"Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 106 Date Sent: March 30, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 990 David Collins 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 317-899-5747 davidc@iei.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Do You Like Weavers Words? Click Below To "Recommend-It" To A Friend! http://recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=210339 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% "Web Cards" - Create Full-Color Postcards For Your Web Page. http://www.printing.com/affiliate.asp?site=davidc For every free sample of "Web Cards" that you request from the above link, I will receive a $1 commission. It cost you NOTHING. Once you receive your free sample, you can purchase personalized "Web Cards" for your web page and/or business if you like. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% "Bare Walls" Basket Pictures/Prints If you are looking for basket pictures/prints, check out "Bare Walls" through Weaver's Words site. I will get a 15% commission from Bare Walls for every picture/print ordered. The address to check out the pictures is: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/prints.html %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Hi Everyone, A REAL VIRUS WARNING: The Melissa computer virus, discovered only last Friday, has spread itself by e-mail around the world and is causing havoc for large corporations, according to security experts. "The virus is all over the place, across the globe," said David Emm, Total Virus Defence product manager at the UK's Dr Solomon, now owned by Network Associates. "It's just a macro virus [ a common virus affecting small programs automating tasks in Microsoft Word] but it has this additional feature of being able to get around quick," he told BBC News Online. Melissa conceived in sex group Dr Solomon's VirusPatrol, which checks newsgroups on the Net for developing viruses, discovered Melissa in a sex newsgroup on March 26. The New York Times reported that several major US corporations shut down their mail servers on Friday night as they became overloaded with messages created by the virus. Comments inside the macro virus identify it as "Melissa...by Kwyjibo." Computers become infected when users receive a particular e-mail and open a Word document attached to it. The e-mail is headed: "Important Message From " and contains the sentence: "Here is that document you asked for...don't show anyone else ;-)." the attachment is usually called list.doc. Scrabble virus's high score If the user launches the document, their computer becomes infected, although the worst thing that can happen apparently is if it is launched when the day equals the minute value...such as 29 minutes past on the 29th, the following message appears: "Twenty-two points, plus triple-word-score, plus fifty points for using all my letters. Game's over. I'm outta here." The graver implications are for company and Web servers carrying the huge volumes of e-mail being created. When the document attachment is launched, a program is created which replicates the e-mail and sends it to the first 50 addresses in the Global Address Book of users running Microsoft's Outlook personal organizer. Microsoft, Network Associates and other anti-virus and computer security companies have issued warnings and are supplying fixes for Melissa. But with many workers logging on to their computers and downloading mail on Monday morning still unaware of the virus, it was still expected to spread rapidly. There's been a bunch of basket pictures added since last issue. Be sure to check them out. The address is: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/pictures.html Take Care, David %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Nothing special Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 23:36:09 -0500 From: "Russell & Leslie Johnson" To: Hi Fellow weavers, I hope all of you who attended the conventions had a great time, can't wait to hear all about it. I went to back issues of WW and read that post on kudzu, it was hilarious! Since I don't plan on moving & I like my neighbors, I don't think I will grow any! I have really enjoyed reading all the comments about it I usually weave all the time..so when I take time off to do other things like cleaning or painting, I too find myself slow to get back into it. What I usually do is get out the patterns and/or buy new ones and by the time I decide what ones I want to make, I am raring to go! I do know that part of the problem is that I clean up my mess and organize it all during the slump so I am hesitant to make the mess again ! From Leslie in SE Michigan %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 104 Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 02:08:10 -0600 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 104 Karen in Mpls - Don't waste too much time blushing. I've done the same thing myself. (er... check e-mail in the middle of the night) Angie L. - I second your recommendation of "Craft of the Dyer - Coulour from Plants and Lichens" by Casselman $8.95. I took a class in Lichen Dyes from Karen in October 1997 at the Vesterheim museum in Decorah, IA. It was a thrill of a lifetime! Denise Beck - I'd love to see Alastair's willow groves and boiler made out of a welded-together fuel tank and hand-made tools and traditional English and Irish design baskets! It would be a good idea to get his permission to post your pictures of him & his stuff. Maybe you could send him his own set of prints? Joe Conroy - Your cat story has me laughing out loud! That's one I'll have to pass on to my cat friends. Karen Horner - You may have the right kind of raffia and the wrong kind of knot. Do you know someone who fishes who can teach you a line-joining knot? Leslie Johnson - Learn to identify poison ivy first thing