"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 12 Compiled By David Collins Owned By Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: May 29, 1997 Subscribers: 164 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: intro Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 10:42:08 +0900 From: "SMS Vic & Darleena Jones, Okinawa, Japan" To: David Collins Hello to all from Okinawa, Japan, Thank you to David for doing such a fine job with this list. We really appreciate all of your hard work. I've been wondering, and someone brought the subject up on the last vol., is it possible to receive the first 5 volumes? As for introductions, I've been weaving for almost a year and I've been experimenting with a wide variety of baskets as I'm obsessed with weaving. I'm teaching basic basketry and enjoying the sharing of basketweaving. I usually experience new patterns with a few friends, Deanna and Lori, we call ourselves "the girls". I currently do craft shows but not with my baskets. I'm almost ready to sell baskets, but I need to finish some of my crafting inventory before I add baskets. I hate to have unfinished projects around because I know that they will never stop haunting me, and my husband always knows when I'm hiding something. Some of you may know me from the last list and I mentioned that we would be moving to parts unknown. Well, the military always has a surprise or two and we are now staying on Okinawa for another year so I won't have to stop weaving, or ordering supplies. Gail Johnson mentioned a supplier in North Carolina, could you please e-mail the address to me? There are some things that my current supplier doesn't carry and being overseas does limit our exposure to trends and supplies. A new supplier would be great. Beverly from MA, I'm originally from Stoneham MA and I do miss the seasons in New England. I haven't lived near home in 15 years and yes, I still call it home. You asked about variegated reed. I've used the #3 RR and 1/4" FO and love the effect of both. I finished the "Pear Picking Basket" by Barbara Rains and it uses the #3 Victorian and it is beautiful. A big chunk of a basket. The basket took us 10 hours to complete. A few of the local instructors had a workshop in my home. We decided that it was not a class type project and it wasn't something we would sell. It was a challenge and we love the basket and I would make another one but it would be for someone special. The 1/4" I used in a 3 row chain on various baskets and those are the baskets that seem to get noticed first. Again, I use the Victorian because I'm not a pastel person. Jayna, you were talking about the lilacs and I can smell them from here. I, too, thought that NorEsta was a play on words and enjoyed saying it outloud as I have lost my accent and have to dig deep to find it again. To refresh your memory and to Sandy, I believe that web site is www.weavenet.com/Basketmaker's-Shop.html or e-mail at kimball@kear.tds.net. My last bit today will be to Pamela Belt who is now in Wisconsin. She and her family have retired from the military and are starting their new adventure. She is a great teacher who has alot of patience, she tolerates the whiners. We miss her already and hope that she settles down soon. I know that after the "Pear Picking Basket" she will no linger hesitate to do wicker patterns. Back to crafting and weaving..... Darleena Jones, Okinawa Japan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: HELLO Date: Tue, 27 May 1997 22:15:55 -0400 (EDT) From: Dulcmrdav@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Greetings from coastal Virginia. I'm Mary Normand and like many others, I had just stopped lurking and introduced myself just before Basketlist went away. I've been doing baskets about 12 years. I do French & Indian War reenactments several times a year and that's where I sell most of my baskets. I try to do historically accurate patterns but not many people want to pay for the oak, ash, or willow so I work mainly in reed unless it's a special order. This March I was lucky enough to teach broom-making at the NCBA convention in Charlotte,NC. What a great time. It's true that you learn a lot from your students. I can't wait for next year- Carolina always puts on a great convention. Thanks to David for this opportunity for a virtual community filled with such knowledge and great ideas. Great to see Ann Ridgeway and Judith Olney on this list. Both are founts of wisdom I'm glad we have access to. At the current time I'm beginning to pack for a move 6 miles to a larger place-yippeeee! Of course, the first thing to get packed was my excess reed (amazing how much there is). It made me remember I'd wanted to pass on a tip for storage of opened bundles. I had hung an electrical conduit pipe (3/4" x 10') from the brackets that attach the garage door track to the ceiling (at the end where the top of the door hits when the door is fully open) Make sure it doesn't interfere with the door's movement. I hang my open bundles of reed on bent coathangers from this pipe. Bend the ends of a coathanger toward each other until they are about eight inches apart. Then tip the hook toward what used to be the center bottom of the hanger. When you hang it up by the hook, the two ends will cradle and balance the