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November and its events are here!

 

Hooked rug in front of fireplace; November is the time to turn on the fireplace.
November in New Mexico is the time to turn on the fireplace. (Still not used to that coming from a house where we burned wood in our fireplace.) Still, the “Tree of Life” looks great in front of this “new” one. Bet it would look even better in front of your fireplace.

 

Today is November, the start of the holiday season. Really. I can’t believe it either, but yesterday was Halloween, so it must be true. Which means that I better get a move on. High on Hooking’s got two big events in the coming weeks:

Guess what? I’m not ready for either. There are several rugs in the house here in various states of (in)completion. Yep, I’ve got days of work ahead of me till November 19 comes and I can breathe. (We won’t even talk about how I’m hosting Thanksgiving here and have to plan for that too.)

 

 

On the road before November's events start - Tynan and me.
Tynan and I enjoying the grass and fall weather somewhere on a Missouri highway.

I might have been further down the road with the rugs I need to still finish, but real life got in the way.  Tom, Tynan, and I were gone for just over two weeks driving back east for the first time since moving to New Mexico back in 2015. We’re tired now, having been on the road all that time, moving between Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts to see family and friends. But it was well worth it. There was lobster, colorful foliage, a trip to the beach, and on and on. Tynan even provided a travelogue for our Instagram page for all but one of the days away. If you didn’t see it, pop on over there.

 

Hooked rug and crocheted shawl
Not the usual “What’s on the frame” this week. Though, technically, the rug is still on the frame; one of many. Actually, this is what I accomplished on the road. One rug started and one crocheted shawl finished.

 

 

 

 

Must head back to the hooking and sewing now. Hope to see you at one of our events this November. Mention the blog and get 10% off any rug.

 

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Visit Dagmar and me Saturday on the High Desert Studio Tour! Hand-dyed yarns and hand-hooked rugs!

 

On our way up the trail near Taos Ski Area. It was another beautiful day in New Mexico. Can you make out Tynan searching for yet another gecko…

I’m back! It’s only been a couple of weeks, but I feel kind of better even if I didn’t make it back to friends and family in New England. (For that story, see this post.) Anyway, Tom and I and the dog did manage to take a couple of day trips. The first was up to north of Taos near the ski area. We hiked for a couple of hours then picked up lunch in the very cool, little village of Arroyo Seco. Tom counted every one of the 19 stream crossings that we did in that two hours. But both of us had dry feet – quite the balancing act! – at the end. Tynan, he just forded through them all. Why should he care if he gets wet? Or muddy? Or what happens to the car when he gets back in?

Last week the three of us headed to Los Alamos via the Jemez Mountains. We’d never taken that drive in the fall. Gorgeous! Thus far one of my favorite parts of New Mexico. We didn’t hike this time; we wanted to get home before Albuquerque’s rush hour traffic. But we managed lunch in Los Alamos. It was a good day.

 

On Route 4 in New Mexico’s Jemez Pueblo. How often do you see something like that?
This is Battleship Rock. You can see why.
This and the rock pic are for Canadian rug hooker Karen Miller who always has the best close-ups of nature..
Even boulders are wicked cool in New Mexico!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Valle Caldera, a super volcano that erupted over a million years ago. It’s 12-13 miles in diameter! We looked for elk, but didn’t see any critters at all. Bummer.

 

On the road out of Los Alamos to take us to Route 84 to take us to Santa Fe to take us to Route 25 to take us back south to Albuquerque. Look at that BIG SKY, people!

Meanwhile I’m busily trying to finish up small and mug-type rugs to sell at the High Desert Studio Tour (scroll down through the page to the part about the tour) this coming Saturday. If you recall, my friend Dagmar of ZiaWoolz invited me again this year to sell at her house/studio. She’s #3 on the map. If you’re in the area, come hang out with us for a bit. I’ll have chocolate!

 

Check out the Zia rug in the far left center. Guess who made that?

What I don’t sell at Dag’s I hope to unload sell at Santa Fe’s Fall Fiber Fiesta at the Scottish Rite Temple come November 17-19. The 17th is an artists’ reception in the evening, 5:00-8:00, costs $10. Saturday and Sunday hours are 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, no charge. Unless you buy something, of course. 🙂  Hope you stop by there too to pick up some gifts for the quickly approaching holidays. Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just over two weeks away!

Lastly, Tynan did not forget to bring you this week’s “What’s on the frame” feature. Of course, he received his commission. God forbid I forget that. Talk to you next week!

“What’s on the frame” this week and Tynan. These mug rugs will be done by Saturday. Come visit Dagmar and me and see them at the High Desert Studio Tour in Albuquerque!

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“Resting” in December and looking to hooking in 2017

Mug and rug.
A mug and its rug to welcome the cold winter months of 2017.

 

The calendar tells me that there are 15 or so days left to December and 2016. The 15 prior to today – and many more before them – seem to have just come and gone in a rush of mug rugs and holiday fairs and fall visitors and holiday preparations and meetings for this and that. Add in a dollup of family issues and arthritis crap, and I’ve realized that something’s gotta give or I will.

Fortunately, I’ve actually managed to get most presents bought and my cards and packages posted. (We were hoping to get back to New England this Christmas, but the kid has to work, so no dice. We will DEFINITELY be there next year!) Now I need to take some time, not really to rest per se, but to recharge and start thinking about 2017. That means sitting down by myself and playing and planning. The “by myself” part is the BIGGIE. Social media’s been a constant bug in my ear lately – the blog, Facebook posts for myself, H on H, and my guild. Hell, it takes so much time just to delete all the holiday offers I’m getting in my two mailboxes every minute of every hour of the last two months! And then there’s the stuff I actually want or have to read! It’s time to get off of the merry-go-round for a couple of weeks. Oh, I know it won’t be a complete black-out; I’m not that good. (Plus I’m nosy.) Still, I need to remember what it’s like to enjoy sharing something rather than feeling as if life on earth depends on my posting it.

