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10 More Rauma Rya Kits to Review

Dec 31, 2015

Here is the kit "Vinter" ordered by prolific rya rug-maker, Murray, from Novi, Michigan.

Here is the kit “Vinter” ordered by prolific rya rug-maker, Murray, from Novi, Michigan.

Happy New Year 2016!

Here are 10 more designs from Rauma in Norway.  These will come as complete kits.  We just received our first kit a couple of weeks ago.  The kit box comes with the appropriate sized wool and linen backing all hemmed and ready to knot.  It has all the yarn you will need.  They recommend two strands of yarn on the needle instead of three for their designs. You get a “kavel” (the ruler to wrap your loops around if you choose).  And of course, the graph, and needles.  I am always happy to start the first few knots for you, if you like.  It could take 4-6 weeks for your kits to arrive.  I ask for a $50 nonrefundable deposit when you place your order (to be deducted from your invoice when the kit arrives.)  Note: The colors in the photos here are scanned directly from the Norwegian catalogs.  The colors on the monitor may be slightly different than the actual yarn, but rest assured the the artist who designed the rug, designed it with the true yarn colors, which are spectacular!  And finally, there are two kinds of ryas among these kits.  One is completely Ryegarn from the Spaelsau sheep of Norway.  The other is a combination of two yarns, both from the Spaelsau sheep:  Ryegarn and Prydvevgarn.  The kits with the combination of yarns are a bit more expensive, but they have a more varied texture.  (I just ordered my first combination yarn kit two weeks ago (for Paul in Idaho Falls), so I’ll report on what I learn about it when it arrives.)  These ten designs happen to be “all ryegarn” and no prydvevgarn.

So here is Catalog #10 Rauma Ryer:

#159 "Barskog" Ryegarn only. 140 x 200 cm 55" x 79" $1,142.

#159 “Barskog” (Translation:  Coniferous”)    Ryegarn only. 140 x 200 cm   55″ x 79″    $1,142.

#327 "Gylden Sti" 120 x 200cm 47" x 79" Ryegarn only. $1,000

#327 “Gylden Sti”  (Translation:  “Golden path”)  120 x 200 cm    47″ x 79″    Ryegarn only.        $1,000

#10 FELL

#326/A “Fell” 120 x 200cm 47″ x 79″ Ryegarn only. $1,000. Also available in Blues. Request #326/B

#10 ILD

#106/A “ILD” (Translates to “Fire”) Ryegarn only. Multiple sizes/prices. Also available in Blues #106/B. 40 x 75 cm $206; 80 x 150 cm (31″x 59″) $586; 100 x 180 cm (39″x 70″) $790; 140 x 200 cm (55″ x 79″) $1,142, and 200 x 300 cm (79″ x 118″) $2,400.

#10 MOLL

#61/A “Moll” Translates as “Moth” 60 x 110 cm (24″ x 43″) $350. 120 x 200 cm (47″ x 79″) $1,000. Also available in shades of Red: #61/B, or shades of yellow-brown: 61/C

#10 TINDER

#325/B “Tinder” 120 cm x 200 cm (47″ x 79″) $1,000. Also available in two different colors: #325/A Black – Green or #325/C Brown – yellow.    In ryegarn only.

#10 TRINNING

#323/A “Trinning” 120 x 200 cm (47″ x 79″) $1,000. or 140 x 200 (55″ x 79″) $1,142. Also available in Gray – Blues. #323/B.    In ryegarn only.

#10 LYS

#116 “Lys” (Translation: Light) 100 x 180 cm (39″ x 70″) $790.   In ryegarn only.

#10 FJELLFLORA

#88 “Fjellflora” (Translation: “Mountain Flora”) Ryegarn only. 80 x 150 (31″ x 59″) $586.

#10 MOLTEMYR

#340 Moltemyr” (Can anyone translate?) Ryegarn only. 140 x 110 cm (55″ x 43″) $688.

And that is Folder # 10 from Rauma.   More designs coming ASAP in 2016.

