"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 15 Compiled By David Collins Owned By Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: June 04, 1997 Subscribers: 175 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hello Everyone, I would like to apologize if some of your messages aren't spaced properly in the digest. I have been trying to fix the problem. I compile each digest in Microsoft Word 97 and then transfer it to Netscape Communicator for mailing. Somewhere in the transfer is misaligning some of your messages. I assure everyone that it is currently out of my control. I'm not sure why some messages are affected while others aren't. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Take Care, David Collins davidc@iei.net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Fabric Softener Date: Mon, 02 Jun 1997 21:41:54 +0000 From: webfoot1@together.net To: "davidc@iei.net" Hi Everyone I keep hearing about fabric softener. I use it to bend wood for handles. The first time I used it, I soaked the oak(very dry wood) for several days in a solution of fabric softener and water. everything was OK until I started to steam the wood! The smell was BAD! However, they make an unscented fabric softener(Downey), that works very well with no odor! I find that wood soaked in this mixture bends a lot easier without cracking. It was written up in one of the woodworking magazines. Keep up the good work David. Jack Rothmann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: those extra stray words Date: Mon, 2 Jun 1997 23:49:18 -0400 From: dgatz@sricboces.org (Dolores J. Gatz) To: davidc@iei.net 1997 Stowe Festival Stowe, for me, accurately started on May 10th at the Purdy House with Cass Schorsch class for the Westchester Area Guild. It was the start of my week of endless weaving. Cass taught her Stilted Totemic basket. I love working with the barks. Sunday was a day of rest or should I say driving to get to Stowe. Monday, was the start of the Pre Festival and 5 glorious days under the tutorage of Keiko Takeda. Whatever, I could put on paper, just would not be enough. This is one wonderful lady. Keiko worked hard those five days explaining, demonstrating and encouraging us thru 3 wonderful baskets. (actually, it was 4, she snuck a mini into one class). Everyone's basket has a part of Keiko's talents in it. She pushed, shoved and squashed them all into shape for us. If this wasn't enough, it wasn't long before we discovered our baskets were magically closer to completion upon our return from a break. My third day at Stowe, a Random Weave with Keiko was voted the noisiest by all at Stowe. We were even noisier then, Mary Butcher's willow class. Which was right next to us. With all their banging and packing of willow they did attempt to challenge us. But in the end we "were" the noisiest group in all of Stowe. We also discovered Keiko can dish it out as well as handle all the teasing and harassment. I came home with 3 completed baskets from the 5 days with Keiko, and 1 more that still needed half its rim lashed. It's complete Now. On the sixth day, I looked forward to a relaxing day of knotting with Mary Hettmansperger. Mary gave us goodies for four projects. Most people finished 2. I must have relaxed too much, because I only got half of one done. But I have lots of ideas for future projects from Mary's many suggestions. That ones now done too. Sunday, the final day, I entered the class a day late; because I 'just had to do' Mary Hett's class the day before. Even thou, I was a day late; Richard guided me to catching up with the class and finishing my Maple Sugar Box. (I think previous classes with both Richard Gilliand and Liana Haubrich were a help also.) In the evenings were mini classes. I completed a cedar bark mouse with Cass, a mini cedar bark basket with Bonnie Weinberg. Another evening, willow and I had a meeting of the minds; doing a willow rattle with Sandy Whalen. After 3 attempts and a hissy fit, Sandy took me in hand and guided me to the completion of a rattle. Sandy gave us all some willow to practice at home. Now, I am happy with my willow rattle. However, it does make me worry about the class with Jo Campell Amsler, the middle of June. Please someone worn her, "willow hates me!" I think this year was the best Stowe yet. Chris Lamb, Dianne Stanton, Flo Hoppe, Judy Olney, Cass Schorsch all taught brand new exciting baskets that had made choosing classes difficult. I hope to pick up some of those classes somewhere. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 11 Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 01:57:17 EDT From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Mary Irvine: Your Haida classes sound like a great time. I gathered some roots from a construction site on my last trip to Alaska. Don't know if I have enough for a small basket. I also have some Ozark cedar root. Maybe I can supplement with that. Culleen Doolittle: I'm not sure what weight of strapping you're after. Is it similar to the fabric of military uniform belts? I sometimes see that by the yard at fabric stores. I think there's also a heavy woven strap that's used in upholstered furniture and might be found at upholstery shops. Then there's always military surplus for actual belts, if they're long enough. You could probably dye the strapping other colors. It might be possible to bleach it or use a color remover (such as Rit) if you want something in a lighter color. If I see an actual supply of it in the near future, I'll post the source here. Bert Comstock Independence, MO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 12 Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 03:33:21 EDT From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Darleena and Billie asked about the odd word wrapping on some messages. I think it may have to do with how your e-mail page format is set. I have mine set up with a small font