so you can avoid it like the plague it is! Get a field guide or two to help you identify plants. _Gifts from the Earth: a basketmakers field guide to midwest botanicals_ by Char TerBeest is a good one to start with. Baraboo, WI: Wild Willow Press. ISBN 0-9614795-1-5. Bert Comstock, Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 103 Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 05:18:15 -0500 From: Joe Conroy To: David Collins Good morning David, I noticed some talk about poly vs shellac for Nantucket baskets. I always use either Deft semi-gloss (in the summer) or Poly (in the winter). If you use polyurethane DO NOT use water-based poly. Water based poly is very resistant to UV rays and your basket will not "age" to a nice patina. I use Deft liquid instead of spray because there are fewer odors to inhale. I only use Deft in warm weather because of the odor. I agree with Tony that your basket looks much better if you rub down the wood base and handle with 0000 steel wool. For a nice patina I used to use another product a few years ago. It was a mixture of Poly and Tungoil distributed by Red Devil. I haven't seen it in awhile. Minwax puts out a similar product, but it takes a long time to dry. Joe Conroy Exeter, RI %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: RE: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 105 Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 8:49:23 -0500 (EST) From: Judith Spates To: davidc@iei.net To Gretchen Hautzinger: I'm glad the New England Quilt Basket turned out so well for you. I don't usually wrap handles, but I would suggest adding on a new weaver on the underside of the handle where it won't show. I personally would splice the ends of the weavers together with wood glue and continue wrapping. I have discovered a glue stick designed just for wood that works beautifully. It's so easy to use because you don't have to wait for the glue to dry. This is just a suggestion. Maybe there are more experienced handle wrappers on WW that have other suggestions. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: Belated Thanks Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 10:46:19 EST From: StarlaK@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net A belated thanks to those who responded to my questions about double-walled basket patterns. Now, I'll have to decide which one to order! Been so busy haven't read the last few issues, I will have to get to them soon, hate to miss all the basket happenings. Another question, forgive me if it has been asked and answered in previous issues. I am planning on weaving for shows, I'm not sure what types to weave. I realize that some people's preferences are regional. Those who sell at shows, do you weave color into your baskets or just stain them? I know when I do classes, my students go for the burgundy, navy, green and black plum combos. Any input would be appreciated. One woman told me to do up at least 90 baskets. Does this sound right for a small, weekend show? I know this is a difficult one to answer because of all the variables, any input will be greatly appreciated! You can either post to Weavers Words or e-mail me. Happy Weaving, Darla Krahling %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: NCBA Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 11:42:22 EST From: AuntPattie@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi ya'll, Just returned last night from NCBA and I'm not sure that I'll recover totally before I have to repack & head out with the kids to Destin, Fla. on Saturday. I just have the most fun. NCBA was a BLAST from start to finish. I decided that this was the year to learn new things. I started with a class from Patti Hawkins on bias plaiting, learned to strip grapevine with Dick Smith, made a Feather basket with Joanne Peters, a Natural Melon basket with Faye Clause and ended with the biggest surprise of the weekend -- Willow with Bonnie Gale. To be totally honest, I was not looking forward to this class at all but I figured that, since I'm planning on opening a shop next fall, I needed to at least be familiar with as many different materials as possible. The class was GREAT & Bonnie is a terrific teacher. I am not ready to give up Reed, Ash & Nantucket's but I am really looking forward to the next time I get to work with willow. It is different but very forgiving and fun to work with. If any of you have ever even slightly considered trying willow I would strongly encourage you to give it a go and, if you get the chance to take a class from Bonnie, I'm sure you'll enjoy it and learn a lot. I know lots of folks will be writing in about their convention experiences and that the WW's will be coming fast & furious this week so I won't take up any more room. Thanks to all who made NCBA so great this year. Pattie Bagley from Ga. where the azaleas, redbuds & dogwoods are getting ready to explode. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 11:56:46 -0500 From: "Steve Catsos" To: "david collins" Gail J.