One of the 2013 ATHA Biennial classes

Thanks so much to Spruce Ridge Studio for posting this info on facebook:

Registration for the 2013 ATHA Biennial in Long Beach, California has begun! I am teaching Color On The Wall on Saturday, September 28th. This is going to be a fun workshop full of creativity! Create a wall pocket/hanging cone. You may design your own or you may hook one of my designs (there will be more than just a Santa design). The class kit comes with a pattern and all the wool you need. We'll also discuss how to sew up your cone and add the hanger. Use sheep curls, roving, felted baubles, sari ribbon. Explore quilling and needle felting on your hooking...plus much more!

Sign up, get creative and join the fun! There are still openings available.

If you use facebook, you need to know this...

from Loretta Scena

As a Rug Hooker, Facebook provides me with a list of people whom I may know or who have mutual friends each time I get friend requested. When I see other hookers, I invite them to be my friend. The other day, I asked I don't know 20 or 30 hookers to be friends. I got booted off of Facebook and am not allowed to send a friend request for 7 days because I got reported somewhere??? Go figure. All in the name of Rug Hooking and its preservation and enjoyment. :P

Goose Creek Hook-In Pix

Thanks so much to Elinor for taking and sharing these wonderful pix! Sorry it took me more than a week to get these posted!

Barb and some of our gals at their table on
the left under the window

More of the hookers - It was a very generously sized room

Here's our Caroline, busy with one of many customers

Here are Mary and Ron, hooking away!

And here are third through first place winners:

This gorgeous rug...

... and this spectacular rug tied for third place

Here's Second-Place; really cute!

And the 1st Place winner! So very clever!

ATHA registration is working!

Note on facebook from Rebecca Cridler:

Atha registration is working. Hope everyone gets the classes they want. See you in California.

Doris's daughter is doing well!

I know you'll all be as glad to hear this as I was!

Here's the news from Doris:

Joan is still in intensive care, but her surgery was successful and she's doing well; she sat in a chair for several hours today - enough to claim that her butt end was sore.

 

She's talking, eating Jello, and drinking ginger ale.

They are trying to get the fluid off of her body and lungs especially.  Seems they pump you full of water before the operation and then purge you after.  She is still being give pain meds so that she is "in and out" but that is normal. 

 

It's finally happening...

Great article on transferring patterns with Red Dot

I've used Red Dot, but it's been a long time, so I found this 'refresher' course by Christine Little very useful, and well-written! It's the second article on her blog, right after the amazing Rose of Thorns Compass Rose pictures. One hooked by Christine, and the gorgeous brown and gold version hooked by Vera Sollows. I've always wanted to do a Celtic knot rug, but I can't even imagine how to do this one. And they make it look easy!

http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/whats-new.html

Cindi Gay's 1st eReader book now available on Amazon.com

The book is Pictorial Basics: How to Rug Hook Pine Trees, Grass and Sky, and it's one of my favorites!

Here's the direct link:
http://www.amazon.com/Trees-Grass-Pictorial-Basics-ebook/dp/B00B43QMHM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358919198&sr=8-2&keywords=cindi+gay

Cindi Gay Rug Hooking

After more hours than I care to admit, my first book is available on Amazon.com. You can now get the book at the price it took to ship the printed version! Remember that you can download the Kindle app and read this book on many different devices, including your computer and many phones. You do not have to have a Kindle device just the Kindle app.

The book has been completely re-organized and re-written. It looks amazing on the iPad and iPad Mini. If you use a different device, I'd love to hear about your experience.

It is more than the print version can ever be. In this digital version, I included many color photos and I can easily link to another place in the book or on the web. With the touch of a finger you can access any additional information I mention.

I started reading Kindle books after my cataract surgery several years ago. I read the books on my laptop. I was able to make the text as large as I needed. The crisp text on the screen was easy to read. About a year later I bought an iPad. It is a joy to be able to read regularly again.

Let me know what you think! Leave a comment here or review the book on Amazon.com.

Mary Sheppard Burton: American Folklife Center collection

Oh, this is so wonderful!  

Thank you, Lenny Feenan for sharing this with us!

For those of you who do not know, Mary Sheppard Burton has a collection of 12 rugs on permanent collection at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. 

A friend recommended to post this because one of the reasons the library fell in love with Mary was because of her rug 'A Chicken in Every Pot', it is a scene of the presidential inauguration of Herbert Hoover in 1929. The rug and Mary's story of it can be viewed here http://www.loc.gov/folklife/msburton/commentary07.html as well as the other 11 rugs in the collection. 

I made plenty of trips to the Jefferson building to assist Mary with the Library interviews when the acquired the collection. Rug Hooking groups can request a collection viewing by calling and scheduling a visit with the American Folklife Center director. And if you have not toured the Jefferson building, it is wonderful. Yes, this means the Mary Sheppard Burton is a recognized American folk artist.

You can see the rugs in two sizes, and even zoom in closer to view the loops.