so I get more words per line and more lines per screen in the message window. If this is making it awkward for others to read my posts, I could change to a larger font. Please let me know if that would be an improvement. In this message, for instance, the last words on the first 6 lines of this paragraph are 'I', 'set', 'the', 'could', 'In' and 'are'. When I get ready to print out Weavers Words, I save the message to a text file and edit the format in my word processing software first. Lisa A. Mather, you mentioned waiting for a storm to take down a tree on your property. We didn't lose a tree, but the Kansas City area had a really nasty, heavy, wet snow last October that took a lot of limbs from trees all over town. I did save pieces of some of the downed branches in our yard. Got several interesting bends that will become handles and quite a few longer pieces that I tied in curves for spokes or rims. Now I have to decide what kinds of baskets to attach them to. Billie A Dorris, the basket therapy item you published was pretty interesting. I was amazed at the sexism, though! I can believe that there were practicing 'professionals' in the mental health field in 1922 who thought it '...is apt to make a man effeminate if he used a needle...', but I sure hope they aren't practicing today! I just wonder where people came up with such things. One of my books shows a mold for weaving a duck basket, but I have to admit a turkey is one I never thought of! Maybe you could make a form from chicken wire or rolled up newspapers. Sort of like a pinata? Paper mache' would be fairly easy, but flat reed sounds like a real challenge! Let us know how you handle this one, please. It should make a great story! I just noticed how late it's getting. Time to put the trash out & get some sleep. I'm getting up early in the morning to go help a friend figure out how to make a pavilion. Bert Comstock Independence, MO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 14 Date: Tue, 3 Jun 1997 11:50:52 +0000 From: Pamela Woodbury To: David Collins Hello Everyone from cold, dreary Michigan, I intend to change my environment very early tomorrow morning. Hopefully Kansan City, MO has gotten summer weather because I packed shorts for every day. To anyone interested, I have a pattern from Sharon Wright called Betsy's Bunch Basket on the Tulip D handle. I must say I kind of like the basket, but the public doesn't and I made up 4 and have yet to sell one. I actually prefer the look of the Williamsburg handle to the Tulip D as the Tulip D doesn't flare out as much. I, too, went to a antique/flea market festival over the weekend. I saw several sets of antlers for sale so I am ASSUMING that it is legal to sell them in Michigan. I, too, saw some moose antlers for sale, but didn't check out the price. As Jill Choate will be coming to my house to teach us an antler wall basket on June 14th I picked up one really nice looking set of antlers. I hope they are the right size because I have to make 3 of her antler baskets as I have 2 sons and a daughter. The sons both want the antler basket and the daughter wants it for her husband and son. Both my boys are into hunting and the younger one had just asked me if I could make him an antler basket and the following week I met Jill on the internet. Must be esp. I have to share my other find at the antique festival. I ran across this very large old basket that had a wood bottom with holes drilled in it for I'd say around #8 round reed. It was 6' or longer and about 18" wide. It even had a rewoven border on it. Now some of you might have already guessed what it was, but I had to ask. It was a body carrier for funerals. The antique dealer who had it had many jokes to go along with it, but I had never seen one before and it was very interesting. > >Does anyone know of a good purse pattern that would be simple to do and >look spiffy? :) I too would be interested in a spiffy purse pattern if anyone comes across one. > These frogs were really funny and he had a very profitable weekend with these stupid little frogs. I can't help but laugh about it! ! :) Sometimes I find it really amazing the junk that will sell at a craft fair and then they come up to me and ask what can I use that basket for. If I'm not it a great mood I probably would ask what can you use that frog for. Usually I give them a list a mile long of uses, but find it very amazing at some of the things that will sell before a useful item like a basket. Another thing that I wanted to mention was suits! A friend of >mine had someone trip over one of her tie downs for her tent. The >woman is in the process of suing her for a multitude of problems she >now has! My friend has taken steps to protect this women from >possessing her house, because her insurance doesn't provide her >with enough money to please this women ! My friend had the >insurance company provided her with something called the >homestead protect , something or rather ??? so this woman can't >attach her house!!! And you think you've got problems. :( :( :( I think this is probably something we need to discuss. I am definitely getting some liability insurance before my first outdoor show this year the first weekend in August. I have been doing shows for 11 years, one more year than I've been weaving and I need to quit relying on luck. Can anyone guess what enough liability is. How badly was this woman hurt, a sprained ankle or paralyzed for life? Who would guess that GIRLS would need all these manly tools to make baskets.! I have to share something that happened to a group of us last year. I am fortunate enough to live within a 2 hour drive from a man who teachers Shaker Boxes all over the country at Shaker Villages, John Wilson, maybe some of you have heard of him. I made arrangements for me and 5 friends to go there and make a nested set of 5 boxes. We're used to going to basketry things and being either all women or an