"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 69 Compiled By: David Collins Snail Mail: 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 Owned By: Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: December 03, 1997 Subscribers: 370 Back Issues: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5998/ Basket Biddin' Auction: http://members.tripod.com/~Basket_Biddin/ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hey Everyone, My good friend and co-owner of Weaver's Stain, Dollie Koch, is in the hospital with an undiagnosed condition. I know many of you know Dollie, so you can send her a message to mkoch@iei.net. Dollie's snail mail address: The Weavery PO Box 17653 Indianapolis, IN 46217 Let's try to perk up a special person. She probably doesn't want me to tell, but since when do I listen to Dollie. We love to pick on each other :-). Now a special thanks to Vicki Schmidt for a wonderful basket and Ruth Morningstar for the tasty homemade raspberry jam. There's nothing better than Christmas early. What a great little family we all have created. Merry Christmas from around the world! (Afrikaans) - Gesëende Kersfees (Afrikander) - Een Plesierige Kerfees (African - (Eritrean) Tigrinja) - REHUS-BEAL-LEDEATs (Argentine) - Feliz Navidad Y Un Prospero Ano Nuevo (Bohemian) - Vesele Vanoce (Brazilian) - Feliz Natal e Prospero Ano Novo (Bulgarian) - Chestita Koleda (Czech Republic) - Vesele Vanoce (Chinese) - Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan (Croatian) - Sretan Bozic (Danish) - Glaedelig Jul (Dutch) - Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar (English) - Merry Christmas (Eritrean) - REHUS-BEAL-LEDEAT (Esperanto) - Gajan Kristnaskon (Estonian) - Roomsaid Joulu Puhi (Filipinos) - Maligayang Pasko (Finnish) - Hauskaa Joulua (French) - Joyeux Noel (German) - Frohe Weihnachten Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein gesegnetes neues Jahr Frohe Festtage (Greek) - Kala Christougena (Hawaiian) - Mele Kalikimaka (Hungarian) - Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket (Icelandic) - Gledileg jol og farsaelt komandi ar (Indonesia) - Selamat Hari Natal (Iraqi) - Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah (Irish) - Nodlaig mhaith chugnat (Italian) - Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo Buone Feste Natalizie (Korean) - Chuk Sung Tan (Lettish) - Priecigus Ziemassvetkus (Lithuanian) - Linksmu Kaledu (Malta) - Il-Milied It-tajjeb (Norwegian) - God Jul Og Godt Nytt Aar (Polish) - Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia (Portuguese) - Boas Festas (Portuguese) - Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo (Rumanian) - Sarbatori vesele (Serbian) - Hristos se rodi (Slovakian) - Vesele vianoce (Slovenian) - Sretan Bozice (Spanish) - Feliz Navidad (Swedish) - God Jul Och Gott Nytt År! Denna hälsning kommer från Sverige. (Turkish) - Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun (Ukrainian) - Srozhdestvom Kristovym (Welsh) - Nadolig Llawen (Yugoslavian) - Cestitamo Bozic Take Care & Happy Holidays, David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: selling prices Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 18:42:05 -0600 From: "Fred & Lori Osmond" To: "David Collins" Hi there to all you weavers, I have an idea for the next list. Would other weavers mind telling the prices they sell their baskets for? I think it would be interesting to see what we get for similar baskets and also our locations. It might help us with our pricing difficulties. For instance, I sell my double wine baskets for $25. What do you all sell them for? I don't want to rip myself off. I saw a great single wine basket for sale in a store, in San Francisco, yesterday for around $8.00 made in the Philippines. It was incredibly sturdy. Of course it isn't as nice as ours, but I was impressed with the sturdiness. Does anybody have a recipe or know where to buy one for a single wine basket? That's all for now, I enjoy reading all of your messages. Lori in sunny(today) Northern California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Greetings to all! Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 08:31:48 -0500 (EST) From: KAWBASKETS@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hello to David and all other basket friends! Hope everyone had a nice holiday! This is a busy week for me. I will be preparing for my last two shows of the season. They are this weekend. I will be glad to bring this year to a close. It has been a good year for me and I am thankful for all of the opportunities that were presented to me this year. However, I always get "itchy" this time of year for it to come to a close because I am anxious to make new baskets and re-organize my workshop/studio. Anyone else get this way? I wanted to address a few subjects before I forgot about them too. One is the child/mother class issue. I think Linda Marshall brought the subject up originally. (Hi Linda!) I teach classes like this, but I do charge for each person. Also, I usually have the moms sit at one table and the children sit at my other table. This seems to work best for me. I usually don't have kids younger than 9 years old attend class also. The kids feel a little more independent and I don't seem to have any behavioral problems this way. The moms can then visit with each other while they weave. I feel that I have had much success with this type of class. For their first basket, the kids usually make a simple basket that I call a flower pot basket. It just has 10 stakes total (5 each way) and it measures 5" x 5" x 5". The kids weave with 1/4" reed and they can choose whatever colors they want to put in the basket. The kids weave the whole basket themselves. The only thing I usually end up helping them with are tucking in the stakes (sometimes their little fingers just aren't strong enough) and I tighten up the lashing around the rim. I have been teaching this basket at a couple of elementary schools for the past 6 years. Congrats to Ruthann Morningstar! What a wonderful opportunity for you! In answer to some of the questions I get from people about working at the Longaberger factory...I ask them a question in return..."Why should I go to work in the factory when I am doing just fine on my own?" That usually opens the door for me to take it a step further and explain more about the art of basketmaking and sometimes it even leads to them coming to take a class from me. It really thrills me to teach someone how to make a basket (I am not joking about this). As far as shows go, I have come to the conclusion that most customers just don't realize how inconsiderate they are. Most that make comments about your work while you are sitting there or about your neighbor's work (oblivious to your presence) just don't have a clue how rude that is. I have wanted to say to them, "how would you feel if a coworker or your boss came into your cubicle and made a comment about your work that was demeaning?" And for those customers who try to get you to come down on your price, I would like to say to them "I think you should think about what your reaction would be if your boss came into you and said, 'We're gonna cut your pay today by a couple of bucks an hour because we just don't think you are worth it." I haven't been brave enough to say any of these things yet, but I always dream that I will someday. When I attend a show, I always try to be mindful about my comments and try to stay positive when I am in an artisan's booth. It sure would be nice if others would try to do the same. I do have a nice story to share. I have not had time to rake our leaves and my husband, Dave, has had problems with his back and leg and has been unable to do it. A neighbor girl came down and raked them, (all on her own, I might add) but we had no bags for her to put them in. So, we told her when we got the bags we would call her. Two days later, the leaves were gone. I figured she bagged them up and her parents took them away. I called to thank her and she said that she did not do it. So I am thinking, who took all those leaves? I couldn't figure out what happened to them. We finally found out that it was my next door neighbor and he took them and spread them on his brother's garden. The story isn't basket related, but I wanted to end on a positive note. (Fa la la la la la la) Well, gonna head downstairs to my workshop and put on some Christmas music. Got a lot of weaving to do! Weave Happy! Karen in Ohio aka Mad Weaving Woman of Waverly Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: sweetgrass Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 09:20:00 -0500 From: monast@iquest.net To: davidc@iei.net Several years ago I was able to purchase sweetgrass from a nursery in Minn. called Prairie Moon Nursery. I was limited to three plugs. Well, guess what. That stuff has developed into a great thick bed. I was hoping to offer for sale on basket biddin's in the spring. Also will try to figure out how to make it available at Indiana Convention. I have the variety hierchloe odorata. This is the Indian sweetgrass - If you think you could use it immediately e-mail and we can work out the details. It's quite moderate now here in Indiana and the grass is a cool season grass multiplying by a spreading root, quite like a mint. I find it quite easy to grow even in our hot drought summers if given extra water and mulched. It takes our sun and can actually be doubled harvested in late spring and mid fall. I make smallish lidded baskets from black ash and "twined" with sweet grass much as you would with raffia. The pattern I use is a Judith Olney pattern