reed so you can pull it out one piece at a time. My neighbors knew what it was but I got some great double-takes from passers-by. I hope I have made it clear because it really works great. There are some entries to the Weavers Words that have only one word on every other line. Is this because the people typing and using the Enter/Return button instead of letting the computer do the returns???? Thanks again to David and all who contribute. Hello also from my sister Judy Smith in Tennessee who is without computer (it got stolen) but getting a copy of the list from me--just like a great book. Mary Normand Virginia Beach, VA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: Weavers' Words, Vol 1, Iss 9 Date: Tue, 27 May 1997 22:55:51 EDT From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net To the several people who responded to my plea for information about the Missouri convention and guilds: Many Thanks! No two people gave me quite the same information, but it's all very helpful! To Kat Montminy: I think there were several good answers to your question about stain sources in Issue 10, but I have a question for you. Do you collect local plant materials and weave with them? If so, what sorts? I don't know if vine rattan grows in Okinawa, but I think it would be fascinating to gather my own. It certainly doesn't grow in Missouri! What about tropical grasses and palm leaves? To Norma Collins: Thanks for the information about the weavers' stain. I didn't know such a thing existed! I'm learning all kinds of great things from Weavers' Words. To Ann Moum: I like your coathanger idea. I've done that for other uses, but hadn't thought of putting my reed on them. Maybe it's because I usually store my reed in large fabric bags, the better to take it with me to outdoor events where I can sit and weave. If I hang it up, though, I can be more selective and not haul so much extra around with me. To Beverly Scott and others from 'Shirley's Basket Digest': I was never active on Shirley's list, but subscribed to its ill- fated successor. Larry Stephens now has BASKET-L back up and running with a new, user-friendlier list server system. I can give the subscription information to anyone who didn't get Larry's notice, but wants to try it. A digest mode is available, although, being automated, it probably won't be as tidy looking as Weaver's Words. To David: Thanks for sending the back issues of Weavers' Words. I still need Issue 5, please. I don't know if it didn't come or I accidentally deleted it. I had the pleasure this weekend of finding a notice in the Kansas City Star Magazine section about the Heart of America Sheep Show and Fiber Festival which is happening This Weekend! at the Bates County fairgrounds in Butler MO. Basket-weaving is one of the classes offered! I called for more information and plan to take the Friday afternoon basket class which is being taught by Louise Page. Do any of you know her? I think it's a swing-handled key basket. I've been ad-libbing for so many years I don't know the terminology and Don't really know baskets by their current names. It's bound to be a learning experience & will be a nice warm-up for the Missouri convention. So long, for now. Bert Comstock froggestow@juno.com Independence, MO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 11 Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 07:29:23 -0400 From: "Carty's" To: David Collins References: 1 It is so great to have a list going again. Thankyou David for all your hard work. Hi, for any new weavers who don't know me. My name is Mary Carty and I live in NJ. Please do not be afraid of my E-mail address my husband of 27 years is a Master Fittness Trainer with the NJ National Guard it is his nickname (drpain@net-gate.com) As some of you already know I play a mean Mt. Dulcimer and I my husband plays the hammered dulcimer. We teach every year at a Festival is Kentucky. This year the director of the festival has set it up so I can teach a full week of basketry. I thought maybe I could do antlers and pine needle. I am also willing to bring my Natucket molds with me. Kentucky Music Week is a week long festival that is held in Bardstown KY. The dates are July 21 to Aug 1. Last year the price for the week was $150.00. You get 4 classes a day for 5 days. They also have night time functions. This is a music festival but they also have classes in Country crafts and Pottery. They also have Special rates at the Best Western Hotel in Bardstown just for the students that come to the weeklong classes. The other nice thing is if you have children and need to bring them Nancy the director has a kids camp set up. I think the price for the children is $75.00 for the whole week. They have all sorts of craft and music related things for them to do. Yes you can go weave baskets and someone will watch your child for you. Anyone who would want more info can e-mail me or e-mail the director at (aburton@juno.com) Alice Burton is the asst. director for the camp. If I can get another ash log in time for the week I might even bring that with me. Then we can all learn to pound the log to the right tempo. Who says basket makers are not musicians. Gotta go open my shop, Wed. is a pretty busy day for us. Summer is almost here. Mary Carty South Jersey Pines