"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 73 Compiled By: David Collins Snail Mail: 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 Owned By: Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: December 15, 1997 Subscribers: 372 Back Issues: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5998/ Basket Biddin' Auction: http://members.tripod.com/~Basket_Biddin/ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hi Everyone, ***IMPORTANT INFORMATION*** The program that I use to get each issue to print properly wigged out on me. So until I fix it, follow these steps: 1.) Highlight entire issue. 2.) Click cut. 3.) Paste issue into a word processor of your choosing. 4.) Now Print. Sorry for the inconvenience :-{. Thanks for all of Christmas cards :-}. Here's the lyrics to my favorite Christmas song. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer Grandma got run over by a reindeer Walking home from our house Christmas eve. You can say there's no such thing as Santa, But as for me and Grandpa, we believe. She'd been drinkin' too much egg nog, And we'd begged her not to go. But she'd left her medication, So she stumbled out the door into the snow. When they found her Christmas mornin', At the scene of the attack. There were hoof prints on her forehead, And incriminatin' Claus marks on her back. Grandma go run over by a reindeer, Walkin' home from our house Christmas eve. You can say there's no such thing as Santa, But as for me and Grandpa, we believe. Now were all so proud of Grandpa, He's been takin' this so well. See him in there watchin' football, Drinkin' beer and playin' cards with cousin Belle. It's not Christmas without Grandma. All the family's dressed in black. And we just can't help but wonder: Should we open up her gifts or send them back? Grandma got run over by a reindeer, Walkin' home from our house Christmas eve. You can say there's no such thing as Santa, But as for me and Grandpa, we believe. Now the goose is on the table And the pudding made of pig. And a blue and silver candle, That would just have matched the hair in Grandma's wig. I've warned all my friends and neighbors. Better watch out for yourselves." They should never give a license, To a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves. Grandma got run over by a reindeer, Walkin' home from our house, Christmas eve. You can say there's no such thing as Santa, But as for me and Grandpa, we believe. Take Care & Happy Holidays, David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 71 Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 21:08:14 EST From: rorydrem@juno.com (Rory d Remenak) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Hello, Basket lovers, I'm probably one of those people who should read the article about netiquette, and will some day. It's just hard to get to from here (Juno). I've posted very little this year, since first getting the basket list in January, but I appreciate all of you and have followed most of the ups and downs of the list(s). A sigh of relief as I had my last craft fair Saturday and last basket class Friday (for the year, anyway.) I really enjoy them, but just get tired! I tend to overbook me. I wish all of you a happy holiday season--sounds trite, but I mean it. I really appreciated the story sent in by Mandy Popelka. The others were fun to read, too. Donna Kallner, I agree with you very much. I thank each of you for expressing your joys, successes _and_ frustrations. Much of the value of this network is learning what sources are having trouble, and why, and especially if it's a temporary problem. I don't like to hear that someone is having trouble meeting deadlines, etc., because we're all human and it's a hard place to be. However, when I promise something to a customer, I really want to get it in time. (I generally allow some slack time, but can't afford a major delay.) Usually if a customer wants something, the sooner you can get it to her (or him), the happier he/she is. I appreciate seeing a spirit of understanding both for the person who is in a difficulty and for the person who honestly has a question, caution or complaint. (Yes, even one of those.) Also, I wanted to encourage the person who had no other basketmakers in her area. I started offering basket classes in a populated area (small town) nearby. It was really slow going at first. I would have one or two sign up for a class, and usually one would cancel. I kept offering more basket classes. Each student was amazed that she actually could make a lovely basket. I wove along. It was fun. More than six months later, I actually had eight students (at once). No longer could I weave along--these were mostly first-time basketmakers!--but they were delighted (only one decided it wasn't for her) and I'm still having fun. Now I have a regular basket class, and I'm not the only person in the county making baskets and loving it! So don't be discouraged if it takes awhile to find other basket makers. This is probably enough for now. Thank you all for being there. A big thank you to David. Peggy in the California foothills, where we came _this close_ to having snow today. