"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 95 Compiled By: David Collins Snail Mail: 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 Owned By: Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: February 24, 1998 Subscribers: 469 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. 94 Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 11:42:41 -0500 From: Winnie Organization: @Home Network Member To: David Collins References: 1 Hi Everyone, We are having a beautiful weekend here in the northeast and I can't wait to get outside but I wanted to respond to Carey Ray's question about white baskets and ask a question of my own. I've used a pickling stain, Cottage White, to get a white color on my baskets. I get it from The Country Seat where I purchase all my supoplies. You can find them at . The stain is water based and comes in a plastic squeeze bottle and is very easy to use and clean up. As with all new products, to familiarize yourself with it's properties, I'd recommend experimenting on some spare reed before putting it on a treasured basket. I have been looking for a 12" x 1/2"-5/8" Rattan Hoop to use in Pamela Herrington's Welsh Potato Basket. If anyone knows where I can get one, please let me know through WW or email me. Thank you, Winnie (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 94 Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 20:22:53, -0500 From: CRAJ51A@prodigy.com (MRS MYRA J STUTLER) To: davidc@iei.net To Marcell: In case you missed this site here is the address again. It is a wonderful place where you can order basket patterns plus some of the accessories that go with them. http://www.basketpatterns. com To Carey: Way back when someone asked this question in an article I read and they were told that white dye simply does not show up on reed good enough. I would use white spray paint. I made a basket with a painted band of blue and it looked great. Something to think about. To all those who have loved ones deployed to the Gulf -- pray long and hard that God will give our leaders the knowledge to bring about an end to the Iraq crisis and to watch over us all. My son was in the Persian Gulf War and was over in Qatar for the entire 7 months. He was a crew chief on the F-16 Fighting Falcon Fighter jet and that is where the jets were based as they could fly to Iraq and back without refueling. He returned safely but not the happy go lucky 20 year old he was when he left. Our troops need our support and an understanding, listening ear when the atrocities of war are exposes to them. They are so young and it is so hard to understand. To all - - Godspeed. Myra craj51a@prodigy.com (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Stabilizing basket base. Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 21:56:09 -0800 From: cpk3@juno.com (L. Kotarba) To: davidc@iei.net Hi Roberta & Weavers, You ought to have some stable base with double reed and yardsticks or paint stirring sticks between the layers! Never thought of such construction. You are quite the engineer. Thanks for thinking of me and responding to my dilemma of flimsy bases. I coffee/tea stained four baskets today and am enjoying a fume free house. What a pleasure! Thanks for the tip. Linda in Michigan where it is like spring without flowers. (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 92 Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 02:15:16 EST From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 92 Hello Everybody! I Hope your Valentine's Day was as happy as mine! I am going to be in Branson, MO, next weekend & would like to know if any of you know of any basket weavers or suppliers or basket shops in that area. I was there about this time last year, but hadn't discovered the guilds and didn't look for baskets then. I'll take a look at the MO Guild directory tomorrow to see if we have any members there. Bob is going to a Role Playing Gamers' convention, but my friend Laura and I are just going along for the ride and a relaxing weekend out of town. Nancy - Thanks for the update on how things are going with your family and with your magnificent picnic basket project. It's awesome. My thoughts are with you often. Diana French - Nice to have you speaking up. Sounds as if you got off to a fine start with Darleena & are again in good hands for learning more about baskets in your new location. Jane A. Wilson - Where do you live? Do you have access to a decent art or historical museum? Those are good places to start looking for historic baskets. Other than that, try looking through some art history books at the library, concentrating on the artists of the time and place you are interested in learning about. You can tell a lot about baskets from looking at how they are used in illustrations of the subject era. Some general basketry books have good sections