Byrdcall Studio, LLC
Rya Rug Revival
and Creative Arts
by Melinda Byrd
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Newsletter ~November 2021
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Greetings!
In case you suffer from what-month-is-this syndrome--I'm happy to report it is November! Time to slow down bit and breathe.
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I am a Fall girl, a Libra. I like the weather to cool down because it helps me slow down and breathe.
Lately it seems many of you are starting to place orders for rya supplies, so I guess it's time to come indoors from the gardens, and bring out your fiber crafts. Let me know how I can help. I am well-stocked with all my usual supplies and kits and some great gift ideas in the Etsy shop.
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- Planning ahead for the Holidays
- OPEN STUDIO Dec. 4th 10AM - 4 PM
- Holiday Gift Ideas
- Vintage Bergå Yarn Half Sold Out
- Rya Show & Tell: Susan Morduch
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Etsy versus Website purchasing
- Closing Comments
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Archives of Recent Newsletters
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<-- This amazing work-in-progress is being created by Carol Solinger from Odenton, MD. If you have read my newsletter for years, you have seen several of her original rya creations. (Skip through the archives to find others.)
She just ordered more yarn for the completion of this piece being knotted on a vintage Swedish backing.
I can't take my eyes off it. As you can see, she draws her design on the backing and then "paints with wool" as she works each area.
Carol reports, "It doesn’t have a name but it is a landscape/ waterscape combined. I also do my signature 4 black vertical yarn lines against strong horizontals. Lots of blending colors for an ombré effect."
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Note: Sometimes newsletters will "abbreviate" at the halfway point. A message will appear to "click to see the remaining message." If you don't notice it, you might miss some pretty cool stuff, so be sure to read (or scroll) to the end. You'll see me knotting on a rya at the beach!
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The holidays are coming . . .
So what about shipping ?
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Like you, I watch the news and hear that store shelves are bare and shipping vessels are lined up at the major ports of the USA. Very fortunately for me and for you, my studio is well-stocked. My suppliers are receiving the Norwegian yarns and rya materials. So we are lucky.
One thing I'm a little worried about is the weeks before Christmas last-minute-order scenario. The postal system is stressed. Luckily, all (or most!) my customers have been receiving their orders in reasonable time, but the holidays will be a different story.
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If you are thinking of ordering in the next 2 months, I recommend getting your orders in very soon. A few of you have mentioned wanting to order a kit for your loved one but you are waiting so they don't find it in your closet in the meantime. The time is now before the shipping system gets jammed. (Ask me to ship to your neighbor's house if that keeps your partner from discovering the surprise.) The rya supplies are very valuable and not easily replaced. Much time is involved in each order. I work by myself and a kit can take all day to put together.
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Dec. 4, 2021 -- Studio Drop-In Day
Pick up Supplies or Shop for the Holidays
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On Sat, Dec. 4th my studio will be open from 10 AM - 4 PM. I have opened the studio very little since the pandemic. I want to give local (vaccinated) folks a day to drop in to pick up an order, to check out yarn colors, or to show me a project you are working on for feedback.
If you want to pick up a rya kit to save on shipping fees, tell me at least a few days in advance so I can have it ready for you. I'll even help you make your first few knots.
I'd also like to give a plug to the Carroll County Artists Studio Tour which is both Saturday and Sunday. I am not part of the tour this year. So if you come out for a Byrdcall Studio visit on Saturday, why not visit other art studios while you are out?
I never have "huge crowds" on drop-in days, so if you are cautious these days, no worries about packed crowds indoors. It just doesn't happen.
Check out these items in my studio:
For directions or questions, contact me at Byrdcallstudio@gmail.com
I will email directions to you.
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Half the Rare Vintage Swedish Yarn
is still Available for You
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In the most recent newsletter (check the archives) I told you about acquiring a stash of vintage Swedish yarn that my grandparents had sold to a dear customer back in the early 1970s. It took a circuitous path over the decades and I recently bought it to share with you. Most sold in the first week after the newsletter went out. But check to see what is still available in 8 color choices.
If you want to simply email me and tell me what you want, I'll package your order, invoice you (off Etsy), then mail to you. That will save you state sales tax (unless you live in MD). 100g+ skeins @ $10 each until gone.
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In this issue we are focusing on a woman who recently visited the studio and selected all the colors for a nice size rya she was designing for herself. Her only coach in designing was my book!
