"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 34 Compiled By David Collins Owned By Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: July 31, 1997 Subscribers: 264 Back Issues: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5998/ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Calendar Date: Sun, 27 Jul 1997 18:53:08 -0500 From: jajesper To: David Collins I have a suggestion but don't know where it might best be addressed. Perhaps someone on the WW list will have a site that will be able to handle this idea. Several of you have written to ask about dates of conventions, guilds, etc. I think it would be very useful to have a central clearinghouse for meetings to be posted with dates and where to send for information. Names of contact persons could also be included as well as deadlines. This could be updated as things become available and freshened up as dates/conventions pass. Does anyone know where this could be achieved? Enjoy reading all of the tips and discussion! Kathleen Jespersen Rock Valley, IA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Music Date: Sun, 27 Jul 1997 19:58:19 -0400 From: "Kim Renich" To: Hi Weavers, Everyone seems to like to listen to music as they weave. I have the chatter of a 3 year old, the washing machine going, the dishwasher, children's videos on the TV, the phone ringing... and so when I weave, what is music to my ears is silence. Rib baskets? I like to LOOK at them, I even own one ... given to me by a friend. However, my second or 3rd basket was a small rib basket that I never finished. It was extremely frustrating for me, so much so that I have never and probably will never attempt another one. Twig, I also love Diane's Noah's Ark basket... one of my favorites. Jim and Diane are such wonderful instructors anyway, tha t I don't think they could make anything I wouldn't like. They make class FUN! It seems like a lot of people don't like banding and lashing, or would at least prefer another alternative. Guess I'm different, I like many rims, but banding and lashing is my favorite. Lois, nobody here in NC has received their May issue of SIMPLY BASKETS either. She had a note in her last issue (which was also waaaaay late) that said it would probably take her a year to catch up on her issues. I assumed that meant that each issue would get a little more caught up ... obviously not?! Kim ... Goldsboro, NC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weaver words" Date: Sun, 27 Jul 1997 20:01:39 -0400 (EDT) From: WBLAZ@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hello Everyone, I've been reading this site for about three issues. I teach basket weaving to friends in my home. I've been doing it for about seven years. I only started basket weaving about eight years ago. A friend was teaching and I joined her class for the summer, thinking that if I didn't like it, I could get out easily in the fall by saying I was too busy. Well, I was hooked from the first moment, and at the second class she announced that she was moving out of state because of her husband's job. I panicked initially and when I regained control, looked for the most difficult patterns and techniques so she could teach me. She moved about nine months later and the class moved to my house. I've been teaching two classes each week ever since. When I have new students I start them out with a small market basket, usually 6x9 or 8x10. They can choose to put in a pre-formed handle or wrap one. After that they can select a basket from one of my many patterns, I advise against ones I think are too difficult. (I usually don't advise egg baskets for the first 5-6 baskets.) As a result I have 5-6 students each night and all working on different baskets. This seems to work because 7 of my students have been coming since day one. We love sharing ideas to personalize our baskets and give each other support when our baskets, "have minds of their own". Unfinished baskets-I am a school teacher and every year I promise myself that during the summer I will finish the baskets that are waiting fulfill their destiny. But each year as September rolls around again, I still have some unfinished ones. The "East-West Basket", by Christine Lamb has been haunting me for about three summers. There are 64 spokes, 128 ends, all sticking up like fingers, taunting me. I've tipped it over so I see the beautiful bottom instead the ends of all those spokes. Thanks to David for all the work he does putting this together. Looking forward to each issue. WBLAZ, CT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Calendar P.S. Date: Sun, 27 Jul 1997 19:18:39 -0500 From: jajesper To: David Collins I found the answer to my own question after posting it today as I visited the Weavers Network and found lots of dates listed under the home page of Restoration Products. I have a question for all you readers. I attended a "Flea Market" over the 4th of July and found 2 willow baskets in a melon basket pattern and they were priced at $125 and $75. How do you determine how old these baskets are, and what would you expect to pay for them? Would like to see some discussion on determining their value. Thanks! Kathleen Jespersen Rock Valley, IA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Indian