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Public Service Announcements

Public service announcements, odd from an art blog, I know. But still genuine.

Public service announcement 1: Don't let blepharitis happen to you.
PSA 1: Blepharitis, don’t let it happen to you.

PSA 1

You know when they say that you should throw out old makeup? Eye makeup, in particular? Yeah, it’s true. You go almost a whole year NOT going out, NOT needing to wear the usual make up (because God was cruel to redheads and caused our eyes and eyelashes to recede as we age). Who cared? No one was going to see you. And then you finally get a date early-bird-special evening/afternoon with your husband. You put on some mascara to go with your best yoga pants to have truly excellent gluten-free pizza at Farina Alto (in Albuquerque). You plan on, even try sitting on the patio, but the freaking wind is too strong. It’s 4:00 pm; there’s barely anyone in the restaurant, so you chance it and move inside. The pizza, the wine, they’re all great! And then a day later, your eye starts to twinge, then redden, then swell. Where’s an pyrate’s eye patch when you need it? By early Tuesday morning you’re in the urgent care located conveniently up the street. BLEPHARITIS, they say. WTF? Swelling of the eyelid. Who knew? The people who say to change out your old mascara knew. Stupid blepharitis, stupid coronacootie.
Public service announcement 1: Chuck all makeup from 2020 and before; buy new shit even if you rarely wear it (and it looks practically new)!

 

PSA 2

If you’re working on a particularly difficult rug or painting or short story or other piece of artwork, always have something else requiring less concentration that you can work on in the evening.

Rug needing less concentration
PSA2 : Always have a rug that needs less concentration.

I typically work at night while I watch television or Netflix or whatever. Otherwise I’ll fall asleep. (I know you get this.) A couple of weeks ago, I started a piece, a wall hanging, that requires good light and my full attention. That means day-hooking. Not that I’m against day-hooking; actually, I love it. In fact, I really miss the Adobe Wool Arts Guild‘s three annual retreats, one of which usually happens at this time of year. I can hook all day long for three days in a row and get assistance when I need it from all my AWAG peeps. Sadly, our last retreat was in February of last year. Again, stupid Covid. Now I have to deal with this rug on my own. I miss you guys…
Public service announcement 2: Work on your more difficult pieces during the day; save the fun, easier stuff for evening.

 

Whimsy, a rug needing a forever home
PSA 3: All rugs need a good forever home, including “Whimsy” (approximately 15″x36″).

 

PSA 3

Some rugs need a home. Yeah, this is completely self-serving. “Whimsy” is finished and looking for her forever home. And yes, in the pre-pictures on Instagram and Facebook, I did hide that she has a hole built into her. But that’s just part of her charm. Consider giving “Whimsy” a home.
Public service announcement 3: All rugs need a home. Don’t let them suffer.

 

 

 

That brings us to the end of the PSAs. Though don’t forget that on March 20, High on Hooking is holding another online workshop: Hooking With and Beyond the Wool. If you’re interested in playing with fibers other than wool (much like those original rug hookers), contact me at Laura@highonhooking.com. It’ll be fun; I promise. Now keep hooking, or otherwise playing, and stay safe! We’re so close to being able to achieve herd immunity. Vaccinate!

 

An extra public service announcement, crazy dog
Instead of “What’s on the frame,” we have a public service announcements corollary. Never ask Bowyn to be serious in the evening. His concentration, like my own, is shot. Tynan, meanwhile, is properly aghast.

 

 

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A very Merry and Tiny Christmas to all!

We here at High on Hooking wish a very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. Enjoy your holidays with those in your social bubbles. The kid will be down from Colorado tomorrow, so we’ll be celebrating a couple of days early here. Sadly, she has to work on the 24th and 26th, but roast beast and bubbly, here we come!

Before I let you go, though, a few dates in early 2021 to remember. Click on them for more info, and email me if interested or with questions.

  • Wednesday, January 13, 1:00 p.m. Eastern – IN THE STUDIO WITH TRACY JAMAR. If you haven’t heard Tracy speak, register. She’s terrific. And she does not-so-traditional hooking too!

 

  • Saturday, January 16, 1:00 p.m. Eastern – BUILD A BABY BOUCHEROUITE. Spaces are still available. Give yourself the gift of creativity in the New Year.

 

Dogs under Christmas tree
Bowyn and Tynan, the High on Hooking Dogs, bring you the final “what’s on the frame” for 2021. We all wish you a happy, happy Christmas and New Year!
  • Sunday, January 31, 1:00 p.m. Eastern – INTRO TO PUNCH NEEDLE RUG HOOKING WORKSHOP. This In the Studio WORKSHOP WEEK 2 class is full, but I’ve decided to open another session on Saturday, February 20, also at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Give a yell if you’d like to get in on it. You will receive all benefits of WW2, including the bonus sections and coupons.

