"Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 114 Date Sent: April 15, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 1014 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. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: The great Pattern Controversy Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 18:56:41 -0800 From: Joyce Fisher To: David Collins References: 1 I was just getting ready to post my response when I came upon Gail Caron's post--it hit the nail on the head. I do not put the name of the pattern company on any clothing I make from a pattern nor do I give credit for recipes when I make them. I assume that if you are earning from the sale of your pattern to me, you are giving me permission to reproduce it. I do not intend to keep every basket I weave--my house isn't that big. I am not a master weaver at this point and you would probably not want your name on a basket I have woven! We also have to price our baskets in the range at which they sell in our area and, to some extent, on the reputation we have created with our weaving. That's all I have to say, except that it would have been nice of these two could have corresponded by private e-mail. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Wisconsin Shops Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 22:01:49 -0500 From: "Susan Vogel" To: Hi Gretchen! In response to your question about basket shops in Wisconsin, I believe you said you were going to be in the Milwaukee area? If so, there was a shop called The Basket Shoppe located at 17700 Capitol Drive, Brookfield, WI 53045. I haven't been in contact with them for awhile, but I do know they sold supplies and had classes in their shop. You might want to give that a try. I'm sorry I don't have a telephone #. Good luck! Susan Vogel %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 113 Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 00:01:39 -0700 From: "Denise Beck" To: "David Collins" >>>To Denise Beck: Your natural baskets are beautiful. I am very interested in the cherry bark gods eye on your melon basket. Could you explain how you harvest, store and prepare the cherry bark? I have a small cherry tree that needs to be cut down and would like to try to harvest some bark but have no idea how to do it. I have been told to harvest in the spring (which is now?) but that is all I know. Thanks for any help you can give. Thank you. The cherry bark was left over from Judy Z.'s workshop last summer at Lake Crescent, Washington. She brought a stack of freshly-cut wild cherry logs and taught us how to peel the bark. To take off a strip like the one I used for the god's eye, you start a small notch at one end of the log, which is horizontal in front of you on the picnic table down by the firepit at the lakeshore, and start pulling the bark towards you slowly spinning the log and "unwinding" the bark all the way down the log. Similar to those handy-dandy apple peelers you see at the state fairs that peel off one long continuous thin strip of apple peel all the way along the apple. It's my understanding that only wild cherry works well for this, it's the tree with dark red bark with a tendency to peel off at the slightest injury. When you've peeled the whole log, you're left with a bright green inner bark, which can also be used, though it's thicker, for laced pouches, or, cut in strips, weaving baskets. I'll post a photo of the cherry bark shopping basket I made in that workshop, if you like. Spring is the time to harvest bark of all types, because the sap is running and the bark becomes looser and easier to peel off. A member of the Salt Spring Island guild here is cutting down a large red cedar next week and you can bet we'll all be over there a-peeling cedar bark! Denise McCann Beck Coastal British Columbia USDA zone 7 Sunset Zone 4 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 113 Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 08:01:48 +0000 From: Berginski To: David Collins References: 1 Crystal - Please post or send info regarding Febreeze. I just sprayed it in one of my clothes closets and am concerned after reading your post because I have a cat. I tried to email you but it wouldn't go through. Thank you Betty Berginski North Myrtle Beach, SC %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 113 Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 09:24:49 -0400 From: Carty To: David Collins References: 1 Just wanted to say thanks Rae, that needed to be said. Count down is here to the basket exhibit. Hope to see some you at the exhibit. Just got a new shipment of reed in and it always makes to shop smell good. Like basket heaven! There will also be dulcimer music on Friday night at our wine and cheese party. Dulcimers & Baskets a match made in heaven. IN PEACE njweaver2 Mary Carty From sunny South Jersey %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 113 Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 09:28:24 EDT From: DeeGrin@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi David and fellow weavers. Thanks for the spelling clues David is it hand woven or hand-woven, maybe it would be easier if we used weavers of baskets- I usually use my skip as my spellchecker goes through as it really messes me up if I am not paying attention. Sorry to hear you have to use it through all our correspondence, I thought you could just breeze through and send them, but sounds like a lot (see I paid attention) of work with all the long volume of e-mail you are sending out this past two months. Well, I finally feel recovered from the NCBC. It took me over two weeks, antibiotics and tessalon pearls( great for that little aggravating cough [ prescription ) . I came home with only being able to whisper, and that was a lot of fun as my husband never can what I am saying normally. exhausted after taking three classes. I didn't have one for Sat. and saw an opening for a Nantucket purse by Deanna Savoy without looking at the 11 hours, but made my first Nantucket and it is beautiful Also loved the Steve's fishing creel. It is so cute. Joann Kelly Catso is a great teacher! My pride and joy is the new brown ash lamp shade taught by Bill Allen. I just sit at watch the design it reflects on the wall. Bill is a very gentle teacher associated with Nates Nantucket's. Came home with six more kits from them. Anyway had a great time. Now I am packing again to go to Evanston, IL. for the last time as my daughter is moving April 26th to Alta Vista VA. a small town south of Lynchburg and near Roanoke. Is anyone from around there. Dori says her new house has a great room for me to weave in when I come to visit. Even on this short trip I am taking little kits to work on when the granddaughters take their naps, and I am carrying a gathering basket with my brown ash miniatures on the plane with me to show to the shop in Evanston that has been buying my baskets the past three years. I will miss seeing them. Interesting to see all the responses to the Pam and Di conflict. They are both very nice people and hope that the hurt and pain they are both feeling will pass. Pam has been through a lot with her grandmother this year and I feel truly did not mean to hurt anyone. I have been using patterns for the past three years after I discovered them at the convention) and selling them at craft fairs etc. I feel that if someone is selling the pattern then they should understand the you will use it. I do feel you should have the students pay for the pattern if you are teaching it. I have on occasion called two teachers and asked how much they would recommend selling them for and they were more than happy to share that information with me. I think it would be great if they would include on a pattern a "recommended selling price" as one of the most difficult things is knowing how to price a basket. I know in Florida you will not get the prices I see on the Internet and for the New England area, so price mine for what I feel is reasonable. My brown ash miniatures that I really enjoy making do not sell for what they are worth, but again, like Pam it pays for my hobby, which as a retiree is my one expense that keeps me happy and sane, if a basket weaver is sane?! I do feel that if I pay for a class at the convention I should be able to come home and make that basket and sell it if I want to. What do the other teachers feel about this? JoAnn Kelly Catso, Patti Hawkins, etc. Well, that's enough from me. Please Pam and Di, forgive, kiss and makeup and let's get back to enjoying and appreciating this great forum. Got to get packed and play with a 3 month and almost 4 year old granddaughter. One more thing I taught a group of 2nd & 3rd grade Brownies how to weave a little mug rug. Someone in an earlier issue of WW had suggested it and it worked great. I cut 10 pieces of 3/8 reed 6" long and wove a square 5x5. Dyed some #2 round purple and pink (only one took pink) and then had them do one row of twining. They all finished in an hour, and it was easy to help them straighten them out and make them all look nice. I then trimmed the ends of the reed at a slant. They really did good and had great questions. Dee in sunny. dry Fla. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 113 Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 09:32:11 -0400 From: Pamela Woodbury To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Hi Weavers, I know lots of you only want happy thoughts and happy discussions on this forum, but quite frankly all the, lets all be happy and like it other, is not only impractical but impossible. We're not all alike and we're not all necessarily nice and sweet. Lois and I have to laugh at ourselves on our chat group that for once we didn't cause the controversy, but neither one of us can keep out mouths shut. I already knew what Joy was nice enough to research for us that changing the written word was legal, but not ethical. I know that each and every one of us who sell our products whether it is the finished basket or the written pattern just want to make a little extra to support our habits. Now with today being April 15th what better day to discuss what we actually make. First of all I'd like to discuss wood. The price of wood varies a lot from area to area. It also varies from #1 grade to the lowest grade of #3. I buy a lot of wood and like to pick out my own so tend to go to places like Home Depot so I can dig through and get what I want. If I can find a nice #3 yippee I buy it, but quite often the cheaper wood is knotty and warped and not much use for basket bases. If I am stuck buying #1 grade then I pay at least 3 times more than if I lucked out and found #3. When I sell a base I take into consideration what other people sell them for. I don't sell bases usually but when we are using a wood base at guild I'll make them for the guild members. I make all my own wood bases and I have several new patterns on wood bases that I market myself. Lets just talk about a 6" wood base. When I go to a lumber yard and buy a 1" x 6" x 6' board and I get #3 wood, my bases are less than 50¢ each, but if I have to buy more expensive wood my bases are almost $1.50 each just to make them. If I am a business, which I am, and I have to pay taxes, which I do, by the time I pay federal, state and social security taxes if I had only charged $2 for that finished base and if I bought the best wood, I'm money in the hole. If I bought the cheapest wood then I still have only made about 50¢ on that base and that is without considering the electricity I used, saw blades I wore out, sand paper, etc. I don't want to sell bases for one thing so I keep the prices at just what the big shops sell them so people won't call me for bases and I sure don't want to sell bases and make 20-30¢ per base. My finished baskets are the same way say I charged $40 for a basket that took me 6 hours to make, Lets break it down: $40 Basket selling price - 30% federal taxes - 5% state taxes - 8% social security taxes and if I didn't charge sales tax over and above - 6% sales tax -------- $20 well now I got $20 for 6 hours of work, but I still haven't included supplies which were probably around $10 so now for 6 hours of work I got $10. Now when I was pricing that basket had I sat down and did all this math I'm sure the price wouldn't have been only $40. Maybe some people have the time and inclination to work for so little, but I don't so my prices are higher. To tell you the truth when I look at the figures broken down like I did above I'm not so sure I should continue doing this. When you see it in black and white it looks like an incredible waste of time. Obviously most of us are doing it for the love of basketry and not the love of money cause I'd dare say none of us are getting rich from making and selling baskets or the hand made supplies such as handles and bases. Pam W %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: kiss and make up Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 10:20:15 -0400 From: GTE/sirkim Organization: SELF To: davidc@iei.net I, too am for getting on to lighter topics other than the friction regarding patterns and designs. My last post was misinterpreted and i just wanted to clear the air. I don't think making a basket from someone's pattern and selling it requires permission or even credit (although it would be nice). The author writes a pattern in order to share ideas and techniques etc, that's a given. I am simply of the opinion that one who's exposing a basket to a large audience, say at conventions or on the web, should be considerate of the author and ask permission to teach it or at least make them aware of it and at the very least, give credit to the author. Even if a color was changed or something added, it would be gracious at the very least to say the basket was inspired by this author. The end, no further comments about this issue. ^=..=^ Cat Lover Karen %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits and Pieces Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 09:22:43, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net Tony-although the question wasn't addressed to me I'll answer anyway. I assume the basket you're having trouble getting off the mold is Jim R.'s potbelly? I remember you saying you bought one. The first time I wove it at home(had taken the class) I had to unweave a whole lot of the basket to get the mold out. So now I weave a way up the "fat" part, then I CAREFULLY pull the center part of the way out and put a rubber band around the top of the mold to hold it together, then continue weaving. This way I can get the mold out of the basket without totally destroying either one. I tried a lot of things before I came up with this one. On