- I'm SO glad you like my baskets. Working with black ash is really addictive and the baskets are so precise! Last year I brought my husband, Steve, to help me vend at the Michigan convention. He loved meeting all the basket makers, but the long vending hours (without an opportunity to go outside in the fresh air) were tough on him. I don't know if I'll be able to persuade him to go to the AMB convention this year. Besides we have 3 kids (ages 12, 14 & 16) that Steve keeps an eye on when I travel. Yes, I taught at Midwest Basketry Focus this year. It was wonderful!!! I taught an ash sewing basket with quadrafoil lid, and several other ash baskets. I encourage all basket makers to go to this event!!! Judy Dominic and Lou Volkman do an incredible job putting on the conference, as well as choosing wonderful teachers. For info about Midwest Focus 2000 (held near Cincinnati, OH) contact Judy Dominic at judydom@tso.cin.ix.net Someone asked what to do when you are in a creative slump. Sometimes all I need is to look through my basketry books and past convention booklets to get inspired. That works if I'm only a little "stuck". Personally, I go into a period of mild depression during the Winter months (maybe lack of sunlight?). The way I get inspired then is to (try to) forget all the things I'm "required" to do (housework, basket orders) for a few days. Then I weave what my soul wants to weave; some incredibly special basket that I've been thinking about for the past few months. I weave like a person possessed (with little sleep, barely any food, and the bare minimum of housework) until the basket is done. Then I'm quite content to go back to the everyday routine of weaving "basic" baskets, packing kits. etc.. (And I continue to dream and plan my next "special" basket) Sorry I've rambled on for so long..... Happy Weaving !! JoAnn Kelly Catsos in south west MA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 105 Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 12:59:16 -0500 From: "Donna" To: "David Collins" Hi everyone, hope you all enjoyed your conventions and are ready to come back to the "real" world. Gretchen - splicing a wrapper on a handle is very easy - not sure how easy it will be to explain it here. When you have only enough of the old piece to make approx. 4-5 wraps with 2-3" left over, lay your NEW wrapper, in the middle with the RIGHT side against the underside of your handle and wrap the last 4-5 wraps over top of the new piece. On the last wrap with the old, take it across the new piece on the bottom and turn the end at a right angle, opposite the new piece, then the new piece turns at a right angle (locking the old in place) and continues in the same direction catching in the tail end of the old piece on the underside. If done properly, the rows will match up on the underside with only "locking" stitch visible. Yuk, I think I made it sound very complicated, but it's very simple and done quickly once you get used to it. ("Fancy Handles for Decorative Woven Baskets" by Nancy Gruber $4.95 has this technique illustrated minus the locking motion). Re: your adoption, you certainly know in your heart that if everything's OK between you and your husband, that's all that matters. Donna in PA where the sun is shining, the flowers are blooming and warm temps are finally on the way. http://www.countryseat.com Check out our new online searchable catalog with shopping cart ctryseat@fast.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 15:07:11 -0500 (EST) From: Judith Spates To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone, I'm not seeing the Michigan Basketweaving Convention listed on Baskets, Etc.'s convention listing. Does anyone happen to know who to contact for an membership application? Also, does anyone know the dates for next year's (2000) convention? Thanks, Judy Richmond Spates JSpates@hope.gordonc.edu %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Missouri Basket Sampler Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 15:18:36 EST From: FosterBA@aol.com To: david collins If anyone is going to Missouri and wants to share a room please let me know. The Park Place Hotel permits up to 4 people in the rooms. The rate per night is $74.00 per night split among the number of occupants per room. Barb Foster from Green Bay where the sun has melted all the snow and if March does it's thing we'll get the rain to wash up the landscape before the end of the week. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits and Pieces Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 16:25:38, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net Well gang I'm back from convention and had a great time. Didn't get to take any pictures of the WW group as I rarely saw any of them much less all at one time. Did meet many of the lurkers out there, tho'. don't know if name recognition is good or not when you meet people and they say OH! You're the one on WW. Really learned a lot this trip. Learned several new things with Eric Taylor and the Nantucket Ice Bucket but the real winner was Kathleen Myers and the scallop purse. We wove from 7pm-11pm on Thurs then Sat from 8am-6pm with a couple hours of weaving in my room and I'm still not finished. Just have to last the rim and put the two sides together. This was solid weaving time with a one hour break for lunch which I definitely took-not to eat but just as a break. Now that I have quit smoking I have no excuse for a break and I sorely needed one. Kathleen is an outstanding teacher. There were several innovative new pieces in the exhibit room especially among the art pieces. Cass Schorsch had woven a wonderful mask. When I see such expressive artistic things it makes me even sadder that I just don't think in that realm. Susan Kavicky had large ash lidded box. That doesn't begin to describe the work that had gone into it in addition to the cost of the ash which we all know isn't cheap. It really was a masterpiece. As usual Joanne Kelly Catso entered one of her ash miniatures that took viewers choice as well as the mini. category. Came home exhausted as always but for once had to foresight to schedule a massage for today. Feel much better after that. Seems I spent all my time weaving and standing in line to eat. You notice I didn't say eating-the dining room was woefully unprepared as usual. You could figure an average of two hours for any meal. I have never before filled out one of those comment sheets in the room but believe me I did this time, and it was sent to the CEO of Adams Mark Hotels. Of course I did manage to buy a few things. I think it's the first time I have been to a convention that I didn't even buy a pattern. Must run as have a