckily, this morning’s walk down by the river in the cold was invigorating. Plus it got me all the way to 10,000 in one shot! And – besides the dog – who do you think was with me doing all those steps? Tom! Tom who started to surreptitiously use his phone to count his own steps. Gotcha!

 

Dog and hooked rug in the new year.
An exhausted Tynan presents 2019’s first “what’s on the frame.” You can see why I’ll need the steps to combat all the sitting I’ll be doing the next two months as I get the “Big Boucherouite” done.

The Fitbit master will stay, too, to combat all the sitting I’m doing for the second master of the new year. Yes, the Big Boucherouite‘s time has finally come. Pictures of a finished BB are due March 1. That’s the last day you can send entries in for Albuquerque’s big Fiber Fiesta 2019! Get the details by clicking, and think about sending something in. You don’t have to live here. Any questions, check the Fiber Council’s website or give me a yell. A fun and educational time will be had by all. I promise. (And do you know how large the Manual Lujan Jr. Expo Center is? Gonna get in a whole lotta steps.)

What or who is moving you these early days of the new year?

 

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After the vending…

 

So, vending is over for the year; time to relax. Yeah, if only. Instead, I have LOTS OF WORK here at High on Hooking, both new, old, and some things I’ve been putting off till now.

Rug and mug to be sold on Etsy now that High on Hooking's vending season is over.
“New Mexico Geometrics” just went up into the Etsy shop last night! It comes with 4 blue mugs (if you choose), but also has a ring on the back for hanging. It’s 12×12 and hooked with recycled t-shirts!

 

Filling the Etsy Shop

Unfortunately, because I was so busy getting ready for and then actually doing the vending of October and November, I’ve had little to no time to devote to my Etsy shop. I was even forgetting to take down items that sold “in person.” Finally got around to that just before heading up to Santa Fe for the Fall Fiber Fiesta. In fact, I was in such a tizzy that day, that I initially deleted the wrong rug! With no time to put it back up, I hoped desperately to sell it that weekend. And you know what? Sometimes desperate prayers work! A lovely volunteer bought it. Now, though, I’m in the midst of putting up those items that didn’t sell at various shows. If you know someone who’d like to give a rug a forever home, send them here. There are all kinds of sizes and prices. And remember, every little rug deserves a home!

ATHA Biennial Favors

Because the Adobe Wool Arts Guild (AWAG) here in Albuquerque is so close – out west, eight hours is considered close – the Denver guild putting on next August’s ATHA Biennial asked us if we might help out a bit with an item to be included in the swag bag. We agreed, of course, and now I owe them some hooking. Vending put me behind the other AWAG members who will now laugh at my hurry-up attempts this week at our three-day retreat. See if I make them brownies…

 

Hooked rug on Anderson frame. Now that vending is finished, I can work on it.
I walk by this poor rug all day long. In the kitchen I try to sit with my back to him, but I can still hear him calling. “You promised we’d be together today…” The truth is that I long to sit and work on him more than any other rug. (But don’t tell that to “Kleeful” below.

 

The BIG Rug

Still languishing on the Anderson frame, shooting daggers every time I walk through the dining room, which is nothing more than the area next to my kitchen in my open-concept home, is the BIG Boucherouite of which I’ve hooked nothing but some outlining. Working on him is far more imperative now what with Albuquerque’s Fiber Fiesta (not to be confused with Santa Fe’s Fall Fiber Fiesta; ours is MUCH bigger and more educational in nature) right around the corner. Big Boucherouite is to be my primary entry. By the way, anyone, including YOU, can enter multiple pieces of fiber art; there are several categories. We receive stuff from folks all over, even Europe! But the important take-away is that entries are due online by March 1. Check out the Call for Entries here.