occasional man. Us 6 women walked in and there were 8 men in the class. We were shocked to see men, but not near as shocked as they were to see all of us women coming into a class using power tools. The next most impressive thing was that we all knew how to use them. We left the class 2 days later with a beautiful set of nested boxes and I might add all the men were still working on theirs. I always have a sale area to get rid of the poor baskets that have been carried around for too long for whatever reason. The only places big enough for sales are outdoor shows so I never have sales until summer. I, too, get a real chuckle out of how well all the baskets on the sale table sell. If after the first sale day, I still have some, I mark them down again. My objective is to get rid of all these baskets before I leave. I have even gone as far as someone who has spent a lot of money on the non-sale items let them pick a sale item for free. They are thrilled and I've made a great sale and gotten rid of one that needed a little TLC. Billie, you have given me a whole new reason to go to flea markets or garage sales and I know I've seen those beautician tables before. I even wonder if you called some beauty shops if they wouldn't have some old beauty trays laying around that they would be thrilled to get rid of for a few bucks. Great idea. You have until June 15th to get your MI selections in to be considered first day picks. If you haven't received you booklet within the next week, I would call and find out why. For anyone going I am co-chair of the decorations this year and have some real cute ideas. Hopefully I will see lots of you there. Pam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Bloodroot Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 08:07:57 -0400 From: "okemoss@ludl.tds.net" To: David Collins Hi Everybody, Well I finally got my unfinished baskets out this past weekend and finished them off. Am looking forward to a "Great Summer" (when it gets here - BRRRRRRR) of weaving in Vermont with my favorite weaving partner, my Mom, who by the way got me started on this addictive hobby! I am writing to ask if anyone has done any dying with bloodroot as we are going to harvest some tonight and would love any help you all can give us! Also can anyone recommend a good book on working with waxed linen for making coiled type baskets? There was an instructor at Stowe Festival last year who taught beautiful coiling technique and I need a project to take with me on a cruise to Alaska that will not take up alot of space but will keep me busy in the off hours so I don't eat myself to "Blimpdom" and have to get Goodyear tattooed on me when I get home. Also anyone who Knows of any cool places in Fairbanks, Juneau or Vancouver to visit please let me know! Well so long and happy weaving to all. Laurie Marechaux @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: weavers words Date: Tue, 3 Jun 1997 10:06:39 -0400 (EDT) From: Baskwev@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hello, my name is Tracy Welch. I live in Long Grove, Iowa near the Illinois side. I retired as a Veterinary Tech. almost 10 years ago when I became a parent. To get myself out of the house and into adult company I also began teaching basket classes through adult education programs. I've done craft shows in the earlier years, but I resented giving up the best weekend to 'work' and I disliked making basket that I knew would sell, but I was sick of. the week before shows I would weave like a machine and the pressure I would put on myself was not enjoyable. So now I teach, write a few patterns, and sell supplies to other weavers. I still do one show every October and that's when I relieve myself of all those baskets I have loved all year. I usually don't like to make the same basket twice. There are so many different styles and patterns out there and I want to try them all. I am heading down to Missouri this weekend and I can't wait! I hope it will be the weekend I've been needing. Annetta from Beloit: I found a video at our library on rush seats. I checked it out, have the seat and the rush sitting here, watch the whole tape. And then time just slipped away and I had to return it to the library before I had the chance to get started. But any how, it did have a lot of great tips in it. If you can't get it at your library, e-mail me and I will get the right name and all for you. I enjoyed the info about the miniatures and the hairdresser's cart in the last issue. I'll write next week and tell you all about the Kansas City weekend. Tracy Welch baskwev@aol.com Long Grove, Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Tulip "D" Handles Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 15:21:21 -0500 From: Roberta Huisman To: davidc@iei.net Lois: Thank you for responding to my question. I appreciate it. This is the second time I have asked something and haven't had much response to either one. I can't figure out if my questions are extremely stupid or real stumpers. Yes, the tulip D is narrower at the bottom and widens as it goes up. I don't have a pattern for the tulip D....but I saw an idea at a show in Minnesota a week ago and am anxious to pursue it. I can only find the 6" x 13" tulip so if anyone knows where to get other sizes....preferably larger....PLEASE let me know. I have been adding a tough of fabric softner to my water since I weave several hours a day and it sure saves my hands. I had not had a slippage from the reed. Thanks to whoever originated this tip. Due to allergies...next time I plan to get the unscented. Has anyone else tried "Matches in the Basket" by Carol Matteson (from basketpatterns.com). I loved the dainty look the bow gave it. Have had several comments from people stopping at the house and think this is a hot one for shows. As I mentioned before, I live in Iowa and I do not think there are too many basket weavers here so my sales have