Susan Morduch from Ardsley, NY:
In July, she ordered a copy of my book.
In September she made a not-too-common purchase through Etsy for 20 strands of mixed ryegarn and prydvevgarn. Now my curiosity was peaked.
In October while visiting her mother in Arlington, VA, they both ventured to Byrdcall Studio to pick up supplies and pick my brain for best ways to tackle her well-thought out design.
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Take a look at her process: A photo she had taken from her window with carefully enhanced colors on her iPad.
<-- Look! From that, she drew and colored her graph paper to match the photo. She played with yarn snips to determine color combinations. Susan actually used the charts in the book to determine how much yarn would be needed for each color area!
I asked her, "How did you know how to do that!?" She replied, "I read the book!"
Oh, yah, that is exactly why I wrote the book. Who knew!
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Before she left she said, "Just one more thing . . . can you show me how to make the knots?" I kept forgetting she wasn't an experienced rya rug maker so I had to laugh... "Oh yah, how to make the knots." Details! Of course she mastered that in minutes.
Susan is a member of our rya rug friends group on my Facebook page. She promised to keep us up to date on her progress.
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This photo was shared by Susan last week in the rya rug friends group. Keep watching for updates. This is a very challenging design and she is nailing it!
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Smartest Way to Buy from Byrdcall Studio
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There are three basic ways to shop with Byrdcall.
- Buy through Etsy
- Buy via the www.byrdcallstudio.com website
- Contact me directly by email
Some people wonder who is packing their order when they buy from my Etsy shop. Just me.
Same is true if you buy from my website.
One down side to Etsy shopping is they will charge you your state sales tax. I do not unless you live in MD. For large orders like kits, that can really add up.
If you are putting together a multiple-item order, sometimes Etsy doesn't figure out accurate postage--and sometimes tells you I'm out of something when I'm not. Not a big problem, but it can be confusing for the buyer. Etsy is great for seeing an item and reading about it.
Whatever I have listed on Etsy, I can sell directly by website or from a personal note you email to me...I'll follow up with an online invoice with actual custom calculated shipping fee.
Hope that helps. In any case I am here for you.
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And once again,
Thanks for reading all the way to the end.
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You all make my mission and work so rewarding. Thank you for your kind correspondence and friendship.
If you are feeling burnt out from all the strife going on all around us, get out in the natural environment and be thankful for the beauty it provides. You might even find inspiration for your next rya rug.
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I am amazed by how many of you read the fine print here at the end of my newsletter. Last issue I mentioned how I was working on healing a tennis elbow injury (suffered by weeding too vigorously for too many days in April). And so many of you checked in later to see how I was doing. Thanks!
I am happy to say that I am back to knotting on my rya again and even went kayaking while on vacation to the Outer Banks of NC in October.
Keep on keeping on. If you have not already joined the Rya Rug Friends Facebook Group in the Byrdcall Studio page, I welcome you to. Fascinating exchanges of ideas, successes, and challenges take place daily.
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And, YES! I took valuable vacation time at the beach in October!
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Some people thought I was getting away from work when I went to the beach, but this is where I become one with my rya in progress, hiked the beaches with my husband and dog, painted a couple of paintings, made a jigsaw puzzle, hiked at Nags Head Woods, cooked up lots of fresh fish. Even got to spend a fun evening with friends, Inger and Tod in Manteo.
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Many thanks for your valuable time with me .
Knot on!
Melinda
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A Couple of Links You Might Enjoy
A couple of links here that I know are enjoyed by many of you. Special "Shout out" to the Rya Rugs Friends on Facebook. The Group always welcomes new members.
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Direct Link for Book Purchase
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Whether you have been waiting for this book for years or if you are just discovering at this moment that it exists, no reason to hold off on treating yourself! The reviews have been excellent. It is now available in either hardbound or soft bound cover. Click on the cover image to learn more.
Price: $ 49 Hardbound
Price: $ 39 Softbound
S & H: $ 5.00
6% MD State tax for instate purchases only
Do you know anyone who would enjoy this book? I would so appreciate your support of sharing my book with anyone who might enjoy it. If you know a shop that might like to carry a few books, I sell wholesale. If you know someone who is bored due to not going out during the pandemic, they could design their own rya or get a kit. Share with anyone who might appreciate the boost. Thank you.
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c/o Melinda Purcell Byrd, Owner
P.O. Box 162
Woodbine, MD 21797
410-615-2473
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