If someone told Linda, ten years ago that she would be selling handmade Persians rugs she would have thought they were crazy. What began as a little research to buy rugs for her living room developed into a passion and a livelihood. She started on e-Bay, where she maintains that the prices were,

“Absurdly low, and I realized, you don’t have to be rich to own handmade rugs.”

After further research, Linda discovered that when the trade embargo was lifted in Iran, there were hundreds and thousands of rugs in warehouses, villages and people’s homes. And many were in Afghanistan, because Afghanistan doesn’t have a port.

Linda bought thirty rugs and had a sidewalk sale outside her house. She sold twelve and doubled her money. She smiles with this memory from nearly seven years ago.

“I never looked back.”

Today, she and her husband Peter are responsible for all aspects of Linda’s Rug House. They have nearly 200 rugs in their inventory.

“Most of our rugs you won’t see in a store. That’s the fun of it. We get to show people these beautiful rugs from all over the world.”

Occasionally Linda will purchase a rug from E-Bay, but she’s developed relationships with Wholesalers in New York and London. All of her rugs are made with handspun wool and natural dyes. Many of the rugs are from Iran and Afghanistan, but her rugs also are made in India, Turkey, Central Asia and China. She informs me that today; the highest quality Persian designed rugs are made in China.

“They have a 3,500 year history of rug making.”

I admit I know little about rugs and before our interview. I too believed handmade rugs were for rich people.

Linda tells me that many of her customers were intimidated before purchasing their first rug, but they don’t need to be.

“You can go online and educate yourself. Learn the difference between a hand tufted rug and a hand knotted rug.”

All her rugs are hand knotted. In a hand knotted rug, the yarn is wrapped in a specific way and tied into a knot.

She shares her expertise,

“There are subtle differences in a handmade rug. The motif will differ on either side of the rug. This adds more interest.”

She is passionate.

“Each rug is a work of art. I want people to be happy. I’m in love with the rugs.”

One of those rugs is now in her living room and several customers have expressed interest in the rug.

“I’m just not ready to let it go.”

Linda lets me know that caring for these rugs is simple.

”These rugs are made in places in the world where they don’t have hot and cold running water and RESOLVE carpet cleaner.”

If something spills on a rug?

“Just blot it. You can use a little cold water and white vinegar, and if you need to you can use a little mild detergent or OXYCLEAN.”

She cautions against steam cleaning.

“You can kill the life of a rug by using a steam cleaner. It takes all the natural lanolin out and leaves the wool brittle and dry.”

What are the best things you can do to preserve your rug?

“Don’t wear shoes in the house and vacuum the front and back of your rug.”

In San Francisco, where there is so much sand, the sand works its way into the pile of your rug and over time has the effect of tiny saws. To alleviate this Linda offers an easy solution.

“Just hang your rug and whack the back with a broom. People think these rugs are delicate. They’re not. They are very durable.”

Some of her rugs are made by nomadic tribes, and the designs are passed down thru memory. Almost all of the Weavers are women, the men are the Dyers. Some rugs are made on a primitive horizontal loom outside on the ground, while others are made on a vertical loom, set up inside so that the Weavers can work year round.

Linda keeps her prices reasonable. The most expensive rug is, $2,000, and with a deposit, she’ll let you take a rug home, so that you can try it in your living space with your lighting and furniture.

We both share a love for this neighborhood and met a chair away from one another at the counter at Ebisu, a favorite spot where Linda has been feasting on sushi on a regular basis since April 16, 1982, the 2^nd day after they opened.

“Steve is dedicated. He has the freshest fish. Everything is top quality.”

Next week, Linda will celebrate a birthday and another year of Linda’s House of Rugs.

Let me leave you with a Shel Silverstein quote,

“I will not play tug o’ war. I’d rather play hug o’ war. Where everyone hugs instead of tugs, where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug, where everyone kisses and everyone grins and everyone cuddles and everyone wins.”

NEXT WEEK: I”LL DIRECT YOU TO MISDIRECTIONS MAGIC, JOE PON.