Remember, I also sell the backings separately as well as all the Rauma ryegarn colors. You can ask me how much yarn any backing will require, and I’ll give you a good ballpark figure for your calculations.   I have graph paper in case you are inclined to design your own,  At Byrdcall Studio I have everything you would need to develop your own design.  (And frankly it will cost you less and you won’t have to wait long for shipment.)  I am relatively sure that my book on designing your own rya will be complete this spring/summer, so you have many options.

Start with my sample packet as seen here in my etsy shop.

 

Rya Yarn Supply at Byrdcall Studio Update

Nov 30, 2015

This is an important blog for anyone who is interested in my rya yarn supplies.  (If not, you won’t hurt my feelings if you skip this message.)  If you have my sample yarn cards, go get them and follow along with me.

pinksreds2The BIG NEWS is that I now carry every single color– 82 in all–of the Rauma Ryegarn from Norway.  I started slowly, but a year later my shelves are stocked with 5 or more of every color.  I reorder monthly so if you need more than I have, I can get what you need within 4-6 weeks. And I can send you what I have immediately to get you started asap.

These are the 82 Rauma Ryagarn color I have on hand.

These are the 82 Rauma Ryegarn colors I have on hand.  100 g skein. 2-ply.  75 M.    $16/skein.  Yarn sample card is $5.

soldout Lundgren copy

 

OK, Now pull out your Lundgren Rya yarn sample cards.  The yarn in the long skinny picture is sold out, but I have all the other Lundgren colors. (See at the bottom of this posting below)

This is the yarn that my grandparents had spun for them of New Zealand fleece by Harrisville Designs of Harrisville, NH.  No more of this yarn is being produced in the states. I still have thousands of skeins, but not in these colors.  If you are desperate for one of these sold out colors, feel free to ask me about it.  I may have a cut skein somewhere that I can offer you.  And I can definitely make a suggestion as to a substitute.

If you have your Lundgren Yarn sample card in hand, I suggest that you put an X through the sold out color numbers rather than removing the yarn.  If you leave the sold out yarn in the card, you can refer to that color when communicating with me.

If you don’t have a Lundgren Rya yarn sample card, I would recommend that you order my full line of rya samples.  I make this available for immediate sale at my etsy shop.  Click here to read more or to make a purchase.

The samples I send you include not only the yarn, but a variety of backing swatches to choose from as well as a detailed description and price list.

The next BIG NEWS of this blog is that I have now sold out of all of my Finnish Vuorelma yarn.  I only had about 8 colors in stock before they declared bankruptcy a year ago.  Very sadly this is one more Scandinavian Rya supply company that has succumbed to economical woes and lack of sales of rya supplies. (My guess.)  So if your yarn card has Vuorelma yarn on it, X them out.

And finally, I still have a solid supply of Asborya rya yarn from Sweden.  It takes me quite a bit longer to receive these Swedish yarns, but many of you love their softness.  In the yarn sample cards that I send via my etsy shop, I enclose a card of Asborya yarn samples.  As far as I know, no one else sells Asborya yarn samples.  They can be viewed online, or you can get the actual yarn to feel along with my rya samples.

Pirkanmaan Kotityo Oy Rya yarn samples - reduced

Pirkanmaan Kotityo Oy Rya yarn samples. Click on image to zoom in for detail.

I have bought rya backings from another Finnish supply company, Pirkanmaan Kotityo Oy.  I intend to purchase more of their backings and yarns soon.  This would be ideal for those making rya wall-hangings.  Here is what their yarn sample card looks like.  Heavenly colors.  A lighter weight yarn … so you can add more strands on the needle for endless possibilities for blending.  Acquiring more of their yarn will be a goal of mine for 2016.  Tell me below which colors you would be most interested in buying–no pressure or commitment!

Friends, this has been a long blog, so I appreciate your patience.  I just want to keep you informed of the status of your favorite yarns.  Please share with any other rya folks you know.  They will appreciate knowing what is available.

