"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 112 Compiled By: David Collins Snail Mail: 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 Owned By: Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: May 03, 1998 Subscribers: 561 Back Issues: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Basket Biddin' Auction: http://members.tripod.com/~Basket_Biddin/ {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} ***IMPORTANT INFORMATION*** ***PLEASE READ BEFORE PRINTING*** 1.) Highlight entire issue. 2.) Click copy. 3.) Paste issue into a word processor of your choosing. 4.) Now Print. {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} @=@=@=@=@ PICTURES SENT IN BY YOU @=@=@=@=@ In order to conserve space on printouts, I have removed the list of pictures. You can still see the list on Weaver's Words webpage. I will list any new pictures here. Keep the pictures coming. If anyone else has a picture, you can send it to me through email or snail mail. {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Hi Everyone, I am beginning another basketry mailing list. This is totally separate from Weaver's Words and will go out once a month. This will be a list of basketry dealer's addresses/phone numbers/web pages and personal web pages. Here's how it works: 1.) If you want to receive the list, go to Weaver's Words web page. Scroll down about 1/4 of the way. There you enter your address and click the red button that reads "Join List". You will then receive a confirmation message through e-mail. YOU MUST REPLY TO THE COMFIRMATION MESSAGE TO VERIFY THAT YOU SIGNED UP. Presto you're done! 2.) If you would like to have your business and/or webpage added to the monthly list send me a message at gordon_24_fan@yahoo.com. That way I won't get it confused with Weaver's Words messages. Please include the following (If Applicable): Business Name, Contact Name, Address, City-State-Zip Code, Phone Number('s), Web Page Address & E-Mail. Hopefully this will help weavers find different dealers and web pages. ALL INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT PRIVATE! Take Care, David davidc@iei.net {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Dyeing "Rainbow" or varigated reed Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 23:51:34 -0400 From: "E.W. Clark" To: "David Collins" From Betsy Clark Hello! For Amy, who asked about drying the reed more than one color, the way I do it is to have three pots of dye already to go. Be sure you dye as much as you will need for a particular project. I usually dye more, as you can always use more dyed reed in SOME basket, but it's real hard to match up again without using a new batch of dye and I hate to run out... Well anyway, coil all the types you need together if your pot is big enough and you don't need TOO much reed. If you want 3 colors, dip a section of the loose coil about a third of the way into the pot, so that there is enough reed out of the dye to have two more colors about the same size, dyed later along the coil. Be sure it all is dyed evenly, then hold the bundle to rinse it. You may find garbage bags ties or similar item helpful, but frankly I just hold it in my hands. I have been told to let the reed dry between colors, but I am always in too big of a hurry, so when the excess dye has come out, I usually just head for the next color! Then dip a second section (about another third) of the reed into color #2, and be sure the two colors overlap. Rinse as before, then dip the last section in the last color. Be sure to rinse well each time. Special thanks to ALL of you wonderful people who said so many flattering things about my book, ADDICTED TO BASKETS. I wouldn't mind if it did get dubbed as the Bible for Basketweavers or did hit the best seller's list ( be still my heart!) but for now, I am grateful for the sales and the kind remarks, but I don't plan to count my weavers before they are woven... Betsy Clark Havelock, NC {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 09:48:35, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net I found it interesting that 3 of us gave basically the same answer to the question of pricing in shops. Guess we think alike (now is that a surprise JWO). I try to pay myself $10 an hour plus the cost of supplies. Of course it doesn't always work out exactly. Some times I make more and others less. It just depends on the basket and what I think the market will bear. There are some that you could never pay me enough for. I don't do many basic baskets any more and though mine are not always one of a kind I rarely have more than a couple of basics and those are just because I feel like I need to have something that I feel will sell easily. But predicting the market is almost impossible. Although Diana Macomber is certainly capable of answering for herself and probably will she does have a pattern for the geese. But after having made one in class I'm not sure that I would want to make the first one without her help and insight. Diana is a great teacher and very patient with those of us that don't always get it (or want to do things their own way). That brings up another thought: whenever I take a class I try to do things the teachers way as she might have a reason for how she is teaching it. If I think there is a better method I will talk to her afterwards and offer my idea. This applies to technique. Some are receptive and some are not. Often I will change my mind after the discussion as I can better appreciate her point of view. Lets face it