What exactly will I play and plan, you ask? Don’t worry; I’ve got plenty to keep me busy for a LOT LONGER than I have.

  • First and foremost, I have to get my class proposal to the Espanola Valley Fiber Arts Center. Should’ve had it done last week, but that’s the holidays for you.
  • Since I’ve been going on about Albuquerque’s Fiber Arts Fiesta coming up in May, I really have to get on that stick and get my own project started. I’ve been running things through my mind for months, and I think I know what I want to create. Well, I almost did; it changed some last night in bed. Different lightbulb went on keeping me up. It’s time to run with all the ideas, mock them up, whatever. The thing is due for jurying come March 1. That’s like two months away! Gotta get to work.
  • Website and other business stuff. Jean Ottosen‘s been so good talking about her
    Picture of FIfth Wednesday Journal's current edition.
    Newest issue of Fifth Wednesday Journal.

    business changes and challenges, that she’s inspired me. It’s time for a more formal approach. Jean, be warned! You may get a call.

  • Reading and reading and reading. I love to read, but this time of year, I don’t get a lot of pleasure reading done because it has to wait till I get in bed and you all know what happens then. Make no mistake, I’m reading plenty – at least two short stories each evening. I read the slush pile for a great lit journal, Fifth Wednesday, from October through January (and again in the spring). It’s a labor of love, particularly this year as we’re reading  for the twentieth anniversary issue. LOTS of authors are sending stories in hoping to be included. Some are good, some aren’t. But it’s a great chance to switch up that creativity thing.

 

Mary Ramsey hooking a rug in December, 2016.
AWAG President Mary Ramsey working on her mug rug doo-dahs (see last week’s blog post). Notice how the glass she’s holding matches the wool so perfectly.

In between all those “workish” things, there’s always time for some fun. Yesterday the Adobe Wool Arts Guild celebrated the holidays and another happy year hooking together. Dagmar Beinenz-Byrd of ZiaWoolz hosted marvelously. There was food and a fiber-themed Yankee Swap And food. And hooking. And fun. Always fun. I got so lucky when I moved here and joined AWAG. I love my guild.

Darlene Nelson holding up hooked rug in December, 2016.
Isn’t Darlene Nelson’s wood man exquisite?

 

Linda Towle hooking a rug in December, 2016.
Linda Towle was working on her owl doodahs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish you all a wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and here’s to 2017! See you in a couple of weeks!

 

Pic of snowman mug rug in December.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from High on Hooking!
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Thank you to ZiaWoolz!

Aren't these fingerless gloves yummy? Dag made them, and I had to have a pair. Actually, she spun and dyed the wool and then knitted them. My only problem was which color to buy!
Aren’t these fingerless gloves yummy? Dag made them, and I had to have a pair. Actually, she spun and dyed the wool, then knitted them with the resulting yarn. My only problem was which color to buy! If you’re a knitter, check out ZiaWoolz now!

 

I need to say a big thank you to Dagmar Beinenz-Byrd of ZiaWoolz and her family. They hosted me at Dag’s home studio for the High Desert Studio Tour this past weekend. I managed to sell at least half of my mug rug sets and a wall hanging.

 

After voting Tuesday, I’ll stop at Savers (with Tom, of course, who ensures that I get the 30% senior citizen discount!) to find an appropriate mug for the sister of the girl receiving my “Sparkly Snowman” rug and matching mug. “Grandma” purchased it Saturday and can’t show any favors, you know. That has to be done in time to shop for Christmas. Best to do it now…

The "Sparkly Snowman" has left the building. He was made with wool strips and yarns as well as sparkly netting. (Tom's threatened me about using that sparkly stuff again, It got all over the house.)
The “Sparkly Snowman” has left the building. He was made with wool strips and yarns as well as sparkly netting. (Tom’s threatened me about using that sparkly stuff again; it got all over the house.)

Because I’ve only got a few left, I’ll be making more mug rug sets the rest of November, at least. A setback, I learned I was wait-listed for the Rail Yards Holiday Market on December 11. After everyone heard there were 10,000 patrons last year, local artists understandably came out of the virtual woodwork. I’m a little down that I can’t count on vending at the market, but I’ll be able to use any inventory I make this month for next year and the Etsy shop that I’m planning to finally get to this winter. The only positive is that I might not have to stand in the cold for four hours much as I’d like to vend. The Rail Yards isn’t heated. Hell, there are scads of windows missing too which is part of the charm in warm weather. But I’ll definitely be there to shop all the other great artists!

The wide, wonderful world of Navajo rugs!
The wide, wonderful world of Navajo rugs!

For those who remember my post last November on the Maxwell Museum Navajo Rug Auction, if you’re in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area on November 19, all are invited to this year’s auction. It’s at the Prairie Star Restaurant in Bernalillo. Preview starts at 11:00 a.m. and the auction itself at 1:00.  I’ve included a couple of pics from last year.

Have you been to any interesting fiber arts events lately?

Thanks again, Dag and Wyatt!

Without doubt, the most spectacular rug we saw. It would've looked perfect under my dining room table. Unfortunately for us, the starting bid was $7500. No one bid on it, but all rugs not auctioned off were available for purchase after the auction at the starting bid prices. Maybe someone picked it up then.
Without doubt, the most spectacular rug we saw last year. I hope that someone’s enjoying it. I would!
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