Unfinished Projects

You know, before I moved from Massachusetts to New Mexico, I never allowed myself to start a new rug before I finished the one I was working on. That went to crap pretty quickly out here as I started vending and taking annual workshops with AWAG, let alone doing commissions. Mats are always bumping others in my now not so insignificant queue of UFOs. Really, I’m not particularly happy about that, but it seems to be a fact of life these days. One day…

So, you see, vending is over but more work remains. Fortunately, I love my work! Maybe hemming a rug up not so much. But it’s getting colder even here in New Mexico, so the timing’s good. Oh, except for Christmas is in less than a month! Time to de-autumn the house and trim a tree. It never ends…

Dog and stuffed opossum sitting on unfinished hooked rug.
Tynan and his new best friend Opossum (thank you, Nan Huntington!) bring you this week’s “What’s on the frame.” Still working on “Kleeful.” Oddly enough I’m working on its (wide) perimeter before I fully decide on the small inner squares. I figure that it ought to be real fun when I try to hook those center squares what with the heaviness of the t-shirt loops. Not!

 

 

Are you like so many of the rug hookers I’ve seen on Facebook and Instagram this week who already have their trees up and their houses looking like Santa’s home up at the North Pole? How? Already? Maybe you’d like to come do my house too…

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fall fiber frenzy

 

 

Tote bag - Fall fiber frenzy
One of Catherine’s kick-ass “Everywoman Tote Bags.” And what do I use this one for? To carry all my meeting paperwork, of course. Come see all the colors she makes them in at the High Desert Studio Tour Saturday!

Like I mentioned last week, I’m kind of slammed for the next couple of weeks in my own personal Fall fiber frenzy. This Saturday is the High Desert Studio Tour on the east side of Albuquerque. I’ll be at Stop #3 on the map below (if you click, you’ll get a better one) where Dagmar Beinenz-Byrd runs her ZiaWoolz business. Each year she generously offers me space for the event. This year Catherine Wies, another multi-talented Adobe Wool Arts Guild member, will have her wares there too: all kinds of versions of her “Everywoman Tote Bag.” I may have to buy another one to put Dag’s hand-dyed yarn and project bags in. Yeah, I’ll spend more than I’ll ever make. But the goods are all worth it. Plus we have a lot of fun. Stop by!

Meanwhile, I’m busy hooking away for Saturday and next weekend too up in Santa Fe at the Fall Fiber Fiesta. Then there are the meetings: guild (I told you I’m president now, right?); next year’s Fiber Fiesta here in ABQ; the Fiber Arts Council’s Education Committee; the food pantry I deliver to, and Susan’s Legacy. All this with a cold that won’t quit. I swear that between us, Tom and I can incubate it till next spring…

I hate meetings, but they’re a necessary evil for worthy organizations and causes. And if you have any interest in Fiesta or the Fiber Arts Council, click on those links above. Regarding Susan’s Legacy, if you’d like to help women trying to help themselves out of mental health and addiction disorders, see our website. Disclaimer: I’m a Board member, and such troubles have run in my family.

High Desert Studio Tour - part of Fall fiber frenzy
Info on the annual High Desert Studio Tour this Saturday in Albuquerque. More info on the website, www.highdesertliving.net. Remember, three of us will be at Stop #3. Follow the purple balloons!
Dog and hooked rugs - Fall fiber frenzy
Tynan whores for a treat brings you this week’s “What’s on the frame?” As you can see, there are actually four little rugs on there right now. I’m low on mug rugs which make excellent and unique gifts for the holidays. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Check out our Etsy shop. There may be one or two there right this minute. If not, give a yell and tell me what you need.

 

 

 

Hope to see you this weekend in Albuquerque or next in Santa Fe. Remember: Mention the blog post and get 10% off any rug. It’s part of spreading the gospel of rug hooking and buying handmade this holiday season!

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What’s on the frames this week

 

What's on the frames beside the Big Boucherouite and Tynan?
Tynan presents one of the “rugs on the frame” this week. As you can see, I managed to get around the whole perimeter of the “Big Boucherouite.” Woohoo! Unfortunately, it has to take a back seat to the rug below. But I’m getting more excited the farther I get with it. Soon color!

Sure, “what’s on the frames this week,” but more like “what’s not happening this week?” Too much stuff is breaking as I get ready to take my first vacation with Tom for the first time in, like, 10 or 11 years! And it’s a good vacation, made more special because it’s the year of our 25th wedding anniversary (long gone by back in January). But more on that another time.

