Tag: fiber arts

August 18, 2020

IN THE STUDIO – August 27 with Global Textile Hub

Learn All About Global Textile Hub ‘s 2021 Juried Virtual Exhibition “Re-Imagined,” a Collaboration with a Difference-

Make the Ordinary Extraordinary!

Info on Global Textile Hub's in the Studio visit — IN THE STUDIO WITH GLOBAL TEXTILE HUB – AUGUST 26, 2020; 7-8 PM EASTERN (5-6 PM MOUNTAIN); Brought to us by **Karen Miller Studio.**

Note that this is a “special” IN THE STUDIO to take place in the evening in North America. It is also a free event, but you must reserve a place. See info below.

The exhibition theme “Make the Ordinary Extraordinary” challenges textile artists from around the world to collaborate with each other or artists from other disciplines. The aim is to promote the diversity of textile art practices.

Jo Franco and Judi Tompkins, two of the three Australian organizers (with Kira Mead) are pioneers and innovators for textile exhibitions in a virtual online gallery – Global Textile Hub. Their first juried show featured Southern Hemisphere fiber artists using a variety of rug making techniques with mixed media. This premiered in 2018, as the 2021 exhibit will, with a launch during Sauder Village Rug Hooking Week in August. Susan Feller is the lead juror of three discussing what the judges will review.

A Virtual Exhibition format is not a simple slide show of entries. The viewer will be able to “tour” the gallery exploring each entry and turning corners to see more. Artist statements and descriptions tell the stories of the makers and the “third” artist the collaboration created.

Join the speakers to discuss how people collaborate during a pandemic, what type of media are being considered, how the entrants will be supported during the creating time and ask your own questions before signing up. Description and entry form is at https://globaltextilehub.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Draft-Call-for-Entries-logos-rev.pdf .

“Re-imagined” a Collaboration with a Difference – Make the Ordinary Extraordinary is a 2021 Juried Virtual Exhibition coordinated by the GlobalTextileHub.com.

Call for entries deadline Sept 30, 2020.

Opening Date 11th August 2021.

IMPORTANT:
This talk will be held on August 27, at 7:00-8:00 pm EASTERN. This is a free, but ticketed event and you must reserve your ticket before the event using the link in this event. Find tickets on the Eventbrite page. After purchase, Eventbrite will send you an email with the link. If you do not receive this after purchasing, look in your spam filter as it may be there. On the day and the time of the talk, you will use the link in the Eventbrite email to access the talk. You may be asked to log into Eventbrite so keep a note of the email address that you used and your password. Also, if you are not familiar with Zoom and how it works you may want to go to the Zoom website where there are free online tutorials of the Zoom features.

In the Studio FAQ’s: PLEASE READ

* Will this talk be recorded for viewing later?

Unfortunately, no. Due to the logistics involved, we decided some time ago to keep these events live. Hopefully if you can’t make it to this talk, you’ll be able to make it to a future talk.

* Help! I bought a ticket and I can’t find the link. Now what?

It is strongly advised that you log in, or make an Eventbrite account, BEFORE purchasing tickets. This will help to avoid any problems with accessing the link on the day of the event. On the day of the event, you will need to LOG INTO YOUR EVENTBRITE ACCOUNT to use the event Zoom link. If you are having trouble finding the link, look at the top of your Eventbrite account and click on your profile. A drop down menu will appear and you will see a link for “tickets”. Clicking on this will give you access to all of the tickets you have purchased and you will easily be able to access the link that way.

* It’s the day of the talk and I’m having trouble finding or using the link for the talk. How can I find help?

It is very advisable to LOG INTO THE EVENT A FEW MINUTES EARLY to be sure that you have no trouble with the link, and if you are having trouble the organizer can help you out. You can email or message the event organizer up until 12:30pm Eastern on the day of the talk for help. ONCE THE EVENT STARTS, however, messages and emails are not able to be monitored.

* I’m finding it distracting during the talk seeing all of the other participants on my screen. What can I do?

During the event the organizer will put the screen setting on “spotlight view” so that the presenter is the focus on your screen. Depending on your device, you may still see audience members on your screen and changing your setting from “gallery view” to “speaker view” should help with that.

July 27, 2020

IN THE STUDIO – August 5 with Charline Collette

Charline Collette is all about using color with confidence!

charline Collette speaks at In the Studio August 5 — **IN THE STUDIO WITH CHARLINE COLLETTE – AUGUST 5, 2020; 1-2 PM EASTERN (11-NOON MOUNTAIN)**

Charline Collette is a Canadian Textile Artist who lives and works in New Brunswick. She uses rug hooking as her principal medium of expression. Charline has exhibited her work regionally, nationally and internationally, including in the Fiber Art Now Excellence in Fibers Annual Juried Exhibition.

Join Charline as she discusses design principles that all artists use to make lively and engaging art. Her principal focus will be on colour and value. Through the use of many examples she will show you her own personal colour planning and choice considerations when hooking with fibre.

