"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 66 Compiled By: David Collins Snail Mail: 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 Owned By: Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: November 19, 1997 Subscribers: 366 Back Issues: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5998/ Basket Biddin' Auction: http://members.tripod.com/~Basket_Biddin/ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hi Everyone, How is everyone's autumn going? That dang El Nino has us in Indiana. If anyone has a web site and would like to add the Weaver's Words banner to their site, cut and paste the following code into your html source. Weaver's Words Basket Digest Take care, David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 63 Date: Sun, 16 Nov 1997 17:20:44 EST From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 63 Joan Culler - Welcome! What kinds of baskets do you weave at Sauder Village? Are you recreating specific historic styles? What kinds of references do you have? What kinds of materials are you using in your baskets? We have an 1850's historic village here (Missouri Town 1855), but I haven't done demos there. Come to think of it, I haven't seen a basket weaver out there either. Do you wear period costumes when you work? Do you have a pattern source for the costumes? We've got a wonderful little shop in Liberty, MO, called James Country Mercantile, that carries many historic costume patterns (and a few ready-to-wear items). Martina Steinmetz - Happy Birthday! It's good to hear from you. My son and daughter live in Alaska (he's in Valdez, she's in Fairbanks). I hope your husband's Arizona basket hunt was successful. If so, please tell us what he found for you. Mary Snell - Welcome to you, too! My local guild in the Kansas City, MO, metro area is called Woven Circle. I'm a new member myself, so haven't yet been involved in recruiting new members, except for the friend I took with me who joined the same time I did. The purpose of the Missouri Basketweavers Guild, as stated in the bylaws is: "The object of the MISSOURI BASKETWEAVERS GUILD shall be to perpetuate the art of basketry, to stimulate interest and knowledge in all phases of baskets, and to promote public interest in the historic craft." Another organization to which I belong recruits new members by doing public demonstration at schools, libraries, and local festivals of various kinds. Mary in Wausau, WI - If your birch tree is still alive, you will have an easier time peeling the bark if you cut it down in the spring. Sharle Osborne (and others) say it's best to work it fresh, if possible. IF you cant work it while it's fresh, I would suggest pressing it out flat to dry by placing it between layers of plywood and corrugated cardboard and placing a weight (such as a couple of concrete blocks) on the top of the stack. If you know what you want to do with it, you might consider cutting pieces to the size and shape you want before drying and storing. Quin Avery - Welcome to Weavers Words. What is your sister's name? Is she reading this list too? Good luck finding new outlets for selling your baskets. Deb Curtis - Since there seem to be others who want the stocking/ornament pattern that was posted earlier by Mary Ann Gullo, here it is again: From: Mary Ann Gullo Organization: Baskets by Mary ... Anyway, for a cute x mas idea (warning warning a free made by me pattern follows here!)(HEE HEE) supplies 1 lb 1/2 inch flat reed 1 lb 1/4 flat reed 1 lb 1/4 flat oval 1 lb #3 round reed. The above supplies will make quite a few of the pattern, all depending on how big you want it. you can use 3/8 or 5/8 flat also instead of the 1/2 inch. Cut the 1/2 inch into pieces about 28 inches long fold them in half. what you are making is kind of like the elbow basket, place one opposite the other in a v, you want 5 on each side << so so far you have a heart type shape. spaced about 1 stake every 1/2 inch. next you cut some pieces about 10 inches long or less, you have to measure it yourself depends on your spacing. You build up one side, just like the walls of a basket, about 7 inches above your 1 side of the v. On the other side you put in 3 rows of the 1/2 inch, then 1 or 2 of the 1/4 flat. this leaves you with some long ends, trim them a bit and weave them criss crossed over each other and tuck them in to get a toe type look. The top of your x mas stocking you can color some of your strips red and green and intersperse them, and the tops you can just either trim to a point and tuck in or to be fancy you weave 2 rows of the #3, cut a piece of flat oval to fit the outside and use the 1/4 flat to do a "rim" with it. Don't put anything on the inside and do a real rim, it is a pain. You can attach a wire x mas pick on the bottom boot portion of the stocking. You can make it larger you can make it smaller by changing stake amounts and lengths. Real cute as little x mas ornaments for the tree for the small ones., Great on the front door with some x mas greenery in it for the big ones. Experiment with the design, wish I could attach a picture of the thing, my directions might make some sense. I do assume some skill