call. Billie %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: wrapped handles Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 17:23:25 -0500 From: Winnie Organization: @Home Network Member To: David Collins Hi Everyone, Gretchen asked about adding a new piece of reed when you run short while wrapping a handle. On the underside of the handle make a bias turn, that's a turn so the short end of reed is at a 90 degree angle to the rest of the piece of reed that you're wrapping with. Turn it in the direction so that you can tuck it under the last couple of wraps you made on the handle, about 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch, trim if necessary. The end of the reed on the inside of the handle will be at a 45 degree angle. Do the same with the new piece of reed, but be sure to make the angle complementary. Put the angle of the new piece of reed right up against the angle at the end of the original piece. Put the 1/2 - 3/4 inch end against the unwrapped part of the handle, this end will be covered in your next few wraps. I hope this makes sense. Maybe someone else will write and explain it better. If you want any further explanation, email me. Hope all you lucky convention-goers had a great time and safe trip. Winnie in Connecticut where spring has arrived, I think. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Howdy, Howdy! Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 20:07:11 +0000 From: Tony Stubblefield or Dean Meredith To: David Collins/Weavers Words Greetings fellow weavers, Pam Woodbury - What is a medical/biological illustrator? - Well, that question might be harder to answer than the filling-in question... A medical illustrator is a specially trained artist and educator who is able to render medical subject matter and procedures accurately and in such a way that they tell a story. You may ask why not take photographs of something like a surgical procedure? Well a photograph captures only a moment in time where as a good medical illustration can actually show a process or an action, plus the illustrator an eliminate unnecessary and interfering information such as blood and hands that might be in the way. A medical illustrator can illustrator events, like a stroke, that could never be photographed. We also go through rigorous and intensive training in gross anatomy, pathology, cell biology, etc. Biological illustration is much the same, but usually deals with animals and plants as opposed to human anatomy. My Master's degree happens to be in both. Well, is that more than you ever wanted to know about medical and biological illustration? :-) Gretchen - splicing on a wrapped handle - Splint Woven Basketry by Robin Taylor Daugherty on page 149 has nice photos of how I basically do it. Let me know if you can't find the book and I will draw you a diagram and send it to you. Bert -About asking the museum curator for a closer look - What a great idea. We used to do that all the time in grad school at the Smithsonian and National Aquarium in Baltimore. I was doing an illustration of a poison arrow frog once (http://www.tetranet.net/users/deanandtony/medill.htm) and they actually got an aquarium of them out for me and opened it up so I could take some photos. Well the herpetologist (a.k.a. frog doctor) got a telephone call and left the room and would you know it all these little frogs started jumping out. They were only about the size of a nickel and I was scared to death, more that they would get away than me getting poisoned. So I had to try to corral them and cup my hands over them so they couldn't get away, it kind of was like doing "Twister", "right hand yellow frog, left hand red". Well after a few painful minutes the guy came back and put the little froggies back in their cage. I wish I had a video tape of myself on the floor trying to catch these frogs without actually touching them. Oh, I have a question. I have started getting a lot of requests to teach out of my area/state. How do you work travel and accommodations into the price of the class. It seems like that would blow the class fee right out of the water or you wouldn't end up making any money. Any suggestions from other traveling teachers? Well, I ended up taking a bus trip over to IN that a local basket shop was sponsoring. I had an absolute blast! I spent way too much money, but got a couple of new and different Nantucket molds that I am very anxious to try. I peeked into a lot of the classes and stopped in towards the end of a few and talk to some students and the instructors (even though your not supposed to interrupt). I probably saw many other fellow WW members there but I was in such a basket whirl that I forgot to look for red ribbons, sorry everybody I missed meeting. I did stop by and talked to Pam Feix for a minute and introduced myself, that was quite nice. David I went into the raffle room and completely forgot to look for your mom, I was so overwhelmed with all of the goodies that I couldn't even think. Well, as usual I have written a novel. I need to get up to my studio and finish a oval Nantucket I started the other day. I am going to use one of the new handles I got at convention on it :-)) Later, Tony Stubblefield St. Louis http://www.tetranet.net/users/deanandtony/baskets.htm %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Guild project Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 18:42:25 EST From: Weavekat@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net My basket guild in KY. is going to make a mosaic tile patio stone for a special project in May. I've misplaced my directions. But what I really need to know is the type of adhesive and grout that are the quickset kind. Both are powder that you add just water to and make the consistency of peanut butter. I took a class last summer and we were finished in about 3 - 4 hours so I need the