If you love colour and would like to learn more about how to use it with confidence in your own work, you will not want to miss this talk!

You can see more of Charline Collette’s work on her Instagram page @hookingloops.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

IMPORTANT:
This talk will be held on August 5, at 1:00-2:00 pm EASTERN. This is a ticketed event ($6 Canadian) and you must purchase your ticket before the event using the link in this event. Find tickets on the Eventbrite page. After purchase, Eventbrite will send you an email with the link. If you do not receive this after purchasing, look in your spam filter as it may be there. On the day and the time of the talk, you will use the link in the Eventbrite email to access the talk. You may be asked to log into Eventbrite so keep a note of the email address that you used and your password. Also, if you are not familiar with Zoom and how it works you may want to go to the Zoom website where there are free online tutorials of the Zoom features.

In the Studio FAQ’s: PLEASE READ

* Will this talk be recorded for viewing later?

Unfortunately, no. Due to the logistics involved, we decided some time ago to keep these events live. Hopefully if you can’t make it to this talk, you’ll be able to make it to a future talk.

* Help! I bought a ticket and I can’t find the link. Now what?

* It’s the day of the talk and I’m having trouble finding or using the link for the talk. How can I find help?

* I’m finding it distracting during the talk seeing all of the other participants on my screen. What can I do?

July 13, 2020

IN THE STUDIO – July 22 with Susan Feller

Susan Feller walks you through what you need to know about exhibiting your artwork.

West Virginian artist Susan Feller approaches exhibiting artwork from a variety of experiences: as a gallery owner, as a juror, as a curator of event collections and online exhibits, and as an artist. This presentation will help anyone in those categories to prepare and evaluate their art for exhibit. Not planning an exhibit? In the very least, you’ll come out with an appreciation for the preparation involved.

An artist’s journey is extensive: from building up a body of work and joining arts organizations to submitting entries to shows and proposals for solo exhibits, and then perhaps working with galleries and museum curators. In addition, artists must deal with acceptance AND rejection of their work. Making art is only a small part of an artists journey.

Using her own upcoming solo exhibit as an example, Susan will address what’s required from exhibit invitation to show opening. She’ll comment on writing an artist’s statement. She’ll touch on guidelines to follow for the various venues available: galleries, museums, events, and even virtual online presentations.

Bring your questions! Possible topics can include: selecting a theme for an exhibit; pricing your artwork; gallery promotion; what jurors look for when selecting work for shows, and choosing images of your work to submit to calls for entry. I bet you can come up with others.

Susan L. Feller is an award winning fibre artist, author, and teacher. She is a frequent contributor to Rug Hooking Magazine and has had her work featured in, and been a judge for, their Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs annual publications. Susan frequently exhibits her work across North America. You can learn more about Susan and see her work at www.artwools.com, or follow her on Facebook at Susan L. Feller Artwools and on Instagram @artwools

Looking forward to seeing you there!

IMPORTANT:
This talk will be held on July 22, at 1:00-2:00 pm EASTERN. This is a ticketed event ($6 Canadian) and you must purchase your ticket before the event using the link in this event. Find tickets on the Eventbrite page. After purchase, Eventbrite will send you an email with the link. If you do not receive this after purchasing, look in your spam filter as it may be there. On the day and the time of the talk, you will use the link in the Eventbrite email to access the talk. You may be asked to log into Eventbrite so keep a note of the email address that you used and your password. It is advisable to log into the talk a few minutes early so that if you have any trouble with the link you will have time to fix it before the talk begins. Also, if you are not familiar with Zoom and how it works you may want to go to the Zoom website where there are free online tutorials of the Zoom features.

June 4, 2020

I AM THE BOSS OF MY RUG

“You are the boss of your rug.”

Linda Towle was the founder of the Adobe Wools Arts Guild, New Mexico’s only rug hooking guild. We miss you, Linda!

This is perhaps the anthem of the Adobe Wool Arts Guild of New Mexico of which I am the current president. You will hear it whenever any one of us is working a rug and asks the others for advice. That means you and anyone within hearing distance will hear these words:

at guild meetings and retreats;
at Albuquerque’s Botanic Garden in the BioPark where we demonstrate twice a month (in non-Covid 19 months, that is);
whenever and wherever any of us gather together to hook; and
whenever any of us teach – formally or informally.

The guidance can be in regard to most anything involved in rug making.

What color(s) would look best ?
Monk’s cloth, linen, or rug warp?
Wool strips or alternative fibers?
Which frame is best?
How high should my loops be?
Should I use quillies*?
Did I draw this right?
What do you think about _______?

If you’re a rug hooker, you know that the list is endless. Although our rugs are generally solo works of art, we often seek input from others, often those more experienced than ourselves.