we all learn from one another regardless of experience level. Sometimes it takes a beginner to see things that more experienced weavers have forgotten. Also a different perspective can sometimes make a difficult method easier. (Right? JWO and the Rinko base.) Guess I'd better close now as I am expecting the Orkin man any minute and then I have tons of errands. What else is new on a rainy Friday- that I could actually stay home and weave . I doubt it. Billie in Rainy Va. Beach {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: weaver*s time Date: Fri, 01 May 1998 08:13:08 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha from wet Hawaii, Where I am praying for good weather tomorrow for the all outdoor craft fair..... I agree with the weaver who said she charged the same for a class as she gets for the basket. However, I seldom charge over $35 for a class where I supply everything. For example, I sell a picnic basket with a 3 piece wooden lid for $40-50 (depends on what I paint on the lid), but I teach the class for $35. I figured I have approx. $14 worth of supplies in the basket which leaves me a profit of $21. So with a class of 10 people, I*m making $210 which isn*t bad for a 3 hour class. Which brings me to the other topic--what is our time worth? I think there is a lot more to this conversation....I don*t think it*s possible to pay myself on an hourly or daily basis. If I worked out of my house (and I*m talking weaving, not teaching) that might be an idea, but while I*m weaving in my little studio, I*m also answering the phone, doing laundry, letting the dogs in and out--and a variety of other "get up from the table and take care of this" activities....so somedays, a 2 hour basket might take 3 or 4 hours. I think, when pricing baskets, you have to take into consideration, the price of supplies (and for me that also includes the horrendous shipping prices I have to pay) and what the market in your area will allow. I sell a large market (10 x 14 D handle 10 x 16" base) for $35. I have friends on the mainland who get twice that. That*s great. I could price my basket at $70 and it would sit on the shelf until the reed rotted and I would rather have the $35 than a dusty basket sitting in a consignment shop. In Hawaii, we are suffering from a poor economy--massive unemployment--and no end in sight (I won*t bore you, but it all has to do with the Asian economy and the fact that the high spending Japanese tourists aren*t visiting paradise until their economy is back in shape--not that I sell to Japanese tourists, but their dollars support people who DO buy my baskets) and I*m worrying about the upcoming fairs due to the economy. I don*t feel I*m short changing myself at all. I can make that market in 1.5 hours using approx $12 worth of materials and $35 sounds like a fair price to me. In fact, I would feel like I*m ripping people off if I charged twice that.... There are some of us who are faster weavers than others--we all know that. Look at one of your classes, for example. You will see some people weaving steadily and some people weaving slowly. Does that affect the quality of the basket...don*t think so. I don*t know anyone who "is willing to crank out volumes of baskets at the expense of quality". What would be the point to that? Baskets that are poorly made aren*t going to sell, not here, anyway. Do I make baskets I don*t really want to make? Sometimes I do. For example, the little teacher*s baskets sell great and I could probably sell 75, but I don*t enjoy the repeat weaving, so I stop at 15....or sometimes I*ll say "Okay, this is teacher*s gift basket day--what I finish today is what I*ll take"--I get that out of my system and go on to making things I do like. I don*t think I "have to" weave them--I know I will make money if I do weave them. For me (and remember now, I said "me") this is a business. It began as a hobby and it became a business almost without my knowing it. This means that I have to weave baskets I know will sell--and I can*t weave just what I want to weave--I weave what I think will make people happy. If I get tired of weaving picnic baskets, then I let my mind wander, while I*m weaving, to how I will decorate this basket--use wooden apples for knobs, paint the lid, stain the handle, wrap the handle--and I feel creative....which is very important. It*s the creative part that keeps this business fun. I was on Maui a few years ago and told someone what I did for a living and she said "You are the luckiest person in the world. You have a supportive husband, two happy and adjusted kids, and you are earning money doing something that you love"--so when I feel myself getting weighted down with fairs and demands and consignment shops.....I remember that and I*m "up" again. In conclusion--I don*t think there is a medium that we as weavers should go by---if you are making a profit, if you are happy with what you weave, if you gain personal satisfaction by teaching or selling your wares, then you are a success. Lois Honolulu {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: BFO's and other things Date: Fri, 01 May 1998 14:14:53 -0400 From: "Ann H. Ridgeway" Organization: AnnCrafted To: davidc@iei.net Bert, BFO is Chris Lamb's expression for "blinding flash of the obvious"! If not exact, it's close enough. A couple discoveries for Nantucket Lightship fans: Behlen's salad bowl finish is back on the market. It is a nontoxic (when dry) finish that you can brush or wipe on. A new glue: Probond, a polyurethane glue that