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: WW-Ornament book Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 18:54:21 PST From: "Kay Janke" To: davidc@iei.net Hello fellow weavers: I started to put this on last night & was interrupted, so hopefully it will reach whoever was looking for it soon. I see that the new issue is here. I can't even find who asked for this information again, but here it is. ORNAMENT BOOK-"Holiday Heirlooms" Ornaments to Weave by Barbara Klann. The ornaments are all done in round reed. There is: St. Nick; Santa's Boot; Ball' Holiday Bell; Christmas Candle; Frosty; Angel; One Horse Sleigh; Braided Wreath; Winter Lace; Wagon; Drum and Candy Cane. They are about 3" ornaments, the Candy Cane says it is 12" in length. I purchased the book at a Ben Franklin for $6.67 but I have had it for quite some time. Hope this helps. If I could find who asked for this, I would have e-mailed to you. We had a storybook picture today of winter wonderland, that is, it was beautiful, but the driving was terrible. The snow was wet & heavy. It snowed all night & this morning everything was covered with 6" or more. That would be enough for me for the winter, but forecast is for more tonight. So far it is not snowing. I'm sure you gals in Ca. & Hawaii would love some, if it were possible I would sure send it. Wouldn't you know that I purchased the pattern 'The Great Island Floor Basket' at convention. And when I sent for the free pattern offered us at convention, what did I receive back? Yes, it is the same pattern. Oh well, I always say that you can not have to many patterns, no matter what they are. I know someone didn't want this mentioned, but is anyone ready for Xmas yet? I have made 3 baskets so far for gifts, and had to stop as my fingers started cracking by the nail. So by the weekend, I might be able to continue. Basket withdrawal is hard!!!! Have a great week & weekend everyone. TTYL. Kay Janke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Pensacola Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 07:54:53 -0600 From: The Ray Ohana To: davidc@iei.net Hi, everybody - Looks like I will be in the Pensacola, FL area for a few days over Christmas. Does anyone know of any classes I could take, basket suppliers I could visit, etc? I was at Donna Weber's Chat Room last night and heard Linda Scoggins was in that area....checked the WW site and Baskets, Etc. site for her e-mail address with no luck. I am finally getting out of my house today - been stuck here for four days with a sick child who was worshipping the porcelain god, if he made it there in time. I have spent my time doing the laundry he left in his wake when he didn't make it. I went to bed last night with the worry that today could be a snow day (a light dusting sets everyone in a panic here), which would leave me just this side of INSANE if I were to be in this house one more day with only Ninja Turtle movies to entertain me. My son's only saving grace is his priceless smile - he lost his two front teeth during this whole deal and is now the cutest thing going. All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.... Carey Ray Bossier City, LA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 72 Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 11:39:27 -0500 From: olneyjw@juno.com To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 This just came in on one of the travel newsletters I subscribe to. Since there are a fair number of Juno people on here, I thought someone might find the information useful: Delta Creates Radically Reduced January Air Fares For Persons Who Advise That They're Users of Juno One of the most remarkable programs ever for reducing air fares has just been created by Delta Air Lines for persons who tell them they're users of the free e-mail service known as "Juno." It's available on all Delta Air Lines flights (the main flights, not those operated by Delta Express) from January 5 to January 31, 1997, and it's a travel wonder. For persons mentioning the magic word, "Juno," Delta has divided the U.S. into four quadrants: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and West. Persons flying Delta within one quadrant, January 5 to 31, will pay only $89 one-way. Persons flying from one quadrant to any immediately adjacent quadrant will pay only $149 each way. But that's just for starters! The same person can take along a companion for no extra price! --It pays to be technologically hip. Take advantage of this amazing offer. Please visit: http://www.frommers.com/newsletters/12-10-97/article3.html Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful holiday season! Don't weave so much that you fail to smell the Christmas tree! JOlney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 16:07:30, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net Darleena, you keep talking about the Acores-do you mean the Azores? Or is there something I have missed. My children are finally settled at Misawa but are not sending for granddog Charlie yet as they have found they are going to Italy for three months in mid-Jan. and will stop in Va. on their way back to Japan to pick him up. Berta, I can't imagine taking that many baskets to a show. I'm lucky if I have 50. Last year I only made 100 baskets but this year has been really off and I've made less than 75 and the way things are going next year may be worse. Think I am suffering with a little burnout. I had these great plans for making gifts for all the board members at the end of my term as president and actually