Last month, things were moving forward in a very positive way.  With this report I am happy to tell you the book* has been to the editor and back again. Editor-in-chief, Marilyn Dorfman really took her job seriously as we all hoped she would. I admit I was surprised at how many little corrections on each page had to be made. I reviewed her every comment and passed the manuscript on to Ken Koons (the book's producer) to make all the changes! 

Next up in the editing process is JoAnn Zaleski who has worked with designing and making ryas and helped with design work for some of my customers. She will look at the technical worksheets, charts, and instructions with the eye of someone who has been there and done it herself. After JoAnn's edits are made, and the book is as near perfect as it is going to get, it will go to the indexer in Indianapolis. Holly Janzen, a certified member of the American Society for Indexing (and a rya rug fan). She will make easy for you all to locate what you are looking for with the index. Once she returns the document to us, there will be no more changes.  YAY!

Now here is some really BIG NEWS:  During the first 7 years of this book-writing venture, we were planning to print it via the Amazon-affiliated printer, and the books would be sold by Amazon and by me directly.  But upon close scrutiny over the past two months, Ken and I realized that their prices would make the book too expensive for the average buyer. If we had hopes of selling to libraries and shops (and I do!), it would have been impossible to set a comfortable retail price. 

We began a search for a printer who could handle a book the size and quality of this book. Lo and behold, our search led us to a great printer right here in Maryland only a half hour drive from my house!  (Thank you for the lead, Ellen and Don Elmes.) 

We have registered with Library of Congress and we've secured two ISBNs. "Why TWO ISBNs?" you ask. OK, the other big news is we are going to print a hard-cover edition and soon after (maybe two months) the paperback edition. Many of you have requested one--or the other. With the fortunate turn of recents events, we can do both!   The publisher is now officially:   Byrdcall Studio, LLC. 

Last month, over 250 of you contacted me on the blog posting  (or directly) to tell me you are planning to buy a book. I am going to start with 500 hard-cover books, then 500 soft-cover books.  Thank you for your immediate feedback. With that many books, none of you will be without if you have plans to buy one.  Keep watching for this newsletter to find out the details.  The next newsletter will hold the details.

*book:  In case you are just tuning in for the first time, I have been writing a book on designing and making your own rya rug, history, stories, examples, worksheets, and lots of beautiful color photos care of Ken Koons. It is becoming a 3-dimensional reality this fall/winter.

	Bobbi Thies Check out her website

How many of you remember my request to help me find the best name for my book? I posted it as a contest on the Byrdcall Blog in Jan. 2018.  We received many great ideas--and some very clever ones, too. Thanks to all who gave it thought (and humor) and sent in suggestions. 

Bobbi Thies, a watercolor painter, author, and rya rug maker from Milford, Ohio suggested a title closest to the selected title. Originally it was going to be Design and Make Your Own Rya Rug  with a subtitle  A Hands-On Guide to Off-Loom Scandinavian Rya Rugs. Bobbi pointed out the need to put the words "Rya Rug" first and keep it simple. Good advice and you win a copy of my book, Bobbi.  

If you'd like to read all the tips and title suggestions,

click here. No new entries, please!

Mark your calendars.

Won't you come visit Byrdcall Studio? You can shop for hand-printed T-shirts,  framable woodcuts and linocuts, or yarn for holiday gift-giving, or you can stop by just to say "Hello!"  This is a good day to do it since n o appointment is needed. If you want to see rya rugs, you will. Maybe I'll have one in progress that you can work on. No pressure to buy anything.  1103 Hoods Mill Road, Woodbine, MD. 

Ask, and I'll put you to work! Or come on Nov. 15th. See next write-up.

I'm not doing any holiday art shows this year, so this is a good chance to "fix" your shirt addiction. 

You can be one of my studio angels for an hour or two or for the day. This is typically a gathering of women (though men are welcome) to solve all the problems of the world while making yarn sample cards, preparing photo lay-outs for Etsy, or whatever I have on my to-do list.  Nothing too complicated unless you want more of a challenge.  No experience required--just a smile and friendly conversation. I have room for 6 helpers, so please email me to say when you would like to help so I can keep track. I tally your hours so you can have the benefit of using my savings in women-hours toward artwork or shirts.  That's  Volunteering with Benefits!

Up until now, we have used the old Lundgren Rya blank sample cards with old info and lots of empty holes where the yarn colors have sold out. These were the actual cards I filled with samples when I worked for my grandparents back in the late 1970s! They didn't look very professional, but they worked.

Last month I received from my printer brand new beautiful white cards with holes punched and ready for filling with yarn samples.  Look at the difference in the old cards and the new cards. We omitted all the colors that are sold out, though color #5 promptly sold out the next day.  Having a healthy inventory of samples will be important for me to have ready when the book is released.

To my regular crew of Studio Angels, this is a day for you if you can make it. Let me know so I can be sure to save you a seat. I thought this would be good timing for a few new angels.

Stay in-the-know all month long! I am loving this addition to the Rya Rug Revival. There is a lot of brilliance in this group...keep sharing!  I'll throw in my 2-cents on occasion.   ;-)

If you are intrigued by rya rugs, the only good reason NOT to join is if you are not a Facebook person.  If you are a member of Facebook (even if you never use Facebook) you can request to join this Group.  If you subscribe to my newsletter, you definitely should check this out.