"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 82 Compiled By: David Collins Snail Mail: 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 Owned By: Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: January 16, 1998 Subscribers: 390 Back Issues: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5998/ Basket Biddin' Auction: http://members.tripod.com/~Basket_Biddin/ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hi Everyone, ***IMPORTANT INFORMATION*** ***PLEASE READ BEFORE PRINTING*** 1.) Highlight entire issue. 2.) Click cut or copy. 3.) Paste issue into a word processor of your choosing. 4.) Now Print. ***AUCTION INFORMATION*** Mrs. Myra Stutler has put her Jeremiah Basket on the Basket Biddin' auction page. If you're interested go to the Basket Biddin' webpage and read how to place a bid. Her auction ends 01/23/98. GOOD LUCK! Anyone can put something up for auction. Basket Biddin' Auction: http://members.tripod.com/~Basket_Biddin/ ***INDY WEAVE 98 INFORMATION *** Raffle committee chairpersons, Norma Collins & Pat Steinmetz, for "Indy Weave 98" need raffle item donations for convention. "Indy Weave 98" will be held at the Adams Mark Motel in Indianapolis on March 26th through March 29th 1998. Donations can be anything basket related: jewelry, clothing, books, baskets, supplies, kits, etc. Anything that you yourself would be willing to buy a raffle ticket for. We need your donations by March 1st 1998 so we can be organized and prepared for a wonderful time. Thank you in advance. Send items to: "Indy Weave 98" c/o Norma Collins 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219-5334 317-899-5747317-899-5747 Take Care, David davidc@iei.net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: weaver's words note Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 18:57:05 -0600 From: phawkins1@juno.com (Patricia P. Hawkins) To: davidc@iei.net I just wanted to let everyone who reads Weavers' Words know that the Land of Lincoln Basketweavers is sponsoring their annual Tuck-a-Basket Winter Weave on February 28-March 1 in Ottawa, IL (on I-80 west of Chicago). There will be 6 classes each day, taught by Sandy Whalen, Cass Schorsch, Dianne Stanton, Gail Marlowe, Eileen LaPorte, and Patti Hawkins. Some classes are full, but there are still a few choice spots available! Vending spaces are also available, at a cost of only $8/table for both days. We welcome vendors who may be students taking classes as well as larger businesses. This popular annual event will be attended by about 80-90 enthusiastic basketmakers and is a relaxing as well as inspiring weekend. For more information, email me at phawkins1@juno.com. Hope to hear from some of you! Patti Hawkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: UK basketry plces. Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 16:59:57 +0000 (GMT) From: Chris Jordan To: David Collins Kathryn, I suspect that you'll find odds and ends all over the UK, but the main Willow growing area (almost the only commercial area left) is Somerset. in the SW. of England. About 10 miles East of Taunton (look for Stoke St. Gregory) is the Willows and Wetlands Visitors centre which has a museum and basketry workshops. You should also find a lot of Osier beds (and willow sculptures in the fields) while driving around the area getting hopelessly lost!. Or maybe not - I believe the place is now signposted from the nearest main roads (A361 or A 378). All the best Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: NORTHEAST ICE STORM! Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 08:16:55 +0000 From: webfoot1@together.net To: "davidc@iei.net" David I just saw Mary Lynn's comment on WW and thought I'd reply. I am about 1 1/2 hours south of Canada (in Vermont). We were very fortunate here. There was a little ice, but our temperature stayed around 33 -34 degrees. On Friday, my sister-in-law called to check on us. She lives 40 miles north of us. They are still without power! We took up a kerosene heater, propane heater, all the water we could, and food. When we headed north, the ice storm had been devastating only 5 mi. north! Some wires had 2" of ice on them, trees were snapped like matchsticks! We finally got to my sister-in-laws house and as we unloaded the car, a huge branch snapped and fell about 15' away! The Vt.- N.Y. border and the US-Canada borders were closed. There were curfews in lots of towns due to fear of falling trees. There are still towns closed to the outside. Managed to get to Burlington on Monday and went to Home Depot only to see about 400 Canadians looking for generators. They were told that everything was sold out and the next delivery was 6am on Tuesday. One of my neighbor's sons works for a power company in Connecticut and he said they have 250 crews in Canada and 70 in NH! He said the ice is up to ONE FOOT THICK in places in Canada. It's going to be a long winter for those people. Maine got hit hard also. Joy Moody may have seen the ice also. People are really working together to get over this obstacle! Jack Rothmann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Greetings from the ice palace! Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 11:15:42 -0500 From: "Susan H. MacIntire" To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone, Thank you for your concern regarding our recent weather in the northeast. The ice storm was the most amazing I've ever seen in my 55 years. Looking out from inside it was beautiful. I have some hopefully spectacular pictures still in my camera (all taken through the window). We were without power for the better part of five days. There was the sound of gunshot as the ice laden branches of the old sugar maples around the house became too heavy and snapped off. We, fortunately live in a 183 year old federal style house. There are shallow Rumford type fireplaces throughout that really heat the old place. I suppose for the first 50 years or so before parlor stoves came into vogue, that's all they used. The kitchen fireplace has a beehive oven and built in crane for hanging pots, etc. Cooking was a breeze. I use that frequently in winter anyway. The lack of lights and loss of my computer and shower were the things I missed the most. I did break my nose Thursday night running for the "fire phone" in the other room. When the emergency phone rings (I dispatch fire & rescue) my instinct is to run. It was pitch black (about 6:00 p.m.) and I totally missed the doorway and hit the wall. Now I am sporting two black eyes and a burgundy colored nose. Yesterday was the first day that the swelling was down enough to put my glasses back on. For the most part, sat in front of the fire and wove baskets. I made a big basket with wooden runners on the bottom to gather up the kindling outside when we get around to cleaning up the yard. I also made a couple of elbow baskets out of black ash and an apple basket - a 14" diameter round basket with a kicked up bottom and a carved out, pegged swing handle. It really was peaceful. We fortunately did get the power back on last night. There are still many around with no power. Storm related tragedies were several people who were out on the roads during the storm and had trees crash down on their automobiles killing them. I also heard of four people in three different incidences who were running gasoline powered generators inside their homes and died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Kudos to the Red Cross who helped out in my town and many others. The National Guard has also been here cutting fallen trees and power and telephone poles out of the roadways so that power company trucks & emergency vehicles can get through. Today it bright and sunny but zero degrees Fahrenheit. The radio said that the wind-chill was -40 degrees last night. Keeping warm and weaving in Vermont, Sue MacIntire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Enjoy Basket Weaving News Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 21:30:52 -0500 From: "Judy Mullins" To: David , I enjoy reading about other basket makers very much. I have been making baskets since I was 13, which was many years ago. Since 1984 I've been an instructor at various shops, schools, clubs, churches, community college, and now, I have a place of my own to give classes. My place is used as a log cabin country getaway, and learning center. It would be great if you would share my website with your readers. Thanks so much. Judy Mullins cabin@comtechusa.net http://members.tripod.com/~cabin2/index.html @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: classes Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 22:30:03 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net aloha from chilly Honolulu, (well, mid 50*s IS chilly to us!) I was ready with some advice on class length and sizes of baskets and so on, but I had a bad class tonight--I had the weaver who would take out what I*d demonstrated on her basket as it didn*t "look right"--I had the weaver who, after I explained it ten times, said "Oh, you didn*t explain it in a way I would understand it the first time"--I had the weaver who, as soon as she learned something, would run around and show others--and I would have to go behind her and correct it....I felt like I was being tested at class tonight--at least tomorrow is a day I can stay home and do nothing but weave and read! Thanks muchly for the info on waxed linen. I think I will have to start with a kit for my first attempt and put the lovely little bags aside for now. ..and thanks, Bert, for offering me the opportunity to test your lovely pouches, but I*m afraid I*ll have to pass--this waxed linen is currently my intimidator!.....and hope your birthday was a happy one! If that letter from the 9 year old was actually written by a nine year old, then I*ll eat my L.L. Bean socks. I find it close to impossible to believe that a 9 year old could read and comprehend the WW (or even want to)--with talk about willow, waxed linen, twill, etc. This site should be for adults who weave, who teach, who love baskets. I kind of compare the computer to my beloved TV. Just because it*s there doesn*t mean children should have access to everything that is on. So I*m kind of curious how a 9 year old found this site and what*s she*s getting out of it. Yes, I started weaving those little loopy potholders when I was 9 (MANY years ago), but that didn*t qualify me to go to an adult*s crocheting class. So call me Madam Skeptic (did I spell that right?), but I*m not a believer and if an adult wrote the letter or put the child up to writing that letter, shame, shame, shame. And one more thing, religion is a personal thing--I have mine/you have yours...so let*s keep it off the WW. Now that I*ve climbed off