"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 71 Compiled By: David Collins Snail Mail: 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 Owned By: Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: December 07, 1997 Subscribers: 370 Back Issues: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5998/ Basket Biddin' Auction: http://members.tripod.com/~Basket_Biddin/ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hey Everyone, A Christmas Poem :-{. 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the skys, Air defenses were up, with electronic eyes. Combat pilots were nestled in ready-room beds, As enemy silhouettes danced in their heads. Every jet on the apron, each SAM in its tube, Was triply-redundant linked to the Blue Cube, And ElInt and AWACS gave coverage so dense That nothing that flew could slip through our defense. When out of the klaxon arose such a clatter I dashed to the screen to see what was the matter; I dialed up the gain and then quick as a flash Fine-adjusted the filters to damp out the hash. And there found the source of the warning we'd heeded: An incoming blip, by eight escorts preceded. "Alert status red!" went the word down the wire, As we gave every system the codes that meant "FIRE"! On Aegis! Up Patriot, Phalanx and Hawk! And scramble our fighters -- let's send the whole flock! Launch decoys and missiles! Use chaff by the yard! Get the kitchen sink up! Call the National Guard! They turned toward the target, moved toward it, converged. Till the tracks on the radar all finally merged, And the sky was lit up with a demonic light, As the foe met his fate in the high arctic night. So we sent out some recon to look for debris, Yet all that they found, both on land and on sea Were some toys, a red hat, a charred left leather boot, Broken sleighbells, white hair, and a deer's parachute. Now it isn't quite Christmas, with Saint Nick shot down. There are unhappy kids in each village and town. For the Spirit of Christmas can't hope to evade All the web of defenses we've carefully made. Just look how the gadgets we use to protect us In other ways alter, transform, and affect us. They keep us from things that make life more worth living, Like love for each other, and thoughts of just giving. But a crash program's on: Working hard, night and day, All the elves are constructing a radar-proof sleigh. So let's wait for next Christmas, in cheer and in health, For the future has hope: Santa's coming by stealth! Take Care & Happy Holidays, David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Get well soon for Dolly Date: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 21:00:19 -0500 (EST) From: Linda Braun To: mkoch@iei.net CC: David Collins Dolly -- Any friend of David's is a friend of weavers across the country. Hope the doctors make you well really soon. Linda - Baskets, Etc. Ashland, Ohio - Weaver's Words subscriber 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: Wed, 03 Dec 1997 23:32:46 -0500 From: "Jayna L. Glemby" To: davidc@iei.net Greetings! I have to share something really funny with all of you. This is true! Some people at work were discussing various religions and someone mentioned that many people practice wicca ( ancient witch craft). Someone else spoke up right away and said..."Oh yes, Jayna practices wicker, she makes baskets all the time!" It took people a while to get it, but then, it cracked everyone up. So, with my apologies to anyone on WW, who is a devotee to the interesting and ancient art of wicca, I will say that telling this story with a flat Yankee accent makes it better as the 2 words then sound so alike! People have asked what type of baskets sold the best at fairs. I polled 2 friends who do fairs and we all agreed that holiday baskets did well: small wall baskets with wire handles of angels and Christmas trees ($15-20.) plus the Christmas stockings (large @ $25.00) sold best. Muffin baskets and jelly baskets were also big, ($10-20). I did well with very large floor baskets, and asking $40. was no problem! There is a Basketville outlet near my town and they have tremendous imports from China. Someone once asked me why she should buy from me when she can go there and get a basket so much cheaper. Climbing up on my soapbox and in my calmest tone, I agreed with her that their prices were incredibly low, but added:" It's because they subject their workers, usually women, to such inhuman conditions and pay them incredibly low wages. I don't buy from them because I refuse to support 3rd. world policies that treat workers like slaves." Much to my surprise the person said they never thought of that aspect. So, I felt like I struck a blow for basket weavers selling quality products and for our sisters in basket sweat shops working for pennies per hour. Lois K. glad your rash has cleared up. Holiday greetings from Jayna in central Massachusetts (Lois K. glad the rash cleared up!!!) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Baskets....What Else! Date: Thu, 04 Dec 1997 07:07:09 -0600 From: Roberta Huisman To: davidc@iei.net Hi Weavers: Been a long time since I wrote in. While my daughter was having heart tests done yesterday, I got caught up on 12 WW or so (still behind on a couple) and thought I'd reply. First off, please give us the info on the ornament book. It would be appreciated. Sorry I can't find who offered to give this info. Earmarked many WW and still can't locate it this a.m. Bert-Thanks for the research information on basket history. I filed that away for future use. I have done a lot of demonstrating and speaking in the past and thought this could be very useful. Also, what a great idea for someone to write a basketry encyclopedia. I am self-taught and would really find that helpful. Nancy Jacobs-Thanks for the ideas you gave in Vol. 64. I am going to look up the "Honey Pot" pattern now and check it out. I also like embellishments on baskets and they do sell better. What a cute idea for that lid. I, also, taught a class where there was a teenager who wanted to do the basket also and the hostess (her mother) asked if she could be cheaper because she was a child. I hated being put on the spot and taken off guard. Learned a lesson too. Anyway, the girl was much better than several of the adults there and she said she was doing it for a 4-H project so I felt good about discounting her. But, the nerve of the lady telling you how your class should be run and who to charge and not charge. Good idea to cancel. I have more comments, but my unfinished baskets are calling. I have my 13th and last show this weekend. It is a two-day. On Monday, if I am not collapsed in bed I will be jumping for joy. The first thing I am going to do (before I make Christmas baskets and replenish my shops) is I am going to make me a basket shoulder bag. I ordered the Three Rivers Tote from KMC Baskets with a leather shoulder strap with heart embellishments and an engraved brass splint for the front that says "Berta's Baskets." Then I am going to talk my mother into sewing a liner (I packed my serger and sewing machine away when I began weaving 3 years ago) and having my retired farmer who does wood make me a lid. The Three Rivers Tote is picture on the front of the KMC Catalogue and looks like it would be a neat shoulder bag. I ordered several patterns from KMC and some supplies. They do have a nice variety and some diversity. Well, back to my weaving. Thanks David for all your hard work and for the special basket picture you submitted. It turned out perfect on my computer. Berta Parkersburg, Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: wrist discomforts Date: Thu, 4 Dec 1997 09:35:36 -0500 From: "Joy Moody" To: Hello Everybody, Just a brief note about the various discomforts we develop as weavers. Two people wrote recently about wrists. In this & the past list, I know we've also mentioned other problems. For me, it was elbows, feet & ankles. If you, or someone you love, might benefit from new, advanced technology products, PLEASE write or call me, and I can give you full information. I CAN OFFER A DISCOUNT TO FELLOW WEAVERS. Joy Moody (207) 941-0876 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 69 Date: Thu, 4 Dec 1997 22:07:15 -0500 From: mlathron@juno.com (Mary E Lathron) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Hello Everyone! I am looking for the finished dimensions of a Two-Pie Basket. Can anyone lend me a hand?? Thanks, Mary Lathron Avon, NY mlathron@juno.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: For Weaver's Words Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 11:00:49 -0500 (EST) From: Linda Braun To: David Collins This prayer was forwarded to me by the Ashland University webmaster. Get your "happy hankies" ready --- Bless My 'Puter Every night I lie in bed This little prayer inside my head. God bless my home and land, And also bless my children And please protect my husband, He's the only one I've got. An' he loves me, truly loves me, Even more so than his yacht. And God there's just one more thing I wish that you would do. If you don't mind me asking, Will you bless my 'puter too? Now I know that it's not normal To bless a small machine, But listen just a second And I'll attempt to explain. You see, God, that little box Holds more than odds and ends. In the bowels of that 'puter Lies countless loving friends. Some, it's true, I've never seen, And most I've never met. We've never even shaken hands, Or ever truly hugged, and yet, I know for sure they love me, By the kindnesses they give, And this little scrap of metal Is how I get to where they live. By faith is how I know them, Much the same way I know You. We share each others troubles, And , of course, a laugh or two. So please take an extra minute >From Your duties up above, To bless this little metal box That's filled with so much love. (Laura Dobson) Linda - Baskets, Etc. Ashland, OH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: KMC Basket Supplies Date: Fri, 5 Dec 1997 16:27:38 -0500 From: "Joy Moody" To: ATTENTION WEAVERS: I just spoke with Kathi Calvert last night & she is in a tizzy. She asked me to put the word out that her computer went down & it appears she has lost a lot of information. This includes any e-mail orders or inquiries you may have sent this week. If you have been