in weaving in it, and if you know how to make an elbow or heart basket, this is only too obvious, I came up with is when i was making an elbow that got out of control. Merry whatever, and remember we are all here to help one another, don't yell at me if you have a similar design I didn't steal your copyright, and just like my 3 story pie carrier "pattern" is something I came up with on a whim. I don't want this forum to disappear like the last one. Mary Deb (cont.) What is a rinko based basket??? I am also interested in trading natural materials. I'll be collecting during the next couple of weeks and will post a list of what I have to see who wants to trade for what. If you, or anyone else has a specific request for something you know grow around here, let me know and I;ll see if I can get it. Thanks for the 'generic' intro to the HGC Certification in Basketry. You told me enough to confirm that this is something I really want to do! I'll go ahead and contact the administrators directly. Rae Gillott - What a wonderful surprise to learn that the Bobart book *Basketry Through the Ages* has been republished! My old copy (which I found in a little used bookstore in downtown Ft. Worth, TX about 10 years ago) is very fragile and the pages tend to crack when turned. I'm delighted to be able to get a new one! In fact, I have a friend who (along with her mother) deals in British books of historical interest, so will probably see if she wants to order several. I know she'll find a number of interested buyers among her regular cusomers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Mary Ann Gullo - Hi! Hope you got moved ok and that you're back with us. I also hope you don't mind that I reposted your stocking/ornament pattern. It's suddenly very popular! Must be the season! Gotta make some for myself one of these days. By the way, fellow weavers, the reason I was able to find Mary's pattern again easily is that although I save each issue of WW by issue & volume number, I also go through them in WordPerfect and block items of special interest which I then copy out to files by category. The software allows me to either copy to a new file or append to an existing file, and gives me the option of saving as an ascii/text file (that means I can insert it into an email message without reformatting). Thus, I have a file called birch.txt that has several peoples' comments about working with birch bark, others for oak, cedar, dye, ornament, baskbook, websites, antler, etc. Mary's pattern's file is stocking.txt. Saves a lot of time when I want to go back to a particular topic. And now, the football game is over, the TV is off, and I can safely go work in the kitchen without having to listen to the noise. Got the new shelf paper down last night & it's time to put stuff away again. I was amazed at how much there was crammed into my tiny kitchen! It's all stacked in boxes in the dining room and game room. I've promised myself I would sort as I go and NOT put it all back. I guess that's one of the side effects of not moving in the last 14 years. Things got weeded out much more regularly when I was relocating every year or two (not that I'd really want to go back to the nomadic lifestyle). But I am ready to have my kitchen functional again. Let the good times weave! Bert Comstock Independence, MO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Not Alone Date: Sun, 16 Nov 1997 18:52:40 -0500 From: "Patricia A. Moritz" To: davidc@iei.net Esther: You are not alone from the messages in the last two issues of Weavers Words. I, too, am a subscriber to "Interwoven News" and have received only 1 issue since subscribing almost a year ago. I have written it off to a bad experience - that may not be fair, but I too, feel that the editor could have sent everyone a short note of explanation if the publication would not be coming out for awhile. Kay Janke: If you are interested in receiving the Missouri newsletter, you can receive it by joining the Missouri Basketweavers Guild for $10 a year. The calendar year runs Jan.-Dec. and if you join by February 1, you will be also included in the first mailing of the convention '98 booklet. If you or anyone else is interested in joining Missouri's state guild, simply send a $10 check to State Treasurer, Mike Narkawicz at 105 Oak Valley Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376. To Craft Show Basketweavers: I hope your shows go better than mine have the last three years here in St. Louis. St. Louis has become totally oversaturated with craft shows and it is not unusual to have five or six major (150 + vendors) shows all running the same weekend. Since I am a "Hobby" basketweaver and don't have to worry about making a living selling my baskets, I continue to do the shows, but it sure is frustrating not to do well when you not only make all the baskets in preparation for the two-day show, spend all the time setting up and breaking down your booth space and spend an entire weekend at the show. And to top it off - at the show I did last weekend, the gal next to me had her handmade dolls (the type you purchase the pattern and sew the reindeer, Santa's, moose, etc.) and