http://www.imagegfx.com/users/pinelands/ Baskets & Dulcimers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Introduction Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 09:42:17 -0400 From: Ellen Dewkett Organization: Greenwood Genetic Center To: davidc@iei.net Hi! I've been lurking on the various weavers' lists for a while so I thought it was time to join in. My name is Ellen Dewkett, and I live on a lake in Ninety Six, South Carolina. Yes, that really is the name of the town. I am a member of the Upper South Carolina Basketmakers Guild in Greenville, SC and the North Carolina Basketmakers Association. I usually attend the NCBA convention in the the spring and for one of the fall seminars. I do have a specific question. I will be in Seattle for a conference in a couple of weeks, and I noticed at least one person from Seattle on the list. I would appreciate knowing the names of any good basket or craft shops I might visit while I'm there. I have no intention of sitting in meetings the whole time, particularly since this is my first visit to Seattle. Thanks for any information you might give me. Ellen Ninety Six, SC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weavers Words Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 12:43:16 -0700 From: "Lisa A. Mather" Organization: Twig's Country Baskets To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everyone, This is the first chance I've had to catch up and post since my trip to Stowe. It was my 4th year and I think the best year. I had a really awesome time and met a lot of new people and thought the atmosphere was particularly warm and friendly this year. We sure did laugh a lot! Speaking of funny, I can relate to Billie and Pam about willow. I took two days of willow with Mary Butcher and came away with a new respect for willow and those who weave with it. Mary was a great teacher, very patient, and had a wealth of knowledge to share. But at no time did I ever feel that I was the one in control of the willow...it certainly had a mind of its own! Though my willow shopper is finished and will probably outlast me, it only looks straight if you lean to the left....standing on your head! Guess I just have to try this again... I also took choice necklaces with Mary Hatts(to long to spell) and Birch Bark Purse with Cass. Both class were great and I learned a lot of excellent techniques. In Cass's Class we learned about preparing Birch, how and when, and now my husband lives in fear that he will wake one morning to the sound of my voice shouting "Timber". He should know me better by now...I'd make him take the tree down. Seriously, I think I'll wait for a summer storm to take one down. Our property seems to have weak trees :^0 Anyway, on to some responses... Beverly: I use a lot of variegated dyed reed. I've used it in many twill baskets..it gives a whole new look. I recently used it in the Tall Twill Bucket by Eileen Laporte and I make a Twill Field Basket that uses variegated as well. Recently, a student was making Chasing Rainbows by Eileen Laporte, which has a section of French Randing in it and she took variegated reed that I had dyed for a different project, cut it into strips for the Randing and it gave the basket a new look...everyone loved it. So have fun with it. Gail Johnson: I have never heard of August Moon. Can you give me info on this? Lois Keener: My heart goes out to you over the Bird House Incident...I never would have done what that lady did in asking you to pay for the birdhouse but it seems you handled it with class and you can take a secure thought in that. As for her, what goes around, comes around(or is it the other way?). Bobbie: Hi an nice to see you out here...you sure got that computer set up fast... Ann Moum: Re Rims, I always offset my rim overlaps. I find there is much less bulk. I shave the bottom rounded side and the upper flat side for a good, even fit and hide the end under the lashing. You can use a knife, shaver or a small plane. Sometimes I sand, as well. Well, off to do some dye work for classes tonight and tomorrow. As Always, David, you do a great job with this list...Thank You. I look forward to every issue. Happy Weaving... Twig Henniker,NH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 11 Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 19:45:43 -0400 (EDT) From: FDilts@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi to all my fellow basketweavers. I have a dilemma. maybe it is just me but when I weave a round basket on a D handle it will not sit flat. I have tried different ways of laying out the spokes both on top and underneath the handle as well as dividing them between the 2 places to no avail. What am I doing wrong? If nothing, does anyone have any suggestions. I know that I can add a foot to the basket but other than that is there another solution? Thanks for your help. Melanie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 11 Date: Thu, 29 May 1997 12:21:30, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net Well I will try this again. Had it almost finished yesterday when I got bumped off. My daughter found this article when she was seaching the the Occupational Therapy Archives and I thought you would find it interesting. We recently printed it in our guild