called AKWESASNE FLAT BASKET. I think I bought mine from Restoration Products. Kristin in Yorktown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 69 Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 11:21:16 -0800 From: oller@uclink4.berkeley.edu To: David Collins To Patty Savinski - I have the mailing address of a basket guild in Encinitas, CA. I don't know if this is close enough to San Diego for you: The address is c/o the Quail Botanical Gardens, 230 Quail Garden Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024. I also have an address for the LA Basketry Guild, but that probably IS too far from you to go for a meeting. Lorraine Oller Berkeley, CA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weaver's Words" Date: Mon, 1 Dec 97 15:29:48 UT From: "Shari Zabroski" To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone! Hope everyone's holiday was a joyous and safe one. I'd like to respond to Lois in Honolulu (oh what a great place to be at this time of year). Lois, you were talking about the fairs on the island and how promoters don't quite deliver as promised. Same thing happens here too. We set up at a lot of Pow Wows (as we are Native American) and one of the major requirements is that there are to be no imports. We cannot tell you how many times this rule is broken (shamefully by our own people too) and the promoters do nothing. We have also set up at some select art fairs where everything is supposed to be hand made, but again, you will find people who try to pass things off as hand made. It is very frustrating and when you try to talk to the promoters, they just shrug their shoulders and say well, "they won't be invited back". But in the meantime, your hand made work is snubbed for low end, and low priced, "reproductions". Don't know that there is much we can really do about it. If anyone out there has an idea, I'd love to hear about it. Also, a message to Karen @ THE CAT'S ON MY LAP...I work with beading all the time (that's more or less my specialty). I use beading a lot on my gourd vessels too. I make a lot of regalia for Native American dancers, so it's kind of my passion. But I also love to do some "non-traditional" work and incorporate beading into it wherever possible. Thanks David for such a great place to communicate with everyone. Although I'm still new at basketry, this is an informative and very fun place to visit! Happy Weaving All, Shari Morning Star Zabroski twobearz@msn.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: subscribe Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 16:23:50 -0800 From: basketma@juno.com (Mary a Gullo) To: davidc@iei.net Hi, David, I am resubscribing, I finally got a new e mail address now that i have moved. I really miss the chats, and helpful hints. I am looking forward to doing my last show of the season, and then working through Lyn Silers basket book and try anything I haven't. Those I find easy I will do again, (actually I will probably do them all more than one time) but the ones I like I will add my own embellishments to and make in different sizes, how about that as an approach! I am taking a look at chair caning too. I bought 3 videos, a book, a poster and a sample chair to work on. Caning is really a lost art, here in this neck of the woods, I wish I could find a teacher somewhere closer than 500 miles away. It may have to come to that! But only if I just can't figure it out myself. I did do a rush seat by taking it apart bit by bit and then reversing the process, so I have high hopes, Mary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: aloha Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 15:13:55 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha from wet and windy Honolulu! Would you believe I wore a long sleeved shirt, jeans, and a pullover polar fleece jacket to the University of Hawaii/Notre Dame football game on Saturday? I think it*s winter over here. Bert--the rash is gone (for now) and its cause unknown. We have lived here 4 1/2 years and I*ve developed rashes and allergies(and have never been allergic to anything in my life)--there are all sorts of bugs, crawling creatures, and plants I was never exposed to--so the rashes and sneezes come and go. Benadryl is a temporary relief, but I have a low tolerance to medication and have to be careful not to take anything if I*m going to be doing anything other than sitting or sleeping. Billie-thanks for what you said about doing "art" vs "craft" fairs. I do believe everything you said is true--but it*s true for the mainland and not necessarily true for Hawaii. I visited one of their fairs/shows (and they are held outdoors and the mud was horrendous) and found that out of approx. 