Tag: Covid-19

June 22, 2021

The work of summer

Summer arrived just this week along with the kind of “work” that seems tailor made for her. Ah, but what is the work of summer?

By rights – thinking back to when we were kids having escaped school for two months – there should be less work in summer. For High on Hooking, that will indeed be the case in some respect. Unfortunately, Ghost Ranch (see this post) postponed our workshop there till the spring. Boo to you, Covid! I was really looking forward to it, but there is a silver lining. It’s been SIZZLING here in New Mexico for a few weeks. Last week we hit 108 degrees here on the West Side of Albuquerque! Hiking will be better in the spring. I’ll post more information as we get closer to the workshop. In the meantime, think of how fabulous it will be to do fiber art in Georgia O’Keeffe‘s special milieu, her querencia.

querencia

The place where one’s strength is drawn from; where one feels at home; the place where you are your most authentic self.

There have been a few places in my life when I’ve felt what the Spanish call querencia. In fact, it’s why I wanted to move to the Southwest. It’s definitely something I understand about O’Keeffe.

Given the change of plans, I find that I have more time on my hands to do my own work. Frankly, this calls for some serious rejoicing as this year I’ve been working A LOT on things that I’ve HAD TO DO. I haven’t even put many new items into the Etsy shop! Sure, I chose to teach and to make the New Mexico cushion for the USA50 project. The latter took longer than anticipated, working with all wool yarn. Beautiful, but itchy wool yarn after a while. Friend Ruth has the piece at the moment as she’s converting it from the hooking to the actual cushion. Pics in the next post; I promise. It’s beautiful, and even better, it has a good story.

To me the work of summer is “lighter” than that that I think to do come October and as winter starts to blow in. Fortunately, that coincides well with the “happy rug series” (#happyrugseries) I informally started earlier in the year to combat the “heaviness” of Covid and the entire year of 2020. Sadly, between gun violence and the continued stupidity of US politics, 2021 hasn’t been much happier. BUT, given our vaccination rates here in New Mexico, life is looking much more “normal” than it did a year ago. WOOHOO!

Current projects…

Hooked rug, work of summer — ABUNDANCE, part of the #happyrugseries.

Still finishing up ABUNDANCE, the latest and largest so far in the #happyrugseries. I’ve hit a little snag, as she’s hooked with all kinds of fibers that aren’t the easiest to put a needle and thread into. Worse, there are holes built into her, so a lot of perimeter work to do. Worst, Bowyn was going crazy for rabbit scents on a walk last night so I let him run in the park. Unfortunately, my right ring finger got caught in the leash as he took off. Ouch! I won’t be wearing any rings on that finger for awhile. Fortunately, if I take the little brace off, I can still hook.

Friday, as soon as I finished hooking the NM cushion, I drew up a small, geomtric-ish pattern so that I’d have something to work on that evening while Tom ran a summertime, “Arnold” action movie for us to watch on the TV. Given all the environmental issues we’re facing these days – drought, climate change, wildfires, plastic in the ocean – I decided to hook the piece with old plastic bags. Having already hooked a larger such piece, I’d kept the most colorful bags I had. Despite the heavy environmental theme, I’m hoping the piece will still make me – and others – smile. And just maybe curb our use of plastic bags some.

I’m also getting ready to tackle some new-to-me techniques, that is, NOT rug hooking! I’ll let you know how that goes, but right now I aim to explore a bit on my own. Then there’s an article or two that need writing. While the work might be lighter in summer, there’s no lack of it!

July also brings a road trip back East. Various folks were supposed to come visit here last fall, but…you guessed it…stupid Covid. So, having not seen family in a couple of years, it’s time. Bring on the seafood! This time around, Bowyn will man the Instagram account. Tynan, 13, will stay home and keep the hearth fires warm.

Hooked rug and Bowyn a Welsh Springer spaniel — Tynan let Bowyn handle WHAT’S ON THE FRAME today. (Nonetheless, he demanded a treat as a finder’s fee.) No name yet, but it’s being hooked with plastic bags that WILL NEVER SEE THE OCEAN!

What’s your work this summer? Perhaps it’s to concentrate on family and friends, the return to life with others? YES! Enjoy.

March 16, 2021

Of sketching and day-hooking

Thursday makes it a year that “regular” life came to an end here in New Mexico. Not knowing what I know now, I rather welcomed it. No meetings for the foreseeable future! Remember – we never thought the crisis would go on for sooooo long, and Zoom wasn’t a BI Ad for Sketchbook Revival 2021; sketching G THING yet. I figured I’d have time to work on my own projects and actually get a chance to explore other ideas percolating in the back of my brain, maybe even move them to the front.

