"Worth It's Weight in Wool"

"WORTH IT'S WEIGHT IN WOOL" by Jan Lord
LasCan Rug Hookers – Las Vegas and Canada connect....... February 2009

Our story began November 2008, when I was scheduled to go to Las Vegas on a business trip with my husband in February 2009. As always my love of rug hooking took flight. I always try to connect with my rug hooking friends wherever I go so this was no exception. Last spring I went to Vancouver and connected with a group of rug hookers in West Van that hooked at The Silk Purse Art Studio, yes ladies that is also a must see, they hook in a most delightful studio right on the ocean.
I am a member of ATHA and started there. I was placing an order for Sybyl Osicka’s new book “Creative Journey into Rug Hooking”, of which I might add every rug hooker must have, and just simply asked Sybyl did she know any rug hookers in Las Vegas. Well the rest is history. She told me to contact Joan Cahill, our members chair for ATHA, upon which Joan gave me the names of Rug Hookers in Nevada, and indicated that there were no hook in's that she knew of and wished me good luck, so I got busy. After countless e-mail’s and communications with the names given me, I found them. Nevada is a very large state and not all of them were close to each other, but I did find three. JoAnn Johnston, who lives in Las Vegas, Grace Strybing who also lives in Las Vegas and Linda Lovelady, when lives in Henderson approximately 20 minutes from Las Vegas. We got acquainted. We made arrangements to meet but had to regroup a few times to fit us all in. The end result was the LasCan(LasVegas/Canada), (I am a member of Georgetown Rug Hooking Guild, ATHA, The Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia and OHCG), rug hookers will be connecting at my hotel Mandalay Bay Resort on Wednesday, February 4th, at 7:00pm. The funny part of this is that they were all looking for rug hookers to hook with and did not know any. To all you ladies out their, I have to say take the time to connect, it is worth its weight in wool.
Well I arrived in Las Vegas with hopes that nothing would stop us getting together. Now I had asked that they all wear a red top so as to be able to identify each other and to be in my lobby of my Hotel at 7:00pm on the Wed night. Little did I know that there were two main lobbies to The Mandalay Bay Resort where I was staying? I sat patiently waiting, and no one was showing up. As I looked to my right through pillars and large green plants, off in the distance I could see a lady taking off a jacket and she was wearing a red top. So up I got thinking this must be one of them. Oh indeed it was! As I got closer to her she asked if I was Jan, I said yes and she interned greeted me “Hi, I am Lynda. She at that time checked her cell phone and yes there was a message on it from Grace, so we called her and JoAnn was in the car driving with her to meet us. Well in a few minutes in they came and we all hugged and introduced ourselves. Inside the Hotel was a Starbucks so we went over sat down and never stopped talking for two and one half hours. We spoke about ourselves, had show and tell, laughed and even managed to get in coffee and tea. When it was time to go we all returned to the lobby hugged again and said goodbye. You know never in my wildest dreams did I think I could pull this off, but it goes to show that a little hard work always pays off and all you need to do is get intouch with one rug hooker and need I say more.
We have made friendships that will last forever. You know as the saying goes with rug hookers, bring your lunch, a mug and your hooking and just come, is so very true. You always know you are going to have a great time.
The picture I have attached is of all of us, from left to right Grace, JoAnn, Jan and Lynda.....Forever friends because of Rug hooking.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to anyone who is coming my way in the future. I would love to hear from you. Please pop me of an e-mail, jan_janett@yahoo.ca, and just let me know what you are up to..
Happy Hooking .....Jan Lord