60 booths, one third were potters. That seemed to be an awful lot of vases and chopstick holders for one fair. The rest of the booths were kites, baskets made from local fibers and seagrass, jewelry (earrings and pins shaped like musubi), clothes, and little figures made from bolts and screws. There was not one country/folk/traditional Americana booth among the bunch. The products reflected the Asian culture and most of the shoppers were indeed locals (Hawaiians and Asians). Tourists do not shop at craft fairs. They are bussed around to local businesses to buy macadamia nuts, coconut bras, grass skirts, muumuus, and aloha shirts. The last thing they are going to buy and have to transport back to the mainland is a traditional Americana basket. So I*m afraid of investing $1,000 in a guild where I might lose money. And should I choose to sell a pattern (that time is coming, I swear) to anyone--even catalog companies on the mainland--I am no longer an artist, but a salesperson (this in in fine print in the guild by laws) and cannot stay with the guild. So taking all this into consideration, I shall have to endure the fairs I have been doing for the time being. Out of the 3 I did this fall, only one was "poor"--the largest one at Hickam AFB being the best. They screen and ask things to be removed or will remove a booth from a fair--too bad more fairs aren*t like that. I do believe promoters are going to ruin this business. A lot of them don*t care who does their fair as long as they have money to rent a table. That*s sad--really it is. Our guild newsletter is going to start a review of craft fairs--from a basketmakers point of view--and I*m hoping we can send such newsletters to promoters. I*m not looking to start trouble, but perhaps a few promoters will understand that by letting party planners and importers into a fair, they will, in the long run, damage their own fair. Jayna--congrats on your first fair! Will there be one in the spring? I did get a copy of the new NCBW catalog and it*s really nice. However, I understand a person has to order something to get a catalog (can*t just request one) or else wait their turn as they are being shipped in increments (NCBW*S word). And the KMC catalog is also great--and Kathy*s service is super fast--I had my order in a week from the day I ordered it. And I*m not doing house classes this month and in my next newsletter I*ll have to tell people that children aren*t allowed and if you are going to be 30 minutes late for class, you will have to reschedule.... and I know I*ll lose students over this, and if that happens--oh, well. And as for doing multiples at craft fairs--I*ve found that booths that do have several baskets of one kind (at least here in Hawaii) don*t sell well....I take an average of 75 baskets to most fairs and might have a few alike, but 90% are one of a kinds....I agree that people like to think they*re getting something original..nothing sells like a great selection. Patty Savinski--check your phone book for a Jeff Hanson (or Hansen). His wife Betsy was a member of our guild last year until they moved to San Diego...and she was frustrated that she couldn*t find anyone to weave with. Her husband was our guild woodworker. I*m sure she*d love a weaving buddy. Hope everyone had a fine Thanksgiving and a safe journey to and from their families. aloha nui loa, Lois PS. Other than cost, is there a reason pattern writers use reed to make tulips and leaves on baskets? Why not dyed maple strips? I use those on tulip markets and totes and they curl better than reed and really stand out. Just askin'. Honolulu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: sweetgrass Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 20:26:55 -0500 From: "Susan H. MacIntire" To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone! This is for Joy and all of the others who emailed me privately regarding sweetgrass. I purchased the sweetgrass plugs from Redwood City Seed Co., Box 361, Redwood City, CA 94064 - phone: 415-325-7333. I checked today and they have a web page with information on growing sweetgrass at http://www.batnet.com/rwc-seed/sweetgrass.html#anchor198318. It did well this summer in Vermont. I didn't plant it in a particularly wet area, but I did water it . I actually put it in my vegetable garden (for fear if it were on the edge of the lawn somewhere my husband would mow it). Jill, I have repaired the handle on rib baskets by cutting the old hoop off just above the God's eye and inserting a handle filler down on the outside of the old hoop. That way you can only see the cut off edge from inside the handle. You need sand it thin at both ends and soak it so it is as pliable as it gets before expecting it to follow the hoop. After it is bent to fit and has slid down once, I pull it out, put some wood glue on the inside of the handle filler where it will rest on the old hoop, and slide it