Some of that happened. I certainly had ample time to “play” with the Ribbon Rug Journal. In fact, without Covid, I’m not sure how I would’ve been able to log each day’s entry. (Now if I can only get to writing the magazine article on the damn thing!) I managed, too, to finish “Holes,” a rug about the effects of motherhood on women. But then Karen Miller came up with the idea for In the Studio with its presentations and two! online Workshop Weeks (keep watch; the third will be coming), my own class offerings, and, of course, rugs to make (I do have an Etsy shop). The forced time at home was not quite so restful. Such is our new reality.

Sketching — A one-line, mirror sketching from 2019. Sadly, a self-portrait.

But some things didn’t change. This March, as I did in 2019 and 2020, I will participate in Sketchbook Revival presented by artist Karen Abend. It’s a free, online event whereby each day for a couple of weeks a different instructor presents a a different approach to filling up your sketchbook or journal. As much as I used to be good at that, I’m not anymore. Sketchbook Revival gives me a do-over each year and a way to learn new techniques. As Karen says:

Some sketches are colorful. A “creature” rug perhaps?

“Imagine waking up each day brimming with ideas, excitement, and confidence to open up your sketchbook and start creating, no matter what.”

As far as I’m concerned, sketching can be relaxing and enjoyable on its own, but more importantly, better sketching leads to more and better better hooked pieces. Click on the link above to join. While there are social media pages to share your work and to see that of others’, I generally prefer to keep to myself. And you don’t have to attend every session. I pick and choose. One comes out every day, but the videos stay up for a few weeks.

Day-hooking. I mentioned it last post. It’s not necessarily what you think. But it is another benefit of being stuck at home. I generally hook in the evening. Like many of you, if I don’t work with my hands after 8:00 p.m. or so, I’ll fall asleep. That’s when I catch up on TV and movies. But sometimes – like right now – I’m hooking a piece that needs: 1) good light, specifically, the light of day and 2) concentration. Like I said before, in another world in other years, my guild , AWAG, held three retreats and had a teacher visit us, usually for an open workshop. Each event gave me three whole days to work on more challenging rugs. And a multitude of folks to ask for advice when it was needed. Or even when it wasn’t. LOL

While I tend to do other tasks during the day, lately I’ve been trying to carve out some time for day hooking to get through this one difficult project. I feel guilty sitting on my ass, but the work happens, and I can even get some of those year-old NOVAs out of my DVR queue. So, day-hooking, yeah, it’s a thing.

Meanwhile, the night-hooking continues. Which is exactly what the boys bring to you today in the pic. I’ve started on the fourth of what I’m calling my #happyrugseries. I realized that after such a negative year, I’d prefer to mostly focus on the brighter aspects of life. For this one, I’m trying to really just go with the flow; there’s little advance planning in it. Other than the holes, which the rug dictated to me as I sewed on his tape.

Dogs with hooked rug — “What’s on the Frame.” Bowyn takes being a High on Hooking dog very seriously while Tynan is quite blasé about it these days.

Nancy Hart of AWAG created a rug a couple of years ago that I really loved. I miss you, Nancy, but you’re here with me in spirit, and your rug is my inspiration for this project. Tom’s going to kill me as parked in the living room is a large shopping bag AND a laundry basket filled with all kinds of fiber to pick and choose from as I go. (Plus the day-hooking paraphernalia.) But I’m enjoying working on it all!

What’s got you’re attention these days as we head into the final stretch of the Coronacootie’s reign?

Workshop reminder: Hooking With and Beyond the Wool happens this Saturday. Contact me if you’re interested.

May 5, 2020

Rug fraud and more narrowly averted!

The rug fraud started innocently enough in an email.

Good Morning,

Hooked rug — Item #1: The rug at the center of this story. Carnivale Zebra-Style.” Hooked with old t-shirts. 48.5″x11″ (it’s back in the **Etsy shop**.)

This is Emily Hill. I would like to follow up regarding the Zebra Style rug.. I was wondering do you know how much it would be? like the total amount. And is it ok to send check for payment? I would like to purchase this outside of etsy since I have an uncle who is paying for it and will mail out a Check asap for Payment.

