Byrdcall Studio, LLC

Rya Rug Revival

and Creative Arts

by Melinda Byrd

Since I last Wrote . . .

Early in October, John and I took a two week vacation to South Nags Head, NC. So I closed up the studio, website, and Etsy shop during that time. Hitting the beach is always a weather risk in October. Four gorgeous days followed by a week of mixed tropical storm, nor'easter, and a Super Moon (just for giggles) followed by 4 more gorgeous days resulted in a great vacation.

The storms gave me a chance to focus on indoor activities like knotting a rya rug, 2 1/2 paintings completed, 2 puzzles completed, 3 books read, and lots of good local foods to enjoy. We visited friends and made some friends, rode bikes on long bike paths. And I celebrated a big birthday--won't say which one.

1st project was painting a luna moth I took a photo of about 10 years ago.

2nd project became a multimedia painting which is a whole new style for me--and I love it!

And here is the rya in progress. Can't show you the whole thing since it is going to be a gift for a woman (who may see this) from her husband.

Update on Byrdcall Studio

I just read what I wrote to you here in the last newsletter, and not much has changed. The rya business is still in a state of flux. To be honest, I don't know exactly what is happening in yarn availability. Waiting for information. . .

Here is a BIG deal in my estimation: Rauma has stopped mixing the natural white with the natural black fleece which produced all the natural grays. I received 10 NEW ryegarn sample cards last month and those mixed grays are no longer offered: 503, 504, 505, and 516. There are still plenty of dyed grays which can be substituted and I still have some of those colors available until they are gone.

We totally sold out of the needle organization blocks a few weeks ago. John to the rescue. He made about 70 more blocks. (see pictures above)

If you don't have one, it really makes life so much easier to have a block like this on hand. Click to read more and order.

Also, I was totally surprised to witness my hefty new graph paper selling out--so I printed up 250 more sheets which should keep us flush for years to come. Click to see graph paper write-up.

So good news along with the not-so-good news.

Good News: Your prices have not gone up (yet.)

Good News: My prices have not gone up yet. Well, maybe they have, but no one has told me that yet.

Good News: Some yarn I was waiting for months to receive has arrived!

Good News: I have on hand about 96% of the Ryegarn and Prydvevgarn

Good News: I have been able to fill just about every order that I have received, but that may not be the case in coming weeks.

Bad News: I still have not received backings from Rauma in over a year. I am running dangerously low on some of them, but have plenty of "other" sizes.

Bad News: I have run out of the 24" backing from Sweden. They are hesitant to ship more due to the time-consuming new shipping tariffs and laws, so stay tuned to learn whether or not Swedish backing will be available.

Good News: I try to keep my Etsy Shop and Website up-to-date on all the kits and yarns I carry. If you see that I am offering a kit, that means I have everything needed for you to make it. The minute I sell out of a critical backing, all those kits will immediately be marked as out-of-stock, so you don't have to wonder.

Fortunately I have a good amount of the Finnish Taito Pirkanmaa backings in various width. See them on Etsy. These are the surface-knotted backings. I also have the popular Wetterhoff backings

Lundgren yarn has been moving very well. Several colors have sold out this summer.

No Open Studio in December

It's just too busy for everyone. Stay tuned.

I know it can be frustrating to wait weeks for an "Open Studio" date only to have it fall on a date when you have other plans. Bear in mind, I am very good about making appointments for you to come in and pick up supplies (and I'm happy to help you select) but you'd take your work home to do, and not actually sit down to work on your projects in the studio. On Open Studio Days I clear off my work surfaces so YOU can work, but it can take hours for me to prepare for an open event.

Email or call me. Give me a couple of times YOU are free to stop by. I'll let you know what works for me, and we can schedule a studio visit to meet your needs.

Open Studios are more fun, I know. Hang with your friends, listen to music, eat snacks, but not this holiday season. Sorry!

On Nov. 8th we had a fun open studio. We had experienced rya rug makers and a brand "newbie." Mona Becker came early and stayed for the day. She was a fast learner. She brought artwork given to her by her deceased grandmother, graphed it, selected colors, counted knots on the graph, and calculated exactly how much yarn she needed and learned to make the knot. Rumor has it she is knotting away on it!



We also were happy to have Megan, Les, Penny, and Lori here that day for supplies and a little hands on time on the ryas. Below is Les and Megan. She is the designer and knotter. He is the technical expert who draws her designs on the backing. ;-)

Beth, Jo Ann, and Jordan were not able to come that day, but they scheduled drop-in appointments and got what they needed a week or two later. So nice to see you all!

I offer you this hand-carved and hand painted original linocut of a cheerful red cardinal among the berries professionally printed on 100# Cover Accent Opaque Smooth White stock 5” x 7" in size. The printed cards here are so close to my original watercolor cards, it amazes me.

Choose either a blank interior or with a message or a 50/50 mix of both. (Or any combination you request of me)

The message reads:

"Wishing You Peace and Joy

This Holiday Season

and Every Day of the New Year"

The boxes of 10 cards are budget priced at $1.80 per card and envelope.

If you know you will need more cards than ten, you can buy 2 boxes, or slurge and get my pack of 40 cards at this link and save $.10 per card. 

Click here to order a box to 10.

Click here to order 40 cards for additional savings.

Who Remembers My Block Printing Days?

This is Knotty Dogs. It is the first block print--a linocut--that I carved in my adult life. At Common Ground on the Hill, the Traditional Arts Camp, I took Celtic knot carving class with Shawn Lockhart in 2000. Knotty Dogs was the outcome of the class and the beginning of about 15 years of actively carving about 40 woodcuts and linocuts which I sell as framable art.