ATHA's online site for registration for biennial

Updated info RE ATHA's online site for registration (most recent listed first)

To visit the site, go to http://www.atharugs.com/ and, right under the big ATHA, click on ATHA 2013 Biennial

Sunday, 1/20/2013

ATHA said:

   We apologize for the registration site being down at this time. We are working diligently to have it available for you in the very near future. Please watch this page for when it goes live again.

   If you would like us to notify you via email when the site goes lie again, please send an email to: 2013athabiennial@att.net and we will be happy to do that.

   We appreciate your patience.

Saturday, 1/19/2013

Annie Carson

For my rug hooking friends everywhere:

ATHA Registration Report

Via Gene Shepherd

   Actually, we had all sorts of problems today, causing us to shut down the site until we can work out the kinks. IF YOU REGISTERED, we will need to talk to you and reconfirm everything you signed up for. You are welcome to email me about this and I will make sure someone calls you to go over your registration. Fortunately, we know who registered and the order that their registration came in ... but not all the particulars. So, if you were first in line, your order will be the first one taken - 10th in line, 10th, etc. Sorry for the problems. Believe me when I say it was not how I intended to spend my day! At least the rift did not create a black hole and suck us all into oblivion which, for a few moments there, it looked like it might. GRS

Friday, 1/18/2013

Annie Carson

For all my rug hooking friends everywhere:

via Gene Shepherd:

   I wanted to make sure everyone remembered that the registration for the 2013 ATHA Biennial in Long Beach CA will begin tomorrow morning at 9 AM (PT). This year's registration is moving to an on line format. To find the registration site, go to the ATHA Website. You can sign up and pay for classes, meals and events. If there is someone who can not access a computer for registration, there will also be a phone number that can be called on Saturday, where a live person will help them register on that day only. On line registration will let you know immediately which classes you will be able to get and put you on a waiting list for those that fill up before you get there. Long Beach will be a great gathering and I hope to see you there. Gene Shepherd

Association of Traditional Hooking Artists (ATHA)

1/3/2013

   Online Registration for the 2013 Biennial opens at 9:00 am PST on Saturday, January 19, 2013. Instructions and information for online registration is included in the December/January ATHA Newsletter pages 32-41. 

   We encourage you to assist anyone in your ATHA Chapter or local area that does not have Internet access in completing their registration. 

   If you do not have Internet access and wish to register on January 19, 2013 you may call Karen Moore at 714-990-1620 or Sally Coon at 714-812-7353 between the hours of 9 am - 1:00 pm PST and 3:00 - 6:00 pm PST. 

   For questions or more information contact:

Karen Moore, 2013 Biennial Treasurer/Registrar at 2013ATHABiennial@att.net

Three upcoming hook-ins

Goose Creek is January 19 and close enough to drive for all of us.  Advance registration of $5 will put you on call list if the weather becomes iffy and they postpone to the following Saturday.  

Woolwrights is in Lancaster, PA under three hours from Winchester.  There will be different vendors, and rugs people... It is March 16, fee is advance registration of $10 and if you want additional box lunch fee. See this link for registration form

http://www.woolwrights.com/2013-woolwrights-spring-hook-in-registration-form.html

The RugFest is coming up in Mechanicsville, Virginia on April 6. http://virginiarugfest.com/2013info.html

And keep August 10 open for the Mountain State Fiber artists, FiberFest at Capon Valley Ruritans in Yellow Spring, WV. We'll have planning committees working on detail, join in to help.

Contact Susan Feller at info@ruckmanmillfarm.com for details and see www.MountainStateFiberArtists.com later on for registration form online. 

Don't forget to get your raffle tickets!

(Sorry I couldn't make the picture any darker)

This gorgeous rug has so generously been donated by Doris Aymar to raise money for our Guild's Education Fund. 

Tickets are $1.00 each, or 6 for $5, and are available now from President Beth Stitely. Payment is due at/by our March meeting. 

Pick up some for yourself, and some to sell to co-workers, or at hook-ins.

The winner will be drawn, tentatively, on March 20th (the First Day of Spring).

Huge thanks to Doris for this more than generous donation! 

Some interesting goings-on

Quilting Deals

Learn something new in the new year with a brand new online class from Craftsy! Learn double knitting, cake painting, collage quilting, and more! Click through the album to take a closer look at these fabulous new classes! — Celebrate the New Year with New Classes from Craftsy! (14 photos)

Go to your facebook page and in the search box, type "Craftsy" to go to their page and learn more.

Hooked Rug Museum Grand Opening!!

The Hooked Rug Museum of North America 
will have it's Grand Opening in June 2013.
9849 Highway 3
Hubbards/Queensland, N.S. BOJ 1TO
(902-858-3060 or 902-275-5222)
http://www.hookedrugmuseumnovascotia.org/


Need books for your Kindle?

