"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 31 Compiled By David Collins Owned By Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: July 20, 1997 Subscribers: 259 Back Issues: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/basketry.html @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Victorian Laundry Basket Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 20:07:18 -0500 From: mlower@mail.isbe.accessus.net (Mindy Lower) To: davidc@iei.net Yes! I finished my Victorian Laundry Basket and it is a large one. I was thankful that I had once made a shaker cathead basket with a quadrifoil lid. This was the same design as in the laundry basket, so I could use my lid as a resource to get me through the directions. It is a beautiful basket when finished. My pattern does not give me a finished diameter and I was wondering what others of you have gotten for your finished diameter with this basket. Mindy Lower http://isbe.accessus.net/~mlower/SimpleBaskets.html @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Thanks Date: Fri, 18 Jul 97 13:05:17 GMT From: "Megginson Lewis" To: davidc@iei.net (David Collins (digest)) Hi, I have only found out how much this means to me. I brought in some back digest that I didn't receive. They were not in the usual form. One letter in particular was very informative about dyes, but it was on one line and I had a hard time constantly clicking and trying to keep up with my place. I did it the best I could. I really don't have trouble with bleeding dyes for myself. I like to work out of the dye pot when possible or if a pound or more of colored reed is used on a basket. I teach a class in NC and they want to do a large market type with lots of color designs, really concerned because the dye will be completely dry, not damp like I usually work with, I will try some of the rinsing techniques just to be safe. I am surprised at how many people use rit dye, my first baskets were made with rit and they faded but I am sure I didn't take the necessary steps in the process. I usually use less water than called for and leave the reed in a long time. I believe it helps for the reed to absorb the dye and just not be surface color. Thanks to all! Thanks, Carolyn in Suffolk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: J.A.D.V.I.C.K. dye. Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 09:39:21 -0500 From: monast@iquest.net To: davidc@iei.net When wanting a "peach" dye I use J.A.D.V.I.C.K (apricot #73394 - not too strong and not too light) The little tube now carries a main label name of BASKETRY DYE, but on the side it says J.A.D.V.I.C.K Norcross, GA. I get my dyes through Restoration Products 1-800-562-5291. They have a wonderful web page and free catalog. See http://www.basketry.com If you're ordering materials anyway, why not get a discount. Has anyone used the new Rit color Dark Plum? Melting in Yorktown Indiana Kristin Monastyrski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Bobbi Harris antler book Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 09:43:10 -0500 From: monast@iquest.net To: davidc@iei.net I forgot to ask. On the previouse Shirley list an address was given for the Bobbi Harris - Antler Basket Book. Mine was left out in the rain and glued itself together. Does anyone have that information? Thanks in advance! Kristin Monastyrski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Catching up and bragging Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 07:44:21 -0700 From: Ralph/Annetta Kraayeveld To: "davidc@iei.net" Hello weavers Its been a while since I wrote in. This is not to say that I haven't been reading and enjoying the 'words' very much, just not to much to add lately. I do want to thank David for his work in keeping this forum alive and well. Not only do subscribers enjoy it but also everyone we share them with. Its hot and muggy in southern Wisconsin, this is something I will never get used to!! Back home (Alberta) the air is dry and the nights are cool!! I don't know how those of you to the south of me can function. By the way, do baskets ever really dry in this weather? I know my son's woodwork project took a full week between 'poly' coats to dry! I have some bragging to do ... forgive me, but you are the group that would care the most... My three daughters (ages 9, 11, & 13) brought a total of five baskets to our county 4-H fair. Each basket took a blue ribbon :^) AND my 13 year old daughter's basket took a merit :^) and a trophy!!! :^) She was thrilled (needless to say, so was I). It was the 3rd basket she had ever made. The basket pattern she used (slightly altered by her) was Debbie Richards' Tulip Napkin Basket. The other baskets were original designs. It was a pretty exciting day!! I did get to my rush seat. It looks okay...I learned a lot! I know my 'next' one will be much improved!! Next question. I plan to do some waxed linen miniatures on vacation. Any hints, any great sources, any warnings? I thought that this would be a more compact project than taking boxes of reed, tools, etc [I did that last year :^)] Another question ... why do I so often hear that an egg or a melon basket is the perfect "FIRST" basket? I have made very few of them because they frustrate me. Although they usually turn out, I seem to sweat bullets over them. I am sure if that had been my first experience, I would not be weaving baskets today. The conversation about what to call ourselves, weaver or basket maker, has been very interesting. I have really appreciated ALL the comments, they have set me to thinking several times! For me I guess it depends on the day, my mood and who I am talking to. Personally I think the 'names' are interchangeable ... after all I do 'weave' and I do 'make baskets'! Well, I know there was something else I was going to ask you all, but the mind is foggy (must be the humidity) and I can't think of it. I guess I'll save it for next time!! Annetta Beloit, WI -- He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands, and his head, is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, and his head, and his heart, is an artist. St. Francis of Assisi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Chat Room Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 18:13:39 -0500 From: The Ray Ohana To: davidc@iei.net Hi, ya'll - I was just at craftmall.com where they