Baskets Date: Sun, 27 Jul 1997 18:04:38 -0700 From: "Dan, Elizabeth, and Jenny Nagle" To: "David" Hello to every one. Your tips are very helpful to me as a beginner. I'm not going to be put off, though and the two types of baskets I am determined to learn sooner than later are the rib baskets and the Nantuckets. I think that because my in-laws are from New England, it would be a nice surprise if I could make one of those for them. Especially because my father in law was in the Navy and the Coast Guard. What I'm looking for right now is any patterns or references for Indian baskets, especially from the Creek Nation of Indians. I believe they were east coast Indians. I don't know much about them and don't even know if they were known for making baskets. I would appreciate any suggestions you might have. Thanks and keep up the good work! Elizabeth, from the REAL Sunshine State, Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Michigan Convention Date: Sun, 27 Jul 1997 23:12:46 -0400 From: "The Rigterinks" To: Greetings Everyone! I'm sso excited!!! I was lucky enough to get all of my first choices for the October convention. I'll be taking Martha Wetherbee's Tatting basket at pre-convention and Eric Taylor's Laundry Basket at Convention. Also was lucky enough to get a miniature basket called Wee Wishes on Saturday. Does anyone else out there have any of these classes? If so please let me know...it would be so great to be able to put real faces with the names on this list. Keep on weaving Diane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: melons, music and classes Date: Sun, 27 Jul 1997 17:48:11 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha from HOT Hawaii where we are praying for trade winds, About melon baskets--I, too, have had countless people in classes who say they made an egg or melon (but mostly egg) basket at their first class and were so frustrated they didn*t sign up for another class for years. Rib baskets aren*t my favorites, either, but I treasure the two I made in class--a large egg with braided handle and a flat egg/market type. And one more word about music--while teaching, I find that music does indeed set the pace for class. If I play something with a New Age sound--sort of soft and dreamy--or Mozart for Meditation, they weave so s-l-o-w. If I play 50*s and 60*s and Beach Boys, they weave faster.. To Mandy about teaching classes: When I taught in my home, I would show examples of what we could learn to a class and they would tell me what they liked and what they didn*t want to weave and that would help determine what we*d weave that month. I sent out a newsletter with the schedule and whoever wanted to sign up for specific classes, could. Every now and then, I*d have a "make-up" day where people could weave something they*d missed from the previous months. Now I*m concentrating on teaching at the crafts center and I have to turn a schedule in months in advance so it can be published in their catalog. That means I make the decision on what I teach. I like that, but I*m really tied into that schedule--can*t change a class if I find a more interesting basket. That one has to wait for the next catalog. One of my friends who teaches here on Oahu usually goes to other locations (houses, schools, etc.) and she lets her classes select the basket. However, if her students are unhappy with their basket, she reweaves it for them....I don*t think I*d go that far! That is definitely not part of the class fee. My mother came over for Kate*s graduation in May and she saw a large tulip market I*d made. I told her I had planned to send it to her for Mother*s Day but couldn*t find a box big enough (it is a really big basket) and she said "I*ll find a box". She did and when she returned to Virginia, she took it to her knitting class and now I have several orders for that basket..and now I*ll be the one searching for really big boxes... Any ideas for something small to teach at "Gift Basket Class"? I teach one before Christmas and the class makes 3 small baskets in one class--and I mean these are simple small baskets. I*ve done jellie jars and small recipe card baskets, but I*m looking for some fresh ideas. I*d appreciate any suggestions. I think the tropic heat is affecting my brain and my creative juices just aren*t flowing..... ...and to Mandy, once more: Did you have a response to the lady (?) who said "Sorry, they*re just not Longabergers".....that is just so rude... Of course they aren*t Longebergers--they*re better. I have students who come to class carrying their L purse or bringing their supplies in a big L basket.....and yes, at every craft fair, there is a "big" item that sells fast--be it angels on a stick or folding beach chairs or pink flamingos, but the thing is, we weavers will be there for a long time and the angel on a stick people will not--their item is good for one short season. I know that doesn*t help when people are shelling out money for that "craft", but you are an artist and they are crafters.... (yes, I know that*s hard, but I*m still smarting over my $89 ugly as sin bird house).... have a fine week and do lots of weaving (or teaching), Lois Honolulu (hot, hot, Honolulu) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Date: Mon, 28 Jul 1997 01:45:31 -0400 (EDT) From: CMGARDNER@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone. I have been lurking around since Shirley's list, so I thought it was time to jump back in. Thanks David for keeping this going. I have learned so much from everyone. I had to laugh at Mandy Millers comment about Longaberger baskets. I just don't GET IT! I went to one of 'those' parties and couldn't believe that women were almost swooning over certain baskets from prior years..and paying huge prices for them. I ended up(out of obligation) ordering a tiny cracker basket and liner, costing nearly $40.00. These are mass produced! Why can't these same women start collecting baskets that are Really hand made? Oh well....to each his own I guess. About music to weave by...since I do mostly southwestern styles/native American influences..I love to listen to flute music (R.Carlos Nakai) or the pan flute...sort of "flutes on the mesa" sort of thing. I found a great one.. Flight of the Condor..sounds of the Andes. really neat sounds. But then, the best music is hearing the wild quail and doves out back. We live in the desert and have lots of 'wild things'. To Carolyn Meggison who mentioned a braid boarder. I just finished my first braid boarder..yes..lots of work on the 4th row..but well worth it. Strong, beautiful braid effect. I used the one in Flo Hoppe's new book. You really need 16" of spoke to work this right because it gets hard on the inside last row. Basket Chat...sounds great...I'll be sure to visit Donna Webers site on Saturday nite(if I can figure out what time it is here/there) Someone was talking about Virginia Creeper vine..yes I use it and others..really gives a nice effect in a basket. I have also found the grapevine wreaths..the big 18" one's from craft stores work really well. You have to soak them about a week, but you can then unroll them to get some really nice parts to add in a basket. I have also found that vines will soften up fairly quickly if you put them in a black plastic garbage bag, with water, in the sun for a few days. Sort of a solar sauna bath. NEED HELP..I am entering a competition (state fair) does anyone know WHAT judges will look for? Should joins on spokes be hidden? Are there any rules written anywhere? Maybe Annetta (?)can help...sounds like you did great at your fair. Re: Egg baskets...yes that was not too easy for me as a beginner (I'm still pretty new at basketmaking, and it has become an obsession now) I have been really fortunate to have sold my baskets at a local gallery and to have been able to participate in a lot of the shows our guild is involved in. This is a wonderful experience. Happy weaving to all of you! Molly Gardner, Sun Valley, Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: music, guilds and stuff Date: Mon, 28 Jul 1997 08:35:56 -0400 From: nhedberg@preferred.com (Nancy Hedberg) To: davidc@iei.net Hi fellow weavers, basketmakers. My favorite music to weave to is either nothing (after teaching school and living with a houseful of teenagers and their music, silence is restorative) or Jimmy Buffett or show tunes and I also sing along. My boys were painting the back porch last week and I was working in my shop in the backyard. Of course they had to listen to something with words I couldn't understand at decibels high enough to cause permanent damage. I just quit till they were through. I found that thought they probably didn't even know I was there, the intrusion annoyed me. Does anyone have info about the Southern Highlands Handicraft Guild. I've had an application for membership for several years and haven't had the courage to submit it. Membership is double juried, slides first then the real thing. I think my work is good enough, actually I know it is, but if they didn't agree I'd be crushed. Anyone out there who knows...is a member....can offer encouragement? Also I want a flag, the kind you hang on your house or in the garden, with a nantucket basket on it. I work in a converted garden shed in the back yard and my husband thinks I should hang out a flag. Anyone know where such a thing can be found? Finally on the discussion about weaver/basketmaker, In their book about the history of Nantuckets, Katherine and Edgar Seeler say something to the effect that basketmakers start with the tree and that if you bought your supplies and then made the basket you were in effect only a basket assembler. I was really hurt by that 10 yrs ago when I first started "assembling" baskets. I'm a whole lot closer to the tree now than I was then, but I still think I was a basketmaker then as I am now. Anyone who has finished a Nantucket knows they have really *made* something. The same goes for any other type of basket. When you make a loaf of bread from bought ingredients, you have not assembled the bread! I really enjoy this list. We are an interesting bunch. Wouldn't we have fun at a summer picnic? Happy weaving all. Nancy in Tennessee (95 today with 90% humidity and we have no air-conditioning :( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Date: Mon, 28 Jul 1997 09:38:59, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net Well gang, seems as if I've