Here's a link to a great site that shows free books every day (plus an App of the Day, some free games, and lots of info on their blog: 
http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/

Maple Hill Wool Studio

(from facebook) said...
"Can't wait for new wools to arrive... I get excited right after Christmas... I should be getting my new sample's in a couple of months I hope. I live for new woolen samples of textiles coming. The hard part is making the choice you want. I have found out in the past that when I get new wools in after they arrive I wished I had ordered more of a color or texture. When that happens I am on the phone right away trying to get that woolen piece before it sells out. Its worse than bidding for something on ebay. LOL You can tell it doesn't take much to make me happy..."
https://www.facebook.com/MapleHillWoolStudio?filter=3

Happy New Year to all my Co-Hookers!

Here's hoping 2013 is safe and happy for you all!

Hugs,

Sunny

Some Christmas-y links

Two ways to finish a Christmas stocking, from Bonnie Duncan and Christine Little:

http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/whats-new.html

Like the Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate"??

Check out these yummy Christmas gift ideas...

Zingerman's "Bacon Of The Month" Club:

http://www.zingermans.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=G-BAC-3&crf=muumrk&gclid=COCzlYrxn7QCFUQw4AodTjQAZw

or Collin Street Bakery's amazing fruitcakes:

http://www.collinstreet.com/?t=s_go_kw_Collin_Street_Bakery&gclid=CLKRsrnxn7QCFdKd4Aod1QkAuQ

There's some adorable & fun ideas on Confessions of Crafty Witches on facebook! I couldn't place the link here, but you can search for them from your facebook page. 

Red Jack Rugs has an article on making a Wool Feather Tree for Christmas that's soooo cute! http://redjackrugs.blogspot.com/2009/12/create-wool-feather-tree-for-holidays.html?

Heidi Wulfraat at London-Wul fibre arts is having a New Year's Giveaway package valued at $200 for either rug hooking, knitting, spinning or quilting - just go to her site and 'like' her page and you're entered! 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/London-Wul-Fibre-Arts/247104208678201

That's all I've got for now... will post more as I find more goodies!

Amy Soutter Oxford opening a new school in Vermont

After 25 years of being an itinerant rug hooking teacher my long-time dream has come true! I've closed on a beautiful 1816 colonial house here in Cornwall, Vermont that will be the future home of my very own school called The Oxford Rug School, opening for classes in June, 2013! The school will specialize in punch needle rug hooking. The living room and dining room will be my classrooms, the kitchen will be great for dye workshops and Sara Jane Burghoff from Violet Jane has agreed to be the school's yarn dyeing instructor. I'll have nice small classes with ten students and have room to house five. There's a B&B just 1/2 a mile away and lots of other places to stay in Middlebury. I'll have my very own studio and it's only 2 1/2 miles from my house. I'm beside myself with happiness…

You can find Amy Soutter Oxford and see her beautiful new (old) house by searching her name on facebook.

FYI: From our Colorado ATHA Guild and for all who may have known Winnie. . .

Our precious hooking friend, Winnie Rodehaver, passed away peacefully at her home yesterday. I know that even though many of you did not know Winnie, you will understand the importance of the friendships she found among fellow rug hookers. It was always a surprise to see her just a day past radiation treatments when she would show up at a meeting or Hook-In despite her doctor's warnings. She was a wonderfully voracious wool shopper and took advantage of any opportunity to expand her stash.

In accordance with Winnie's wishes, there will be no services. She loved life and wanted all who knew her to remember her spontaneous smile, her gregarious energy and her determination to squeeze out every last drop of living that she was given.

Updates to the ATHA Biennial website

Check out all the NEW updates to the Biennial Website:

http://atharugs.com/biennial2013/ 

Also, don't forget our Biennial Fundrasier when you shop for your holiday presents - Patterns: Coast to Coast - is on sale now. Order information is on the Biennial Website as well as in the ATHA Newsletter. We are receiving wonderful feedback on this unique pattern collection. For a variety of photos of finished rugs from the collection check out Gene Shepherd's blog at 

http://geneshepherd.com/blog1/?s=2013+Biennial

"A Thing or Two" show; Judy Carter demonstrating

Info from Judy Carter, via facebook, 12/7/2012

Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, "A Thing or Two" show starts today. 

335 N Queen Street, Lancaster, PA. 

Mother's Comfort (giraffes) will be in the show and I will be demonstrating tomorrow from 11-2. Stop in to see the show and say hello. 

http://www.pacrafts.org/shop-now/exhibitions/

Using PayPal for the ATHA Pattern Book

Info from ATHA via Facebook, 12/5/2012

Association of Traditional Hooking Artists (ATHA)

Many of you have asked about paying for the Pattern Book via PayPal. Here are the instructions!

Log into their PayPal account and choose “send money”. When prompted, they enter 2013athabiennial@att.net (our PayPal ID) and the correct total. If they are in CA, the patterns are $46.45 ($38 plus $2.95 CA sales tax, plus $5.50 shipping & handling). Outside of CA, it is a total of $43.50 ($38 plus $5.50 for shipping & handling).

If anyone wants to order a number of them and have them shipped to one address, they should email KTMoore@att.net for a quote on how much shipping would be. This will definitely save on shipping amount. PayPal will give us the mailing address on their PayPal account and we will know what they are ordering by the amount of money they send.