Supply shortages have been rampant around the world in the past year or two. Now in my little rya world, I must sit tight and wait for crucial supplies which might have bearing on your plans in the upcoming weeks or months.

First, there is lots of GOOD NEWS! I am well-stocked in all Rauma Ryegarn colors--all except beige #514. [Note: I now have plenty of the white #501!]

I have plenty of every color of the Rauma Prydvevgarn!

I have plenty of the 41 vintage Lundgren Rya colors. I am almost out of color #1: light pink, if you care.

New: I recently updated my listing of my Lundgren Rya yarn on Etsy where I selected some of the colors that I have too much of and marked them down to $7/skein. Check it out. Click on a color number, then click on "quantity" and you'll see how many skeins I have left approximately. Send me a message if you have a complicated order, and I'll put it together for you.

Rauma Backings have been on order for many months now. I am hoping for good news each day. The latest word is "this Spring" but I have no inside information about how soon to expect backings. The critical sizes which are the most popular ones are backordered: 60 x 110 cm, 80 x 120 cm, and 80 x 150 cm are not available from my studio now.

I can not assemble kit packages for you, my rya friends, if I don't have the backings, so I have "deactivated" 75% of the kits I offer on Etsy. On my website they are marked as "out of stock."

Good News on the backings is: I still have Rauma backings in 40 x 75 cm @ $60.60. (That is about 16" x 30".) And I have a bolt which I can cut to any length you want. Take a look at the other backings I have in stock on Etsy.

I can still package up a Designer Package with Book for you, or if you already have a book, a Designer Package without the Book. Click on those links.

I have many other backing sizes in varying quantities--especially the bigger ones.

American-Made Acrylic Backings I have BOLTS of it. No worries there. This is my discount rya backing which is soft and white. Read more about it here in my Etsy Shop. And just in case you want a lot of it, Check this out.

I currently have excellent Finnish backings from Taito Pirkanmaa Oy which I buy in bolts and can cut to the length you want. I have plenty in four widths. I do not offer kits with these backings, but use them for your own designs They are heavy wool and linen and knots are made on the surface of the backing. In my book, read about them on pages 64-65. Taito Pirkanmaa was kind enough to give me permission to use their step-by-step instructional page (translated into English) for my book.

Several months ago, I could not get a response from my source for needles. I worried. Two weeks ago I bought a package that weighs as much as a brick. Now I have 5,000 needles!

This would be a perfect time to buy a book if you haven't bought one yet. It truly gives you the keys to understanding rya rugs in the off-loom technique.

Hardbacks are $49.

Softbacks are $39.

If you are just buying the book, media mail postage is still only $5. That is a good deal for a heavy book.

Designer's Workshop: Come in the morning if you are designing a rya and need a little help in making choices and how to get started or have questions that keep you from progressing in your work. This is not a class, but a coaching session for those with ideas in mind. Bring supplies if you have them or buy them here. Having read through my book will help us speak "rya" better.

Rya Sewing Circle in the afternoon for a chance to knot and socialize with other knotters. Ask for opinions and feedback on your work if requested. Additional supplies available. Depending on seating space, morning designers can stay through the afternoon if space permits.

 Almost exactly one year ago, I shared the story of how we lost an active rya rug maker and member of the Rya Rugs Friends Group on Facebook. Ann Nilsson passed away with her Rauma rye kit NJORD at her work stand.

One year later, Njord is completed and beautiful. I know Ann Nilsson is smiling at the outcome of her vision. Thank you, Marjorie.

When my niece, Jenna LaConte and her fiancé, Dave Bonaiuto, set their wedding date back in pre-pandemic days (remember then?), I committed to designing and making a special rya rug for them as a gift. Jenna's eyes were the first to see each chapter of the book as I completed them. Her sharp eyes and logic provided me with edits and feedback that I incorporated into the chapter revisions. Everything she suggested, I did--that's how good she was. She is also a sweetheart. I knew that they loved the mountains and she told me of their apartment's color scheme and their "style." So I set out designing.

Being crazy busy in the first year the book was out (filling orders, communicating with people etc.) I didn't get too far... Actually, I did all the designing a graphing for a design I later discarded because it was too similar in style to one I had designed for her sister, Kristin and her husband Asa. That would never do. So this design emerged and the color selections were made, and I was off and knotting!

One year ago I injured my right elbow (pulling hellacious weeds with wire roots) and had little use of my right hand for 6 months. After doctor visits, PT, and finally an acupuncturist, I found myself back in the saddle at the beach in October with nothing to do but relax, paint, cook fish dishes, take long walks with my husband and dog, AND knot the rya.