stuff that dries fast. The adhesive gives you enough "move about" time 10-15 minutes. Also, any suggestions on where to "bum" broken tiles? Or buy cheap? We do make baskets constantly but every now and then we try something as a group that many may not get to do. Some of the past projects have been making lye soap (the '90's way), rolling beeswax candles, etc. Thanks for any help, Kathy %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: Class pricing Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 19:21:26 -0500 From: jbenner@juno.com To: davidc@iei.net HI, Thanks to everyone for their encouragement on my teaching a class. I appreciate all the public and private comments. To Alice Edwards, Were you on a soapbox? (g) I didn't realize. You are absolutely right and I'd never want to undercut another teacher or weaver. We are making med size basic round baskets this time around. The gal who runs the daycare has posted a sign up list and priced the class at 15.00 a person. That seems pretty reasonable to me. A basic basket like that at the local college if I am correct would run about 24.00. If Laurie Bauch is reading this, maybe you'd know. She is my instructor at the college. Anyway, I figure the college gets some sort of a cut from those classes and I'm bypassing that by using the daycare facility for free. Seems to work out for me. I know I will make a profit on it. I think this will be last class though. I just get too stressed and crazy from it. I'll certainly help anyone privately that needs it but won't be doing an organized thing. One last question. There was talk awhile back about poison ivy and a lot of people on here seemed to know quite a bit about it. I was helping clean my sons property of some old wood from a shed they just tore down, and the scrub brush and trees from behind it. Unknown smallish trees and shrubs and what appeared to me to be grapevines (they had tendrils attaching to the trees) that were dried and dead. His friend was helping him haul the wood to the dump and unbeknownst to me made the comment that it was good they were removing this at this time of year cause that was poison ivy on the shed. His friend is a landscaper so I'd guess he'd know. Anyway, the shed was down and gone by the time I got there, but I was messing in the stuff behind the shed and the wood that made up the base of the shed. This was Fri. Sunday night I broke out in a rash on my lower arms and now today my face. I was afraid of some bug bite (I didn't wear gloves) but the ladies at the daycare think it looks like poison. So, what's the consensus? I live in eastern Pa. and it's juts starting to bud, but most of the vegetation is still dormant. I saw nothing. If it IS poison ivy, anyone have any tips on how to rid oneself fast? Especially on my face. It's real near my eyes and I'm not even sure that I didn't get some of my face stuff in them. They feel puffy and itchy and are somewhat red. Thanks for any advice. Take care all! Judy in Pa. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: general Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 22:10:00 -0500 From: Vicki Schmidt Organization: Battle Ground Middle School To: davidc@iei.net Greetings Fellow Weavers, I've returned from Indiana Basket Convention. I am able to type now. I had a wonderful time but my last class was definitely hard on my hands and arms. A job well done by all. I too have been in a weaving slump. I haven't woven since the first basket swap. Didn't even want to attend convention but sent my forms in anyway because I knew I would regret it if I didn't. Even though I would like to start a few projects my job outside the home plus the age that my children are will keep me from weaving until summer. That is unfortunate. When the kids were younger it was easy to weave after they were in bed. Since they are participating in school sports and other after school events, I am too tired after driving them everywhere to even think of weaving. I do plan on the next basket swap. My heart was not in the last one. I too love wrapped handles and very seldom do I leave an unwrapped handle. I merely add the new weaver on the top and under my spoke that is part of the design. It doesn't seem like much to hold the new weaver in but none of them have ever come apart and you can't tell where I have added. We have three wonderful children all unrelated except by adoption. Good Luck Gretchen. Vicki %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: natural dye, and other stuff Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 21:43:58 -0600 From: "tthompson" To: Patti H. --sorry we didn't get to go to NC convention. I was really disappointed our class didn't make. I was looking forward to being around hundreds of weavers at one time. Folks here think we are crazy. Oh well, guess we kinda are. Thank you Lois. I met Nancy Basket a few years ago. Then she was representing South Carolina in "A Taste of the South" in Atlanta. I don't remember her having any kudzu baskets with her, but she did have paper made from kudzu and kudzu perfume which smelled like bubble gum (you have to smell the kudzu bloom to appreciate that). I have seen kudzu baskets for years and always loved them for their unique individualism in every basket. My husband made several vine baskets and my very favorite one is a rather large one using kudzu, grapevine, and wisteria. Missing meeting all of you in NC this past weekend. Pam on the panhandle of FL %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 105 Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 19:45:38 -0800 From: "Anne Boquist" To: "David Collins" Hi WW People, Am I the only dumb bunny, or did anyone else think that Bert was a guy? It's tough catching on sometimes when you're a new kid on the block And by the way, Bert, I like you as a gal too. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 23:48:24 -0500 From: Norma Collins Organization: Weaver's Words To: davidc@iei.net Hello Everyone, Just a note to thank everyone for the kind words that they gave me to give to David. I appreciate it and so does he. It was good to meet the ones of you that I did. I want to also thank everyone that helped us out by donating items and/or time to the raffle. We had another successful year and it is owed to all of you that helped us out. I only took one class this year and that was with Flo Hoppe. I have wanted to take a class with her ever since I started weaving which was about 5 years ago and now I have done so. She is a great instructor and a great person. I truly feel blessed to have met her and to have been in one of her classes. I need to get busy now and weave some more. I'm always inspired right after convention. I just hope I will take the time and do it. Thanks again to all of you, Norma %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: New Address Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 23:24:13 -0600 From: Bonnie Fanning To: davidc@iei.net Dear David and all readers, I was able to attend the IBA Convention last weekend and had a great time. I was able to go over on Thursday and get most of my shopping done. Friday I had Mary Hettmansperger's Rib Construction Brand Pouch and Saturday I had Jill Choate's Antler Hen Basket. Both of these ladies were great teachers and fun to learn from. I learned a lot about packing with these two classes. I had had very little experience with rib baskets prior to these two and now feel much more comfortable doing one on my own. Thursday evening I went to Jill's slide presentation. She did a great job and we saw some beautiful slides of Alaska, Jill's basket work, and Jill's mushing! I missed meeting Norma in the raffle room since I was in class all day both Friday & Saturday, but I will tell her now what I wanted to tell her in person. Norma, you have a very talented and giving son who provides a great service for us basket weavers. Give him a big smooch from all of us! David, I have switched Internet providers and have a new e-mail address. Please send all future WW to ftcreek@net66.com. Thanks Bonnie in central Illinois where it is almost 70 degrees but very windy out here in the country up on our little hill. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: catching up Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 23:18:36 -0800 From: "Marc L. Ames" To: "David Collins" Happy Spring to one and all, I sent some of these messages directly but decided to share with WW as well. For Denise and anyone else who likes teacups and teapots - check out this photo of baskets: http://www.peabody.harvard.edu/makers_and_markets/cups.html Anna, You gave a great detailed explanation about hops on WW, thank you. But I still have a few questions. Roughly what diameter are your vines? Ours at home here (ornamental -we don't harvest) are maybe 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter, not suited to any framework and not very robust - sort of pithy inside. Also - do you get a skin reaction when handling them? I notice a slight irritation, but have read that some folks are quite allergic. (Deb Curtis lives in my general area and climate - I see she has the same reservations I do.) Karen, I would not find raffia a good choice for lashing, unless the scale of your basket was more like sewing. It works fine for pine needle basket stitches and small applications. If you want to make the raffia longer and stronger, try making it into cordage: Tie a knot in the end of a small bundle (small = at least two strands all the way up to thumb-sized bundle - make what you need.) Immobilize the knot (tie to doorknob, have hubby hold, slip between your first and second toe, etc.). Divide the bundle into two smaller groups of fibers, each the same size. Hold your hands one or two inches from the knot. Twist each bundle toward the right, separately. Without letting go of the twist, "ply" the two bundles together toward the left (rotate the twisted parts about each other, counterclockwise.) The farther apart you pull the two bundles, the tighter the cordage ply will be. Keep your hands close to the point where the cordage is forming. It is not so important if you are loose or tight in tension (within reason), but more important that you are consistent. To join in new fibers when the 36" pieces run out, or any time the bundles feel too thin, just lay in another strand and twist it with the other pieces. You can group the tail of the new strand into the other bundle, if you want, for a very strong join which does not need trimming later. It is important to keep the two bundles the same size for a symmetrical cordage. You can also twist to the left and ply to the right with equal results. One is an "S" twist and one is a "Z" twist, but I always forget which is which. You will notice that the resulting cord you have made is proportionally stronger than the same number of strands would be if not twisted and plied. This is a wonderful exercise to try with children. Any longish fibers can be made into cordage: cattails, iris leaves, (day lily daffodil, etc. etc.) bark and bast fibers, wheat straw, cornhusk, milkweed, fireweed, nettles, dogbane, fine roots, leather thong, processed threads and yarns that may already be twisted and plied, etc. etc. etc. Raffia is great for kids projects like this because it is cheap, readily available, easy to work and easily dyed. Have fun with it. Janet, in my opinion the best book about cedar bark is one written by Hilary Stewart of Canada, called simply CEDAR. It was out of print, but is now available. I highly recommend it as a very comprehensive study of the NW Coast indigenous peoples' use of the Western red cedar tree - its roots, limbs, wood and bark, for houses, masks, spiritual