on basket history, but it's difficult to find specifics. See if your local historical society has any information about local basketry traditions. Sometimes economic histories are helpful too. When do you do the presentation? How much time do you have to prepare for it? Linda in Michigan - You can contact Barbara Morton at 816-224- 4292 or write her at 1600 N.E. Willowbrook Dr., Blue Springs, MO 64015 to buy her Chinese Cookie Cooler or Medicine Dipper patterns. I'm sure she has others as well, but am not familiar with the names. Donna Weber - Glad your move went well. Congratulations on the birth of Jacob! Hope you got your Valentine's wish. Joy Moody - Oh, Yes! Durer and Holbein are excellent sources. Their paintings and drawings are wonderfully detailed. I also find good historic baskets illustrated in replicas of illuminated manuscripts such as the Tacuinam Sanitatum (Medieval Health Handbook), various Books of Hours and the histories of various schools of manuscript illumination published by George Braziller. Baskets are sometimes included in historic tapestries and patterned textiles, too. Bert Comstock Independence, MO (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: 1st response Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 08:32:21 -0500 From: "Nancy Labrecque" To: I have just subscribed and would like to know when the Indiana convention is in March. I would also like to know if any one out there knows the manufacture of shaker tape. I would like to purchase from them. I enjoyed my first issue. (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 14:13:23 -0500 From: "Joy Moody" To: Hello Happy Weavers Everywhere! Thanks for the additional info. on ammonia. I'm sure there are remedies for reodorizing to the human nose.....not sure that it will work for animal noses though........at any rate, I think I will stick to Deft and Weaver's Stain, both of which give a beautiful finish. Being an Art Therapist by training, I have spent a lot of my studio time pondering not only the process of making baskets, but also what draws us to it, why we like it, what if does for us or says about us. So I'll throw out these questions for an informal survey, as I'm curious to hear your responses: 1)Do you consider basketry an ART or a CRAFT? 2)What distinguishes one from the other? 3)Can CRAFT turn into ART or ART turn into CRAFT? 4)How do you think the public views basketry in this country at this time? That's it for me for today. Anxiously awaiting your thoughts! Joy Moody Sign of the Crow www.signofthecrow.com (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 94 Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 00:02:26 EST From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 94 Carey Ray - I don't know how the white rabbit basket was done, but I'm wondering if white shoe polish would work. Or maybe a thin wash of white acrylic paint in a lot of water, to give sort of a reverse-antique effect. I'm not fond of baskets that have obviously been spray painted. I sort of feel as if it's a violation of the fine craftwomanship that went into the weaving. If you do decide to paint it, be sure to use a non-toxic paint. Judy Mullins - I like to play with herbs and natural dyes, too. I've use curly dock root ('Rumex crispus') for golden tan shades on white wool yarn. I think it's the same plant as your yellow dock. Must be a regional difference in the common names. Bert Comstock Independence, MO (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 1 I. 93 Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 00:02:26 EST From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 93 Fran Steidel - It's good to hear you're getting to sell some patterns. Nice to think my question was helpful that way. (You're very welcome.) Maybe we should mention people who have patterns for sale among us more often. I'm sure there are a number of WW readers who do, but I don't know who they are. I sort of figure that people who have shops and list their websites may be more likely to have patterns for sale than the rest of us. If I were looking to buy them, I'd start with recent WW issues and work back, checking references to websites and shops. But wait! Isn't David putting website links into the WW website? That'll be the easy way to find them! What can you tell us about dates and places for the Kentucky Bluegrass Area Basketweavers Seminar and South Carolina's Down Home Basket Gathering, Fran? Could you please post contact information? (If you don't mind & have the time.) Diana Selvey. I haven't used the tea and baking soda on anything oak. I wonder if it's a good green? I may have to try that - green being one of my favorite colors! I think I'd like to dye an entire oak basket with it. Will test first though. David - Thanks for adding links to more basket related websites & for starting