been reading the list lately but not contributing so guess it's time I jumped back in. Unfinished baskets:like everyone else it took me forever to finish Judy Wilson's-the one I started in class. I bought another kit and have never even touched it and can't now as I borrowed the reed for another project. Actually the leftovers make wonderful weavers for one of Eliz. Geislers tapestry baskets.The colors are wonderful and the right size rr. Someone asked about the size of Joyce Schaums Vict. laundry. I think mine is at leas 2 feet across. It is one of the largest baskets I have ever made. It has to be big to allow you to weave when you start just the basic over and under. Most people get it too tight in the corners and then have problems later. Listen to music while I weave?Never-I am one of those weird people who doesn't like noise. The quieter the better as far as I am concerned. I only have the tv on if there is something I want to watch. This might be a reaction to the fact that my husband turns it on when his feet hit the floor in the morn and doesn't' turn it off til he goes to bed-whether or not he is watching it. Actually I am one of those who can not concentrate when other things are going on- and if I am working on a complicated pattern in a twill I must have absolute silence or I am lost. Carolyn M. am glad you got to see Susanna's weavings .She does lots of interesting stuff and am glad to see her back-she stopped doing shows for a while since her father was ill. Darleena in Okinawa-my children are going to Misawa from Korea. My son flies F-16 and that was the only way he could stay in the cockpit- if he came back stateside he would either have a desk job or be an instructor heaven forbid. Am not sure my Daughter in law is thrilled but I think they will really enjoy it. They are taking the granddog that I have been baby sitting for the last year. I have a feeling that that was one of her conditions for agreeing to go. So Charlie the bassett will be off to Japan in the fall. Whoever mention getting in a rut with colors and all the baskets looking the same. I agree I have the same problem. Pam-I too have become entranced with Nantuckets. For some reason I find them very relaxing-the weaving not the rims. Well guess I've rambled enough this am. Hope everyone is keeping cool. Billie in HOT Va. Beach. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: RE: Weavers' Words Date: Mon, 28 Jul 1997 11:42:13 -0400 From: Ellen Dewkett Organization: Greenwood Genetic Center To: davidc@iei.net Hi, After reading the discussion about the rib baskets, I have to say that if that had been my first basket, it would also probably have been my last. I love rib baskets and do fine with them now, but that first one was not that much fun. Darleena, where in South Carolina is your student moving? There is a very active guild in the upstate area around Greenville. Around Charleston there's the sweetgrass basketmakers. I think they have some kind of organization. In the middle of the state around Columbia, I'm not aware of any guilds although there may be some individuals who teach. I usually listen to books-on-tape while I weave. Kind of the kill two birds with one stone method. I guess I'd better get back to work. Weave on! Ellen Ninety Six, SC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weavers Words Date: Mon, 28 Jul 1997 16:09:05 -0700 From: Terri Brenner To: davidc@iei.net Thought I'd pipe in on the ribbed basket discussion. I LOVE making ribbed baskets...probably more than any other. In particular I love the Judy Wilson style..the ones made with wide hoops - one round, one oval- and #0 or 00 round reed in lots of colors. Judy came to our Guild a few years ago and taught some of us how to make these baskets from the beginning. I've been hooked ever since. I've probably made 7 or 8 of these since and particularly like the 4" size. They're harder to weave because the ribs are so close together...still 18 ribs on each side like the big ones. But they look so exquisite when they're finished. On the small ones I usually use only 3 or 4 colors as opposed to 6 or 7 on the big ones. This is one basket I can start at home and work on in the car or at craft shows where I need something to keep busy between customers. I don't usually like to teach the melon basket as a first basket. Some people really have difficulties keeping the ribs in and it can be frustrating for them. I agree with all of you who hate for beginning students to get frustrated. I want them to love basket weaving as much as I do and would rather have them tackle those ribs once they have some confidence in what they're doing. I have a cute couple who've taken a few classes from me. They're in their mid-70's. She has macular degeneration (she can only see what's right in front of her and then she usually needs a magnifying glass). She wanted to take a basket weaving class and her husband came along to help her in case she couldn't see the instructions or needed help with fine details. Well...he got hooked and insisted on taking the class too. They both make nice looking baskets, but I have to admit hers look a little better than his, even though he keeps offering to help "straighten hers out"! They