"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 94 Compiled By: David Collins Snail Mail: 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 Owned By: Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: February 20, 1998 Subscribers: 459 Back Issues: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Basket Biddin' Auction: http://members.tripod.com/~Basket_Biddin/ (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) ***IMPORTANT INFORMATION*** ***PLEASE READ BEFORE PRINTING*** 1.) Highlight entire issue. 2.) Click copy. 3.) Paste issue into a word processor of your choosing. 4.) Now Print. (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) <>------<> PICTURES SENT IN BY YOU <>------<> 1.) Ms. Brenda Johnson's Vacation Stop At Royalwood. http://www.iei.net/~davidc/basketshop.jpg 2.) Ms. Judy Mullins' Log Cabin Getaway. http://www.iei.net/~davidc/cabin1.jpg 3.) Ms. Joy Moody's Basket Sign. http://www.iei.net/~davidc/medusasignclose.gif 4.) Ms. Sharle Osborne's Cedar Covered Bottles. http://www.iei.net/~davidc/bottles.jpg 5.) Ms. Fran Steidel's Wax Linen Egg Baskets. http://www.iei.net/~davidc/waxlinenegg.jpg If anyone else has a picture, you can send it to me through email or snail mail. (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Hi Everyone, Ms. Judith Richmond Spates has added two baskets to the auction page. To see the descriptions go to: http://members.tripod.com/~Basket_Biddin/ If you have any questions about the baskets, email Ms. Spates at JSPATES@hope.gordonc.edu. If you have any questions about how to bid read the instructions on the auction page. Take Care, David davidc@iei.net (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 89 Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 19:11:19 EST From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 89 Marcell Burke - Welcome. In regard to your request about sharing basket patterns, have you folowed through when people asked you to email them privately? I believe someone has already mentioned places you can find patterns for sale and some of the magazines that include patterns. I understand there are some websites that sometimes have a free pattern. I would also suggest you get your library to get you some of the recently published basketry books on interlibrary loan. There are a number of excellent ones available. I find one every once in a while in a used book store, too. Many of the basketry suppliers sell patterns and books in addition to materials for making baskets. Marcia Balleweg - To keep a white basket white, I would apply a coat of clear wood sealer. I would not use anything with a shiny finish, though. Bert Comstock Gray & drizzly Independence, MO (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 90 Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 19:11:19 EST From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 90 Nancy Hedberg - Thanks for the Nantucket discussion and references. More books I need to buy! One of these days... Joy Moody - With regard to the use of ammonia in a basket stain, I wouldn't worry about the alkalinity damaging the basket materials. Botanical materials are often alkaline (basic) in their own right. I would think the odor could be easily eliminated by rinsing with a weak acid solution such as vinegar or lemon juice added to the rinse water. The acid may affect the color, but shouldn't make much difference in the brown tones you get from walnut. For an odor-controlling alkaline rinse, use baking or washing soda. I often play with the pH of my natural dyes by adding ammonia or vinegar. You can get some wonderful color shifts, especially in the reds and purples. I can't recall ever having a problem with residual odor from ammonia. Historically, urine was often used in dye vats, particularly in the fermentation/putrefaction of woad and indigo. Winnie - I enjoyed your story of your daughter giving away some of your baskets and then learning how to weave her own. It seems to have been an excellent solution. Kathleen M. Calvert - Did you get your 'L'-basket order down to a more realistic size ok? I've never been to one of those parties, but have seen the catalog. I have several friends who were really into collecting them. Good luck with your teaching/potential guild group! Let us know how it goes. Billie in Va. Beach - Thanks for your Nantucket discussion, too. I think I can recognize them when I see them now. Not very likely in this part of the country, but not impossible either. Someone at the MO convention last summer had recently found one at an antique mall not too far from here. Judy Mullins - Hope you made it through the snowstorm ok. Are you using your tree barks as dyes or weaving baskets from them? I have no experience with basket parties, but if I were to go to one, I thing cash and carry would be great. I have heard of people using many kind of things as molds for baskets. One I think might be interesting is a plastic bowl. It would certainly be cheaper than even renting a wooden mold, let alone buying one. Joy Moody - My Nantucket query was prompted by a rash of people talking about them (not just here), some of whom seemed to be using a much broader definition than what has been described here. I am reassured by the excellent discussions in response to my question, including yours. The Chinese Cookie Cooler basket is one of Barbara Morton's designs. It is based on a basket she saw on a trip to China. Her story of the history of the basket has to do with one of the Emperor's concubines getting his attention by sashaying past him carrying one of these baskets full of cookies fresh from the oven. The basket is a round flat-bottomed basket with shallow vertical sides and a D handle that comes up in the middle of the basket, rather than going all the way to the sides. Bert Comstock Independence, MO (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Tea Stain Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 19:42:31 -0700 From: L Prevost To: davidc@iei.net Hi David and Fellow Weavers, I hope everyone is well and enjoying a great weaving project. To Diana Selvey: Welcome to WW! In response to your question regarding tea stain and handles, I can only comment on the coffee and tea stain that I use. I have never had a