newsletter REPORT OF THE ROUND TABLE ON BASKETRY By Helen T. Smith The conference opened with a discussion upon whether it is better to start mental cases upon reed baskets with wooden bases or raffia with a colored pattern. The group was much divided in opinion, but the fact was brought out that when one aide was handling twenty or more patients she could not have many of them making reed baskets, as the process was too quickly done. The patients finished what was planned before the aide could make her rounds. The material being quite expensive there was much waste. All agreed that basketry holds the attention well, that the patient has some results very soon, is eager to hold out to the end of one basket, and never objected to starting another. Some objected to raffia work on the ground that is apt to make a man effeminate if he used a needle and some said they would not allow male patients to make raffia baskets, but it was very good for female patients. With a large number of patients scattered over a wide area all agreed one would need a few raffia baskets in process of manufacture, so that the aide might have a chance to keep a closer watch over other work, which needed more careful supervision. Good basketry is best done in a space set aside for that purpose with necessary equipment. With not more than ten or twelve patients to one aide, creditable work can be accomplished. The simplest baskets should be first made with with wooden bases preferable and gradually work up to woven bases and more difficult shapes. Careful attention should be given to borders-do not use one that easily made and more easily pulled out, but use one that fits the baskets and will be of use when completed. >From ARCHIVES OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, 1922, pg. 290 Now some answers and questions . Forrest, I don't know how Grace puts up with you sometimes. I'll be your life is never dull. Loved your antler contribution. Now I want to know how come your note prints out normally and everyone elses prints funny i.e. a full line and the next line just has one word or sometimes a couple of letters. I thought it was something I was doing wrong(a rare occurrence) but now I wonder. What are you doing differently than everyone else? Hiding the ends of cut weavers. I'm assuming you are talking about round reed when the natural shows where you begin and end. There are several ways to fix this. One is if you are lucky you can find a magic marker that is the same color and color the ends. You could also save some of the dye you used originally and paint it on. Of course this would necessitate thinking ahead, something for which I'm NOT well known. As an aside to this problem. I recently stripped the color from a basket using rit color remover as it had faded and I wanted to redye it. I couldn't figure out why the color was still on the tips until I remembered I had used a pen to fill it in. Must have been indelible ink. Interesting things we are finding out about the sanding sealer. Since I use the spray kind I don't have to thin it. And one of the things I liked about using it was that I found my bases didn't water spot when I sprayed the spokes. As for it taking stain after it has been treated. If I am using a hard wood I don't use a stain . I just leave it the natural color, oak, ash whatever. Now I have a question. I have a customer who wants to know if I can weave a TURKEY??Anyway does anybody know of a pattern. I do know of Diana's goose and possibly it could be adapted. He indicated he wanted one of flat rather than round reed but I told him I wasn't sure it would work. Any thoughts. As for size -up to 2 feet. Want's it to sit on a table. Think he works for the local University and it's some fraternity thing. Well this is enough for now. Better send this before I lose it again. Billie in cold windy Virginia Beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: other uses for deer antlers Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 22:54:33 -0400 (EDT) From: WCoehill@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi, this is Christina from Loves Park, IL> I used to live in Indianapolis but my husband's job transferred us to the Rockford IL area. I have been a weaving addict since my first basket (it was a Jerimieh Basket) Can't get enough in fact at times I have been known to forget to sleep or eat while weaving.. But I have a problem since we moved I am no longer working, that is outside the home. I am now a full time Mommy and have no time to weave!! I find this hard to believe, because when I worked full time I could weave at least 3 or 4 times a week.. But back then I also did not do housework.. weaving= no housework?? (Hey sounds like a great idea). Back to what I started to write about. This is an answer to Forest Davis's dilemma with the deer antlers. Another good use for them. is to clean the skull and put a night light in it so you now have this really cool night light for the 11 year old. If he is like my 7 year old he will love it, anything gross is really cool to him. Well need to sign off now, if anyone else weaves in the Rockford, IL area please e-mail me and maybe we could get together and weave sometime. Christina Wcoehill@aol.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.