We are a small and close-knit group. We are also not shy about expressing ourselves or our opinions. This means that when a hooker asks how he or she should finish their rug, they will often receive 10 or 15 differing opinions. Strident opinions. Discussion will ensue. The poor hooker might be overwhelmed. (We made someone cry once; it wasn’t our finest moment.) But, in the end, it all comes down to the same thing every time: “You are the boss of your rug.”

Being the boss of your rug – or your painting or your quilt or poem or whatever type of art you might make – means that you ultimately choose a design, colors, techniques, and so on. You make the piece with your own hands. And when you’re done with it, it is yours. Hopefully, you share it with the rest of us.

And we are proud of that person’s efforts.

Individually, I might think the rug needs improvement. Maybe blue would’ve worked better than black. Perhaps some of the loops fell out. Hell, maybe I hate the whole design. But it is NOT my rug. It is someone else’s rug, and I respect everything that he or she put into that rug. Or that short story or that piece of pottery.

We are proud that the person cared enough to make a rug. We are proud that he or she put themselves and their ego out there. That they felt safe enough to express themselves artistically in front of us. That they were able to say no to even the most vociferous of us and create their own rug.

Maybe you’re wondering why I bring this up.

Hooked rug — March 1: “Costco shopping trip pre-coronavirus. This was extreme hooking even for me. The TP roll was hooked with actual toilet paper. Not the easiest to work with but better than anticipated. Maybe if I spun it… Also wool yarn and strips.

In March, I wrote about my yearlong #RibbonRugJournal project. Basically, every day I hook an entry on a 3-inch or so length of a burlap ribbon roll. The image – more like a sketch – has to do with something from my day. It’s not a Picasso by any means. Burlap ribbon, I’ve found, sucks to hook on. Strings often break. It’s also a small space, not good for a lot of design definition, but I’ve made it over five months so I’ll keep going.

Little did I know in January what kind of year 2020 would be. Holy crap, Batman! Hence, in March the Coronacootie started showing up in my journal. And then in the last few weeks, #blacklivesmatter has dominated the news. As it should. And as we all know, that movement’s collision with politics has been cataclysmic for the country. Naturally, this has also made it into the #RibbonRugJournal.

What do I do with the journal? Every evening after I hook an entry, I take a picture and load it onto High on Hooking’s Instagram. This keeps me honest, plus some folks are following it. (Love you guys!) All of my Instagram posts are automatically loaded onto High on Hooking’s Facebook page. From there I share it on my personal Facebook page.

Embroidered wool on burlap ribbon — #ribbonrugjournal June 2: “ELBIB Abuse.” Did he hold that book, respecting it as the sacred item it is? Or did he heft it up as Exhibit A, “proof” of his love of God and his fellow men? I mean after peaceful protesters and clergy were driven from the church with tear gas. For his photo op. The Bible and the world turned upside down.

Tuesday, June 2, I posted a simple image. It was indeed politically motivated. I am not a fan of Mr. Trump and was fairly incensed to see him silently hold a Bible aloft in front of a Church he does not attend after his minions forcibly removed from the church area peaceful protesters and the clergy of that church. You can see that I also made textual comments which you can read.

Later in the evening, I saw that folks had commented on my social media. I’m good with that. But one woman had posted:

Is this the right place for politics? I come here for a break from reality for a bit.

I was taken aback. High on Hooking is my company; it’s Facebook page is my page. While I leave overtly political posts and memes and such for my personal page, this was just an element of another hooked rug project. And I’d posted other occasional political entries before. I explained much of this to the writer. A bit of a dust-up ensued as others came to the defense of my self-expression. I thought that was the end till I turned on my phone Wednesday morning to another comment:

No politics please!

Note the exclamation point. Although I didn’t agree with the first woman, I could understand where she was coming from. But this chick was telling me to not post political content on my own f-ing page! Really! Guess she doesn’t like her rug hooking or her art making her uncomfortable. Or she can’t handle people having a difference of opinion.

My response:

______, this is my page. I don’t compartmentalize my life, especially not my art. Rug hooking allows me to process all of life, not just the easy and good things. Please read responses below.

Lady, and anyone else who didn’t like my #RibbonRugJournal Tuesday night, feel free to pass over my “political” posts or to stop following me if it bothered you that much. You have no right to tell me or to even intimate that I shouldn’t integrate my opinions into my art that I show on my social media. I am the boss of my rugs and my pages!

Beth Miller of Parris House Wool Works wrote a great blog post back in 2017, called “Shut Up and Sing” – A Guide to Why Those in the Humanities Will Not Be Silent. I encourage you to read it if you worry about our rights and needs to self-express.

Whether you paint or hook or write or sing, remember that

YOU ARE THE BOSS OF YOUR ARTWORK.

*I defy anyone to show me when a quillie is a good idea. Just saying.

May 5, 2020

Rug fraud and more narrowly averted!

The rug fraud started innocently enough in an email.

Good Morning,

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.”