requires water to set up. It isn't a quick set, but it worked great on rims. It's one of Elmers. Billie, when you use the belt sander, wrap and pad your fingertips with that green tape we got at convention. I shortened a nail also, and mine aren't very long. For those in the DC area, a group of HCBGers who weave together are in a group show at the Rock Creek Gallery with a group of water colorists. There will be a reception and demos on Sunday. Rumor has it that a Washington Post Style section reporter and photographer will be there. I did a phone interview with the reporter last week. The gallery is on Tilden Street near the historic mill. The show will go on for a couple weeks after that. Got to go, it's tag, bag, and get out of here for a set-up today. David, you are keeping me from my work. I'm not even proofing this today! Ann Ridgeway, Alexandria, VA {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Putting Off Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 15:07:23 EDT From: Hickeycb To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone: Its been quite some time since I wrote and contributed anything but I look forward to receiving every issue and devour it immediately. Dennis and I recently celebrated our 12th anniversary together by running off to Las Vegas and getting married. We are now in the process of selling our home, moving to temporary quarters here in Yakima, WA, and then moving again to Portland, OR and of course, both leaving and finding new jobs. Not much stress here!!!! Thank God for basket weaving, it's the only thing helping to keep me sane. I was recently sent the following - it is kind of long but well worth it, so I decided to forward it to you. A little love for your day... A Story To Live By by Ann Wells (Los Angeles Times) My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. "This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie." He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. "Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion." He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me. "Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion." I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special. I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life. I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event-such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party-going friends. "Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I'm not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food. I'm guessing- I'll never know. It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with-someday. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write-one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is...a gift from God. If you've received this it is because someone cares for you and it means there is probably at least someone for whom you care. If you're too busy to take the few minutes that it would take right now to forward this to ten people, would it be the first time you didn't do that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships? I can tell you it certainly won't be the last. I don't have to make up silly stories about people being hit by buses or crushed by falling disco balls for not sending this letter on. You've seen the result of this neglect in your own relationships that you have allowed to fade, dissolve, and fall into disrepair. Take this opportunity to set a new trend. Take a few minutes to send this to a few people you care about, just to let them know that you're thinking of them. It's even better if they're not the people you already correspond with every week. The more people that you send this to, the better luck you will have. And the better you'll get at reaching out to those you care about. Here's the deal: Forward this letter to at least 10 different people; within 1 hour of receiving it. Do it, and reap what you sow: luck in love, people who care for you, and that warm glowy feeling that comes from loving others. Don't do it, and suffer the consequences of being alone, wrapped up in your own affairs, and being too busy to do the things you actually care about. May love litter your life with blessings! JUST SEND IT!! "You've got to dance like nobody's watching, and love like it's never going to hurt." "People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends don't need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always be there." -unknown Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. 'Pooh!' he whispered. 'Yes, Piglet?' 'Nothing,' said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. 'I just wanted to be sure of you.' I will not drag you along; I will not leave you alone; I will stand by you and have my hand there for you to hold when you need to. My gift of thanks for Weavers Words and all your contributions and long distance "friendship". Coleen (was Hickey - now Bourgeois) Yakima, WA Hickeycb@aol.com {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Weavers Words Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 20:38:02 -0400 From: "Russell & Leslie Johnson" To: Hi Everyone: I am the one who wrote about the basket in a NC shop that I thought was way over priced. I guess I should have given it more thought before I wrote that and considered that the shop owner may have priced the basket that high. The shop was a gallery where different artists displayed their work. Not a "craft mall" type business. I have been weaving for 8 years, in the last 2 years I began selling my