Byrdcall Studio, LLC

Rya Rug Revival

and Creative Arts

by Melinda Byrd

Update on Byrdcall Studio

Lundgren Rya Yarn

is selling fast with the recent price cut for 20 skeins.

We have Plenty of Both Rauma

Ryegarn and Prydvevgarn

The Etsy Shop and Website should be up-to-date with what's available. We are in excellent shape and business has been brisk.

I reactivated the listings for many kits and supplies in my Etsy shop and in my website shop.

If you don't see what you are looking for in the Etsy shop or my website shop, feel free to ask me. I may have just overlooked relisting an item as available.

Our prices are still the same as they were 13 years ago.

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

The Backing Story:

My supply distributors are not being very clear about the backing situation. I have been asking about more backings from Norway for many months. Last year I was surprised to have one shipment that included backing, but it was "out of the blue."

I have been told it is a "tariff thing" as well as "fluctuating exchange rates."

My Swedish supplier has said that the new rates are too difficult to figure out and they'd rather "not deal with exporting" at this time.

So far, my suppliers in Finland have been steady and true. I just haven't tried to order anything for several months. Need I say the overall picture is discouraging? I don't think our current administration realizes how difficult life has become not only for small businesses in the USA, but so many others. *sigh*

I am still selling the 24" x 43" and the 31.5" x 47" backings as kits--not the backing by itself. Last week I sold my last 31.5" x 59". About a dozen kits of that size were immediately taken off the online listings.

While they last, if you want a kit in either of those sizes, don't wait too long to place your order.

GOOD NEWS about the

2027 Gallery Exhibit of my Rya Rugs

in Chicago at the Swedish American Museum

BAD NEWS about the

Grant from the Maryland State Arts Council

for a Mentor/Apprentice Program . . .

It was not granted to us.

But, the GOOD NEWS is that Maryland is full of some very hard-working, committed and dedicated people who are equally (or perhaps more-than-equally) qualified to earn the award for Folklife Apprenticeship. I wish the winners well. I have been told numerous times that most applicants do not win the grant on the first try and we should reapply next year. (It just took so many hours!)

I was able to sit in (unseen/online) on the final grading of each application. So it was an eye-opener for me to know that for as passionate as I am about keeping the art of rya rug making alive in today's world, there are others equally passionate about keeping alive their form of choreography, musical instrument playing, urban agriculture, medicinal herbs, calligraphy, and much more. We were among an amazing group seeking recognition and continuing on their quest. Onward! We don't give up easily in this world.



Open Studio Workday

Next one is: Saturday, August 15th

9 AM - Noon ~ Drop in or stay a while

People sharing with each other.... You never know what an open studio workday will bring. Free of charge, this is your opportunity to sign up for a seat to work on your rya, create a design with my assistance, gather supplies, search through the discount bins, and just hang with other interesting people. If you have no project, I have been known to put you to work doing fun rya jobs to meet the studio needs.

If you have ever been to a Rya Sewing Circle, consider yourself invited. If you've never been but have been thinking about it, you are invited. If you've put your rya aside for years, this is a good day to bring it back to life.

I ask you to let me know if you are coming so I can stop the registration if it goes over 6 or cancel the event if only one or two sign up. It's most fun with several knotters. I'll be there to help you, and will be helping others at the same time.

Email me telling me about when you'd like to come between 9 AM and noon. I will send you directions to the studio if you haven't been before.



Keep Sending me Your Photos

WITH Your Rya Rugs

Size SMALL Adults,

Help me clear out my

huge Art Shirt Inventory

Half Price & Free Postage in USA

Years ago I used to handprint shirts from the woodcuts and linocuts I carved. Then I started to silkscreen a few of the most popular designs. Now I am running low on my inventory--which is my goal since this is CLOSE OUT TIME.

If you buy 2 shirts on this order, I will send you the two you order plus pay for the postage for USA delivery. All these shirts are Adult SMALL men's style because that is what I am left with after years of selling all the sizes. Prices used to be $20 - $25. per shirt.

Get two shirts for $25 by ordering here and now. This only applies to the unisex/men's SMALL. They are great for the ladies, too!

Please take advantage of this offer and order via my Etsy shop. The instructions are all there and so far, buyers have been successful in following the instructions that will allow you to choose TWO small shirts PLUS my free shipping to the USA incentive. Think GIFTS!

My week at Common Ground on the Hill

As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, I did not teach rya rug making at Common Ground this year due to concerns about health issues and energy. But I attended as a student (as I did 20 years ago) and loved the more relaxed feeling of going with the flow and meeting new friends and thrilling in the joy of connecting with old friends--many I've known for 25 years!

I hope to teach again next year and in fact I'm working on the write up for that class. Stay tuned. Here are a few snapshots of my days in Tara Will's Pastel Painting class and other fun shots throughout the week. Learn more about Common Ground at their website.

Redesigning Smokey Mountain

and Sharing a new Technique for you

There just aren't enough hours in the day to do everything you want to do, right? About 20 years ago, I designed this rya called Smokey Mountains for my friend Richard Soisson to make to hang on the wall of his living room. The backing was an old Swedish backing with the warp tied into a fringe. The yarn was my grandparents' yarn (Lundgren Rya) which was the only rya yarn I had at that time.

Fast forward 15 years and Burt from Rye, NH enters the picture. He bought my book and was intrigued by Smokey Mountains on p. 94. He asked me if he could have it as a kit about once a year so he could make it for his daughter. But I repeatedly told him the colors would not be the same (since I was running out of Lundgren yarn), and I didn't know where the graph was. Then a few months ago as Burt was just getting started on another kit, he mentioned, "Please continue to keep an eye out for the “Smokey Mountains” pattern. I would love to complete it for my daughter who, on a clear day, can see the Smokies from her home in Knoxville TN."

I talked to Richard about where the graph might be, and we agreed that I must have drawn it onto the backing for him--there never had been a graph.



More Amazing Rya Designs by David McKenrick

from Cincinnati

David said, "Then the circles. Just wanted to do something with dark colors and to see what blending green/blue/red together for the background would look like."

"Keeping with the same color scheme I found an image of a Terrace Tile on the Motawi website, Brownstone Collection. The backing I had worked quite well for the scale up."

Friends, don't you agree that David was born to design and make rya rugs? Did I mention, he's made well over 40 ryas and none of them are "kits" but creatures of his own visions.

Best Way to Communicate with Byrdcall

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 Etsy 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."

UPDATE: My phone has a mind of its own. If you call you might get a screening reply saying something like "Please give your name and reason for your call." Please do. I will either answer if I'm there or call you as soon as I see it is a legitmate phone call.

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.

I still have BOOKS!

Until Next Time, Friends,

I wish you peace and love this summer.

As usual, I am ending this newsletter with a walk through the yard and gardens around my house. I love to share the pictures of the season with you.

We are all aware that we are going through tough times now and in recent years. Sharing with one another and being in nature can help us through it.

Giving a sincere shout out and love to our friends around the world especially in Canada and the Nordic countries. We are all in this together.



Sending prayers for peace.

With love to you,

Melinda

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.

And . . .send me a photo of you with a rya!

Sincerely,

Melinda

PO Box 162

Woodbine, MD 21797

410-615-2473

info@byrdcallstudio.com