got two of them done but had to give the others IOU'S. Of course I only figured out two weeks before what I wanted to make for them-turned out to be a waxed linen bowl about 1 1/2 diameter with the initials of the guild and date woven in. I am pleased with the two I got done but will be interested to see how much I improve on the next lot. I had never woven this type before where you do the full twist twining so you can do a certain design. Flo Hoppe says in her book that keeping the tension equal is most important and that's not easy to do. I actually used a mold to help maintain the shape. The top of a large Listerine bottle makes a great mold. Of course I had to pour the Listerine into a Gatorade bottle so I could use it before it was empty. My husband was a little confused as it was his bottle but then he is used to me doing weird things. Can't believe Christmas is just two weeks away. Think it is going to be a very quiet one this year-granddogs don't get excited about Santa as grandchildren do(I have none). Last year we took Charlie to have his picture made with Santa and the first thing my daughter in law said when she saw it was how scared he looked, He is afraid of his own shadow. Well guess I'd better get a move on and try to accomplish something. Billie in dreary Va. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 20:10:38 EST From: UH60Ace Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) To: Davidc@iei.net Hello All. I just wanted to take a few minutes to write in and thank everyone who replied with a pattern to try with my daughter. This weekend we will attempt her first basket. I think I will order the brass splint from KMC that says "my first basket". On another note, since we are talking about catalogue companies, I thought I would share one with all of you. I order most of my supplies from August Moon Basketry. They are in Pageland, South Carolina. They offer incredible prices to everyone (not just those with a business license who can order wholesale or in bulk.) I enjoy making baskets and often give them as gifts. I do not sell them or teach classes, therefore I do not have a business tax ID. But through August Moon I can order supplies at a cost that is most often cheaper than others wholesale prices. There is no 800 number and they do not accept Mastercard or Visa (both of these services cost money which would have to be passed on to the consumer.) They ship UPS and you are only charged the actual shipping costs, not over-inflated percentages like some big mail order (clothing) companies charge. I do not have any financial interest in August Moon and I have never met the owners. They are always friendly on the phone and my orders have always been shipped promptly. Just thought I would pass along some positive information. The address is: August Moon Basketry, Route 4, Box 135, Pageland, SC 29728 (803) 672-3534. Hope this helps. Melissa in Colorado. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 72 Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 18:39:50 +0000 From: Pamela Woodbury To: David Collins Hi Fellow Weavers, I really don't care how any business is run, but I'd like to give a plug to a couple of businesses that are run wonderfully. I ordered a catalog from Kathy Calvert at KMC Baskets and had the catalog within the week. I haven't ordered yet, but sure do have my eye on a basket tree she has. Has anybody ordered this tree? Another business I have had terrific luck with is Gratiot Lake. I sent a check on Monday and by Friday I had the supplies. They must ship the same day even this time of year I had one week service. I had my last show of the season last Sat. and finally did have a good show. I have lots of inventory left for my first show in Feb. I have no clue how many baskets I take to a show, but I sold 42 baskets at this last show so with the amount I have left I must have had 500. I find variety in size and color sell best for me. I don't think I had any particular best seller, but I did notice this year people bought more practical baskets, mail, toilet paper, napkin. They wanted a use for them and not something frivolous like a sleigh. I found that strange as I usually sell out of sleighs at every show in the fall. As luck would have it 2 of my spring shows I will be at another event and have to find someone to do the show for me. I have already begged my son into doing one and the other one I will be teaching on Sat. and can come home and still do the show myself on Sunday, but with all the weekends in the spring I was rather upset that everything fell on the same weekend. Thanks Janet for the tip on the Bitter Apple. I was wondering how often they would have to spray their baskets to keep the pets off or if one spraying does it. I would certainly buy a bottle and spray a basket for a potential customer. I have had so many people be hesitant to buy because their pets would ruin the basket. In my opinion a pet that would ruin a basket must ruin plenty of other things and that pet certainly wasn't taught many manners as a kitten or puppy, but that is just my opinion. I even have a cat and have had lots of dogs and never have they done anything damaging to my baskets. However the cat does find them nice to crawl inside of. Several of us on this list get together and chat at Donna Webers chatroom a couple of times a