overlaps. I was taught always to do 4 but also with me it depends on the basket. I think the number you do is also determined by the type of basket. If you are weaving one with narrow(1/4") spokes or less a 4 overlap is better if the basket is big enough-think about it this way-if you are only doing a 2 and a lot of manipulating of the spokes to keep them in place you can sometimes move the spoke enough to uncover one end of the overlap but if you have a 4 it won't matter. As with many things I write I'm not sure this make sense but when you try it will. That's all for now. Billie %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 113 Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 10:48:18 -0400 From: "Jane A. Wilson" To: "David Collins" Thank you, Joy (Joy at Sign of the Crow in Hampden, Maine) for the best, most understandable explanation of copyright "legalese" I have ever read. Good job. I am saving it for future reference. It would be good for all of us to read it once in awhile as a memory jogger. David, I want to thank you for a good job also. This latest unpleasantness seems to have cleared the air so we can get on with our love of weaving. That is what I'm going to go do right now. Jane Wilson %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 113 Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 07:56:41 -0700 From: Naomi Paquette To: David Collins References: 1 Hi David and Fellow Artists, Tony yes I have my basket off the mold I'm on my second basket. I am using oak stave, very narrow smoked flat oval and off white wax linen woven with the main weaver. Looks wonderful. Now to answer your question, I waxed the dove tails I thought almost to much before I started my basket. One of my friends had done it in a class and said that the teacher even had a bad time getting the basket off the mold. I guess the solution is wax, wax, wax. Mine came off easy. We learn a new trick every time we weave. Glad you were successful, I always worry about getting them off the mold. The Pam/Di thing!!!! I feel very sorry that both parties have been hurt. I wish it would go away. There have been some very constructive comments about this but it is time to let it rest, that of course is just my opinion. Basket weaving is a wonderful art that for whatever reason we all started and continue because we love it. Sharing is part of life. If we don't share how do we expect the art of basket weaving to continue. I personally feel that if I can interest one person in to making a basket I've done something that will continue. Keeping things to ourselves ends when we do. Isn't that how we all learned to do the things we do. Like someone else said hug and make up. Naomi in hot dry Florida, where we pray the rains come soon. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits and pieces Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 11:11:22 -0400 From: John Miles To: David Collins Dear David, What a treat to be receiving WW so often. I work with my husband and he just shakes his head as I check my e-mail each morning - knowing I am really looking for WW and nothing to do with our insurance business. I am so thankful for a supportive husband that is REALLY interested in my basketweaving. I just went to my first convention in NC and he really does not like for me to go away from home but was so excited for me. He has set up our garage with brass hooks so I can hang all my reed. I have been hanging it in garbage bags and I can't believe they really hold up. After reading the post about the mouse sander and telling him about that, he said he already had a small sander and got it out for me and it is now mine to use. I also purchased the Dremel drill with a little money I had left over from convention and I am amazed how they little thing works. The small sander is wonderful for shaving down the ends of my rims. I had a shoulder replacement a couple of years ago when I fell out of my grandson's treehouse and the hardest thing for me to do is shave down rims - what a joy with the sander. One of the teachers at NC told us never to shave the rims while wet because it will dull the Stanley Shaver blades. I do have a question to ask. I have been having some ladies from the our church over a couple times a month to teach some basics in weaving. They use all of my supplies and I have a hard time figuring out what to charge them for the reed. They all are making something different. I wondered if someone has a formula they use for the amount to charge for certain sizes of baskets. I have the cost of the handles but I just don't know how to figure the reed. I really don't want any profit but I can't afford to lose money either. I went to a local Quilt shop and asked for Retayne and they did not carry it but the lady told me to go the Art store next door - she thought they had it. They did not have it but the artist there told my about the Porcion (? spelling) dyes she uses and they are set with pot ash. I have been wanting to try the dyes so I purchased some and bought the pot ash to go with it. Could I use just the pot ash in the rinse with Rit Dye to set it as well? Would appreciate any info about the dye I purchased and the pot ash. Judy Miles Centreville MD where everything is in bloom and I think just maybe the pair of bluebirds are going to stay and lay their eggs. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Trip to France Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 09:21:27 -0600 From: Tressa Sularz To: davidc@iei.net Hello Everyone! My husband and I are taking a long awaited trip to France in 28 days!!! I'm trying to locate basketmaker's and basketry related points of interest in France. We will be in Paris for 9 days and travelling to Provence for 8-9 days. If anyone has any names or suggestions we'd appreciate it! Greetings to all of you whose names I see writing in to WW - some of you I've met while teaching at various conferences. I'm generally busy travelling to and from conferences so my time doesn't allow me to write very often. I'm heading off to teach at the Bemidji MN conference (hi Diane E) this weekend and I'll see some of you at the Lake Country Basketry Conference in Pewaukee WI the end of the month. There's also another conference the last weekend of September in Shawno WI for those with an interest in WI classes. For those of you that were inquiring about summer workshops, don't forget Siever's School of Fiber Arts on Washington Island, WI. They offer a variety of fiber related workshops from May to October. If anyone wants more information just let me know! I'm teaching a weeklong 'Exploration in Twill Basketry' workshop and a 3 day weekend 'Pine Needle Basketry' workshop in August. Rise Andersen is teaching a weeklong and weekend 'Wicker Basketry' workshop in August also. There are numerous other basketry classes to choose from too at different times of the year. Winnie - I'll send you a postcard from Paris - I haven't forgot! And thanks for your help on info on Paris. Judy O - I have your 'France' book already packed - thanks! Tressa Sularz in rural New Richmond WI where we're suppose to get snow later today! Email: tjsularz@frontiernet.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Swap Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 08:37:13 -0700 From: "Mike Bajczyk" To: CC: Hi All, As of today, there are 88 weavers signed up for the Basket Swap. Last day to sign up will be April 25th. You will then be notified by May 1st with the name of your swap partner. Debbie: I do have your name on the list. Nobody has been given the name of their swap partner yet. Some people are just getting their baskets made up early. You will receive the name of your swap partner sometime between April 25th and May 1st. Happy Weaving, Sue Bajczyk Hibbing, MN Sue Hibbing, MN %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: wisteria Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 13:16:35 -0400 From: roman@tm.net To: davidc@iei.net I'll respond to Karen's question about the use of wisteria, only because my naturals books were sitting by my elbow, not from experience: By Doris Messick from the book Natural Baskets: "If I could have just one basketry plant, it would be wisteria. I have yet to find a technique that can't be done with some part of the wisteria vine. Even the bark of wisteria is a valued commodity, for although it is thin, it is extremely strong and makes a wonderful wrapping material. When I want to use the vine, however, I do not strip off the bark: a stripped wisteria vine is usually hairy and weak. From- "gifts from the earth" by Char TerBeest: Vine can be gathered all year. Early spring or fall is best because of not needing to strip leaves. Store wisteria in coils after removing leaves, in a dry, cool place. Store off the ground to keep insects from the vines. PREPARATION: Wisteria can be used in the "green" stage. However, a little shrinkage should be expected. Dried coils of wisteria should be places in warm water overnight. Drain well. Keep it damp for best weaving results. Some weavers prefer to first boil the materials to kill insect eggs." I think I have heard of putting things in the freezer or in a sack with an insect pest strip to kill unseen buggies too. From warm then cool Michigan- Kristin %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: aloha! Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 08:02:19 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha from less windy and a little drier Honolulu, Tony, thanks for telling us that you scarf your rims wet. I*ve been doing that and it seems that most people are scarfing dry and I was hoping I was teaching my classes a semi-correct method. I*ve been tempted to buy a small shave pony (John McGuires suitable for a table)and knife..will this work for rims for plain reed baskets (as opposed to Nantucket's) also? Karen Awong, newsletter chair for our guild, is planning a retreat (the fist!) for the guild. We are so excited! It is to be early next year at Camp Erdman which is way up on the North Shore of Oahu. What a way to spend a weekend--weaving with friends while sitting within mere feet of the Pacific Ocean...anybody want to come? Thanks for answering about overlapping 2 or 4. I thought 4 was the standard so I was surprised to see Lyn Siler state she does a 2 overlap! I read it several times and took the pattern to painting class to show Joanne. I committed a major boo for painting class--the instructor told me not to go ahead and paint anything on my wooden piece--and I just felt the spirit within me and did.....she wasn*t pleased. Nor as she pleased when I painted my sailboat bottom red instead of brown and she asked why I was painting when she told me not to and painting colors she didn*t like and I told her I was "experimenting" and she said "I*m glad you think you are a good enough painter to experiment"....not without sarcasm...how can anyone take any class and not feel that desire to experiment?? The really big spring fair I do (first of May this year--which is also Lei Day) has run into trouble--probably more than it realizes. This fair, in the spring, has almost 200 booths, mostly country-type stuff..(in the fall, the fair has over 250 booths). However, this spring, due to heightened tensions around the world, this fair (which, I forgot to add, is held on an Air Force base) will not be open to the public. People must have a valid military ID to come... This is going to hurt sales and it will also create bad feelings and next fall when (we hope) everything is all happy and fine again, our civilian population might just say "Well, you didn*t want us before, so forget it now"...vendors are upset....this is such a mess. Oh, but, they are allowing civilian vendors..the civilian population just can*t shop... I*m updating my source sheet that I hand out to students. I give them a list of companies that sell basket related stuff so they can order their own catalogs and see what*s out there..books, patterns, kits, thousands of handles, etc. I*m knocking off a few names as I*ve found their service isn*t what I*d hoped (all it takes is having a rude person on the other end of that phone to lose my business)...so if anyone out there would like to be listed (if you have a catalog, that*s great, and if you only have a web-site, I will list that, too), just let me know. I teach 2 classes per week so I come in contact with a lot of weavers on our small island. Also, if you send me a catalog, I will take it to guild and share with our members, too. Those of us fortunate to live here in paradise have to order almost everything and we are just looking for quality stuff at a fair price. Off to weave something for the fair--for which I have lost my spirit.. Lois %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Digital Camera Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 19:27:04 +0000 From: Tony Stubblefield or Dean Meredith To: David Collins/Weavers Words Rea Hunter - Amen, you said exactly what I have been thinking and trying to say, unsuccessfully, for a while now. I couldn't agree more. I teach my students to make a basket like I do and hope they can copy the techniques I use so that later, if they choose, they can start experimenting on their own and develop their own likes and dislikes and maybe even a style. Kathy F. - about shows - I think variety is more important than sheer number. I know personally when I look for something to buy at a craft show. I am less attracted to the booths with dozens of the same thing. It makes the items look less special or unique. I like to think, even though the crafter probably has more in hiding, that I am the only one with this special item. I know that may sound silly, but there is a lot of psychology to selling. One time I had a very nice and very expensive Appalachian ribbed basket that I was selling (I had not made it) and everyone who came into my booth made a beeline for that basket. Once they saw the price though they immediately turned and walked out never looking at any other basket. Believe me I avoid that kind of situation from now on. Mary Carty - The spider story is really neat, too bad I have a near phobia about spiders. They're OK as long as they aren't able to get on me, but once I see one everything that tickles me freaks me out. I will try to tell myself your story the next time I see one scurrying about and maybe that will help. Mary Harper - what most people call a "shaving pony" is just a small table top version of a shaving horse. Oh, I just wanted to share with everyone that I purchased yesterday a digital camera, actually my father wanted one to use for his antique business and since I am the "computer expert" I got to pick it out and learn