down in again. It's tricky business. I hope that someone else will write in with a better solution than this, but I have used this method and it will work. Amanda, you can pull the pine needles off the branch and store them in a cardboard box till after the holidays. Putting fresh needles in something airtight like Tupperware might cause them to soften. I think you'll find that 3" pine needles are pretty tough to work with. You will constantly be adding new ones. The shortest needles I've used were about 6" in length, but it's much easier working with the long ones that are about 18". Hope you are all progressing well on Christmas orders and gifts. Happy weaving, Sue MacIntire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weavers Words 65 & 66 Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 16:07:36 -0600 From: ANDREA & TOM OKEEFE Organization: SAVANNAH HOUSE To: davidc@iei.net, coltsfan@usa.net Hello David and Everyone, Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Now I have to get in high gear for Christmas. We have 11 grandchildren plus their parents to shop for and wrap. All but 3 are up North so we have to get everything done and in the mail pretty quick. For Linda in snowy Caanan Ct and others curious about Palm Island. We are a bridgeless, barrier island on the West Coast of Florida, approx. 50 miles north of Ft. Myers. So Linda, It'd be about a 2 hour drive from your Mom's home in Cape Coral. If you look on the map we're just north of Gasparill Island (Boca Grande). We are sometimes referred to as Knight/Don Pedro Islands. Since you can only get here by boat we do not U.S. Mail Delivery, but we recently got garbage collection from a private carter. They come over on "Le Barge" which is a flat barge pushed by a tug. That's how must of us get back and forth. I have a pass for my golf cart (primary mode of transportation on island) which allows me unlimited access to Le Barge. I have my car parked on the mainland, so I simply drive my golf cart onto the barge and transfer to my car. It's kind of neat and keeps all the tourists from coming over all the time. 12 people on the beach is a crowd. Anyway, I am the resident basket case here which I guess makes me an island character of which there are many. Lois Keener. I don't know if I have the capability of joining your chat room and I dare not download anything else. My hard disk is full. But thanks for the invite. I'll have to be content to talk to you all on this list - Thanks to David. TTYL Andrea Palm Island, FL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: RE: pine needles Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 18:49:24 -0800 From: chas To: davidc@iei.net Hello: I haven't written in for awhile, but have enjoyed reading everyone's posts. I haven't been weaving much, nothing too exciting to contribute.. To Amanda: Concerning pine needles. You will probably get other posts from folks much more experienced than I in the use of pine needles. But I thought I would share what I do know. I don't work with the pine needles anymore, but did collect a bunch a few years ago. As I recall I DID NOT cut them. If they are still on the branch you just grab a bunch and gently pull. The whole bunch should come off in your hand. I gathered a large handful (or bunch) this way and then used rubber bands to band them together. Put them in a warm DARK place if you want to try to preserve the green color. If they are already brown, or it's brown you want, then a Sunny place will work fine. I left mine in a brown paper bag after they had dried, and put it in the fruitroom where they still are happily residing !! :0) Hope that helps. Keep writing everyone, and thanks to David of course, what would we do without him. I have been having trouble with my computer and cannot print out my issues, so consequently, I have not been able to keep up very well. I did notice that someone ask for David's snail mail address so they could send him a basket. And later he said he had received one. But I don't have his address. I must have missed it. Could someone send it to me, PLEASE ? ? ? ? I would love to send him a basket in appreciation.. Happy holidays all.. Stay warm and happy.. Ruth Lascurain Cinebar, WA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: WW 68 Date: Tue, 2 Dec 97 10:16:31 -0000 From: Linda Benson To: "David Collins" Holiday Greetings! The Thanksgiving holiday is now behind us (in more ways than one !) and Christmas is just around the corner. I have at least a dozen basket projects listed on my "TO DO" List and I haven't had an opportunity to do any of them yet. I'll make this short so I can squeeze in some weaving time before I go to work. Bert C. - The Swedish basket books I mentioned in my last posting are all written in Swedish. It shouldn't be too difficult to