Years ago I printed and sold about 50 prints which was half of the edition of 100. Just a couple of months ago a friend contacted me to ask if I had a hand-printed "Knotty Dogs" that she could frame and hang with some of the other prints she had bought over the years. I didn't, so once my studio work space had a clear work surface, I was able to print again! I now have 15 more prints which I offer to you now if you are interested. Click here to see listing.

The 8" x 8" paper is torn with a deckle edge.

Except for a few breakaway carvings, I have not carved or printed anything in 10 years. Getting back into printmaking is one of the things I will do when I slow down.

Love the design, but would prefer inexpensive note cards? I had some professionally printed years ago and offer them at a really good price here.

Check out some of my other prints on my website at this link.

Note: there are two pages of the blockprints listed on my website.

Update on Rya Business Status

During the past year, I have been telling you that I need a change in my active role as your rya rug provider and coach. We have had active interest by qualified and wonderful people. I am keeping things in a holding pattern at the moment due to the uncertainty of the supply chain as things stand.

No one would want to take the torch for the next period of time without assurance that supplies will be forthcoming. No rush on anyone's part, so we will take our time and see what unfolds. When a change occurs, you will be the first to know. All is well. Feel free to shop as you normally do until a change occurs. Your best interest is my primary goal with any transition.

[This is a repeat from the last issue.]

Most of you have been in touch with me one way or the other for a decade or more, but I wanted to share with new folks the best way for me to communicate with you most efficiently.

Best Email: byrdcallstudio@gmail.com. Info@byrdcallstudio.com also works and comes right to my gmail address.

Contacting me via my Website: This works fine and goes straight to my gmail address.

Contacting me via Etsy messaging: This is fine for questions about Etsy purchases, but not so much for asking general questions that don't relate to Etsy orders. They monitor my message with algorithms and I must respond within 24 hours or they give me demerits that affect my 5-star rating. It's like having a "boss" looking over my shoulder. But definitely use their message system regarding an order.

Messaging me on Facebook. Please don't. I won't notice and will feel terrible when I notice weeks later.

Contacting me by Phone: All of my promotional info which I send out when you make a purchase has my phone number on it. During business hours, I welcome a call. But I must say that 90% of the calls I get are spam or junk calls. If I don't recognize the number, I'm not apt to answer, so LEAVE A MESSAGE. I will call back asap. If no message is left, I might assume it is spam and "block the caller." Sorry. I know you all experience the same thing and it is frustrating. Texting is OK (not great), but my friends and family all text, so I'm afraid of mixing up business texting with personal life texting and I try to live as disconnected as I can from "devices."

So, I'm here for you, but email is best so a speedy response and my ability to locate your past messages for reference. Thanks.

Show & Tell ~ Sharing with Others

Long time rye* rug maker, Arne Solbak passed on April 23, 2025 at the age of 93. I shared this in a summer newsletter. He made a rye for every member of his family--and more. From Norway, he spent most of his life working on the seas after starting his career with the Royal Norwegian Navy in 1950 when he made his first rye rugs. I'm am happy to have known him over the past 10 years or so, and his wife, Molly, who made sure he always had a rye project in his hands so he would be happy.

A couple of weeks ago, John and I drove to Lititz, PA to visit Arne's wife and see his many ryes. Molly Solbak had packed all of Arne's leftover rye yarn and a beautifully half-completed kit to us. We had a delicious lunch at the Tomato Pie Cafe. I so wish we had taken pictures of our visit, but alas... John and I stayed overnight at a fine hotel in the center of town and walked everywhere. Molly, thank you for your invitation to your home and fine town.

Once home, I immediately found a good home for Arne's half-finished rye. It went to a mother-daughter team. I have been making small skeins from his leftover yarn from dozens of Rauma's kits he knotted over the years. All yarn meticulously tagged with color number and in excellent condition. Nothing will go to waste.

I miss Arne and trying to keep up with his rye needs. Below he is sitting with his self-designed Norwegian rye shield.

• Rye is the Norwegian translation for rya.

Elizabeth Hunter

of the Chameleon Fiberworks of Saco, Maine.

Elizabeth wove this 2' x 2' rya using mostly Lundgren rya yarn. The Neon green (#22) is now gone. The gray yarn is mostly #82. When she ran out of her #22, she needed a litle more so I talked her into trying the CUM Rya yarn almost exactly the same color. I had several skeins but it is mostly gone after several people learned the #22 was all gone. I just bought a skein of a similar color on eBay (for $21.00!) But it isn't close enough. Elizabeth, thank for sharing your rya with us.

What a beautiful rya.

Who Wants a FREE Cardboard Barrel?

Great for Storing Wool (or anything)

Until Next Time, Friends,

I wish you peace and love this holiday season.

Thank you for sharing your photos with me. Being in touch always makes my day. I hope you are well and enjoying life each day.

Giving a sincere shout out to our friends in Canada. We love you.

And though life has been challenging and overwhelming at times over the past many months, I always refresh my mind by taking a walk through the yard or at the parks. I sure hope you enjoy my garden pictures since I love taking them and sharing them.

We are all in this together. Join me for a stroll around my yard today. We actually had a snow fall this morning, but no accumulation. Still, nice to know it's coming.

With love to you,

Melinda

I am so "into" sourdough everything these days. Any of you experiencing the same thrill? Bread, bagels, English muffins, granola, dinner rolls, boules, Indian flatbreads... Life is good.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end

Stay connected. I'm here for ya.

Let me know if I can help you with anything rya.

Sincerely,

Melinda

PO Box 162

Woodbine, MD 21797

410-615-2473

info@byrdcallstudio.com