the 'photo gallery.' Bert Comstock Independence, MO (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Catching up with WW Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 14:43:45 -0800 From: "Ames, Kay H" To: "'Weaver's Words'" Before I forget I must say, "Thank you so much" for the idea of the cardboard box spray booth. I recently had to spray paint some woven snowmen and there was no room in the house. Even though it was cold outside, I tried to do it in the shed, but got paint misted all over everything. I did a giant "A-ha!" when I read the appliance cardboard box idea - amazing how a simple idea hits the spot sometimes. David - the addition of the picture link is a real bonus - we are so lucky to have you to take care of those details for us. So far you have provided whatever we have asked for - thanks a lot for making it all happen! Joy Moody and readers - adding to the ammonia questions: I seem to remember a technique for coloring (or discoloring) pine needles, that involved creating an ammonia fume bath ( open container of ammonia, pine needles not touching, all housed inside an airtight garbage can ). I believe it might be called "weeping". I wonder how that works, chemically speaking? And what other materials might be similarly stained (?) By the way, I really liked the woven seagrass handles on your Cherokee picnic basket. To Judy Mullins - I read with envy your list of local tree barks that you can gather to weave with. I wondered if you might be interested in trading some hickory or box elder for cedar bark? Do you work with them fresh or do they have to cure for some time first? Your log cabin looks most picturesque and inviting. I wove my first "Nantucket" over a cardboard oatmeal container in a class. I believe the slotted base was 4.5" or 5" in diameter, so that gives you an idea of the proportions. If you weave very tightly you may have trouble getting it off! Other people used carefully chosen cylindrical plastic tubs or bowls of the desired size. Especially with the relatively inexpensive reed stakes and binder cane weavers, this can produce a satisfactory first effort. This note is for Darleena (I think) - You asked some time ago about places to shop in NW Washington as you begin your journey across the states. I never did find the little town you mentioned on the map, but have thought to suggest LaConner as a pleasant shopping destination. It features a lot of NW artists in the many specialty shops, restaurants, galleries and boutiques that line the main street paralleling the waterway. The annual Tulip Festival officially runs April 3 through 19, with many activities timed to coincide, not always including the peak of the flowering which is weather dependent. It is always a relaxing drive through the Skagit valley, but can be very crowded during the festival weekends. Bunnies by the Bay is a shop selling stuffed animals and tea-sets, remarkable for its charmingly whimsical fence made from brightly painted broken farm implements and whirligigs fashioned from tin plates and funnels and all manner of recycled memorabilia. There are guided boat tours to watch the wildlife. Or you if you are earlier you could drive up the Skagit and Sauk Rivers to view the many bald eagles that congregate in late winter to feed on the salmon. To Julie - I've never heard of using acorns for making stain - Will any variety work? How many for a "batch"? To Nancy in Glen Arm and to De'De' - I also saw the miniature egg basket on the Antique Roadshow and marveled at the stated value. The basket looked to be in the 3"-5" range in size, Joy, as I recall. Thanks for a great BYOB (Bring Your Own Basket) on Sunday, De'De' !!! To Mandy - for very small children you might try a basket woven over a Styrofoam cup. Push the round reed spokes all the way through the sides near the bottom. It doesn't really matter how many. Then add one spoke that only goes into the middle of the cup (to make an uneven number of spokes for single weaver simplicity.) The kids then fold the spokes up and weave in and out (O1, U1) all the way up. A simple scalloped rim is done by pushing each spoke down the throat of the next, or skip one all the way around for a loopier effect. Then tear away the Styrofoam cup. Space dyed round reed makes a delightful weaver. To Robin Griffin - Thanks for the Birthday greeting - how did you know?! I am a cedar bark weaver, although I rarely create patterns for my cedar baskets. I try to maximize each basket from the supplies I have on hand, never wasting a precious inch, therefore there are no directions like, "cut 12 strips at 16" long". One original basket I have taught is an openwork cedar wastebasket which is lashed together rather than "woven" and features a cedar bough to reinforce the rim. I believe Pacific Weave (1-800-87-WEAVE) carries at least one cedar bark pattern, for