used to have a chat room. Since last Saturday night "they" have changed it to members only and I'm not sure I want to pay to talk. Anybody know of any other basketry chat rooms out there? Am I the only one who finishes every basket? Perhaps I am a freak of nature, but I finish every one I start! I will admit that it may end up drastically different from what I envisioned from when I started, but I complete them all. To be honest, I hate for my baskets to nag me; I get enough of that from all the humans in my life!!! Carey Ray Bossier City, LA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: First Time Visit Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 20:12:01 -0700 From: "Dan, Elizabeth, and Jenny Nagle" To: "David" Just having begun to learn the art of basket weaving (I don't believe I ever thought it was just a craft), I want to say thanks to Grace Davis for telling me about this forum. She has taken me under her wing to show me the ropes (oops I mean spokes). Grace, thank you. I really look forward to future basket jam sessions. I can't wait to try these different possibilities, but even the dreaming is fun. Just keep me in check. I'm really addicted. I took a couple of classes at the Crafts and More at Fort Huachuca, AZ. I like handmade gifts and having very little natural ability, I took three different types of classes to get a head start on Christmas gifts this year: framing, pottery, and basket weaving. Basket weaving won hands down. Tina Chopin was my first instructor and I thought you couldn't have found a sweeter more generous teacher. She really shared openly and willingly, but circumstances took her out of the teaching circuit there at the time. My hat is still off to her, because she was the one who got me started. From the very first class (even when I showed up late), she treated me like a long time friend. Sounds a lot like all of the folks on this bulletin board, David. This "camaraderie" I saw mentioned is something that's missed in the world these days. It's about giving of oneself. Passing on traditions and lessons learned. Mentoring and sharing and caring. Note to Judith Olney: You're from Rowley, MA? I have a sister in law in your area, Sue Nagle. She runs a craft store and used to do a lot of painting beautiful things on pottery and slate and stuff. Do you happen to know her? Sure is a small world if you do. My thanks to David for running this and to all of you out there who are willing to be so open with your talents and creativity and time. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: "Culmination" Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 09:13:08 -0700 From: "Grace and Forrest Davis" To: "Weaver's Words" Hi Everyone, Well, I did it--finished my amazing Antler Basket. I call it "A Culmination of Weaver's Words" . . . honoring the personalities and techniques this list has woven into my basketmaking persona. "Culmination" stands eighteen inches at twelve inches diameter. I filled the base, twilled the side, and added some curls all around. I anchored the antlers to the base and fastened two leather straps to the rim. It's incredible--ornate, unique, and doubles as a hunting hat. Reviews have been mixed. Grace calls it dangerous and refuses to let me wear it at her next craft fair. Our oldest just smiles, while our youngest keeps bringing his friends by for supposed fittings. Even my neighbor disappointed me. "You must have hated that deer," he said with a smirk. Yea well, he'll come around. . . he's clearly going to need some help with those four flat tires. Polyphonic, sometimes contentious, yet poised on the periphery of change. . . "Weaver's Words" has so influenced my artistry that I'm content knowing you all stand by my creation. Thanks Jill, Judy, Lois, Lyn, Eileen, Fred, Amanda, Pam and Joy--just to name a few. Watching, learning, absorbing, synthesizing in schmoking Arizona. . . , Forrest +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "I put my reed in the Rit. . . I dip, you dip, we dip." Hip-Hop Weaver's Song +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Judy Wilson basket Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 12:18:02 -0400 (EDT) From: mbc@vnet.net (Michael & Barbara Cordell) To: davidc@iei.net To Lynn Akerhielm - Okay, you're on! I really don't have any idea why I haven't finished this basket cause I just love the colors (southwest-rust & turquoise), and they're so beautiful when finished. SO that basket is my project when I go to the beach next weekend with some friends for a weaving weekend. I will be so HAPPY when it is done...then maybe I'll get to some of the others that are hanging around! What size & color is yours? Mine is an 8 inch.....I'll let you know how much I finish. To Kristin Monastyrski - thanks for the offer, but I WILL finish this basket soon. (I have good intentions!) But I will ask around at guild to see if anyone is interested in selling any of their kits and let you know. Do many of you throw out unfinished baskets? Mine just sit around waiting to get my attention.....I only have thrown out one which I think was by far the ugliest basket I ever wove....a coiled kudzu basket and it was finished. I was going to put it out in a tree to be a birds nest, but then was afraid that it would somehow seed and kudzu would take over my yard...so I threw it out and felt very guilty! One other question, has anyone heard the dates for Stowe next year? Merry talked about possibly moving it out....anyone heard anything? Thanks. Hope everyone is having a wonderful day! Barb Cordell Charlotte, NC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 21:01:24 -0400 From: SUSAN WAITE To: davidc@iei.net It is Sunday afternoon and I am sitting here trying to weave a basket to enter in the county fair. As I an working, I am wondering how many other people out there procrastinate as much as I do on things like this. I always seem to wait until the last minute to get ready and always wonder why??? I have done this for years, always waiting until the last possible minute and always telling myself that I will be ready next year, and I never am. I enjoy having baskets in competition as last year I brought home 15 blue ribbons in 4 different fairs. Guess I better get back to work or else I will be up all night. slw@aeneas.net susan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.