had so many people crowding her booth that she made $6500 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and that was just the first day! Granted her work is beautiful so I shouldn't begrudge her the success she has, but for the second year in a row, she has had so many people crowding her booth area that the entire large aisle was packed and people were standing three lines wide and halfway in front of my space just to pay for their dolls. The craft show chairmen thought maybe it was only a fluke last year and didn't move her to a spot where her customers would not impede the selling of the eight other crafters near her, but after this year, they received a lot of complaints from the other crafters and have already said she will have a new spot next year. I can't even begin to imagine making that kind of money on a craft show! Has anyone else had a similar situation occur at a craft show? I'm really beginning to wonder if it really is worth the time and effort - especially since I too get the comments about Longaberger baskets and "gosh, I could go to Wal-Mart and get the same thing for $1.50" - needless to say, those people are not knowledgeable about basketweaving and wouldn't know what a really handcrafted basket even looks like. So much for my soapbox. If anyone out there has a listing for various basket-related web sites, I would love to see it. I upgraded to a new hard drive and lost many of my bookmarks for the sites I had found. I'm interested in not only personal web sites, but also galleries, sites for free patterns, etc. Also, has anyone ever found a web site for Navaho loom weaving? I have a loom and took a not-too-successful class a couple of years ago. The teacher had some family problems and never really came through and taught much other than the setting up of the loom and barely the beginning techniques. I have forgotten what I have learned and want to try to do some more weaving or at least get back to what I started. Pat Moritz St. Louis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: bad, bad fair Date: Sun, 16 Nov 1997 16:28:21 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net aloha, all, I did one of the worst fairs ever yesterday and wish there was something one could do about it. On this island, there are tons of fairs. Every school (and for a small island, we have 22 public high schools and countless middle and elementary schools), every church, every civic group who wants to make a few dollars has a fair...a "craft" fair. Most crafters who do "country" (like the tole painters and woodworkers) stick to military associated fairs as local fairs seemed to bend towards Asian items (jewelry, clothes, etc.). So I signed up for a fair on the Marine base. (and this hurts--I*d attempted to get into the Hale Koa fair--the big Army Hotel in Waikiki--but it filled in May for a 15 Nov. show--and on the 14th they called to tell me I could take the place of another crafter, but since I was committed to this one, I turned them down) Richard did the calling and asked if other weavers were going to be there and the person in charge said one other woman would be there with a lot of country items and a few baskets.... ..so who was there? Two other weavers, the Longeberger dealer (booking AND selling), the Avon lady, the Pampered Chef dealer, the Discovery Toys dealer (selling and booking parties), a man selling pens (not handmade), and the man next to me, selling imported Hawaiian quilts. He told everyone his wife made them, but he had hundreds of pieces and as he was setting up, he pulled them out of boxes marked IMPORTS. There was also a quilt shop owner selling fabric and two consignment shops, selling a variety of things from their shops--none of which they made. So this wasn*t a craft fair, even though there were several people who had made their own stuff.... I sold a whopping 11 baskets (and the other 2 weavers did worse)... ...so I* wondering--is there a solution to this? I*m thinking if I ask the promoter if everything is to be handmade, she*ll tell me yes. (As a matter of fact, two crafters told me they DID ask and were told everything was to be made by the crafter)..... ..one crafter (the infamous birdhouse lady) told me to join the Pacific Handcrafters Guild. First off, you must be judged (and you pay $50 to have your things judged). Then if you are accepted, you pay $150 to join. Three of the 4 yearly fairs are $150 per fair and the Christmas fair is in the neighborhood of $400! I*m not sure I want to spend that much money and then take a chance I*ll make it back. What if my stuff doesn*t sell, what if the weather is bad??? I did fill out a lengthy evaluation at the fair--and told them their "affair" was nice--but not a craft fair. So does anyone have any ideas? I think our guild newsletter will start publishing a list of fairs to do and those to stay away from....and the reasons to do so. That might be a small start. Linda--about the "mom and me" class--if you don*t like teaching kids, don*t do it. Let the mom learn from you and let HER teach the daughter..how do I handle requests to do kids classes???