the soap box--hope everyone is fine and your weaving is making you happy...come on over to the DW page and let*s chat..we have such a fine time and no one is ever offended.. aloha, nui loa, Lois Honolulu PS....and to be honest, I would have never even looked for that site if Peggy R. hadn*t brought it up to begin with. Whether she wanted to or not, she gave that site a lot of publicity! @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 81 Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 17:11:30 -0500 From: "mkoch" To: "David Collins" David, I personally appreciate all your efforts and hard work. I took no offense to the link and enjoyed it. I feel it is the obligation of the parent to screen what their child views. I am sure you assumed that all subscribers were adults as I am sure it was a parent that subscribed to weavers words and their 9 year old is viewing. Therefore, it is the obligation of that parent to censor her/his participation. I could be wrong, but I don't know too many 9 year olds that really like to hang out with a group of adults. Thanks again! @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 81 Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 22:43:48 EST From: UH60Ace Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) To: davidc@iei.net Hi all. This post is for both David and Emily May. I agree with all of you who have stated the link should stay. You can only get there by choosing to click on the link. I have a daughter who is 8 years old so I am around A LOT of kids of this age. Maybe Emily actually wrote the post she sent herself, but it sounded more like something that came from an adult who was trying to sound like a child. Anyway, my daughter rarely gets online (to look up something for homework) and I am there to monitor and guide her when she does. Thanks David for all you have done for each of us!! Melissa in Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 81 Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 23:46:05 EST From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 WW Readers - I'm really enjoying hearing from so many of you who usually just read and lurk quietly in the background. The vast diversity of the people here is one of the things that makes it such a great list. Nearly everyone has some unique basket-related experience or suggestion that we'd all like to read about. So keep those stories and comments coming! Weave well & have fun! Laurie from Sunny Easton, PA - Have you timed yourself weaving each basket you teach? I figure it will take a class of beginners at least twice as long as it takes me to weave a particular basket. If there are new concepts and techniques being introduced, I allow some extra time for that. You, being more experienced, would probably be at the faster end of the time scale. Do you have notes on which baskets were faster for your classes and which were slower? I think if you have taught a particular basket to two or more different groups, you would have some clues about whether it is a fast basket or a slow basket, although there's no way to predict when its' the class that's faster or slower than usual. Darleena Jones - I like the sound of your coffee table basket. It's a pretty ambitious project. It's nice to know it has a storage function besides. It'll be interesting to hear how people react when they see it in use. Back to my linen twining now. The ideas are popping up faster than I can execute them. I may have to stop and make notes & sketches! Bert Comstock Independence, Mo, where it's spitting drizzle and the temperature is dropping to the low 20s tonight. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Basket Stuff Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 07:46:42 -0500 From: "Ann H. Ridgeway" Organization: AnnCrafted To: davidc@iei.net Dear David and Fellow Weavers, You may note that I'm not politically correct either. I have been called a general in the Femi-nazi corps by my husband, and that may be true, but only when it counts or makes a difference. There is a lot of offensive material in this world, and I'm sure that even people of NO and other religions can be offended, not just Christians. But we can monitor for ourselves what we choose to read, see and listen to. Personally I find many of the sit-coms on TV offensive, including Sienfeld, and don't watch them. Yet, I'm a big fan of "Are You Being Served," and they don't even bother with innuendo. So it's not a rational thing. Anyway, the bottom line is, I VOTE TO KEEP THE LINK but I haven't checked it out. To change the subject... We've had lots of discussion on reed storage, and here's one solution that seems to be working so far--stackable storage bins, one for almost each size and style of reed. It takes some wall space, but they are stacked 8 high. You could go higher if you're taller. The bottoms of these are solid, the sides have slotted openings. Solid all around would probably be better if available. Some bundles of the bigger reed sizes still have to be tied up to stay in, but at least everything has a place. Sticky labels indicate size. A word of caution, though. I used one of the higher ones for some heavier objects--sea shells, beads, etc, and it crashed over. So don't let them get top-heavy. There is a site with information on wheat weaving (corn dollies) for those interested: Wheatwhiz@aol.com Hope my friends