The shipping address is 1135 Old Fritztown rd., Sinking Spring, PA 19608.. I will just need the total price with shipping, as well as to what name and a mailing address to send payment. Thank you

Emily Hill

I’ve done transactions off Etsy before. This one sounded like a young girl getting a graduation or birthday present from her uncle. Not really a problem.

Hi, Emily-

What a nice uncle you have. The $315 includes shipping and handling. Have him send the check to:
Laura Salamy
X St.
Albuquerque, NM 8####
As soon as the check clears (we’ll do it electronically), I’ll package it up and mail it off. I’ll also send you tracking info at that point.
Thanks for giving the piece a home. And stay safe!

Laura
Highonhooking.com

Emily was responsive, got back to me the next morning.

Awesome! It should be made out today.. I will let you know as soon as it’s sent and on the way and we will be in touch. Do you want to provide a phone number as well to reach you via text?

I provided her with my landline as, unlike my cell, it always rings in the house. And callers can leave a message. But it’s a pandemic. Where would we be but home? It all looks good, so I pull the rug from my shop. But not permanently.

Two days later Emily gets back to me. Apparently, her cousin was purchasing something too. Uncle got a little mixed up. He must be very generous. And distracted by his travel. During the aforementioned pandemic.

Good Morning,

I was just informed the check was made out to you. I would like to circle back regarding the rug.. and see when it would be here like how many days? I mean following receipt of payment. I am sure you understand since I have an uncle who is paying for it. Check was made out by my uncle and I have just been informed it will be a couple days to arrive.. There’s however a mix up here as it appears the check was accidentally overpaid for $950.. I understand the additional amount on the check would have been made out separately to my cousin for the other items that we are yet to order.

I hope you understand.. The good thing a check was made out and we should be able to get everything here on time. I believe we can take care of this if you will let me know as soon as you pick up the mail and I will email the address to send on the extra money when the check clears. Please let me know how you would like to handle things. Thank you

Emily Hill

Now, me, I’m not that generous. Wish I was, especially as this was a couple of days before Easter.

Sorry, Emily-

I don’t think this is going to work.

Laura

But Emily clearly wants that rug. And it is a really nice rug, if I do say so myself. Extra points for how polite she is. And she must be a good Christian girl. She remembers to wish me a Happy Easter not even knowing that I’m not Muslim or some other religion given my Arabic last name.

Good Morning,

Emily Hill

Oh, I understand.

Nonetheless, Emily persists. She wants the rug bad. She’s so excited to know when it’ll ship, that her grammar is slipping. And she forgot to sign her name.

Hi Laura was just making sure you got my messages referenced below explaining the overage check. I know we talked about it before, i just want to be sure you read the email again and do you know when the rug will ship? when it would be here so we can be on the look out for this. Please get back to me as soon as you can. Thanks

I feel for you, Emily. Anyone who wants one of my rugs that bad. Everyone should want my rugs that bad.

Can’t be sure, Emily, as some shipping has been disrupted, but another got hers in a few days from mailing.
Laura

That last bit was sent on Sunday, April 12. Easter! Maybe Emily was at church most of the day, one of those churches in Florida that opened. Oh, but wait! Emily’s first email said she was in Pennsylvania. Or at least that the rug should be mailed there. But later she mentioned that she’d email the address to me. Hey, it’s a pandemic; who can blame her for being a little scatter-brained?

I don’t hear from Emily for quite a while. And I don’t find a check in the mailbox. Damn, she must’ve found another rug on Etsy that she liked better. 🙁

Oh, me of little faith. Emily joyfully connects with me on April 20 regarding the check. But she has concerns.

Hi Laura,

Good News!! I have just been notified you will be getting the check via USPS today. They have it loaded on the vehicle for delivery.. I would think it should be coming today through the US postal service.. Please let me know as soon as as you get the envelope. I am beginning to worry about it. If you will just go ahead and deposit in the check funds to clear the bank. The funds are typically available the next day and we can get this all wrapped up then. Please let me know and we will be in touch. Thank you so much..

Hi, Emily, sure. I’ll watch for it. And as soon as I can access the funds, I’ll pack up the rug.

Stay healthy!

Laura

Hi Laura,

I was just following up with you to see if the funds has been deposited. Please let me know and we can get the necessary items here that we need. I also was wondering if you got those text messages from me?

Emily seems to be hyperventilating. As I mentioned above, I’m concerned about her health. And, unfortunately, I never received those texts as I’d provided her with my landline number. So sorry, Emily.

Indeed, that morning I did receive the check. Here it is.