--by saying no. If you do one, then lots of people will want you to do them--what a thought. After my fiasco class with the hubby and child, I have to publish a list of "rules"...and I don*t want to, but I feel the need to. Sigh--this business gets more complicated all the time. So to relax after the nasty fair yesterday, Richard I drove to the North Shore this morning and spent a long time sitting on the beach at Banzai Pipeline.....so quiet and peaceful.... Andrea--come over to Donna*s chat room on Wed and Sat.--we have such a fine time and it is truly a highlight of my week. Kathy Calvert has a new catalog out (think she mentioned this a few WW*s ago) and it*s a neat one!! Lois Honolulu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 65 Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 09:46:26 -0500 From: "drpain@net-gate.com" To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Hi everyone I hope you are all getting ready for the Holidays. Having a shop is difficult with making baskets to sell, decorating and giving classes. No time left for yourself. I always end up weaving on Christmas Eve, because I sell all the baskets in my shop and have none left for family gifts. Had someone post one of my classes that I am doing for a historical house here in NJ. The house was built in the 1700 and they do a lot of tours. They posted my picture playing the Mt. Dulcimer and called me the Master Basketmaker. What a neat feeling to see it in print. One of my biggest outlets for basket making is the historical societies around here. Every town has one and they are starving for programs. That might be an outlet for some of you to get started in demoing and teaching. They usually do not pay much but I do sell some finished baskets, and also pick up new students that way. I have had husbands who want to come and sit and wait while their wives take the basket class. They usually only come once and then decide that they don't care for the chit chat that goes on. How much do they want to know about menopause? Oh well have to get back to cleaning the house, Monday is my only day off now until Christmas. I would really rather be weaving my antler baskets I need to get done. Wishing everyone Happy Holidays from chilly New Jersey. Mary Carty (njweaver) http://www.imagegfx.com/users/pinelands/ Anyone passing through NJ durning the Holiday season stop in and say Hello the hot cider and coffee is always on. And you can be sure there is always a Dulcimer playing/ and a basket being weaved. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weavers Words info. Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 10:33:23 PST From: "Kay Janke" To: davidc@iei.net Angie: The Chicken Coop is a 12 x 12 In. tall basket with 3" Sows Ear Handles. The sides are only woven in rows at the bottom, top & middle. The rest is left without weaving in between. It has a lid that is to fit the basket top. Also has a wooden knob or can use a porcelain knob on the lid. Looks like slats on the sides of basket. It is a square 12 x 12. Hope this helps. Quin: Glad to see that you found WW & that you joined in. I would like to ship our snow up to Ind., but assume that you have enough of your own. As we got a little more then you, I am happy to find out this am that just about 12 miles from here, they had a total over the weekend of 12 inches. So I guess our snowfall isn't so bad after all. I am ready for it to go away. Today the sun is shining & it is supposed to be in the 40's next few days. Hasn't reached that today, in fact overnight it got 19. Andrea: Florida just keeps sounding better & better. What part of Fl are you? I don't recognize the area. Linda: I had someone come up to me this weekend and admire my necklaces that each have a gold basket on them. They wanted to know where I got them. When I said at our basket convention, she said- Was it a Longeberger one? I found out that she is a person that has home parties for them. I said I thought they were to expensive, and she agreed, but said since she couldn't make them, they would do. Ellen: I was the one that suggested putting @WW on name tags at convention. I did highlight it with a bright highlight pen. But unless you make a point of looking at everyone's name tag, it won't work well. Of course if there aren't 900+ people walking around, it will be a whole lot easier, especially if you are all in one general area and not scattered all over in separate areas of the hotel. Good luck. Will be looking forward to hearing of all your experiences at other conventions & seminars or workshops. Must reed on. Kay in cold Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: publications and longenbergers Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 15:37:42 -0500 From: monast@iquest.net To: davidc@iei.net I have always been happy with my subscription to Just Patterns. It is put out by Deb Blair. Her phone number as listed in the 96-97 Indiana Membership Roster is 313-985-3373 in Port Huron, MI. About Longenbergers - I too used to feel miffed when the name came up. Then I decided to take advantage of an opportunity to talk baskets with someone who at least had some interest in them. It is an opportunity to