are keeping warm in New England. We had such warm weather last week the top almost went down on my car. Looking forward to seeing Billie and the rest of the HCBG gang this weekend at our first, hopefully annual, basket retreat in Norfolk. The wine and healthful snack foods are ready to go! Ann Alexandria, VA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 15:36:08 -0500 From: "Joy Moody" To: Greetings from the Maine where we have survived the Ice Storm of '98! We lost power, heat & then water, but were lucky to get everything back on Day #4. Many other people, including those in other parts of our town, are STILL without power & have been for over a week. Some areas will not be up for several weeks. Trees, poles, powerlines & branches are down like a cyclone went through here. Every twig, branch & blade of grass had a one inch covering. When the sun finally came out, it was a sparkling wonderland amidst the ruin! Thanks to those who sent well wishes. It was good to learn that you had been sending us good thoughts. Dan & I have been hard at work adding more & more to www.signofthecrow.com You can now find baskets in numerous places (along with other neat people, places & things I hope will entertain, interest, or amuse you) in the site: the 2 studios, the Gallery, the Humor Corner, Explore Maine & Beyond, and the all new "Culture Connection". As always, your feedback is appreciated. Believe it or not, even more is coming! History buffs may enjoy the historic village sections. There are many baskets scattered here & there. Well, did anyone else give a try at the juried Early American Homes Traditional Crafts Directory for 1998? I had a professional photographer (certainly not me!) take the slides & he did a wonderful job. Last year's (August) issue contained the Directory & they had some great entries. My favorite was the Nantucket cradle on a wooden stand.......outstanding! Pat Moritz: I've been intending to address your Nantucket rims question. I took a weekend class with John McGuire last fall. The rims are scarfed on a shavehorse (he has a patented, tabletop one he sells) and held in place in the inside & outside of the staves with clamps (no, it is not one rim with a groove!). We used cyanoacrylate glue & accelerator at the joins. The pin holes are pre-drilled with a Dremel Mini Mite & hammered in place using a mini anvil (which John also sells). The pounded ends spread to hold the pins in place. Hope this helps. You might want to call John directly at (315) 781-1251 or write him at 398 South Main St., Geneva, NY 14456. Last I knew his website was still being developed & not yet available, but a catalog is Guess I've been longwinded enough. For those of you who are curious, we'll be adding pictures of the Ice Storm of '98 to the website soon. Joy Sign of the Crow Hampden, ME P.S. Kathi Calvert's KMC Baskets & Folkart is off to a running start. If you'd like a face to match with the voice & good service you can see her at www.signofthecrow.com/KMCBaskets.html You'll also see one of my Classic Floor baskets, Judy Richmond's pattern (Moody humor). @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Willow, Driftwood, Drifting Thoughts Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 17:08:59 EST From: DKallner Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) To: davidc@iei.net Thanks to all who kept Weavers Words going during the busy holiday season. Like many of you, I've been sidetracked by other things lately but am now anxious to get back to weaving. Kathryn Gomm -- Congratulations on your upcoming trip to England. If you haven't already contacted Joanna Schanz at the Amana Colonies for ideas on places to visit during your stay, I'm sure she would have lots of good suggestions. Did you get to see her photo albums last year during Willow Weekend? Also, a while back (may even have been on Shirley Reed's Basket List) there was a willow weaver from Scotland who posted occasionally. If she's still out there, I hope she will post again with her suggestions. Bert Comstock -- You are just so full of surprises! I loved your suggestion (at least I think it was yours) about boiling with Biz detergent for its enzyme action for cleaning bits of stuff off deer antlers -- or at least spitting in the pot like they did in the old days. And now you've topped that with the plastic-jar-in-the-washing-machine rock tumbler idea. I love a good common-sense solution. Wish I had thought of it. Joanne Jackson -- In addition to Bert's suggestions, I'll pass on another about collecting lovely driftwood pieces. A friend of mine gathered the most beautiful collection of small driftwood pieces I've ever seen -- perfect for basket embellishments and jewelry. She found them in a strong recirculating eddy near the bottom of a rapid on a whitewater river near where we live. They were beautifully polished by the sand mixed with the circulating current. Sharle Osborne -- I purchased some willow cuttings last year from Willow Glen Nursery in Decorah, Iowa -- very nice plant materials, which cost $1 per cutting. When I harvest late this winter, I'll save cuttings to plant to expand my patch. Most of my cultivated willow is from cuttings given to me by friends, and from which I take cuttings to increase my patch. It takes longer to get things going this way, but that's what I can afford. Because I've benefited from the