Fraudulent check — Item #2: Rug fraud – check.

Looks good, no? But wait! Emily told me that it was written for $950. This check is for $1265.00. What’s a fiber artist to do?

I call Granite Credit Union in Utah, where the check was drawn. (Interestingly, it was mailed from Springfield. Oregon. This family really gets around.) After being put on hold several times, I get a real person…who tells me…the check is fraudulent.

Oh, Emily.

You know, “Emily,” the check doesn’t seem to be clearing. I think I’ll keep the rug.

You are horrible and a shameful person. Not going to happen.. We are stopping the payment. You will never steal from us. Shame on you.

Oh, “Emily.”

April 22, 2020

Share those hearts! And other news.

Heart hooked rug for hearts for heroes — Show me your hearts; here’s mine. I attached it to my spring door decoration. It was hooked with wool, silk, and silk sari yarns. #heartsforheroes

We’re still looking for those hearts. Tag them #heartsforheroes. If you’re not sure what we’re talking about, click here now. Relatedly, Maggie Bathory at the Aspen Rug Company has a contest HEARTS FOR HOOKERS going on over at her place. Combine our two projects; do good and maybe win some wool!

In other news, I’m still not working particularly efficiently as I’d hoped to back when this all started. If you wish, you can read about that here. The situation wasn’t helped when my kid had health issues that ultimately pushed her into the hospital up in Colorado where she lives…3½ hours away. That was nerve-wracking as Tom and I couldn’t just run up to be with her. Nope, in the end she had to do it all by her lonesome. There have been some hiccups, but her health is safe and she’s back at work…on the frontlines…at a grocery store. (Another plug for #heartsforheroes.)

But I have gotten some things done. Two rugs left the Etsy shop for their forever homes. Yea! Virtual shopping can be as good if not better than going to the store. I know, three pairs of shoes have made it to my house from DSW via the post office. Then there are those two Kohl’s deliveries. Pro Chem and Maritime Family Fiber…

Hooked wall hanging — “Sacred Life” now lives in Louisiana with Susan. She and Carolyn are hoping to make a trip to New Mexico late in the year. Pray they get a chance. Till then, this will have to do.

Intrigue: There’s been an ongoing rug “sale” story; really it’s all about a would-be scammer who wanted to take me for about $1000. And get a rug in the deal! That deserves it’s own post. Watch for it in the future.

Then I sold a pattern of “Big Boucherouite” after someone saw him in Rug Hooking Magazine. Damn, I think that little nugget of information was lost in the coronacootie hubbub. Yep, take a gander in the current – March/April/May – issue. My article starts on page 40. I’m so tickled! Anywho, later this week, I’ll be making that pattern available in linen and monk’s cloth in the Etsy shop. Or just contact me at Laura@highonhooking.com if you’re interested in one. Or in any other rug that I’ve hooked, for that matter. Most can be easily drawn.

Rug Hooking Magazine article — You know, I’ve had short stories printed and even rugs in the ATHA Magazine, but what a gas to have my own article and artwork in Rug Hooking Magazine!

Drawing a hooked rug pattern — This was part of the process when I drew the “Big Boucherouite” pattern for Leslie. Thank goodness for a large area on tile, and even more, doors to keep the dogs at bay.

Ribbon rug journal easter entry — Ribbon Rug Journal entry, April 12: “Easter, 2020” or “Easter, Corona Style.” Hopefully, the Easter Bunny didn’t catch the coronacootie when he delivered the eggs and candy.

Like I said in an earlier post, the Ribbon Rug Journal takes up more of my hooking time than I anticipated. I guess that’s not such a problem this year though. Sadly, so many vending and other in-person events are cancelled that I have time to spend on a big project like this one. Just the other day I finished the first roll of burlap ribbon. The new roll is a tad more difficult to work with as its weave is much looser. Danger, Will Robinson! It’s also wider which is a mixed blessing. There’s more space to hook, but showing any kind of detail is a no-go.

Other than that, there’s lots of cooking and eating and drinking going on in the Salamy house. We’re still really well stocked up. The boys keep us walking most days, thank goodness. It’s safer that way, otherwise the Wild Child (aka Bowyn) gets himself into much too much mischief. He took out a skein of rug yarn within five minutes of it being in the house. Snaked his little paw right through the doggie gate to snag it! I have managed to give them both haircuts, not that I’ll be accomplished enough to hang out a groomer’s shingle when this whole pandemic crisis is over. But I can now wield a pair of clippers and cut toenails. I call that a victory.

dogs on hooked rug — A FIRST! Tynan allowed Bowyn to share his “What’s on the frame” duty this week. (It all fell apart after I snapped the pic.) I’ll hook the last bit of this cheery, recycled bed sheet rug tonight. Then it joins a finishing queue along with a punched pillow.