and ceremonial objects, totem poles, dugout canoes, clothing, rope and yes, BASKETS. I was fortunate to hear her give a lecture in Seattle and sat right smack in the center of the front row. I almost wet my pants I was so excited! She is terribly knowledgeable and has actually tried most, if not all, techniques she discussed, including splitting cedar planks from huge logs with only very primitive tools, for the making of traditional long houses. Perhaps you can find the book in your library system. I believe many of the same techniques would work for white cedar, if that is what grows near you. Cedar bark is my personal favorite material - I hope you have the opportunity to use it sometime. Good luck. Gretchen, When I run out of a lasher when wrapping handles, I end off by folding the end at a 45 degree angle under the handle and leave a short tail laying along the unwrapped handle, to be wrapped over with the new lasher. I join the new one by anchoring its tail under the last four or five wraps of the old one as it runs out (on the underside of the handle) and then fold it at 45 degree angle just as I began the first one. Hope that helps. Just got back from NWBWG spring retreat where I met up with about 90 old friends and new faces from British Columbia, Oregon and Washington. We had a great time, a fine "gallery" show, lots of laughter, classes, demos, trading, fellowship, raffle and auction, terrific food, sing-alongs, late nights, crazy weather (sunshine/snow/sleet/hail/wind/sunshine/thunder/snow) and sad feelings about going home. Yeah for my fellow weavers and such a supportive, generous, talented crowd. How did I manage before I found them? Thanks for keeping us all connected David. Just a thought - how about a Favorite Basket Books list on Weaver's Words home page? (Title, Author, Publisher, copyright date, brief description of subjects covered.) Kay Harradine %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: False feet! Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 12:51:53 +0100 (BST) From: Chris Jordan To: David Collins Denise, >I have been using the Willow Basketry book by Bernard and Regula >Verdet-Fierz for over a year now and I concur, it is a wonder. It has >weaves in it that I've not seen in any of the British basketry books, >and I am determined to master the "false foot"... It's a very good book, and I really like the illustrations. The European basketry style is similar to the UK styles, but there are a few things they do differently - we had a German basket maker - Iris Bertz give a workshop last year and she teaches the European border type foot, which this book likes to use. She also recommends a French basketry book as her 'Bible' - it's in French though - it is available but I'll have to look up the details. I didn't really get the hang of the false foot till I did a workshop with Colin Manthorpe. You need to use quite heavy rods and a lot of brute force! Make sure the base sticks are trimmed nearly flush with the base paring. Start with two lots of 3 on opposite side of the base. For each group of 3 slype the butt ends and push each of them in to the right of 3 successive uprights, (if the upright is to the left of a base stick, push the rod between the two - you may need grease and a bodkin - they've got to be well in). You need to have the basket on its side, say on your lap. Pull the waling rods down as hard as you can - then do the waling - pulling each rod down hard (between the base stick and the upright where necessary). Thick rods and strong wrists seem to do the trick! Regards Chris (in Cheshire UK). %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: another lurker comes out of the woodwork... Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 14:32:17 EST From: Diane L Ericson To: davidc@iei.net Hi all, I have been reading WW for a while now, and enjoying them very much! I do get behind now and then, and it is a struggle to get caught up. I've been weaving since 1982 and teaching for 7 or 8 years, I also do juried art shows. About two years ago, we started a Guild in the Mpls/St Paul area, which has been a wonderful experience! Needless to say, baskets are a BIG part of my life! To Carol in Battle Creek: Have your Cousins contact me, I can give them the details about our Guild, and/or hook them up with teachers in their area. There is a large basket community in the Metro area and we would love to welcome them in! I'd like to add some information to the coffee and tea stain discussion. I too, was really excited by this stuff. Not only did it smell nice, but you could control the color. I did a few baskets, and thought I had found my new stain. Well, I used one of the newly stained baskets to carry my tools and stuff to the next Guild meeting, and my water bottle leaked, making water spots in the stain on the bottom of the basket. This stuff is not waterproof. That would be ok if your basket will never see a drop of water, but I do outdoor shows, as many of you do, so this could be a problem. I've gone back to Minwax. Hello to all of the MBWG lurkers out there! Diane Ericson In partly cloudy WINDY Minneapolis metro area (It's so windy, I think we will be in Wisconsin by tomorrow!) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 11:58:55 PST From: "Connie Curran" To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everyone, I am a "major lurker" for Weaver's Words, but I sure do enjoy reading all of them! I was the volunteer coordinator for the IBA this year and I just wanted to thank everyone that volunteered. You all made this year's convention run smoothly. I did to take a class with Flo Hoppe this year - an absolutely wonderful teacher. Next year I hope that Judy Briscoe teaches her rain stick again. I was sitting next to that class on Friday - and I was jealous! It was such a cool project!! I hope everyone that attended IBA had as good as time as I did (although I don't know when I will ever recover from it!). Thanks again to all of you that volunteered! Connie in Indy, where its 70 degrees!!!