"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 44 Compiled By David Collins Owned By Weavers Everywhere Date Sent September 06, 1997 Subscribers 298 Back Issues http//www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5998/ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: KUDZU Date: Thu, 4 Sep 1997 20:37:57 -0400 (EDT) From: JSarge8230@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Dear David I found this in the New Food Lover's Companion by Sharon Tyler Herbst Kudzu (KOOD- zoo) It wasn't until 1876 that this fast growing legume family plant was introduced to the US, where it is used primarily as pasturage and for erosion control. Kudzu, however, has been a popular food in Japan and China for thousands of years. Most of the plant can be eaten- the tender leaves and stems can be cooked as with other greens. However, it's the tuberous roots ( which have been known to weigh up to 450 lbs and reach 7ft in lenght) that offer this plant's real premium . These roots are dehydrated and pulverized, and it is this starchy kudzu powder that is used culinary in myriad ways-from thickening soups and sauces to dredging to be deep fried. Kudzu powder can be found in Asain markets and some health food stores. It's high in fiber, protein and vitamins A and D. I nkow tis doesn't pertain to baskets but surely the south is missing out on a great deal of money by not harvesting and seeling this weed. Has any tried weaving baskets from the stems? After all we weave with everything else. It would certainly be a free source of materials. The basket could hold roots and Kudzu jellies. I love the Kudzu story JSARGE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: buckeye Date: Thu, 04 Sep 1997 20:01:59 -0500 From: monast@iquest.net To: davidc@iei.net To Avis: About the buckeye. It is an inedible nut from the buckeye tree sometimes called horse chestnut, but not related to the chestnut at all. - kind of round shaped about the size of a quarter. The nut itself is encased and grows and ripens in a spiney, tough covering that splits open in four section to reveal the nut. It is bitter and poisonous and was used by the Indians when powdered to temporarily "stun" fish. The nut within is a dark brownish red color that can be polished to be quite rich looking. Each nut has a light brown or whitish roundish shaped scar that resembles the partly opened eye of a buck, thus the name. The ripe nut can be drilled and strung and has lived in my life since I was a little girl. We use them at a wonderful rendevous called "Feast of the Hunters' Moon" at the Children's Trade Blanket. For the older childrn who are warned not to put them in there mouths they become the "third eye" for a successful hunter to see in the black of night. Also we trade buckeye necklaces for scaring bad spirits. In our area we too have a buckeye candy made with a peanut butter inside and rolled into a ball, then dipped in chocolate. Enjoying the weather in Yorktown, IN Kristin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: More on patterns Date: Thu, 4 Sep 1997 21:20:14 -0400 From: olneyjw@juno.com (Judith W Olney) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Kim, I'm with you. I think some of you are being a tad hard on the pattern writers. While I will agree that there are some patterns out there that are pure trash (such as the one I saw pulled from a pattern room several months ago: one page, one side,, mostly picture, very few words and a price of $4. I didn't know the person who wrote it, and don't remember the name, but I really do think this was highway robbery. The nature of this pattern was discovered when a purchaser brought it back and said it wasn't complete. We checked the other patterns in the folder and it was indeed as complete as the others. At this point the person who was running the pattern room decided that so little for so much was not suitable for sale and removed the sample. Made my heart glad!) On the other hand, there are a goodly number of patterns that will result in a basket--some are better than others, but all are usable. As for typos and mistakes...we all make them. There are formally published (by "real" publishers) basket books out there with mistakes and I can promise you all (having been both directly and indirectly involved with some of these books) that a bazillion people have been through these books and ALL of them have missed the mistakes! Even the first version of Mary Butcher's "Willow Work" had mistakes (according to her) and she is a world class teacher and writer! That's the main reason that she self-published the paperback edition. She wanted to correct the mistakes. Where "real" books are concerned, changes are expensive and the publishers are reluctant to correct mistakes once the book has gone to press. Some will correct in subsequent printings, some will not...they figure if the book is selling, the mistakes don't matter! Those of us who write patterns do not deliberately set out to mislead, confuse and confound you. Some of us are more careful than others, some of us just naturally express ourselves better than others, and some of us are just luckier than others. Even though we do have our patterns checked or tested, we just don't have access to a bazillion people to correct all our mistakes...and still miss a few. If you find a mistake in a pattern that really disturbs you, let the writer know. If there is something you don't understand, ask. You'll probably get an answer if the writer is reputable and cares about the product she's selling. In the meantime, please cut us some slack. We're only human! and keep on weaving.... Judith Olney olneyjw@juno.com Rowley, MA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weavers Words Date: Thu, 04 Sep 1997 20:57:48 -0500 From: Linda Marshall Organization: High Plains To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everyone, The buckeye is a large deciduous tree, native to Ohio (and probably other areas in the midwest). It has a rounded, dark brown nut. The buckeye's nut is the 'mascot' for Ohio State University's sports teams. I have heard that one half of the buckeye nut is poison. Squirrels eat a lot of them, so I guess they can tell which half! The source of this story is my husband, who appears to believe that I am very gullible. Hope this helps! linda So. Ohio. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Editing Unfairly Date: Thu, 4 Sep 1997 22:31:12 -0400 From: "Kim Renich" To: David, I am not sure who to direct this letter to, but I suspect it isn't you. I would like to know why the word "mixx" in my last posting was intentionally edited and spelled correctly? It was apparent that I intentionally misspelled the word to make my point... and even more apparent that someone on your end (not necessarily you) wanted my post to be obscured. Why have other "typos" not been corrected? Such as "pleh" ? To quote your own words, I will paste Digest 26 to this note. Does this statement only apply to a few selected people? Thank you ... Kim Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 26 " Compiled By David Collins Owned By Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: July 4, 1997 Subscribers: 234 Back Issues: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/basketry.html Hi, As stated at the beginning of Weaver's Words this is an open forum and I do not edit anyone's comments. I'm sorry if some of the postings offend some people, but I for one do not feel I have the right to decide what does and does not get posted. I hope everyone has a safe 4th of July weekend and enjoys the wonderful weather and fireworks. Happy Weaving, David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms. Renich and everyone else, As I stated when I originally started this forum, I am not a basket weaver. I started this forum to keep my mom and other weavers in contact. Therefore, I do not read every posting that is sent to me, unless the message is specifically directed to me. After I receive all the postings for an issue, I compile the postings in my word processor. The word processor that I use automatically highlights every misspelled or unrecognizable word. Since I realize how easy it is for typos or misspellings, I have made it a habit to correct ALL spelling errors. The reason that I corrected "mixx" to "mix" and didn't correct "pleh" was because I simply thought "mixx" was a typo. I realized that "pleh" was intentionally misspelled. I apologize for any grief or loss of sleep that this may have caused to anyone. I was just trying to assist the author with unintentional mistakes. So to prevent any misunderstandings in the future, from now on all misspellings will be left as is. There are many conspiracies out there, but this isn't one of those. I'm not out to get anyone. I haven't even met 95% of you. My Sincerest Apologies, David, davidc@iei.net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: various items Date: Thu, 4 Sep 1997 22:58:05 -0400 From: sandyq@juno.com (Sandy L Quackenbush) To: davidc@iei.net Hi, My name is Sandy Quackenbush. I have been enjoying this form, without responding. I felt it was time to add my half a cent. I heard some of you asking what has happened to SIMPLY BASKETS. I too have a subscription and was wondering what was going on. It was bothering me that different ones were giving their opinions and not talking to Cathy Strickland to find out what was going on with her. She moved to GA last fall and I was able to meet her at a guild meeting. Anyway, last week I called her and told her different ones were wondering what was going on and ask her if she wanted me to write for her anything. The following is from Cathy : It's come to my attention that there have been questions about SIMPLY BASKETS and why there hasn't been an issue since the February issue (which was mailed out in May). SIMPLY BASKETS is published quarterly in February, May, August and November...Usually. But because our family moved to another state last August, I got very behind on production. It took much longer than I anticipated to settle the house and the six of us into something resembling order. The last issue published was the February issue. I respectfully ask for your patience as I work hard to get the magazine back on its quarterly schedule. I expect to reach this goal by next year. The next issue of SIMPLY BASKETS will be volume 2, no. 3 (which would have been may 1997). I apologize that it is late. Be assured that this delay will not effect the number of issues you will receive. I guarantee you will receive the four issues you subscribed to. If you'll wait for me, I won't let you down. This erratic schedule is not permanent - I am working hard to correct the situation. Please feel free to contact me at the following address if you have any further questions or concerns. Very Sincerely Cathleen Strickland Publisher and Editor SIMPLY BASKETS Andrea: A while back you asked about needle nose pliers. I think I have the same ones as you are talking about. I got my from Carole Kaeding of Gratiot Lake Basketry. They cost $11.00, and they are one of my valued tools for making baskets. Thanks for listening Sandy Quackenbush in Canton GA. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 43 Date: Fri, 05 Sep 1997 08:13:49 -0500 From: Lora L Khoury To: davidc@iei.net I would have to agree with Kim Renich's post about pattern mistakes. In a perfect world, there would be no typos and there would be no pattern mistakes. Obvious mistakes, like the wrong number of rows, the wrong base measurements, etc. shouldn't happen, but I think I can forgive a typo. None of us is perfect, and even after proofreading, you can still miss a typo. Take my word for it, I'm an admin assistant (read - secretary). As for the post about crochet and other patterns, that is absolutely right. I have found many more mistakes in crochet patterns, things that are much more difficult to correct on your own, than I have in basketweaving patterns. And crochet patterns are tested by strangers at the publishing company, a much more rigid process than a basket pattern author has to go through. For the most part, no one has to "accept" our designs, except ourselves. Lora Khoury Indianapolis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re:Weavers Words Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 12:12:15 -0400 From: "Angie" To: Hi, When I asked to subscibe, I didn't really know what this was all about. This is cool! I haven't read all the back issues, so forgive me if anything has been asked or answered already. For Harold Evans: The Caner's Handbook (soft cover edition) by Miller & Widess has a really nice color photo in the front of the book of a rattan plant and some info. For Linda Clifton: Can I get some more info about the Central PA Basketweaver's Guild? I live in Eastern PA and I am interested. If you want to post the info about the guild on The Country Seat's web site Open Forum page under the Guild thread, it would be a good idea. http://www.countryseat.com Many weavers in PA have been looking for a Guild for a long time. I have been weaving for 7 years and weave with anything. I love round reed and Birch bark. I will try to read all the back issues and get caught up. Thank you, Angie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 43 Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 16:33:45 -0400 (EDT) From: Linda Braun To: David Collins It's time for the Ohioan to speak up. The Buckeye tree is the state tree of Ohio. To see what they look like, take a look at the Ohio State University football helmets or go to: http://hortwww-2.ag.ohio-state.edu/ODNR/Education/infobuckeye.htm This site does not have a picture of the nut after it comes out of the outer shell, however. The nut emerges a deep, rich, shiny brown color. They are basically round and about one inch to an inch and a half in diameter. There is a small circlular area on each one that is lighter brown. I don't know why. Kids make all kinds of do-dads out of them by gluing on eyes and pipe cleaners, etc. Legend has it that one half of the nut is poisonous and one half is not. My father and his brother, when they were children, cut one in two and each ate half. Both lived long, normal lives. The confection version of Buckeyes consists of rolling into small balls a dough made of peanut butter, powdered sugar and butter. Those balls are then dipped into melted chocolate so that they are not completely covered. The peanut butter ball part that still shows looks like the round part of the buckeye that is not shiny and brown. And there you have it from Ohio -- the Buckeye State. Linda - Baskets, Etc. Linda J. Braun e-mail: lbraun@ashland.edu Ashland University Phone: 419/289-5730 Ashland, OH 44805 FAX: 419/289-5949 Baskets, Etc. website -- http://www.ashland.edu/~lbraun/baskets.html @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 19:57:26 -0400 From: "Eric and Stacey Taylor" To: Hi to all you fellow weavers, I have been lurking in this area for most of the summer and just wanted to write and introduce myself. I am Stacey Taylor and I live in Enfield, Maine with my husband Eric, my four year old daughter Emily, and my one year old son Ryan. I have been weaving for about two years now and love it to pieces. I fell in love with basket making from the moment that I started. I just recently began selling my baskets in a shop near my home. It is very gratifying to me to know that someone out there thinks that my baskets are good enough to buy. I do not have any particular problem or question to ask, I just wanted to introduce myself. Happy weaving to all. Thank you David for all of your hard work. The Weaver's Stain site is excellent. You do/did a GREAT job. Taylor Made Baskets Stacey Taylor Enfield, ME @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: answers Date: Sat, 6 Sep 1997 10:51:25 -0400 (EDT) From: LMBW@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Being an Ohio native, I thought it was time to speak up about the "buckeye question". It is the state tree of Ohio, otherwise known as the Horse Chestnut family of trees. Our buckeyes are round, shiny, dark brown with a black circular area on the top,center of the seed. They are poisonous. The candy - peanut butter, sugar mix with a chocolate coating does resemble the buckeye. To Diane re: wooden bases - We are lucky to have our own fine woodworker, Bill Dunning, who makes all sizes of Nantucket bases. His work is excellent. E-mail me if you would like his phone number. Thanks, Lois, for the description of the pineapple basket. I may get to try it one of these days. Linda Cincinnati, Ohio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.