I’m still interested in what you’re hooking up or even cooking up this Covid-19 “vacation.” Tell us about it below. Better yet, show us on the High on Hooking Facebook page. And get those hearts up on your front windows and doors. Share your love and gratitude with the heroes showing up at your house with yarn and shoes and food and…

April 9, 2020

#Heartsforheroes

Hooked rug heart — This is NOT the heart that will go on my front door, but it is a taste of what we want to do. I hooked this one last night as part of the **Ribbon Rug Journal**. I called it “Hear Alert” then, but it’s really “#HEARTSFORHEROES.”

#heartsforheroes

So the country’s come to a standstill. Or so it seems as many of us sit at home making and walking our dogs and bingeing WestWorld and otherwise avoid contracting Covid-19. But we know that’s not true. There are still all kinds of folks out in the big, germy world. I don’t mean your fellow shoppers in Costco or Walmart. No, I’m talking the people who work in Costco and Walmart. Then there are the people driving the trucks bringing the groceries and the toilet paper to Costco and Walmart. And all the other stores and warehouses that are still open.

How about the people working in the post office, people bringing your Amazon packages? And the folks that deliver the news to our doors and televisions. There are the veterinarians and zoo keepers keeping our animals healthy. All those restaurant people making and delivering food to others who never learned how to boil water or to those of us just sick of our own cooking.

And then there are the people actually putting their lives on the line: first responders, nurses and doctors, cops, and firemen. Maybe you’re sewing masks for them in your house right now. Good for you! And thank you. They’re all busy and probably can’t stop to tell you themselves.

I know there are plenty of others out there working while you and I stay home trying to flatten the curve; I just can’t think of all the job categories. There’s not enough time, and it’s not important. What is important is to let them know how much we appreciate them all. In that vein, I’d like to propose a method for doing just that. Actually, friend and fellow hooker Cass from Tennessee suggested it. She’d seen something similar online and thought that the rug hooking community should embrace it.

What if we started a challenge of hooked hearts…design and size, etc., of your choice? They would hang on our doors or some visible place as an outward show of love and appreciation to all of the support personnel…medical, grocers, janitors, truck drivers, police and fire, postal, etc. …I’m envisioning something to represent love and thanks to these folks… Could we start here and post and spread? It seems that if the virus can spread worldwide, this could as well.
— Cass

Well, what do you think? Do you have a spare piece of monk’s cloth or linen? A pattern you’ll never do? Turn it over. Anyone can draw a heart and color it in with wool or t-shirt or whatever your leftover noodles are. It doesn’t have to be huge. Do you prefer punching? Do that, then hang it where folks will see it. Even if they don’t get the full significance, we all recognize the feelings and emotions behind a heart. Not a hooker? Feel free to branch out. Sew a heart, crochet a heart, mold a heart. It really doesn’t matter what they’re made of, just that we get them out there.

Rug Hooked heart celebrating #heartsforheroes — Another hooked heart! This one, a lavender sachet pillow, was done by **Lauren Fuqua of Rugs and Pugs**. I won it in one of her many give-aways. Maybe you already have a handmade heart? Put it up today!

The timing for this is absolutely perfect! Those of you who are Jewish just began your celebration of Passover which remembers the Hebrew Exodus after the tenth and most awful plague inflicted upon the ancient Egyptians. As a Christian, today I mark Holy Thursday, the start of the Easter season. Above all else, Holy Thursday is about humble service to others. Christ washed the apostles’ feet. Cass and I have daughters risking their own health to work as cashiers in the grocery stores where we all continue to shop.

By the way, your heart shouldn’t be limited to your front door or window. Nope, you’re going to post them on social media for everyone to find. And you’re gonna hashtag them: #heartsforheroes. Beth Miller of Parris House Wool Works has gotten us rug hookers used to hashtagging #greatinternationalhookin when we display the rugs we’re hooking during these pandemic days. We can do the same for our hearts.

Please hook a heart and help us to thank the heroes: Amy, Tina, Elisabeth, David, and all the others. And enjoy and appreciate what will be very different Easter and Passover holidays this year.

Please share.