waiting & have received no response, please call her at (732) 389-0832. Joy Moody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: Catalogs Date: Sat, 6 Dec 1997 11:39:21 EST From: DKallner Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) To: davidc@iei.net Just a note about catalogs. In issue 69/70, Joanne in Pearl Harbor expressed her frustration about not being able to get a basketry catalog sent to her right away because the company is now sending them out "in increments." I'm sure the suppliers who read this list took her comments to heart and would like to find a way to avoid having customers experience the disappointment and frustration she experienced. I don't want to see another storm of controversy hit Weavers Words, but I thought it might be helpful to offer a possible explanation for why this situation exists. First, I'm no expert about quantity mailing, but part of the business my husband and I own is selling canoeing and kayaking equipment by mail. The few people I've met who own basketry catalog businesses make me think our business must be simple in comparison. I suspect they lie awake nights worrying about things we seldom consider, including when shipments will clear customs, how changes in foreign political and environmental conditions will affect their ability to get product, whether their suppliers for naturals like elm bark will break their necks in the woods and be unable to bring in a harvest -- in addition to the normal worries about how they're going to continue to meet the changing needs of their customers. Well, to complicate things, the U.S. Postal Service has made some sweeping changes in the past couple of years. Large mailers like L.L. Bean employ whole departments, I'm sure, just to work on ways to make their catalog production and mailing the most cost-effective and to stay in compliance with postal regulations. In my company, I am that department. I would guess that most of the basketry catalog owners are in the same position. The increase in bulk mail rates works in the favor of the larger companies because they can take advantage of the economies of scale. And it's hard to complain about it, because as a taxpayer I think the Postal Service should, in fact, support itself. As quantity mailers we should pay for those services so it doesn't cost our grandmas $1 apiece to mail Christmas cards. Last year, because of new postal regulations (and increased rates), we hired a service to handle our bulk mail (which we had always done in-house) -- not to save money, but simply to avoid a considerable increase in costs over the year before. Two weeks before Christmas the service had problems with our list, I lost confidence in them, and we brought the first-of-the-year bulk mailing back in-house with extreme time pressure. We didn't even put up a Christmas tree last year because I was so crabby and overloaded with a project I thought had been handled. It cost us more to do it in-house because of the new postal rates, but Bill and I decided it was something we could afford to do for our own peace of mind. Every small business has to make its own decisions about what's affordable. I'm sure these companies are working hard to meet the challenges of rising mailing costs without just passing them on to us, their customers. I'm also pretty sure most of the folks who have basketry catalogs are like us -- their only hope of getting rich is buying a winning lottery ticket. But I sure am glad they do what they do. If there were no small, independent basketry catalogs, the selection of basketry supplies we could get from the mega-mailers like L.L. Bean would probably be way more limited than their selection of canoeing and kayaking products. And out in the sticks where I live, there would be no chance whatsoever of buying basketry supplies without traveling hundreds of miles to get to a store with any selection. Donna Kallner White Lake, Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: catalogs Date: Sat, 06 Dec 1997 09:29:01 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha to all, Baskets have been the furthest thing from my mind this past week--yours truly was selected for jury duty and I*ve been existing inside a courtroom all week--no windows and plenty of air conditioning--we are all wearing coats and sweaters in the courtroom.....and if you have never sat on a jury, you don*t know the meaning of the word STRESS....hopefully, it will all be over next week and I can concentrate on catching up with the approaching Christmas season--I*m woefully behind again this year. I received an e-mail this morning from my bud, Joanne Howard. She sent a post to the last WW about catalogs and her difficulty in obtaining one from NCBW and also not receiving a newsletter she paid for from Martha W. Joanne called me over a week ago and told me the story and I promptly told her to put it on WW--for a couple of reasons. I wanted her to find out if others were having a problem with either company and I wanted her to let everyone know what was going on with both companies. I mean, if you were having a shipping problem with a major basket supplier, I, as a potential