week. I have noticed that since we know each other on a more personal level we don't take offense at every little thing said and we laugh at each other. I have found before I send anything I edit it several times. I don't want to hurt others feelings, but on the other hand if I have something to complain about I want to be able to do it. I have found that if I don't zap it off right away the complaint gets less and less until maybe I don't even care anymore. For anybody that feels the need to send slams maybe you should try this and after a couple days of editing you still feel the need to send it then that is your perogative, but chances are you will have cooled off by then. I'd sure be interested in knowing what petal the spokes of the base means. Mary, Pat Levitt has a cute fan pattern. You can reach Pat at 517-6734514. I know Pat has submitted it to conventions, but it has not been chosen. Ruthanne, long time no see. How great that you are going to teach the indians to weave for tribal ceremonies that they can no longer do themselves. Isn't it great that all of us non-indians have taken up basketry. I get a laugh because I have people ask me if an indian wove all these baskets. I tell them I wove them and they seem surprised that us white women can make baskets. Some people seem to think only the indians can weave. Roberta I sure know how you feel, I did a show on Nov 15th at the civic arena near my home which is where the hockey team plays. They put plywood over the ice and had the show on the ice. I froze all day and then ached for 2 solid weeks. I WILL NOT do that show again. It is not worth it for me to feel so bad during and after a show. I also had the same luck as you with the stairsteps this year and sold the only one I had at the beginning of the show and had several people ask about them. I do take special order, but have found most people would rather have it right then and there. Pam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weavers Words Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 14:16:48 -0500 From: "Joy Moody" To: Hi Everyone! And a very Happy Holiday Season. We have been caught up in some turmoil here, so I am working at getting in the spirit, and haven't contributed much recently. Mary: I went hunting for you, because I knew in my minds eye that I remembered seeing fans somewhere. There are two plaited fans pictured on page 37 in Step By Step Basketry by Rachel Seidel Gilman & Nancy Bess (Webster Publishing, 1977), but no directions except general directions on plaiting techniques. The of the fans is like those you see sold in the Bahamas. Do you know them? they're kind of heart shaped with a twisted handle. The other one is diamond shaped. There's also a fan on page 105 in Basketry Today With Materials From Nature by Dona Meilach & Dee Menagh (Crown Publishers, ISBN# 0-517-53135-6 pbk) . That one has no specific direction either, but is an inspiration. It's made of reed spokes, waxed linen & yarn twining with pheasant feathers, and eucalyptus seed pod embellishments. Janet: Thanks so much for the tip on de-catting baskets! I have purchased several round imports as cat beds and my Maine Coon has chewed them all up! I know the finishes &/or insecticides CAN'T be good for her. She has fresh greens to eat, but there's something in that reed that she's going for! I will try to find Bitter Apple and put it to the test. Roberta: thermal wraps with magnets may help your symptoms. I can send you info. if you are curious. Quin, Tracy & DeAnne: You can reach KMC by calling (732) 389-0832 or e-mailing rcal@concentric.net. Karen: Thanks for the tip on growing sweetgrass. I plan to put in a patch next spring. I read that it needs two years to establish so I will be putting in several large flats. I know what you mean about controlling it. I've moved our chives to big barrels because they'd take over the whole garden if we let them. I once planted Crown Vetch to cover an eroding slope where nothing else would grow. It is impossible to get out once planted! It did do the great job of coverage they said it would, but no one ever mentioned that is draws bees. Well, you had to walk past the "bee zone" to get up the walkway to my house! Merry Ho Ho! JOY Sign of the Crow www.signofthecrow.com P.S. Santa is NOT dead! Santa is one of those magical beings who is untouched by the laws of science on and around planet earth. He flies faster than angels wings and is unencumbered by gravitational forces. If you blink fast enough, and have the eyes of a child on clear, star studded nights you can see him wiz by! Actually, contrary to the olde tale about one night delivery, all of the presents are in place long before Christmas, but God does not wave the wand to materialize them until Christmas Eve! That is a little known secret I thought I would share with you. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Christmas Poem Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 19:49:53 -0600 From: Roberta Huisman To: davidc@iei.net A Christmas poem 'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck... How to live in a world that's politically correct? His workers no longer would answer to "Elves". "Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves. And labor conditions at the north pole Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul. Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety, Released to the wilds by the Humane Society. And equal employment had made it quite clear That Santa had better not use just reindeer. So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid, Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid! The runners had been removed from his sleigh; The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A. And people had started to call for the cops When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops. Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened. His fur trimmed red suit was called "Unenlightened." And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows, Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation, Demanding millions in over-due compensation. So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife, Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life, Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz, Demanding from now on her title was Ms. And as for the gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion That making a choice could cause so much commotion. Nothing of leather, nothing of fur, Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her. Nothing that might be construed to pollute. Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot. Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise. Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys. Nothing that claimed to be gender specific. Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific. No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth. Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth. And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden, Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden. For they raised the hackles of those psychological Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological. No baseball, no football...someone could get hurt; Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt. Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe; And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away. So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed; He just could not figure out what to do next. He tried to be merry, tried to be gay, But you've got to be careful with that word today. His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground; Nothing fully acceptable was to be found. Something special was needed, a gift that he might Give to all without angering the left or the right. A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision, Each group of people, every religion; Every ethnicity, every hue, Everyone, everywhere...even you. So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth... "May you and your loved ones just enjoy peace on earth." @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: (no subject) Date: Sat, 13 Dec 1997 14:29:30 -0800 From: Patty Savinski To: davidc@iei.net Amanda: I just picked up some pine needles that are about 11" long. They are dried and brown, but if you would like to have them you are more than welcome to them. Send me your snail mail address. I have real nice palm inflorences that's probably 2 feet plus. Your welcome to some of that too if you'd like to experiment with it. It's real pretty dyed also. Was pleased to hear everyone is having such good luck with Restoration Products. I was buying from them several years ago and realized I was throwing away about half the reed because it was to too "ratty" to use. I always make a point to stop by their booth at the Michigan Convention to check out their space dyed reed. They always have such unusual colors. I noticed this year they didn't have the great burgundy shopping bags. What a shame, everyone loved to buy from them just for those bags! They were such a great size to store reed in. I assume they became too expensive since they were of such high quality. Please forgive my ignorance, but I have been reading the discussions of basket magazines, and except for Just Patterns, I'm not familiar with any of these. Can someone simplify this and tell me which ones are still around and worth subscribing to and how to go about doing that? Thanks in advance. Also I have found the new guild just north of me in Encinitas and am also in the process of contacting the LA Guild. Thanks for the responses I got from everyone! Hopefully, I am on my way to local basketry. So long from sunny, warm San Diego Patty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: yellow cedar Date: Sat, 13 Dec 1997 17:02:26 -0700 From: Sharle Osborne To: David Collins I have ordered yellow cedar bark from two different women in Alaska. In both cases I wrote a letter and mailed a check for an amount, $30 and $50 and asked them to mail me the bark. I figure they will take around five bucks for the shipping. The bark is beautiful, very clean and only the inside layer. Holly's is 3 bucks and ounce and Eileen's I believe is $2.25. Holly Burns, 1042 Woodland Ave, Ketchikan Alaska 99901. Eileen Scheldt PO Box 19210, Thorn Bay, Alaska 99919. If you haven't used yellow cedar before, it is usually cut very very thin for twining between strips of red cedar. It is very fragrant and feels like leather when soaked for use. From the Olympic Peninsula, where it is dark before 5 and feeling like winter. Sharle Osborne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 