praise Longenberger for spending tons of money in the P.R. game to keep baskets as a collectable. Kind of like Martha Stewart and her empire. But then introduce the other different kinds of groups of baskets available i.e. Nantuckets, coiled, Shaker, bark, egg, etc. A Longenberger is a simply made basket which can be made quickly. Ours are more historical and authentic. Our type are not mass produced and have the freedom of color and design. Unfortunately Longens are real restricted. Even the loosely woven ones from K-Mart are woven and we all have a niche. At the very least you have given a Longenberger person some constructive things to consider. Unfortunately we are not organized as one Company and when one of us moves, their followers are left to find another weaver. Longenbergers are available throughout with a familiar and consistent monotonous appearance. That's my 2 cents worth. Kristin in Yorktown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 65 Date: Sun, 16 Nov 1997 23:10:07 -0500 From: Tom Freebairn To: davidc@iei.net This is for Linda Marshall: I teach adult basket weaving through our local Parks Dept. I have always limited the class to adults only. I got "burned" a couple of times when I allowed kids into the class. Anyway about a month ago, a mom called to register her daughter (9 years old). I said no. They begged and begged, and mom promised to help her daughter if she couldn't do it. I finally said okay. Well, Savanah showed up and wove circles around all my other students. And, these students had been taking classes from me for years. She needed no help from her mom what so ever. Savanah was the first one done, and it was beautiful. A couple of weeks later, Savanah wanted to take another class, and she also wanted to bring her friend who is also 9 years old. Since my experience had gone so well, I said yes. Big mistake!!!!! I now had two moms, and two kids, and they thought it was a party or something. The other little girl couldn't handle it, and the moms sat and chatted all night which was a distraction to everyone. I am now back to my rule of no kids. I have also had requests for mom/daughter classes. I don't think I have the patience to do it. If I would set up a class like that, I would add a "head-ache expense" onto my regular supply fee. Janet Freebairn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Trip to Dallas Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 09:04:04 -0600 From: jlouts@lsumc.edu (Loutsch, Jeannette) To: davidc@iei.net Greetings to Weavers everywhere, My name is Jeannette and I have been weaving about a year. Took two classes when i lived in St. Louis and 1 class with Lyn Siler in Hammond LA. I live in New Orleans now. Pretty much teach myself the of the stuff. (If that is really possible.) I do not go to craft fairs as my real life is as a research scientist and I do this for recreation and making gifts for friends and family. (I also am addicted to cross stitch, knitting, crocheting (not very good, it's that self-taught thing) and sewing.) I love all the things you talk about and someday I will be able to accomplish everything. I like the idea of the little baskets but I have a hard time visualizing the pattern. Is there a specific pattern for the larger "version" to act as a pictorial guide for me??? My real question is that I am traveling to Dallas for Thanksgiving and wonder if there is a basket shop in the area that has patterns and supplies? I am always looking (the addict thing). You call e-mail me separately at jlouts@lsumc.edu. Thanks a bunch, Jeannette M. Loutsch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 09:42:55 -0600 From: catslapbaskets@webtv.net (russell/karen mitchell) To: davidc@iei.net Greetings to Weavers and Happy Thanksgiving! To David: I am glad you enjoyed receiving the basket I sent you, that type of basket; small, cedar, neck pouch woven on a mold, is one of my favorites to make. I wanted to send a concrete thank you for all you have done, keeping this list going and all the good stuff on the Basket Biddin' page. So again Thank you David! The other day when I was weaving with dyed round reed, a small strand of reed peeled off and left an unsightly "white" line on the reed, I took a magic marker and "colored" the line to match. It took care of the problem easily and made the finished product look better, at least to me! I took an excellent beading class this past weekend in Mpls from Diane Fitzgerald at Beautiful Beads, I enjoy beading as an alternative to weaving in the cold winter months since you don't have to get anything wet to bead! I was just wondering if there are others on this list who are also into Beading? Weaving and Beading just seem to fit together. Happy Thanksgiving! From the Frozen Landscape of Minnesota where it is 20* foggy and the land is covered in snow. Oh! to be on Palm Island FL. Happy Weaving, Karen THE CAT'S ON MY LAP CREATIONS! @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Peach Honey? Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 15:09:39 -0500 (EST) From: Sandy3201@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone, I thought I saw a post recently that some one was looking for a recipe for Peach Honey. I was sorting my very old issues and found where someone posted the recipe. If you needed this recipe E-mail me and I will send it to you. Sandy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 65 Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 14:47:44 -0800 From: Melissa Borsting To: davidc@iei.net Hi all, yes, I am a lurker, at long last coming out of the woodwork. About kids in classes -- I have a friend who does teach kids classes, she brings very cheap materials for them (often things she finds at second hand stores - my favorite was a set of placemats that were un-woven to provide her yards of bright yellow braided weavers) and uses simple patterns that they will be able to complete. If you don't have the energy or enthusiasm for working with kids though, don't do it. It isn't worth it for either of you (teacher or students)!! I think it is often in a school setting when their regular teachers will also be available for support. I am new to weaving (took my first class just less than a year ago) but have gotten quite obsessed. Currently I am living in an apartment that is much too small and has almost no storage space so 1/2 of my living room is weaving supplies. Soon, however, I will be moving into a great place with a SEPARATE space for my weaving, very exciting. Despite my lack of space, I have been trying to create a bunch of egg baskets to fill with goodies for Christmas (I don't think my skills are quite good enough yet to give people empty baskets...). I am anxiously awaiting the snow to fall here, we have the cold days, but not much precipitation yet...I'm also waiting for our Holiday Craft Fairs (December is almost the only time we have any around here) so I can think about whether or not I want to be involved in them next year to help support my habit. Melissa in Ashland, Oregon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weavers Words Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 17:45:50 -1000 From: Joanne Howard To: David Collins Hi Everyone, It's raining cats and dogs in Hawaii. I guess our winter months are officially here. I actually wore jeans and a sweat shirt today. It felt good to do that. I know all of our east coast ladies are rolling their eyes!! I know Kay is freezing in Michigan!! Sorry, although I would like to see snow again someday. I actually got cold watching the World Series in Cleveland! I am frantically trying to get my Xmas weaving done. Everything has to be mailed from here so I needed to be ahead of where I am!! I did make two lamp baskets a day or so ago. Thank you Richard Keener my lamp handle savior!! If I had to put anything electrical together I would be scared to death to be the one to plug it in!! I was really pleased at how they turned out. I know my friends will enjoy them. I am lucky enough to have space in my house now for weaving. I just cleared out a small room that we used for storage and took over the place. It was about time I had my own little corner. My husband built some shelves in the small closet and it holds 18 gal. roughneck containers. It works out beautifully. The room is just big enough for some storage and weaving which forces me to clean up after myself after weaving. It just amazes me the incredible mess reed makes when we are busy creating!! Stuffing the open reed back into the storage container is another feat. That stuff most certainly has a life of its' own! Yes, my daughter's school had an epidemic of scarlet fever that scared the heck out of all of us. 100 cases reported within one week. We were fortunate that Jennifer did not get sick, but the Dept. of Health is doing a great job trying to track down the source. Scarlet Fever, VOG (Volcanic Ash Haze from Kileauea) and rain. Lucky I live Hawaii!!! Anyone have any great doll carrier patterns names they care to share? I have heard about Nancy's Doll making basket and a doll carrier that has a top. Lois showed me that pattern and I can't remember the name of it. Any other suggestions? My nieces have American Girl dolls and I would like to make a carrier for them. Most doll patterns are for small dolls. These dolls are at least 18 inches tall. Thanks for any ideas! With any luck I will be making the Wagon Basket next week. If I have time, I hope to get a start on it this weekend. I have seen Lois' and it is just beautiful. I want to make one for my teddy bears!! Who said we have to grow up. Glad to see more people writing in. It's fun to get more than 4 pages of news. To all of the ladies and guys that haven't written in yet, please drop a line and say hi. You will see how much fun it is to read all about each other. A special thank you to Lori Hopkins. Thanks so much for sending a Country Woman magazine to me. Your Pumpkin Basket was adorable!! I am the envy of my neighborhood with all of those wonderful acorns!! It has been awhile since I have seen them. I love the dish cloth!!!! Lori makes these great dish cloths. I have just about worn mine out! Until the next time, Joanne in cloudy, wet Honolulu ( actually Pearl Harbor!) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.