wanted to make a ribbed basket, so we did an easy one with 5 ribs on each side and 10" hoops so she could see it well. I was worried about her carving the ends of the ribs and working with the round reed to get them it place, but she did fine. The Mr's ribs kept popping out and he was getting so frustrated...he took forever to shape his ribs, making each one perfect and kept telling the Mrs that he would "fix hers for her". Of course, she said "no", did it herself, and didn't have a bit of trouble. He's going to come back so we can "fix" his ribs, but I have a feeling she'll finish the basket for him. They are such a cute couple! I guess it's never too late to get interested in something new. Donna - glad to hear I've got company in Judith's class. I'm really looking foward to the convention. There are 4 of us driving up in my car and wouldn't you know, two of them got the biggest baskets offered at the convention! I don't know how we're going to get home with these big baskets, PLUS all the stuff we'll buy while we're there, plus the stuff we came with! It's going to be a challenge, but I'm sure we'll manage, even if we have to ship our clothes home. Pam - thanks for the info on signing up for more classes. Last year I got a list in the mail of open classes. I was hoping they'd do this again so we wouldn't have to wait in line. Oh, well, guess I'll be there bright and early on Thursday. Is it October yet??? Thanks again, David, for all your work in keeping this list going! Terri Brenner Cincinnati, OH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 33 Date: Mon, 28 Jul 1997 22:06:57 -0400 (EDT) From: EEM20@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi! I enjoy the "Weaver's Words", to which I have recently subscribed. I didn't know that there was anything like it. In reading through the issue, I noticed that many speak about the guilds, and weaving groups that they attend. Does anyone know of ones in the Worcester, MA, central Mass area? The last few years I have only been weaving during the summer when I teach basketry at a summer camp. Now I have many adults who want to learn to weave. The classes this summer are multi age from 8-13yrs old. The kids did such a good job on their Jeremiah, and New England Step Baskets, that their parents want to learn too! This summer we learned that an application of Liquid Gold or Old English furniture oil, add a nice finish. We also used Kool-aid to dye some of the reed and baskets. Does anyone instruct in the evenings through adult education? What size do you restrict your classes to? Thanks for all of the info! Lynne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weaver's words Date: Mon, 28 Jul 1997 22:36:14 -0400 From: "Jayna L. Glemby" To: davidc@iei.net Thank you to all for the discussion about unfinished baskets...because it got me going and I'm now 3/4 finished a basket that has been haunting me for some time. You motivated me. I'll finish it this weekend...and guess what, now I actually like it, but in the beginning, it just wouldn't behave! Nothing special, just wouldn't shape up right. Mary Carty: I enjoy classical music and new age stuff when weaving..so relaxing. And for house work (ugh!) good old 60's & 70's rock'n roll. Enjoyed the basket chat line on DW baskets last Sat. night...Thanks for hosting it Donna! Real hot here in Central Massachusetts, we could sure use some rain! Jayna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weavers Words Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 10:34:15 -0400 From: "Joy Moody" To: Hi Everyone. A note to Joyce in Venice, Florida: I don't know about oak, but I've always gotten a good Black with JADVICK's #7337 on reed. Now, for the REAL STORY. Thanks to those who sent condolences on the theft of a basket from my one woman show. However, I just received a call from the restaurant owner who "figured out" what REALLY happened. It seems she hired a 16 year old girl and left her alone for a minute (while she ran 2 doors down to the bank). While she was gone the girl sold my $90.00 basket for $9.00 and the person buying it had neither the honesty nor the intelligence to question the price! None of the baskets were being sold off the wall or pedestals; it is an "orders only" show which will be up through the end of August. Written information on all of the baskets was available on each table, as well as for handouts. The girl was too "scared" to come forward when the police came to take the report; or the next day when I came back & hung posters all over the mall with a picture of the "stolen" basket. I know there is still more to this story! In the meantime, I have advised the shop owner that I expect this "error" to be made good. If the girl worked as a cashier in a store & cashed out $81 short at the end of the day, she would have it taken out of her pay. Tough lesson, but.................. Lori: I sympathized with your "my baskets all tend to look alike" story, but could not relate! With very few exceptions, all of my baskets have been different & I make a concerted effort to try different sizes, shapes, styles. So far this has worked well to not only expand my skills, but also to make me feel very expansive in my work, in general. It is very exciting taking on a different challenge each time! I have found though, that I like to use the same colors (which, lucky for me I guess, happen to have matched the "popular colors" everyone has been listing). I tried a new green on a big basket for the show. It came out wild. I call it Kermit Green. I kinda hated it, but decided to tone it down by balancing its vibrancy with a very dark stain. It worked, and has been a very popular basket in the show. Yak Yak Yak. Better sign off now. Keep on weav'n everyone! JOY Moody Sign of the Crow Hampden, Maine p.s. We're getting closer! Look for www.signofthecrow.com this Fall. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: wooden knobs Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 07:11:13 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net aloha, I forgot to ask this in the first letter, but does anyone have a source for wooden knobs for wooden lids? I can buy plain ones at the hardware store and I*ve got plenty of apples and have even found pears, but I*m looking for watermelons and pineapples and anything kind of different. mahalo, Lois Honolulu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Rib-Style Baskets Date: Wed, 30 Jul 1997 00:26:29 -0400 (EDT) From: DKallner@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net I've been reading the comments on rib-style baskets with a lot of interest, because most of my weaving is rib-style. I had woven maybe six baskets in 18 years before trying rib-style --always on my own with a picture or directions in a book. In 1992 (I think) I started weaving rib-style and willow at the same time in a class with Jo Campbell-Amsler at Sievers Fiber Arts School. My experiences, with both rib-style and willow, have been very positive. I'm quite sure (and you should trust me on this) that my positive attitude has more to do with the high quality of instruction I've received than my innate abilities as a weaver. I'm not so sure I would have continued weaving rib-style if I had to learn from the patterns in books. For one thing, it seems like every pattern expects you to cut your ribs to a specific length before you even start weaving. Maybe it's just because I'm used to working with imperfect natural materials like willow, but I have a hard time imagining how I could make this work. Once my hoops and lashings are in place and I start putting in ribs, I usually need to make adjustments as I go. As I continue to place ribs, I check the shape by setting the basket on a table and looking at it from several angles, including from across the room. The more careful I am with the shape of the skeleton, the better looking the finished basket will be. Because Jo taught me how to place ribs to fit the basket, rather than to fit a pre-determined measurement, I'm not intimidated by the surprises that come as the basket forms. I have to say, though, that my understanding of the structure of rib-style baskets didn't really kick in until somewhere between the 6th and 10th baskets, and I'm still learning. Lately I've done quite a few willow wall baskets, which are challenging because of their asymmetry. I try to "think through" the basket before I begin to anticipate problems, and it's important to understand the structure for that to be successful. In another class I took with Jo, she made us sketch the baskets we intended to weave. We all whined and claimed we couldn't draw, but she just smiled and kept handing out pencils and paper. Now I do a lot of sketching. It's not the same as drawing, and no one sees my scratches but me. But it makes me think about the structure and how to achieve it. This is a good thing. But the best thing I did for myself when I started weaving rib-style was to not expect perfection right away. I took my first class with Jo (my first weaving class ever, actually) because I needed a break from work. I've been paralyzed by perfectionism enough times over the years to know it's not healthy. Luckily, I didn't impose an expectation of perfection on my baskets. Instead, I accepted a little "character" and kept weaving. And I found myself learning with each basket I made. I don't learn as much from baskets I don't finish as from those I do finish -- but that leads into a whole different discussion! Donna Kallner White Lake, Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Saturday Night Basket Chat Date: Wed, 30 Jul 1997 07:59:30 -0400 From: Donna Weber Organization: DW Baskets To: "Collins, David" Hi Everyone! We had our first basket chat at the DW Baskets web site and it was a big success! Everyone was so free in sharing their tips and techniques! Someone on Weaver's Words had asked about the number of people who can chat at a given time. I remember reading about this information when we installed the chat room, and of course I can't find the info. now, but think 10-25 people could chat in the same room. 25 seems like alot but 10 certainly doesn't. People are usually coming and going so I don't think anyone will have trouble, but if you do just send me an e-mail that you are trying to get in and can't. I will be notified that I have e-mail waiting for me if I am in the chat room. So, please join us for another fun and hopefully