have them translated if need be. From the sound of the write-ups on the books, the photos MAY be self explanatory (at least to an experienced basketmaker). The prices run anywhere from $15-$31 US (the rate of exchange changes daily). The name of the publisher is ICA bokforlag and their web site address is: www.publ.ica.se/bok. E-mail address is bok@publ.ica.se. I checked out Amazon and other major bookstores to see if any of these books were listed, but no luck. (I can give you the titles, etc. if you'd like, but you can get all the info you need off their site). I haven't ordered any of them yet; I can't make up my mind which ones I'd like to have. I've written to "my Danish contact" but haven't heard anything back as of yet. Hopefully soon. When I do I'll let you know. Carol Hart is extremely knowledgeable about basket history, construction and the peoples who make/made them. I took a class from Carol last winter at her home in Salisbury, Ct. (which is just a couple of miles from me). It was very enlightening as well as fun. She's a great teacher and is ready to share as much of her knowledge as you can absorb. If ever you have an opportunity to take a class from Carol, I highly recommend you do so. Have to go now, Happy Holidays and Happy Weaving Everyone :) :) :) Linda Benson Canaan, Ct. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 69 Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 13:57:47 -0500 (EST) From: RickK36949@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Well it has been a while since I posted anything on a basket weavers' board. But the letter from Melissa in CO caught my eye. I think a great medium for teaching a child basketweaving is twisted paper. It is large enough for an 8 year old to handle comfortably, helps small muscle development and is quite easy to work. I would recommend a small basket of approximately3 1/2inches high and about 5 inches across. Cut spokes of 18 inches and one weaver of 14 ft and two weavers of 7 ft each. Lay out the spokes in a 4x4 cross. Fold weaver in half and over a group of 4 bundles, weave two rows and then split each bundle into pairs and twine around those twice. Then separate each pair and continue twining . Add additional weavers when necessary. Stop when you have about four inches left on each spoke. As you twine, ensure you keep all the spokes the same length!! Finish it off by taking a spoke and bringing it around behind the one to its right and then in front of the one after that and behind the third spoke to the right. Continue around until all the spokes are woven and the last two are interwoven with the first two. I have used this basket with third through six graders and each time the children have had presentable results. If you have any questions or need more help email me. BTW you can get paper twist from Allen's Basket Works, Portland OR. or from most crafts shops. I get mine from a small regional arts/ crafts store, ARTCO. Good luck!! Rick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 66 Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 13:15:17 EST From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Patricia A. Moritz & Lois Keener - Sorry your fair sales have been crummy recently. Have you considered finding another outlet for selling your baskets? I think if I get to the point of wanting to sell my baskets, I'll try to get them into a shop or two on consignment. For starters, I'm Not good at selling anything (couldn't even sell cookies when I was a Girl Scout)! I would probably not take them to a craft mall. When I was in Avon, CO, over the T-Day holiday, I browsed in an upscale shop that deals in replicated antique furniture and decor accessories. I saw only a few baskets, none of them expensive or well made (all were imports). They did have a line of locally made quilted tote bags, though - good size bags with a Velcro flap and one outside pocket made from pre-quilted fabric in holiday prints - priced in the $60 range! That was consistent with the pricing of other items in the store, on the low end of the scale. It looked like a ripe market for some good handmade baskets! People who actually shop there could afford to pay well and would probably appreciate quality baskets. I have seen a number of real antique shops that include recently made baskets in their inventory. They go well with the antiques and appear to sell well. Consider the booth fees, time and energy you spend on fairs. Is it worth it? Mary Carty - Can't remember if I already told you how much I like your 'historical' approach to basketweaving and selling your baskets. I think people who frequent living history sites have a heightened awareness of the value of traditional crafts. Kristin in Yorktown You have a great approach in using the 'L..' basket interest as a