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 105 Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 05:57:28 -0800 From: "Kelly Anderson" To: "David Collins" Thanks to my basket buddy, Ginny, as well as Lynne, Shannon, Janet, and Susie, I had a blast at the IBA convention. I enjoyed my classes, the pattern room, the exhibit room, the vendor room--it was all wonderfully organized. Thanks you guys & see you next year! Gail J: I live in Costa Mesa, which is about a 2 1/2-hour drive from Santa Barbara. If you want to combine weaving experiences with your visits to Santa Cruz, perhaps you could try a class at The Caning Shop in Berkeley. I plan to fly up there next month for the gourd fountain class. The So. Cal. retreat I referred to is hosted by the Misti Washington Gourd & Basketry Guild at the Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas, CA (just north of San Diego) during the 3rd weekend in October. I don't have details yet as teachers are just returning their proposals this month. We'd be happy to have you join us. Karen: I've found that some raffia is more slick than others. Typically, if I get a bag o' raffia it's been coated with a waxy substance and is incredibly slippery. If I get a more natural braid of raffia from a basketry supplier, it's not as slippery. Also, I find that an overhand knot tends to slide out of weaving so I usually use a square knot instead. Leslie: Regarding suitable natural materials, I gather seed pods and pinecones to use as embellishments. I gather and grow some of my own weavers including vines (ivy / wysteria) and grasses. Someone in my guild once told me that if you can wrap the material around your finger (after the material has been soaked), you can use it as a weaver. You can gather moderately flexible branches to use as rims and spokes. One of the books you might check out is Natural Baskets by MaryAnne Gillooly. Kelly in So. Cal where it feels just like spring %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 105 Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 17:36:13 -0000 From: "french" To: "David Collins" Hello Everyone! Hope all you convention goers had a wonderful time. Can't wait to hear all about your adventures in weaving! Maybe next year I can attend...... :) Gretchen - You asked about wrapped handles... I'll try to explain how I add on a new wrapper. When you get short on your first wrapper, cut and tuck it into the wrapping on the underside of the handle. To do this you have to crease it over so it forms a 45* angle before tucking (wish I could draw a picture). Then the new length of reed is added by laying it against the handle, wrong side up, directly above where you tucked your first wrapper - fold it over to form that 45* angle (now the right side up) and continue wrapping. Gosh, I hope this makes sense. :) A pattern writer I'm not! If you have more questions, or if I'm not explaining myself correctly, please feel free to e-mail me privately Carolyn - Whenever you think you are ready to get together with some fellow basket weavers, let me know. I think it would be great fun to get a group of us together for some weaving. I know what it's like to move - I've done it many times - it will take you a while to settle in and feel like you are at home. I hope your Grandson is doing OK - it's always scary when a little one has to have surgery no matter how minor. Well, back to my basket.... I'm trying to finish one up to put in Mary Carty's annual Basket Exhibit. That will be coming up in just a few weeks! Happy Weaving to all!! From Diana French from sunny & warm Southern NJ where my daffodils are beginning to blossom!! :) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: ceramic teddy bears Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 19:20:46 -0500 From: "Tom Rigterink" To: "David Collins" Hi Everyone! I am thrilled each and every time that Weavers Words appears in my mailbox...I can't get enough and although I don't contribute very often, I have learned so very much!!! I am currently looking for ceramic teddy bears to weave into a basket. The height needs to be from 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches high. This basket is for a Very special cause so I need to find just the right ones. Thanks so much for any help you can give Diane in warm SW Michigan %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Wrapping handles Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 20:13:23 -0500 From: Chris & Melissa Kile To: davidc@iei.net Gretchen--on wrapping handles: I was told or I read a few years ago (who can remember?) how to stop and start if you run out of weaver. I'll see if I can explain this. Finish the first wrapper on the inside of the handle, with an inch or so excess. Make a "miter" bend, so that the end of the wrapper is pointing away from the already-wrapped part of the handle, at a 90-degree angle (with me so far?). Clip it w/ a clothespin. Then with the new wrapper, bend an inch or so back at a miter, and lay the excess part right next to the leftover end of the previous piece. Make sure the wrapper reed is laying up against the last wrapped round the handle. There will be a small triangle of the inside of the handle showing. This next part takes about 5 hands (maybe only 3 if you're really good). Wrap the new wrapper around the handle and over the two ends on the inside of the handle. You may want someone to hold those ends still as you wrap. Continue wrapping, and you've got a (practically) no-show handle wrap. Hope this helps. From (finally) spring-y Riner, where we are in the 70's this week (yea!) Melissa Kile %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.