informative night of basket chat. Bring your ideas and questions! Hope to chat with you this Saturday night at 9:00PM EST! Happy Weaving## Donna Weber DW Baskets 64 Blotz Road Washington, MA 01223 cweber@cbcc.bcwan.net http://www.bcwan.net/~cweber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Insurance Date: Wed, 30 Jul 1997 08:53:02 -0400 From: Eileen La Porte To: davidc@iei.net For those of you interested in insurance, the August issue of The Crafts Report is devoted entirely to this issue. It's the best publication out there for folks in the art and craft business. I don't think this magazine is available on the news stand but they do have a web site and it's worth checking out. http://www.craftsreport.com Eileen, Romeo, MI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: ribbed baskets Date: Wed, 30 Jul 97 11:16:38 EDT From: Devon_Branca@mlsonline.com (Devon Branca) Organization: MLS Online To: davidc@iei.net (David Collins) CC: davidc@iei.net Hi All, Just putting in my "two cents worth" about ribbed baskets. I enjoy doing them occasionally, but found that my one complaint was that half of the basket was hairy on the outside. I am an "anti-hairy" nut, constantly trimming, so this drove me nuts. Finally I figured out that if I used flat oval and twisted it on the inside of the handle edges I could get a basket that was only hairy on the inside. The main thing is to always twist in the same direction. There are also two more benefits to this method. First you get an interesting look to the inside of your "rims". Second your reed is now at an angle as it comes back down...and this makes it much easier to "pack" tightly on the turnings and lessens the amount of "filling in". So far I have done several "styles" of ribbed baskets that have been fun for me--Butterfly, Potato, Egg, Melon, Oriole, Key D, Herb, etc. Each one is uniquely different. I have been sitting on two small antlers that were "lent" to me by a coworker of my husband's, trying to get up the nerve to try to make a basket on each of them. To practice, I picked up a curved stick I found on my nightly walk and made a small egg basket on it. The stick is sort of "S" shaped with both ends broken, and was allowed to dry further once I got it home. I practiced drilling holes in a board first to get the technique down and found that you need to start a straight, very short, straight pilot hole first, and then you drill at the sharp angle. I ended up drilling five holes at each end and then played around with varying lengths. It was different making a ribbed basket on a flattish handle with no cross piece--the top rib ends up as that other piece on each side. I've found that not worrying about perfect lengths for the ribs ends up giving me unique ribbed shapes. Sometimes pulling them out a bit or pushing them in more and trimming them is all the adjustment I need. I just tell myself I'm being "artistic". :o)--Added benefit to this style is that the ribs don't need to be pointed--they get hot-melt glued in and there are NO God's Eye's (I DO like doing those, though).... And, no, I haven't gotten up the nerve yet to work on the antlers yet--that will be my husband's job--to drill those pesky holes... We have been picking up some more neat branches, though, so I can make more of these interesting ribbed baskets....It's a good incentive to go walking in the woods! My ONE and only venture into weaving with "naturals".... I'm still waiting for someone to show up at my door and take me by the hand and show me how to harvest and weave with them....well, maybe someday that miracle will happen :o) Until then it will have to be the UPS man who gives me supplies... Happy Weaving Cheri Branca...Victor, New York PS: Dear David....don't know if this a problem for the others, BUT when I receive (and Save) Weavers Words the subject entry: "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 33 is Sooooooo lonnnnnnng that once the issues went beyond #9 I never know what issue it is. I only get "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 3 (or 1 or 2) on the screen and when I save it I have to take out a space so I can tell whether I have Issue 31 or 32.... Once we get up to over 99 (let's hope so...) I won't be able to have any idea what the number is... Is this a problem for the rest of you??? Could this possibly be solved by eliminating a space after the period in Vol., or typed without the quote marks, or typed V.1 instead of Vol.???? Or am I being a pain? ***MLS Online-An Internet BBS. (www.mlsonline.com) Focus: Family, Business & Education. Voice Support: 716-454-5577 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: IBA Date: Wed, 30 Jul 1997 16:27:07 -0400 From: "The Rigterinks" To: Hi Everyone About 2-3 months ago I joined the Indiana Basketmaker's Association. Since then I have not heard a word from them. I know there is supposed to be a newsletter of some sort, but I have not gotten that either. I'm just afraid that they did not get my application and money...or maybe I worry too much and something will come along soon. If anyone can help me out and ease my mind I would appreciate it. I hate to miss anything. Thanks so much Diane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.