71 Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 19:20:48 EST From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Jayna L. Glemby - I really enjoyed your wicker/wicca story! I'm sharing it with my modern wiccan friends. I also found your little survey of what sells interesting. Third-world human rights abuses are a troubling problem. I am concerned about the sweatshop conditions, but also worry that the women who work in them may desperately need whatever income they can earn. What better alternatives do they have? How can we make a positive difference in their lives? Berta Huisman - Hope your daughter's medical tests came out ok and she is doing well. Is she a child or an adult? When I teach a particular basket in a class, the price is the same regardless of the age of the student. Teenagers (children over 12) pay adult rates for many things, unless the establishment offers a student discount. I had a discussion about this with my own brother during our holiday travels. I shared a motel room with Carl, his wife and their two teenage sons. He felt the boys were free because they were counted as children in parents' room at the desk. But they slept on a queensize bed while I had the lumpy rollaway! I could see giving the hostess a discount as hostess, but didn't think much of her child-ish rationale. Donna Kallner - Thanks for the discussion of catalog mailing from the seller's perspective. While appreciating the problems you pointed out for companies that mail catalogs, I still think much more favorably of a company that tries to be responsive to potential customers. There are many companies out there that charge a nominal fee for a catalog to cover costs of mailing it. That's fine with me. Some provide a coupon that allows the customer to recoup the catalog cost when they place an order. My business goes first to the company that will mail a requested catalog, even if it can't be included in a bulk mailing. Lois & Joanne - I was glad to see Joanne's post, for all the reasons Lois stated. I'd like people on this list to stop being so paranoid about every little thing that 'might upset someone'. Those who jump all over anyone who posts a message they don't like (whether publicly or privately) are acting rashly and perpetuating the very situation they profess to want to avoid. We are sensible folks, for the most part. Why can't we each 'tend our own weavings' and leave others to do likewise? Donna - again - Your discussion of blowing off steam and keeping communication going both ways is very well put and timely! I agree wholeheartedly. Serena Crossfield - I have never know or known of a cat who would physically destroy a basket. Maybe those customers are using their cats as scapegoats? How do they keep the cats from damaging their other possessions? I do know a woman who had an interesting experience with a most unusual cat. Her husband was a zoo director and she worked in the zoo nursery caring for many kind of baby animals. At one point, they had taken a genet kitten home to care for it. For some chronic health-related reason, it could not be reintegrated into the group at the zoo and became their house pet. It was well behaved for the most part, but as it became an adult they had problems with it spraying in the house to mark its territory. Jan was finally able to get it to stop by marking the house, except in the vicinity of the genet's sleeping and feeding area, with her favorite cologne. The genet accepted that and thereafter only marked its 'own' space. If your concerned customers they mean spraying when they say destroying, perhaps they could use a similar solution. Bert Comstock, Independence, MO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Happy Holidays Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 11:27:17 -0600 From: "Celeste Voyles" To: I want to thank you, David, for all your hard work and caring with the Weaver's Words. I met you at Mo-Val last fall and was sorry you didn't make it this fall. You were missed!! I was very impressed with your wood burning and had requested a few lids. If you ever find the time I would still like to have some! Merry Christmas to you and your family. This has been a very busy year! I have a few more baskets to make for gifts and then I am taking a break until after New Year's. I want to read a book, finish a quilted wall hanging, and knit a sweater vest. A fellow weaver and spinner has given me some beautiful yarn and I really want to knit with it! I wish you all happy, healthy holidays. Celeste Voyles Gladstone, MO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weavers Words Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 14:04:56 -0600 From: ANDREA & TOM OKEEFE Organization: SAVANNAH HOUSE To: davidc@iei.net, coltsfan@usa.net Greetings to David and Everyone! Hope you all are coping with the holidays and not reduced to babbling as I am. For Melissa, Ashland OR. I too have a problem with my stakes splintering when I upset. One way I have found that reduces the problem somewhat is after soaking I actually upset under water. It helps sometimes. Another trick is bending the wet stakes down along the sharp edge of a counter top. Just a couple of tricks I learned from my very excellent teacher, Linda Faulkner. Andrea Palm Island, FL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.