been tremendous for spring and wish there were two of me to keep up. Well, my basket it drying out so better get back to it. >From Iowa, Berta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: From Cris at The NorEsta Cane & Reed Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 18:18:12 -0400 From: Esther Grigsby <"egrigsby@accn.org"@accn.org> To: davidc@iei.net Dear David, All of us talk about ourselves so much and it seems I know very little about you, except that you are a genius, philanthropist, philosopher, great soul, basket lover, etc! What other kind of person could do a job like you do on this list?! Would love to hear a little bit about your life and times, though. If you care to tell, that is. What brought you to take charge of the enormous task of maintaining this list? Do you have another job? How long does it take you to do this list? Do you have other interests, hobbies, crafts, arts, endeavors that you are also involved in at the same time? What about the mystery man, David Collins? Curious and appreciative, Cris from The NorEsta Cane & Reed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: So Many Questions, So Little Time! Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 17:30:44 -0500 From: The Ray Ohana To: David Collins Hi, David - Thanks for this great forum. I have been lurking for the last (more than a ) few digests. I need to jump in. I have basket class in 45 minutes, though, so this will be quick! Joy Moody - What is Sign of the Crow?! I have always wondered... Lois - I'll bet a lot of people are disappointed that you aren't teaching as much! I know things are hectic, but could you please send or post your "recipe" for stain (Min-Wax, linseed oil, and mineral spirits)? Can't remember the proportions! I wish I had time to write more! I told a friend I would do some administrative type work for her, which I though would be 10-15 hours a week. Well, I'm up to 30 hours, and I refuse to do more! Between that, the kids, and teaching.... Ya'll know the drill. I took a day off (if there is such a thing!) and taught my daughter's 5th grade class basketweaving. Hard work, but fun. Have had a few requests from other teachers to teach their classes. I will have to think pretty hard about that! I had two of my students offer to help me; couldn't have done it without them. I gave them each a free class for all their efforts. Billie Dorris, thank you for all your suggestions. I will probably be in Jackson, MI, for a week sometime in August. Does anyone know of any classes I could take? It would be so nice not to be in charge for once! Gotta run! Carey Ray Bossier City, LA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: RE: "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 11 Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 00:11:26 -0400 From: Linda Conte To: "'David Collins'" Hi! Thanks for info. Yes on the workshop AND I'm doing the backpack one on Thursday & Friday. See you then! Best regards, Linda Conte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Joining in Date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 22:26:26 -0700 From: "Susan H. MacIntire" To: davidc@iei.net Greetings! I've enjoyed reading the lists. David, we really appreciate your taking this on. Haven't meant to be a lurker, just check my e-mail before retiring, print out "Weavers Words" when there is a list and then take it up to bed to read. I never seem to get back to the computer to write in. I was on Shirley's list, as many of you were. I am a retired teacher working for an art dealer in NYC (via fax - I live in Vermont) and making baskets to sell. I've been making baskets since 1978 and teaching since the early 1980's. I make baskets from all sorts of materials, but my favorite is black ash. I can get it in the swamp behind my house, but the pounding takes more energy than I usually have. There is a log set up in the backyard and my grandchildren pound some for me when they come. For Joy Moody who has lots of white birch, I've had a good time making designs on birch containers. I tack the birch to a round or oval base of half inch thick pine that I cut out with a jig saw, sew the overlapped seam with cane or artificial sinew and sew on pine needles or sweetgrass around the top. All you need to do is punch some holes in the bark with an awl and then lace it. If the birch has some neat knots I put the outside of the bark out. If it isn't too interesting, I put the inside out. Then I draw a design on the bark and wet it a little by patting it with my fingers dipped in water. I wait a minute or so, then scrape off my design using a blunt instrument like a packing tool. It really comes out nice! I've never tried fabric softener in the water, but if I am working with fine round reed that tends to be splitty, I put a teaspoon of glycerin in a bucket of water. It isn't very expensive, you can buy it at a drug store. It has no color or odor and is nice on the hands. Annetta, you asked about doing a rush seat on your stool frame. I learned from "The Caner's Handbook" by Bruce W. Miller & Jim Widess. The book covers all sorts of seats from cane, rush, splint, Shaker tape, to Danish cord and rawhide. The instructions are clear and there are good pictures of all the steps. It was published in 1991 by Lark Books. I think I bought it from Royalwood. Today was the quintessential June day and I spent most of it in the back yard caning chairs for a customer. Tomorrow is supposed to be equally great. I'll sit out and start on my bicycle basket orders. I did one bike basket for a local college girl and now all her friends want one. I'll try to do each a little different so they can tell them apart. Besides, it'll give me a chance to use up odds and ends of splint by using different size weavers. Hope you all enjoy weaving on these bright spring days. Sue MacIntire Shoreham, VT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.