customer, would certainly want to know. My basket dollars are as precious to me as yours are to you. Joanne initially told me she would NOT write to WW--for the simple reason she didn*t want to offend anyone. I certainly could understand that. However, I do believe the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to share with her sister/brother weavers and hence, the posting in WW. So I do feel a certain responsibility for this. And now Joanne is receiving some personal e-mail regarding this that is tending to trouble her and she*s having second thoughts about her post. Weavers are saying she might be stirring up controversy such as we experienced a few months ago. So since I know Joanne personally, I want to say this. Joanne did nothing from a malicious heart. She was simply sharing information. It is as simple as that. If you do business with NCBW and you are happy with their service, that*s great. The same goes for Marth W. (I don*t know how to spell her last name). But Joanne did have problems and she was letting everyone know. For that reason, she doesn*t deserve to be "booed" and "hissed". And as for stirring up controversy, being unhappy with service from suppliers (or lack of service) certainly doesn*t seem to be a reason to get this list crazy again. So hopefully, I*m finished with weaving for the year (except for those 3 tulip market baskets my mother wants to take back with her to the mainland) and I can give these tired hands and aching shoulders a rest.. Hope everyone had a fine Thanksgiving, a safe journey to and from their destinations, and hope you are enjoying the spirit of the season. Aloha, nui loa, Lois Honolulu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Fw: A Christmas Story Date: Sun, 07 Dec 1997 08:39:56 -0800 From: Mandy To: davidc@iei.net Hello to all, I had a friend send me the story below and thought I would share it with you. It reminds you of the true meaning of Christmas that we all sometimes forget being so busy getting presents and everything done for Christmas. Hope you all have a great holiday, Amanda Popelka A CHRISTMAS STORY It was only five days before Christmas. The spirit of the season hadn't yet caught up with me, even though cars packed the parking lot of our Houston area Target Shopping Center. Inside the store, it was worse. Shopping carts and last minute shoppers jammed the aisles. Why did I come today? I wondered. My feet ached almost as much as my head. My list contained the names of several people who claimed they wanted nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt if I didn't buy them anything. Buying for someone who had everything and deploring the high cost of items, I considered gift buying anything but fun. Hurriedly, I filled my shopping cart with last minute items and proceeded to the long checkout lines. I picked the shortest one but it looked as if it would mean at least a twenty minute wait. In front of me were two small children--a boy of about age ten and a younger girl, about 5. The boy wore a ragged coat. Enormously large, tattered tennis shoes jutted far out in front of his much too short jeans. He clutched several crumpled dollar bills in his grimy hands. The girl's clothing resembled her brother's. Her head was a matted mess of curly hair. Reminders of an evening meal showed on her small face. She carried a beautiful pair of shiny, gold house slippers. As the Christmas music played over the public address system, the girl hummed along, out of key but happily. When we finally approached the checkout register, the girl carefully placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were a treasure. The clerk rang up the bill. "That will be $6.09," she said. They boy laid his crumpled dollars atop the stand while he searched his pockets. He finally came up with $3.12. "I guess we will have to put them back," he bravely said. "We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow." With that statement, as soft sob broke from the little girl. "But Jesus would have loved these shoes," she cried. "Well, we'll go home and work some more. Don't cry, we'll come back," he said. Quickly I handed $3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in line for a long time. And, after all, it was Christmas. Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and a small voice said, "Thank you sir." "What did you mean when you said Jesus would like the shoes?" I asked. The small boy answered, "Our mommy is sick and going to heaven. Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus." The girl spoke, "My Sunday School teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes. Won't mommy be beautiful walking on those streets to match these shoes?" My eyes flooded as I looked into her tear streaked face. "Yes," I answered, "I am sure she will." Silently I thanked God for using these children to remind me of the true spirit of giving. Christmas is not about the amount of money paid, nor the amount of gifts, purchased, nor trying to impress friends and relatives. Christmas is about the love in your heart to share with those as Jesus Christ has shared with each of us.. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ whom God sent to show the world how much He really loves us. Please show this love as we think of the upcoming season ************************************************** Mandy's Hopechest specializing in basket weaving, florals and rag crochet http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Lights/7358 ************************************************** @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Tempests & Teapots Date: Sun, 7 Dec 1997 11:56:09 EST From: DKallner Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) To: davidc@iei.net Hi, everyone. Please forgive me if I'm perpetuating something that would have faded into the background otherwise, but I'm quite concerned about how differences of opinion are sometimes handled here. After Joanne in Pearl Harbor wrote about her frustration in getting a basketry supply catalog, I sent a copy of my reply to the list directly to her. When she e-mailed me back, I breathed a sign of relief and thought, "I'm so glad we can express different opinions and not have hurt feelings." Since then, though, she has received some e-mail in response to her post that she has found pretty upsetting. Once again, I don't want to create a storm of controversy, but I think it's important to keep Weavers Words from becoming a forum where people are afraid to say anything. Most of the controversies where hurtful things are said seem to stem from times when someone needed to blow off steam about some frustration or another. And I think it should be possible for a fellow weaver to do that in this forum without fearing retaliation. Many of us are fairly isolated -- by geography, by having young children at home, by ill health, or by interests that don't match those of the people we see on a daily basis. This list is important. We need each other to battle that isolation. The problem is, I can blow off steam about a frustration to a friend or my my mom and she can look me in the eye and say, "But did you think about this...?" That usually takes the wind out of my sails, and I can calm down and think about the situation more rationally. But this group doesn't have the luxury of eye contact, facial expressions, or loving hugs. We need to be ultra conscious of the fact that our words carry more weight here than almost anywhere else. Maybe when frustrations arise and we need to blow off steam on the list, we could try to do what I do when I'm blowing off steam about something to my husband. Once I realized that he takes everything I say literally and thinks he's supposed to fix things I complain about (except, of course, the complete lack of a closet in our bedroom) I learned to preface my remarks with this:"I don't expect you to fix this, but please just listen. I know there may be other ways to look at this, but this is the way I see things." What usually follows my tirade is the opportunity to hear another perspective. We need to be able to blow off steam. We need to hear those other perspectives. Most of all, we need to support each other as we sort through the challenges we face every day. Joanne, I'm glad you were able to get your frustrations off your chest the other day. Thanks for listening to my different opinion on the topic with as much grace as you showed in your e-mail reply to me. One of these days I'll be the one who needs to blow off steam, and you'll be the one who needs to tell me (nicely) that I'm not seeing the big picture. Thanks in advance. Donna Kallner White Lake, Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Hi everyone! Date: Sun, 07 Dec 1997 02:09:43 -0800 From: edwinb@erols.com To: "\"Weavers Words\"" Hi everyone! Merry Christmas! I did receive a full refund from Cathy Strictland; I will miss her magazine. The article about the new Longaberger office building in the basket shape was in the Wall Street Journal. I might have a chance for a vacation in Nantucket;I would love to take classes and make a Nantucket basket;does anyone have the name of the teacher or better yet- a phone no? I am just drooling , thinking of the possibility !! It's cold here in Maryland; very gray today. Maryland is one of those stated that goes from mountains to seashore. I'm near Baltimore and we usually don't have snow until after Christmas. Then, there was the Christmas 4 years ago when it did snow on Christmas day; everyone had to spend the night; my husband and I had a conference to plan where all would sleep; lucky I had lots of eggs and in the house for breakfast the next day.(When planning a huge Christmas meal, I don't even think about food for the next day!!) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: scat cat Date: Sun, 7 Dec 1997 17:49:05 -0500 From: "Serena Crossfield" To: "David Collins" Please post The following to Weaver's Words. Does anyone know of a herb that can be used to keep cats away from baskets/wicker? Some of my customers complain that they won't buy basket because the cat will only destroy it. One customer thought that there should be a type of herb that could be put in baskets to "scat the cat". Any help appreciated. Serena humpco@eznet.net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.