problem and always stain my handles with the coffee and tea stain. Maybe the baking soda in the other recipe causes a reaction that gives the handle it's green color. Before you stain your handle, perhaps you could test a tiny portion at the bottom of the handle to see what happens. I hope this helps. : ) Caroline Prevost in rainy Redmond, WA (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 09:17:41 -0600 From: The Ray Ohana To: davidc@iei.net Hi, y'all - I haven't been weaving in quite some time; my basket buddy keeps nagging at me to get my stuff back out so we can weave again. Her husband is deploying and she will need some "basket therapy" when he finally takes off. Here's my question. I am really interested in making some Easter baskets for my niece and nephew; there is a pattern at basketpatterns.com of a really sweet bunny rabbit basket complete with whiskers, ears, and tail that I would love to weave. I am hesitating though because I don't know how they got that basket so WHITE! Can reed be died white and if so, how?!!! Maybe that basket was spray painted? Help! Looks like we are headed for some trouble in the big sandbox. God bless all of you with loved ones headed for the Gulf. Carey Ray Bossier City, LA (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 91 Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 13:30:09 EST From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 91 Linda Kotarba - I'm going to be doing at least one large rectangular basket soon. I'm going to try stabilizing it by using double layers of wide flat reed and will probably put some yardsticks or paint stirring sticks between the layers in part of the base. When I get it done, I'll let everyone know how it works. It might be easier to make the whole basket from willow. Then it wouldn't have to have extra braces. But I already have the reed and an idea of how it should look when finished. Alice Edwards - Purple-heart is an exotic wood. I believe it is native to South America. The wood is a wonderfully rich purple color. A hemostat is a surgical clamp used for closing off blood vessels. It has handles like a pair of scissors and can grasp small items and be locked in place. Sometimes they can be found in a cheap imitation form at tool and salvage stores. My best one is from the days when my ex-husband was in medical school. I stained my cookie cooler basket with a combination coffee/tea stain. I did a big pot & dipped several other baskets while I was at it & then dyed some reed. I need to dye more reed and maybe some wool roving before I throw out the dyebath. You didn't quite say it, but I think in your discussion of the order of back issues of WW on the website you were hinting at the standard military file system in which the most recent items are at the top of the list. After nearly 23 years of working for the Army Corps of Engineers, I file a lot of my personal things that way. I think it's call reverse chronological order. Nancy in Glen Arm, Md. - It seems that many of the state guilds have a membership cutoff date for mailing their convention materials to members. The long lead time gives established members first crack at getting into their preferred classes. However, last year I was able to pay my guild dues at the convention here in Missouri and sign up for classes that were not already full. There were enough of them available that I got all the weaving my arms could stand. It might be worth your while to contact somebody from the guild you are wondering about. Debra Davis Lymburner - Glad to hear your husband is feeling better. Good luck with your move. (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 17:54:26 -0500 From: Nancy Hedberg To: davidc@iei.net Joy, you weren't obnoxious, maybe after the flurry of negativity we went through last fall, I'm just overly sensitive and don't want to mislead anyone. My father cuts what he calls blanks for my bottoms. He cuts squares the right thickness and a little bigger than the diameter and then I turn them on the lathe. This way I can get a pleasing profile and not just a bottom that's flat on both sides. The picnic basket is SLOW going. It's so big that I weave and weave and don't seem to get anywhere. My dad made one on the same mold and used South American Locust (looks a lot like mahogany but more orange) for base, handle, and rim. His is lovely, so mine should turn out nicely too. I've found that I can come home from a hard day teaching (a friend of mine calls it "stamping out ignorance" but some days all I do is kick it around a bit) and go to my workshop for an hour and I'm restored. My family has learned that it improves my disposition and doesn't bug me about it. Weaving is a relaxing way to relieve stress. Mindy: I think I'll let you have the high-schoolers and I'll keep the Valentine parties. Third grade is about as high as I want to go. I have the same feeling about purses that you do. I love them, but getting the lid to fit just right is the hardest part. I worked on a small 4" purse on a John McGuire plastic mold for a good while and finally it worked. It was frustrating. A friend and basket student of mine made it and brought it to me to help with. I finally had to take it apart and start all over...twice! I don't think she's ever gotten it attached to the bottom yet. Happy weaving all, Nancy in soggy, soggy, East TN (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: New Dye Experiment Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 20:25:01 -0500 From: "Judy Mullins" To: David, Thanks very much for putting my log cabin picture on WW. I have received several responses from this. I am writing to let the readers know about my dye experiment. Besides basketry, I'm into wild herbs. I had dug the herb, Yellow Dock Root, to be used for teas. The tea was a dark yellow, so I decided to use it as dye for a small egg basket. It turned out to be a beautiful subdued yellow color. This color will go nicely with the new country colors, I have been seeing in magazines.Yellow Dock is fairly common in most areas. So hopefully a lot of readers will be able to try this. Happy Weaving. Judy Mullins in North Central Kentucky where it's 42 and drizzling rain. (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.