PS  For clarity, there is still plenty of Lundgren Rya yarn.  See image below. (Note: #91 sold out.)lundgren sample cards 12-2-15 copy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is it a Boy, or is it a Girl? Shhhhhhhh.

Nov 25, 2015

The Mistletoe Mart is over for another year.  For me, this show is all-shirts and fascinating people.  Some people load their arms up with the artsy gifts for their loved ones, and others glance around the booth and walk away.  I just go with the flow and try to be helpful.

This year, I had an experience I have never had before, and it made my day.  Amy, a young woman who has bought my shirts in previous years came in all excited and gave me a sealed envelope from her OBGYN’s office.  In the envelope was a document revealing the sex of her yet-to-be-born baby.  From my “Baby Clothes” bin, Amy had gathered a pink baby-T and a blue baby-T.  She asked me to open the envelope when she left my booth, look to see if she was having a boy or a girl, then package up the pink or the blue baby-T accordingly.  So I was given the honor of knowing her baby’s sex before she knew!

She wanted to share this information with her husband (who had been away and was returning that weekend) and she wanted to be surprised right along with her husband.  So I happily complied along with all the giggling shoppers in my booth as we double-bagged the appropriate shirt.  I resealed the envelope with strong tape and hunted Amy down along the hallways at the Mistletoe Mart.  She was excited, and so was I!

A few days later, I got this picture and a thank you note from Amy:

IMG_20151113_142245529 (1)

<<Hello Melinda!
I just wanted to write and say thank you so much for your help at The Mistletoe Mart!!! You were kind enough to package up the pink shirt for our sweet new addition!!! Norah Marie will be here in May and we can not wait to meet her!!! You helped me have a birthday that I will never forget! Thank you again for being a part of our great news!
Fondly,
Amy and Jason and James>>

IT’S A GIRL!

 

Easy way to Order Hand-Printed Shirts (if you can’t get to a show.)

Nov 9, 2015

Melinda holding new shirt design - CopyWhy didn’t it dawn on me sooner to make it easier for you to order a shirt?  Now, all you need to do is email me the information listed below.  I am printing about once a month, so get your order in for the next printing day.

I sell the silkscreened shirts on my etsy shop…click here.  But only a few of the handprinted shirts are on etsy.  You can buy or place an order at my shows, but here is another way.

Ordering a Hand-Printed Shirt — 2015

Email me your request.  I will check my bins to see if I have exactly what you are looking for, and if I don’t, I will hand-print one for you.  There is no added charge except postage:  $4—short sleeves; $6—long sleeves.  If buying multiple shirts, I’ll weigh them and quote an actual price for you.   My next printing day will be about 10 days after the Mistletoe Mart ends — the week of Thanksgiving.  Orders placed by November 17th will be printed along with all my Mistletoe Mart orders and should be in your hands by the end of November. 

If you would like to save on postage, you can pick it up at my studio in Woodbine, MD during the Carroll County Studio Tour Dec. 5-6 between 10 AM – 5 PM.  Just tell me when you order so I don’t charge you for postage.

All you need to do is tell me the following for me in an email sent to byrdcallstudio@gmail.com.  I will send you an easy online invoice and the process gets underway.

  1. Tell me the design name:  Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to see about 20 of the designs.  Ask me to post a picture of any other design you want to see from the list below.

Action in the Riffles,   Bee!,   Blues,    Brookie,   Calf & Cow,  Canada Goose,  Cupcake, Peace-Dove, Three Fireflies,  Great Blue Heron,    Hops, James Ranch,  Kitty Waits,    Knotty Dogs,    Listening,  May the Road,   May the Wind,    Monarchs & Milkweed,    Puffin,  Serpent Ridge Original,   Simplify/Thoreau,  Three Crows,    Today I Will Create,   Tree Frog,    The Woolie,    Under the Palm,   Waiting for the Green Flash,    Wanna Play?   Waste Not,    Yin Yang Labs.