generosity of other weavers in the past, I've promised cuttings to other weavers who are starting their own willow beds. When I look at my own beds I think of Jo, Alan, Tina, Walter, Donna S., and others whose gifts to me have created such a wonderful palette of colors to weave with. I would think there might be other weavers in your local guilds who might have plant materials to exchange. That might be one of the best options for you to explore, because I think Washington is one of those states that is very strict (probably with good reason) about live plant materials being shipped in from out of state. I started planting my own willow beds so I would have access to cultivated varieties for weaving. I've had better luck with weaving dried and resoaked willow when it came from cultivated varieties than with the wild willow that grows so abundantly in my area and which I generally work fresh or fresh- frozen. I really love to work with the wild willow -- such colors! -- but after this winter I'm especially glad to be developing my cultivated patches. Two of my best wild willow beds are practically worthless this year. Last summer, one bed was cut and one was sprayed in late July or early August. This does not make for a good crop of willow for weaving. Of course, those are on railroad and highway right-of-ways, so I can't control what happens to "my" willow -- unless I grow it on my own property. For any of you who have an interest in willow, I recommend the book "Weavers of Tradition and Beauty: Basketmakers of the Great Basin" by Mary Lee Fulkerson. It's available from The Caning Shop (800/544-3373). I've only woven willow in rib-style and stake-and-strand forms, but this book opened my eyes to a whole different style of willow weaving. Onward to new stuff. Is there any out there who can offer information or suggestions willow fishing creels? I'll be working with Joanna Schanz on a creel at Willow Weekend at Amana in February, but I think we'll be working with whole rods and I'm also interested in the split willow creel technique. I saw a beautiful skeined willow creel in the Sharing (rather than juried) section of the Exhibit Room at the Association of Michigan Basketmakers Convention in October -- I wonder if I'll live long enough to learn to make something so beautiful! I would be interested in anything you can offer -- family memories about granddad's (or grandma's) willow creel, tips of making them, books with great pictures or stories, museums, etc. Thanks, everyone! Donna Kallner White Lake, Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 21:12:44 -0800 From: "Ames, Kay H" To: "'davidc@iei.net'" I figure I'd better respond quickly, or there will be another issue in my e-mail and I will be behind again. Laurie in Easton - I also structure most of my classes in increments of 3 hours. That is a good evening duration, and a six hour class can stretch for two weeks, or fill a weekend day. If I have a five hour class and I break it into two evening sessions, I usually schedule it as 2 x 3-hrs, because two set-ups, stragglers, reminders, etc. usually eat into the time. How do you know if the class will get done? Sometimes it is a bewilderment: Three students can drag a three hour basket into four hours and still not get done, while with 7 or 8 or more in class everyone will finish early. Maybe with fewer students I am more relaxed and don't hold them to task enough. Certainly I have noticed that a group of friends taking a class together can "waste" their time visiting instead of weaving. As a general rule of thumb, a beginner class may take up to twice as long to make the basket as I would. Depends on how much lecturing I do, of course. And how much prep I do for them. If I think a class might be a tight time squeeze, I might cut all the spokes first for instance. Or if I see they are running late, I might try to do some prep work for next steps coming up, if possible. If just one student is behind, I volunteer to "weave one (or a couple of) row for you, I really want you to be able to finish." But be tactful and sensitive to their wishes. Sometimes they are visibly grateful, other times offended. I almost always say at some point in class, "There are no prizes for finishing first." Also, I try to gauge what some milestones might be, so I can tell them up front, "By 8 p.m. we should have 3 inches woven and be starting our 3-rod wale." And then when we are approaching that time, another reminder. Or sometimes I mention that homework might be required if they don't get so far, in order to finish the basket by the end of next session. And lastly, when I am really unsure, I corral a couple of friends and ask them to take a freebie class as guinea pigs, and see how long it takes them. But don't let them get to gabbing or your parametrics are ruined! With advanced basketry, the pace seems to vary more with the student. Some are very quick. Some are very meticulous. Most seem to be satisfied with finishing or not finishing, according to their usual style. You can't rush a perfectionist. Hope this helps. Darleena - what is your basket coffee table made from? You may have already said, but I missed it. And where is Everson in Washington? Maybe I can suggest some shopping locations. I meant to say earlier that if you are in town (Seattle area) around the second Wednesday of June, you should plan to attend our guild