a Potlatch Pouch. I hope you are a member of the Northwest Basketweavers Guild - you will meet many other cedar bark weavers there. Someone asked for a source of Basketry Graphics. Pacific Weave (see above) is also an outlet for a Basketry Graphics copyright-free cut-and-paste booklet with original art by Margaret Davidson which I can recommend as most excellent. Margaret does very fine illustration work, was commissioned to recreate a recent ancient spruce root archaeological find via drawing and her understanding of basketry techniques. Her work has also been featured in the Smithsonian magazine. Her booklet is a must for anyone who publishes anything to do with basketry. She drew all the pictures for The Basketry School's excellent catalogs. Sharle - I really enjoyed the photos of your cedar covered bottles. I hope to meet you at retreat this year, can't wait for it to be March! I have been quite productive lately, hoarding time from other duties and working on some pieces for a Mar-May show sponsored by one of the artists' guilds I belong to. I will be sharing wall space with painters of various types, so I have been challenged to create wall pieces - outside my usual working comfort zone. Because of the deadline pressure and the unfamiliar constructs, I am being uncharacteristically adventurous. I am working fairly coarsely in gathered NW fibers on fairly small driftwood and rib-construction pieces so I can afford to try a variety of things in a number of pieces. I don't have to "invest so much" in each piece, as a friend recently so insightfully put it. It has actually been a pleasantly urgent process - perhaps I am evolving just the slightest bit...... We had four Canada geese spend the day on our pond yesterday, along with the wood ducks and the mallards. I know Spring is just around the corner because the pussy willows have already pussed and the flowering plum is just about to burst into bloom. All the wild and domestic fowl are mating and the geese talk about it all day long and have become very territorial themselves - I am surprised they allowed the Canada honkers to linger. Happy and productive weaving to one and all, from Kay in muddy Mt. Vernon. Kay (Harradine) Ames 747 Fuselage Responsibility Center Production Support Team (425) 717-5622 M/S 0J-XE Located at 40-22.5-E4.5 (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Trying to reach Karen Wheeler Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 11:39:11 -0500 From: MMiller@RCL.lib.rochester.edu (Miller, Amanda) To: DavidC@iei.net ('DavidC@iei.net') David - I love Weavers Words - thanks for doing such a great job! I met a longtime internet friend at Winter Weave last weekend, Karen Wheeler, and cannot seem to get a message through to her aol e-mail address. Karen, if you're out there, please let me know if you've changed your e-mail address! Mandy Miller W Henrietta, NY (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) Subject: Chinese Cookie Cooler basket Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 16:00:34 -0800 From: cpk3@juno.com (L. Kotarba) To: davidc@iei.net Hi Weavers, Yesterday I received the Chinese Cookie Cooler basket pattern from Barbara Morton. What an absolute delight! It is all that I hoped for and more. The legend is fun and the different terminology is charming. Today I received an envelope full of information from Barbara. Also a note saying she recently lost her husband and that she is just now getting back to her basket business. She tells me about an old potato basket that has a touch of Cajun heritage... it comes with the "easiest instructions for French randing". She also sent two old newsletters that look very interesting... she mentions a new newsletter will be coming out soon. Everything is shared... Jack and Barbara... leading me to believe this was a very close relationship in love, as well as business... I don't see an E-mail address. I can't tell you how interesting her baskets sound. For instance: Medicine Dipper... used by an Appalachian mid-wife. Has a 6-inch bowl-shaped base with cloth woven in, and a long, S-shaped handle. This basket is ideal to hold medication or looks pretty by the kitchen sink. Goober Pea Basket... has a Civil War history and twin 5-inch "bowls", a tall handle, color and skids. Those are just two of *many* many unique sounding baskets. (Louisiana Moss Basket... Ginger's Pole Basket... The Chicken Coop Basket) I could go on and on but I think you get the idea! Tips, kits, recipes, all available through Barbara. I know she is going to hear from me again, by return mail, and I just wanted to share this with you. Barbara Morton Morton Baskets 1600 Willowbrook Dr. Blue Springs, MO 64015 816 - 224-4292 Weaving in Michigan, Linda (¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯) If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.