  1. Tell me the Style: (All Comfort Color brand Shirts)

Ladies T-shirt,          Ladies Long sleeve,

Unisex T-shirt     Unisex Long-sleeve T-shirt,  or   Child’s T-Shirt

  1. What Size?

Adult   S     M     L      XL      XXL     XXXL   or  Child   XS   S    M    or  L  

(XXL and XXXL additional $3)

  1. What Color?  (I may be able to get others, so ask if you want something different.)

Unisex (Men’s) T-Shirts:  Flo blue,   Yam,   Crimson,   Berry,   Hemp,  or   Blue Spruce

Unisex  Longsleeve Shirt:   Flo blue,  Yam,   Crimson,   Berry  or   Blue Spruce

unisex shirt colors copy

Ladies T-shirt:  Flo blue,   Violet  Sea Foam, Hemp, or Crimson

Ladies Longsleeve: Flo blue,  Violet,   Crimson,  Chocolate  or Denim (not shown)

ladies shirt colors copy

Children’s Shirts:  Flo blue,   Blue spruce,   Denim,   Berry  or   Lagoon

5.  Second choice if first choice color is unavailable.

6.  Name, Address, zip, phone number, and email address

7.  Do you want me to mail shirt or will you pick-up during Studio Tour?

8.  Let me know if you want me to add you to the Byrdcall Studio Monthly e-Newsletter mailing list.

9.  Absolute deadline for receiving your shirt.  ASAP is standard for me.  But let me know if your request is date-dependent so I can determine if there is a timing issue.

Prices:  $25 for Adult and Child T-Shirts, $30 for long-sleeves.

Maryland Sales Tax of 6% is added.

Add $5 for Great Blue Heron—a 2-color process.

Add $3 for XXL and XXXL

The not-so-fine print:  I move quickly on paid shirt orders, but occasionally the shirt company can not send me a certain size or color as soon as I would like it.  You can really help by making a 2nd choice, just in case 1st choice is on extended backorder.  

And from a crazy busy artist’s perspective, the easiest order for me is the one where I get an email that says, “Melinda, I would like the ‘Today I Will Create” t-shirt in a Ladies size Large.  What colors do you currently have on hand?”  I respond, then they can choose one or ask me to print one.  Often shirts go out in the mail the same day!

Thanks!  Remember this blog posting is always here, so refer to it whenever you need a shirt.

Mistletoe Mart and tree glasses 013

 

6 New Kits Available!

Oct 10, 2015

Every week or two I will show pictures of the rya kits I am now offering from the Rauma company in Norway.  See if any of these turn you on.  Or maybe you will get ideas for your own designs.

These kits will come with everything you need from yarn, backing, needles, graph, instructions in Norwegian and my instructions in English.  If you live nearby, I’ll hold your hand as you get started.  If I ship to you, I’ll start the first row for you.

#783 Reds

Choice of two sizes: 60 x 110 cm (24″ x 43″) $350. 80 x 120 cm (31″ x 47″) $488.

And do you notice anything interesting about the rya below?

Choice of two sizes: 60 x 110 cm (24" x 43") $350. 80 x 120 cm (31" x 47") $488.

Choice of two sizes:
60 x 110 cm (24″ x 43″) $350.
80 x 120 cm (31″ x 47″) $488.

Alternative B has the exact same graph as the first red design.  Hard to believe that simply by changing the colors the image can change so much.

Rauma Folder14 #784A

Ruama Folder14 #784B

You have probably figured out that the last two photos are of the very same design with different colors.

#347

And a Round option.  I carry round Rauma rya backings, so we could easily select colors of your choice for a unpatterned pile rya…just ask me.

#117 Langfloss Round

Ask for a price on this. I suspect it has a variety of yarns in this piece, so my standard price list might not be accurate. I’ll check.

And that is all I have time to list for you today.  Many more designs will be posted over the coming weeks.  Feel free to share with other rya enthusiasts.  Thank you!

 

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