meeting as a guest. I don't know what the program will be, but at least you will get to meet a goodly chunk of Washington weavers. Let me know if you want more information. That goes for any of you visiting the Seattle area, and I am sure CBBG in Portland would extend the same invitation. Guests are always welcome at most of our meetings. Sandi Howard - Flo Hoppe's second book shows a pattern for one small waxed linen cylindrical basket. I don't know the name off-hand, but most suppliers would carry it. I highly recommend her books for technique. They are very well written, with good illustrations. And they are set up in such a way that you can pick and choose to design your own baskets. "I want to try this base, and with 33 spokes I can make this side pattern and gee, I have this much spoke left at the top, let's see what kind of rim Flo says you can make with 14" and 2" between each spoke." She also discusses color designs very clearly. And there are patterns so that you can exactly replicate the baskets illustrated. A must for any round reed (RR) weaver, in my opinion. (But then, can you ever have enough basketry books?) Back to waxed linen baskets though: I can think of two easy ways to start a waxed linen necklace (or small) basket. The advantage of starting at the rim ala Kathy Halter, is that you don't have to execute a tidy rim with such small flexible strands, but it is a bit of a tricky beginning. The following two methods are easy starts, but you're on your own devising a rim! 1) Basket with central tassel of fringe: Cut desired number of spokes the length of fringe plus basket height plus rim requirement plus extra. At the top of the tassell TIGHTLY bind all the spokes together with a long weaver folded in half and knot. Divide out the spokes and twine round them in groups, gradually splitting out. eg. Twine over groups of 6 spokes for several rows til room, then split to groups of 3 spokes for several rows then split to singles, (or 4,2,1) at which point you will be roughly at the diameter of your basket and it will start to go up. 2) Basket with no fringe: Cut 1/2 the number of desired spokes, each twice the height of the basket plus rim execution, plus plenty extra. Bind them together in the center, much as described above and twine around all of them, in groups, dividing out the spokes as above. I hope that is clear. It is a good take along project. Kathryn in Milwaukee - One of the members of our guild spent some time in England learning willow basketry, and can make suggestions. I just called her to ask if it is okay to give her address - got the dreaded v-mail. I will get back to you shortly as soon as I hear from her. David - Basketry is so visual - a picture would often be helpful. Is there any way we can attach files with graphics, sketches, diagrams, photos even, to our notes, or have another location to store them and refer to their location? Billie - I saw the TP basket in Lillian Vernon catalog. I also saw it in person at Pier One import stores. Its shape is held by a wire skeleton. It was definitely RR and appeared to be varnished. Not even remotely Nantucket, but strongly made and serviceable for its purpose. Bert - thanks for the driftwood suggestions, I never thought of tumbling them. And thanks for the rain barrel ideas. I might give them a try. It froze earlier this week. Would minnows or guppies withstand that? Your description of 2 color patterning is very good. That is exactly the technique I use for wrapped twining, as the Makah and Nootka. I use bear grass or yellow cedar or sweet grass (actually a sedge) or even raffia over red cedar spokes. To extend the precious materials I often use raffia for the back weaver in large areas of one color. I refer to the back weaver as the pull cord because you keep it taut, or even give it a tug to get the stitch to seat properly. With the flat bear grass or yellow cedar the stitches have a definite slant to them, causing the spokes to lean significantly to the left, making it tricky to chart designs. With the softer fibers, and a loose hand, one can wrapped-twine with little slant. All the above have the advantage of "puffing" up just enough to hide the pull cord, at least more satisfactorily that waxed linen does for me. Sharle - I met and chatted with Kathryn Lewis, your willow growing friend, last night at guild meeting. She is indeed nearly a neighbor. I also had a lovely coincidence occur. It was my turn to take the raffle item. (I won a marvelous pine needle basket last meeting, woven by Barbara Gramm, whose work I have long admired.) I took a waxed linen necklace pouch which was won by a new member attending with two other people. I was wearing a tiny coiled necklace, exquisitely done, that I purchased in Toppenish near the Yakama Tribal center. They recognized the work as that of their cousin Angel Zack, so now I know who made my necklace! and met some new weavers. Ain't basketweaving grand? Joyce - Never enough tools & gadgets, so thanks for your fishing lure rollup tool carrier idea. I will be keeping my eyes open. Cold over the weekend and snowed on Monday - 5 inches at my house. But rained the next day, so back to mud in the pasture. The pond is still partly frozen with a layer of wet on top. Funny to watch the wild ducks coming in for a surprise landing. Keep warm all. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.