springboard for educating and diversifying the buying public! Keep on weavin! Bert Comstock Independence, MO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Catalogs Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 14:00:44 -1000 From: Joanne Howard To: David Collins Hi everyone, I can't seem to figure where the sun has gone. Isn't this supposed to be beautiful "sunny" Hawaii? I guess our winter months are here. I would like to thank Kathi Calvert for sending me her beautiful catalog. I think it's one of the nicer ones I have seen in a long time. I really like the idea that Kathi offers other basket "related" items. Great job!! I have heard from other weavers that N.C. Basketworks has a new catalog. The one I have is dated 1993. It has been a long time coming. I have ordered from them many times. I contacted them about the new catalog since I was getting ready to order more supplies. I thought I would make a big order from the new book. I was disappointed to call and find out that they would not send me one. Seems as if they are sending new catalogs in increments (maybe according to states) and will not issue a catalog until it's your time. Here is my feeling. I don't know what the rules of this catalog game is but,I didn't feel like this was a great business practice. People can run their business however they wish but to refuse to send a catalog to someone who wants to spend money doesn't sound right to me! I am sure they have a lot of people ordering supplies from them so I guess they don't mind losing my business. If I have to wait for them to send me a catalog, I might be old and gray so someone else will get my business. I guess I don't mean that much to them!! On another note, I subscribed to Martha Weatherbee's newsletter. I purchased 4 issues and the last one received was last summer. I called the shop ( no toll free number) to see if any other issues have been issued and they have not. I thought they would issue summer, fall, winter and spring. I was told that they print the issues as they can get to them, yet if I want club prices for my supplies, I have to be a subscriber. I do admit the gentleman I spoke to was very nice and polite. That was helpful. So here I sit. A subscriber to a newsletter that I have to wait for (I don't know when it will be out) and looking for new suppliers. Kathi Calvert, today could be your lucky day. Thank you for being so pleasant and prompt. I ordered for the first time from basketpatterns.com. Thank you Jana for personally replying to my e mail. I think you have a great web site and I really enjoy the new pattern updates just about every week. I am looking forward to receiving my order so that I can weave away. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I am really looking forward to Christmas. I have my house decorated and ready to go. Thanks to Lori Hopkins ( one of our weavers worders!!) for the great big box of pine cones and acorns. It has been fun using them in baskets around the house !! Until next time from cloudy Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Joanne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Basket Repair Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 21:03:13 -0500 From: David Morningstar To: David Collins To Jill Choate - Regarding your basket repair. I've done several. It all depends on the following: How much of the handle is left? If it's broken above the God's Eye or whatever technique you used to connect the two hoops, you could cut it off and possibly rivet another hoop handle to form a swing handle. That's about the only thing I can think of to repair it. I hope this helps you! To Karen - THE CAT'S ON MY LAP CREATIONS - Your remark about "all the Xmas present baskets are woven!" It's not Christmas Eve yet, is it? Ruthanne Morningstar, Dryden, MI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: WW Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 20:32:52 PST From: "Kay Janke" To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone: We are having wonderful weather, but it may be coming to an end very soon. Snow & cold are forecast by the end of the week. Hope all had a nice Thanksgiving, our family managed 10 together, the farthest couple came 200 miles. Potpourri--somebody mentioned this recently and there was a question as to whether there is a recipe for using the scrap pieces of reed. If so, please post it. Wondered what seems to be the best sellers now. Those of you who have been to the craft shows, were the big baskets better sellers? Or was there a particular kind that sold better? Asking for a friend that isn't online. Thanks. Went to a well-established show over the weekend. There was only 1 lady there with baskets and she was selling. Said she started with 80, don't think she had 30 left when I was there. Her baskets