Paintings | Glassware | Pets & Animals | Floorcloths | Printed Shirts

When this month is over, 2014 will be half over. Have I accomplished half of my yearly goals? Not even close! But it is the unanticipated daily events that have made 2014 a very full year so far.

My newsletter readership is almost 500. I'd love to get over that milestone, so if you know someone who might get a kick out of reading about my studio adventures, I would be grateful if you'd consider forwarding a copy to them with recommendation to sign up. I'll let you know next month if I've hit the big 500 yet. Will this mean I will be in the Fortune 500 Club?

In this issue

This Saturday: Art in the Park - June 7; 10 AM-4 PM
The Odds of a Tattoo
My Thoreau Linocut finds a new venue in Maine!
A real life Math Question for left brainers
Rya Rug Makers, Send me your photos!
A couple of Pint glasses on the side

Stop by to visit my booth at

Art in the Park in Westminster, MD

City Hall Park, Sat., June 7

New Hand-printed shirt image available at Art in the Park!

I have a couple new designs on shirts that you won't want to miss: This image of the Woolie and a Peace Dove image. In addition to about 25 carved image designs on shirts. I also will have more Raven In Flight shirts for men, women, and children. I will have more rya rugs than I've ever shown before. Come and take a look to see what the fuss is all about. ;-)

If you receive my blog, you already know about the "coincidence" at Sun Nursery.

But if you don't know what I have in common with this young man, read the incredible story here. Honest, it is worth a moment of your time.

My Thoreau Art Travels to Maine!

I muster my energy to answer the phone--ready to cut short the telemarketer--only to find it is a real nice person with goals and ethics similar to mine asking if we can collaborate on a worthy project. That is what happened last week when my Henry David Thoreau linocut print caught the eye of event planners in Maine celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the publishing of HDT's book The Maine Woods. Read what happened here--its a great program! Imagine 7 canoes, 14 paddlers, traveling HDT's 325-mile trek through the waterways and woods of Maine in 16 days! Read on.

How are you at Math? Help me?

I think this is a "Pie are Square" type of problem. It shouldn't be that difficult, but my brain is begging off, so help me out if you are mathematically inclined.

If a 6' 6" square rya rug backing requires about 66 skeins of yarn to cover it in knots, how many skeins would it take to cover a 6' 6" ROUND rya backing? Easy, right? I really would appreciate your help here. Email me if you can work this out. [email protected]

Click here to learn more about this backing I'm offering via etsy.

Rya Rug makers, past and present: Send me a photo of you with your rya for a future newsletter, please.

Janine Cotreau stitches the final knots on her last of several very large rya rugs.

I'd like to do a photo collage of you with your hand knotted rya rugs. Just for fun!

Have someone take a good digital image of you knotting your rya, laying on your rya, standing in front of, or holding it for all to see. Would you like to see the rya rugs other people make? They would like to see yours, too. Many thanks. Send photo with your name, how many rugs you've made, where you live, and if you designed your rya or followed a pattern...and anything else you want to share.

For a little variety in my work day...

Two Pint Glasses for the staff at Maryland Homebrew.

So long for now, my friends.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to read what is going on in and around the studio. I love and appreciate your comments. Why not sign up for my blog postings if that would add to your enjoyment in life? Click here to sign up for Blogs (Then put your email address in the box in the right-hand margin.)

Cheers! And enjoy each day.

Melinda