how to use it. Well, it took me all evening to get through the manual and figure out how to download a couple of pictures, but they look pretty good. It should really help me get new baskets on my web site faster. I will let you all know how I like the camera after I have a chance to play a little more. By the way, I got the Olympus D-400 Zoom for those of you interested. Well I am of to clean the bathroom, UCK! and then I will play with my camera some more. I will let you all know when I have some new pictures added to my web site. Tony Stubblefield St. Louis http://www.tetranet.net/users/deanandtony/baskets.htm %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 16:58:41 -0400 From: "joym" To: Hello fellow weavers! I'd like to say that I especially enjoyed posts on the last issue from Rae, Rob, Dianne & Karen (2). Karen, you asked a very good question when you wanted to know how we determine who may have been the "real" "original" designer of a basket. Who the hay knows!!!! There's enough basketry on the internet to show anyone how diverse & far reaching basketry is - so many different types of baskets & materials - lots of overlap in techniques & styles between cultures & countries - while at the same time giving us many examples of truly beautiful, somewhat more unique creations. It's hard for our egos to accept, but whatever we've woven has probably been woven quite similarly by many basketmakers over the centuries. Sometimes when I'm weaving I like to think about all those early basketmakers & what their lives may have been like. It must have been nice to be a basketmaker in a time when the skill & profession was more valued. I love to think about a basketmaker having respect within their community for their skill and the products produced which helped others in their daily tasks. I think that we in the U.S. sometimes get "stuck" in the pattern or kit mentality. I'd like it more if we taught a series of techniques (vs. specific baskets), and then proceeded to encourage students to design their basket as they go. Wouldn't we see many more wonderful reflections of creative energy? I think the most fun I've had was in weaving the Medusa Monster Basket (the project is on my website). Not because it's very unique in shape or materials, but because I "listened" to the materials and they said, "BIG! BIGGER! FLARE ME! PULL ME IN! LET ME OUT!" That three foot basket provided a wild adventure that no pattern could match! Don't worry. Be happy. Weave a basket. Joy Sign of the Crow: http://www.signofthecrow.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 108 Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 16:15:21 -0500 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 108 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 1000 Wow, David! 1000 subscribers! In less than 2 years! Isn't it amazing?! Welcome to all the new subscribers! Winnie - The Missouri Basketweavers Guild, Hand-woven in the Heartland Convention will be June 4, 5 and 6 in Kansas City, MO. Judy Benner - Hope your poison ivy is getting better by now. It sounds like the fat vines you were chopping on were the culprits. Grape vines have forked tendrils and kind of stringy bark. Honeysuckle has no tendrils at all. Poison ivy often climbs via aerial roots that grow out of the sides of the vine and grab whatever it's climbing on. Denise - Thanks for the info about Bonnie Gale's web site. Hope to be able to look it over later this week. Gotta run now, Bob's Mom is cooking Easter dinner. Bert Comstock Independence, MO, where the neighbors' saucer magnolia trees are bursting with huge pink blossoms. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 109 Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 16:16:08 -0500 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 109 Lois - Your description of how you do a flat oval rim sounds a lot like the way I do it. I have no trouble tapering wet flat oval reed with a sharp whittling knife. It only needs to soak a few minutes longer than flat reed, especially if you use warm water. It isn't going to be making any sharp turns, after all. Naomi Paquette - To bend flat reed without it splitting or breaking, be sure it is well soaked, then pinch the area of the bend with some narrow pliers or a hemostat, then roll it gently over something round, such as a ball point pen or pencil or large knitting needle. You can then sharpen the bend somewhat by gently pinching it with your fingers. Don't expect it to make really sharp corners, though. There will probably still be some splitting when you fold and tuck a top edge before applying the rim. Joan Culler Thanks for the tip about the Ortho foam poison ivy killer. Hope I can find some around here. Pam Feix - You're right to point out that someone needs to speak up about such things as the overpriced and marginally edible food. Nobody should take your comments personally. But if they don't know it's 'broken,' they won't know to 'fix' it. Mary Carty - If you'll post a notice for us about January next year, I'll try to get a basket to your show. I am trying to learn to write good basket patterns because I see that there is a great demand for them. But I prefer to teach without using a pattern, because it gives more leeway for me to encourage the creative students to exercise their creativity. It's also easier to convince them that different shapes are not necessarily 'wrong.' Laurie Burns - The best information I've found about Irish basketry so far has been in Dorothy Wright's book _The Complete Book of Baskets and Basketry_. (Devon, Great Britain: David & Charles. 