baskets. First I started in a craft mall, it was successful but I didn't like paying the monthly rent. Now I have done some craft shows and do very well in that venue. I weave because I love it and to support my "weaving habit". I sell the baskets I make, if I didn't do that you would not be able to get in my front door!! I am competitive with other weavers in my area. I suppose I could price my baskets higher but I believe that you have to price your work to sell it (if you choose to do that) and what the market in your particular area will bear. I weave almost everyday, year round, I take great pride in the quality of my weaving and will not sell anything that is not perfect. I will be doing my first "home party" at the end of May and hope it will be successful as well. Andrea OKeefe: You & Your hubby are in my prayers... Diane Macomber: Saw your geese, they are absolutely beautiful!! This turned out to be a longer note than I planned, sorry for being so long winded! Til next time.... Happy weaving, Leslie (in rainy) Michigan {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 111 Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 18:23:21 -0700 From: Sharle Osborne To: David Collins The weather this week has been as good as it ever gets! I have an all day computer workshop tomorrow and can't stand the thought. Today I worked out an hour away from my class of 4th graders to go over to the high school's fiber arts class. I took cedar, willow and pine needle baskets to show as well as some pouches. I had tried to think of what I might be able to teach 30+ kids in one period that I could get materials for. I ended up showing them how to make a cedar bark bracelet with the piece wrapping around it being colored satin ribbon. It worked. It was fun. I spent last Sunday gathering cedar roots from a logging site. We managed to get some basket materials out of there before they bulldozed and burned everything. My husband got a call about the logging from a friend and showed up at my classroom back door with a pickup truck load of cedar bark. I have never wanted to leave work so badly. He thought maybe I could bring out the class and have a little sweatshop. I've been working on a large double walled cedar basket and longing for summer break. Am still interested in trading cedar bark for other collected materials. May the good weather hold and spread eastward, Sharle Osborne {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Bushel basket handles and rainbow dying Date: Fri, 01 May 1998 21:49:50 -0400 From: Winnie Organization: @Home Network Member To: David Collins Hello Weavers, Nancy in N. Illinois asked about bushel basket handles. I've used bushel basket handles on many baskets. To avoid the handles from distorting the weaving I don't thread the ends of the handles through all the rows of weaving. I just secure the ends of the handles under the row of weaving at the bottom end of the handles. This row of weaving, the rim notches, and lashing are enough to hold the handle in place. I don't like the large gap that forms between the inside and outside rims. To reduce this space, I use a knife from my exacto kit to cut out the notch so there is not as much space between the outer and inner rims. An interesting option for bushel basket handles is the ends of the handles can be put on the inside or outside of the basket. Putting them on the outside is an interesting effect. Amy from Ohio asked about rainbow dying. I think this is also called space dying. To do this I roll the reed to be dyed into a circle that will fit in my dye pot. Prepare the dye and dip one section of the circle into the dye, about a third if you're using three colors, a fourth if you're using four colors, etc. You don't have to wait for the reed to dry. Then dip the reed into the second, third, etc. colors. Keep in mind that the adjacent colors will blend a bit where they meet, you may come up with some surprise colors. This process takes a while but the end product is well worth the effort. If you try it, please let me know how it comes out. Good luck. Winnie {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Sat, 02 May 1998 15:55:48 -0400 From: gatsby@agate.net To: davidc@iei.net I decided it is time to introduce myself. I have been lurking for about a month while I have been reading back issues. I live in Vassalboro, Maine (you can't get here from there). I am a special education teacher at our local high school. I have been making baskets for about 6 years and have been teaching basketry in adult ed classes for the last 3 years. I was reading the issues from the beginning of the year and appreciated all of your concerns about those of us in the ice storm of the century. I am a survivor! 