 

  • January 31 – February 5 – IN THE STUDIO WORKSHOP WEEK 2 – There are six workshops running this time around. Karen Miller, Beth Miller, and Meryl Cook still have openings. Susan Feller is taking names for a possible second session. Nadine Flagel, Donna Mulhollland, and I are offering second sessions. Contact individual teachers for more info. Emails in above WW2 link.

And that takes us into the time of putting work away and lighting candles and enjoying the season. Here’s to a MUCH IMPROVED NEW YEAR and some real peace and good will towards men all people (and dogs).

 

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What’s next for High on Hooking?

 

Two dogs and a crocheting project
Tynan and Bowyn present “What’s on the Hook” this week. By the way, the little guy is feeling much better and is back to all his mischievous ways.

What’s next? Why we’re officially into the holidays! Interestingly, that means that, at the moment, there is absolutely nothing on the frame. Not that I’m sitting on my butt, eating bon bons. No! Especially since the damn Coronacootie has seen fit to provide me an extra five pounds given how it keeps me at home. New Mexico has been pretty much locked-down till yesterday. Even if it wasn’t, the surge numbers scare the crap out of us.

Uncharacteristically, there’s absolutely nothing “On the Frame” this week. (Yet.) There is, however, something on my crochet hook. I’m making a cute basket-bag; the pattern and yarn are courtesy of We Are Knitters, if you’re interested. And I’m putting the finishing touches on “The Angel of 2021.” Will show her tomorrow, I hope. That almost-lockdown made it difficult to get a couple of items.

And we’re getting some classes ready for the New Year. God knows it’ll be a l-o-n-g winter, so we need something to keep us busy.

Baby Boucherouite class is what's next for High on Hooking
You too can “Build a Baby Boucherouite” or, as I like to call it, Barbies Magic Carpet. It’s what’s next on Zoom for High on Hooking.

First class up will be BUILD A BABY BOUCHEROUITE on Saturday, January 16, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Email me at Laura@highonhooking.com if you’re interested in coming. I ran that class in October during In the Studio’s Workshop Week and it was well received. More info to come, though you can see the basics here. If you’re on my waiting list from last time, no worries, I’ll be contacting you.

Speaking of Workshop Week, in the Studio’s Workshop Week 2 is coming! We’ve got a couple of new teachers this time around, so be watching for registration info too!

 

Let us not forget that it is the season of gift-giving. Remember that old adage: RUGS MAKE THE BEST GIFTS! Especially, hand-hooked rugs. Check out our Etsy shop to see what we have in our section of Santa’s Workshop this year. Spy something you like, you can buy it there or contact me directly at Laura@highonhooking.com and get $10 off the Etsy price for items over $50. As usual, I’m also open for commissions.

I wish everyone a safe holiday season. Although I’ve removed “autumn” from the house, I haven’t put the tree and other Christmas decor up. I suppose that’s really what’s next here. I have time; Advent just started Sunday. Besides, it’ll be a “small” Christmas this year, only the favorites will be out. What about you? Going all out as usual?

 

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Happy Thanksgiving, 2020!

Two dogs, a turkey, and a hooked rug
Bowyn and Tynan, Tom Turkey, and “The Angel of 2021” (who is almost complete!) wish you all a small, but sumptuous Thanksgiving. May we always have things to be grateful for – even in 2020.
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Time to buy the patterns!

"Big Boucherouite' rug hooking pattern, one of our patterns
This is “Big Boucherouite” all drawn out on linen for Leslie. I can’t wait to see how she makes him come to life.

 

As I mentioned last week, High on Hooking has started something new: We’re offering patterns to all the rug hookers out there. Truthfully, though, we sold our first pattern last year. It was requested, not on rug backing, but on paper. Someone loved our “WOOF” rug but wanted a couple of personal changes made to it. Happy to do it.

Currently, the pattern for “Big Boucherouite” – in linen or in monk’s cloth – is listed up on the Etsy shop. I recently sent one off to Leslie. If you’re interested, I will draw it upon order to your specifications. It’s too big for paper, though. Feel free to contact me through Etsy or via Laura@highonhooking.com. In fact, most any of my rugs can be made into patterns.

This week we’re finishing up a punched pillow and hemming the recycled bed sheet rug. My hands and wrists are unexcited by both of those activities. And then there’s paperwork covering the dining room table (except where the dust is). On the plus side, we’ve started a new rug. Nothing makes me happier than that. And I see a hike in our near future. Early in the day, though, as summer’s suddenly broken here in the New Mexican high desert. Going into the 90s this week. Time to get Bowyn his pool!

 

Dog on hooked rug
Clearly, Bowyn’s got a ways to go before he can take over for Tynan’s “What’s on the frame.” What is this pattern? But Tynan was distracted and ran off when Tom made noises in the kitchen. What’s a dog to do?

 

 

 

 

WHAT WILL YOU DO THIS WEEK TO MAKE LIFE A LITTLE LIGHTER?

 

 

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