always have some trim painted on them and they are very nicely done. Well time to weave on- Kay J in Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 67 Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 21:48:47 EST From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 67 Joan Culler - Thanks for telling us about your historic site demo experience. It sounds like you've got a very pleasant working arrangement there. Hi Quin! Hello to Tracy and DeAnne, too. How did your first basket party go? Hope you sold a lot of baskets! Cathryn Peterse - you probably aren't doing anything 'wrong' when you retrieve a downloaded file. Your word processing software can be used to set your page margins and remove the 'hard return' that occurs at the end of each line of ascii (text) files. Try going to the end of a short line so that your cursor is one space after the last letter of the last word. Hit your delete key and see if that brings the beginning of the next line up to continue the line you're on. It's a bit tedious, but makes easier reading and a tidier print-out. Pam Woodbury - Maybe you should put something funny in your lidded baskets - a witty quip or an animal face staring back at the viewer? It might at least get people smiling and interested in looking further. Just a thought. Ruthanne Morningstar - I don't know what non-weavers (or non-creative people) do, but I know those of us who Do Things never have to worry about being bored! Please tell us more about your workshops and the ceremonial basket project. Does the tribe have photos or other information about the type of basket you're going to help them with? Definitely a story there! Char - Spread your pine needles out to dry so they won't get moldy spots on them. When you're ready to work with them, soak some in warm water for a few minutes to make them flexible. I've had a class in coiling pine needles, stitching with raffia, I've got a couple of small twill woven pine needle baskets that I bought. Haven't tried weaving any myself yet. I think they'll be kind of tricky - they're so smooth and slippery. Let me know what you make with yours. Bert Comstock Gray & rainy Independence, MO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Wicker woman Date: Wed, 03 Dec 1997 09:58:32 +0000 From: webfoot1@together.net To: "davidc@iei.net" Hi! Saw the question about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and thought I'd reply. I have it from putting down flooring, driving and cutting with scissors. I use the wrist supports at night. This stops the fingers from going to sleep. However, I read a long article about magnetic therapy. John Russell, who owns Russell Biomagnetics had an article written about his company in Newsday(a L.I.) paper. After contacting him, I decided to try the magnets. After about two months, I no longer wear the braces while driving and have no trouble even after a 6 hr. drive! They are not expensive (about $40 for the two wrist magnets) and easy to use. His magnets are rare earth, which means they are powerful and long lasting. The Japanese have been using magnetic therapy for many years. Being a retired researcher, I think that John Russell has done his homework. His address is: Russell Biomagnetics 182 Drexel Ave. Westbury, NY 11590-3002 (516) 333-3383 He has a 800 number but I don't have it handy. The operation to correct carpal tunnel is very successful. I still think if you can do something else, it is better. Hope this is helpful. Email me if you have any questions. webfoot1@together.net Jack Rothmann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 69 Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 15:39:48 -0600 From: Dave Balleweg To: David Collins References: 1 Hi all! I don't usually have too much to say, but the note from Patty Savinski has prompted me to write. Patty, When I lived in California, I was very much interested in basketweaving, but could find no classes, no basketweavers. Once, I found a class on the schedule for the Natural History museum and by the time I called them, it was full and never was repeated. So, I had to wait til I moved to Oklahoma to find somebody to teach me to weave. I was leery of trying on my own and didn't know where to find supplies anyway! Since I've been here, I've found a lot of resources in California. Look on Baskets, Etc. site for their Online Basketmakers. There are a few in CA with email addresses listed. Their address is www.ashland.edu/~lbraun/baskets.html. Also, try Cane and Basket Supply in LA at www.2cowherd.net/cabasu. I have never purchased from them but have from Frank's Cane and Rush Supply in Huntington Beach which is closer to you. Their address is www.franksupply.com. Hope this takes you out of the desert. Marcia Balleweg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.