13 days without power, 15 without phone and 18 without cable. I did use the time to weave some baskets since school was canceled. I have a couple of questions and a helpful hint that I haven't read. The hint is, when weaving a round basket that decreases in size as it goes up, like the bean pot, weave it upside down over a piece of stove pipe. The spokes naturally angle towards the stove pipe and this makes the top go in slightly. Since mother nature took down so many of our trees, especially birch, I am looking for assistance with weaving with the birch bark. Do you use the outside, white bark, or the inside? Do you have to do a small basket so the piece of bark will go all the way around or do you piece it together as you go around a larger basket? Do you have to soak the bark and if so, for how long? My second question is are there any nice basket supply stores in Virginia around Williamsburg, Fredricksburg, and the other historical sites? My husband, a history teacher, and I are going to that area in June and I would love to visit some of the local shops. Thanks in advance for any advice. Thanks to David for taking his free time to put this newsletter together. Dot, in rainy, but not icy, Maine {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 111 Date: Sun, 3 May 1998 08:51:32 +0000 From: "Chris Baker" To: David Collins Lois- On the pattern experience, I agree that whatever special parts that went with that pattern should have been specified, and offered with a price listed. But, there is a lot to authoring a web site & trying to remember everything to put on your page. Maybe it was overlooked? I have a web site dedicated to my business, and any special lids, etc. are listed right in the page with my pattern. Some of them I didn't think to list until people e-mailed me and asked about them & a price. So, from someone who is trying to do an honest business through the web, not everyone tries to "false advertise" just to make a sale. I hate to think everyone would stop ordering patterns from those of us who sell them via the WWW. Joy and those of you asking about pricing baskets. I have used the method of the book on pricing & selling baskets. That does have an excellent method of figuring our time. This doesn't always work for me because I end up doing so many other things while making a basket. I usually estimate my time & when arriving at a price, I figure that I will get "x" amount of $$ for this basket & I don't care if it doesn't sell fast, because if I don't get what want, I won't make them any more. This is because I do this for a living. When I first started doing craft shows, I went into it blind, not really understanding the time factor. I am now in my 3rd year & am at the point of needing to see a profit. I keep asking myself, why am I doing this? My husband has been in sales a long and told to go up on my prices a long time ago. I was worried that it would sell. I no longer worry about that. My concern now is, "am I getting enough for all the time, materials, etc. that I have into it." I will be putting 8 months of work into the beginning of the selling season that will start for me in August (and still continue to re-stock for the rest of the season), I am not about to "give away" my work. Does this make sense to anyone? Chris Baker Days Gone By Augusta, Maine http://w3.ime.net/~cbaker/ Watch for the next FREE pattern, coming soon! {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Sun, 3 May 1998 08:34:38 -0400 From: "Joy Moody" To: Hi Everybody! I have been enjoying all the great input lately. And, it is especially nice that new people are coming forward! I am definitely not one of those brave souls who burns basket hairs. After using "the best" heat device to strip layers of old paint from our Victorian woodwork, and a charred disaster later, no thanks! Not to mention the setting my arm on fire incident, some years ago. But the speed of removing hairs sounds nice. I agree with using the best reed you can buy & tossing out any sections that are "strange". This note is a rush job, as we are off to Boston for a few days. You may be interested to know that I have just added half a dozen "new" baskets to the Basket Gallery at www.signofthecrow.com, and we have made some technical changes so that the Gallery loads faster now, once the background pops in. Don't forget to push "REFRESH" on any page, for the latest additions. Bye for now, Joy Moody Sign of the Crow Hampden, Maine {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: misc Date: Sun, 3 May 1998 10:10:38 EDT From: Arlo1225 To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everyone! It's finally spring in upstate NY! Flowers, mostly warm weather, rain........it's been a long time coming...........Had a very rough April - in fact my family "lost" most of the month. Husband in the hospital critically ill - ICU for 6 days at the beginning of the month.....home now and still recuperating - not back to work yet, but he's alive! Basket weaving still on hold, but at least I have a few minutes to read WW and check out the basket sites - great therapy! Thanks Dave for WW! Glad your April Fool's joke was JUST a joke!!!! :-) Also Dave, can not find my info re: how to access past WW issues, could you please e-mail that info again? Thanks. To all the weavers going to Stowe - LUCKY YOU!!!!! I really wanted to try and go for a few days - one of the few basket conventions semi-close to my home (at least that I know about) - but I'm glad now that I didn't register - would have had to cancel with all that happened to us in April. When you return please share all your experiences with the rest of us - thanks! Still have some unfinished projects to wrap up (who doesn't???) but I'm also beginning a search for info on my next new project(s) - I have one old rocking chair - woven - that needs to be refinished and rewoven, also a few chairs with seats to be recaned. I am looking for books, patterns, for both projects. I've only worked with baskets, so any books/instructions for chairs need to be a beginner's step-by-step type of resource. Thanks for your help. Still have lots of catching-up to do - trying to get household back to "normal" - whatever that may be!!!!! :-) Gotta run! Happy weaving to all!!!! Lesley {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.