Just take in all these things I have to get done this week :

 

What's on the frames? A new "Woof" rug.
Look familiar? Yep, it’ll be an almost-clone of “Woof.” A lady saw the original in my Etsy shop but didn’t want the OD green background that I hooked in. She prefers a blue-based background. Perfect for last week’s Fourth of July holiday judging by the great pic of her pups that she sent. All SIX! were decked out in red, white, and blue and had American flags. Gotta love the dogs!

 

I won’t bother you any with any more specifics, but I’ll show you the other rug that’s on the frame this week. How’s your summer going? Busy???

 

 

 

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Fiber arts eye-candy from the “Water” show

 

Admit it – you’ve been waiting to see some eye-candy ever since I mentioned the various shows I’ve had work in.

April and May are busy, busy months for Albuquerque’s fiber arts scene this year. We started with the “Earth, Wind, and Fiber” show put on by the Fiber Arts Council. Then a few of us participated in the “Recycled Arts Festival” and “Cinco de Mayo Folk Arts Fest.” If that’s not enough, the fiber arts show “Water” is running at the Open Space Visitors’ Center lobby on Coors Boulevard. It started April 28 and continues through June 3. Concurrently, “Remembering Water” is being shown in the main gallery. Works by two artists, Linda Rael and K.M. White, populate that show. Meanwhile, preparations are being made throughout the central and northern parts of the state for the second annual New Mexico Fiber Arts Crawl. Cathy Kelly and I will take part in that as demonstrators/vendors that weekend – May 18-20 – at Casa San Ysidro in nearby Corrales. Maybe you can stop by???

For now, though, enjoy the aforementioned eye-candy from the Water shows.

Poster for show with eye-candy.
Where you can find fiber arts eye-candy till June 3. Go now!
Fiber arts eye-candy.
“The Gorge/Water Cycle” by Judith Roderick. Hand-painted silk art quilt. The picture can never do this justice, but note how the bird is also part of the gorge.
Fiber arts eye-candy
Close up of “Blue Water of the North/Feng Shui Series” by Donna Loraine Contractor. Wool on cotton tapestry.
Fiber arts eye-candy.
Oops! How did my own piece slip in there? 🙂 “Memory of Water” is hooked with plastic bags on monks’ cloth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiber arts eye-candy.
“Leaves and X’s in the Ice” by Nancy Wohlenberg was made using a discontinuous tapestry technique; four selvedge technique. Love this!
Fiber arts eye-candy.
Heidi Anderson felted alpaca and merino wool to create: “”Water is Life Seed Pot” on the right and “Olla” on the left. so cute!
Fiber arts eye-candy.
Part of “Germinating” by Linda Rael. Dyed fabric, stitching.

 

 

Fiber ars eye-candy.
A close-up of Linda Rael’s “Water is Life.” Dyed, painted, stitched, and found objects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiber arts eye-candy.
“River Runners” by K.M. White. Collage, mixed media. Beautiful colors! Soothing.

Fiber arts eye-candy.
“The Day Begins” by Linda Rael. Hand-dyed and recycled fabrics, found objects. This crane really “stood out.”

 

 

Fiber arts eye-candy.
“Mayordomo” by Linda Rael. Mixed media. “Mayordomo” is the guardian of the acequias or the water ditch master.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiber arts eye-candy.
A close-up of “Rain Dance” by Linda Rael. Stitched, beaded doll.
Fiber arts eye-candy.
“Mountain Snow,” a handmade felted coat created by Vicki Anne Evans. Lovely, but I put that on, ketchup will drop from the sky right onto my boob.

 

Fiber arts eye-candy.
“Novena for Rain” by Catherine Kelly (and my friend and Adobe Wool Arts guild mate. Multi/fractured piece of traditional rug hooking, felted wool, yarn, and beads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiber arts eye-candy.
And lastly, though not the best shot, Cathy and myself in front of her piece. Perhaps we’re really the fiber arts eye-candy… Regardless, I still think that they should’ve had wine at the opening reception. Your thoughts concerning beverages at art receptions: wine versus ice water with stupid lemon slices. Let me know in the comments.
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