1992. Third Edition. ISBN 0-7153-9856-3. North Pomfret, VT: David & Charles. 1983.) The Irish, Welsh, and Scots all seem to have done a lot of rib baskets: egg, basket, melon basket, hen basket, flat backed panniers, and others. The book has some excellent photos of unusual traditional baskets. Karen Johnson - Ask the school for a 'job description' of what they expect from an artist in residence. Then you can think it over and see if you want to submit a proposal or counter- proposal. You might also see if you can get contact information for their previous artists in residence and then talk to them about there experiences - what they liked about the program, what they would like to have done differently and so on. That sounds like an exciting opportunity! Let us know if you decide to go for it. Bert Comstock, in blooming Independence MO, where my first lilacs came out yesterday, the lawn is scattered with violets and the rabbits Didn't eat my peach-colored tulips this year. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: (no subject) Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 17:23:57 EDT From: Arlo1225@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everyone, Found a neat product at Cook's Garden Welcome to The Cook's Garden. It's Bee Balm Beeswax cream lotion. I think it works very well on rough, cracked hands. Thought some might be interested. For those who garden, The Cook's Garden also has a wonderful selection of seeds. Judy in Pa - Glad to hear your poison ivy's almost gone! Re: Stanley Shavers - I use an old, long 2x4 when I do any trimming. It's thick, easy, and portable, and does save your table area. I also use an inexpensive vinyl tablecloth backed with flannel-like material. It's thicker than just plastic and doesn't seem to slip as readily. Makes clean up easier too! I have one for baskets/staining and one for my daughter to use with her crafts. Works out well. Valerie - Your swap basket is already done! Wow! Now I'm feeling anxious! Thanks a lot! :-) Only kidding of course! Maybe thinking of you will give me incentive to get mine done soon. Denise Beck - please keep sending in lots of basket pictures! They're beautiful! My daughter and I did get a chance to visit The Country Seat over her vacation (2 weeks ago) - Thanks Cindy, Donna (? Can't remember exactly who sent all the wonderful information about the area - sorry). We took one of your suggestions and stayed at Gloria's Bed and Breakfast. You were right - she's so sweet! We had a wonderful time there and GREAT breakfasts! Hope to get back again sometime. Went into Reading the first day and hit the outlets - found some really good buys! Bought a new comforter for my daughter's room (her birthday present - new comforter, paint, etc). Also found a very nice, soft leather backpack for only $25! Have wanted one for a long time but wouldn't spend $100+ for the ones I've seen in shops and catalogs. I was pleased! :-) Came back to Gloria's that afternoon to a "not-so-pleasant" call from home. One of our dogs was severely burned when she jumped up by the stove and knocked over a pan of hot oil my husband was cooking with (he's deaf and didn't hear the dog behind him). Dave (hubby) knocked the pan away from the dog's head but her back was burned - at least she didn't get it in her eyes. (Dave was also burned, but not too badly) Another of our dog's woke up that day and couldn't walk - both were taken to the vet's and that one was diagnosed with lyme. Fortunately both critters and hubby are ok now, but we cut our trip short and came home a day early to tend to the sick! Oh well, with 5 cats and 4 dogs, things like this happen! Only had Mon. evening to visit Country Seat - sooo glad you're open late that night! Only had time to look through the reed and book selection briefly and the 2 pattern notebooks - but did have time to find a few things I just had to buy! :-) We'll definitely be back! Our sign language teacher and friend, who is deaf, came over last night to have me teach her basket weaving. I was a little nervous, afraid I wouldn't be able to adequately explain the various steps with my limited sign. I tried learning a few signs for some basket terms and other common words used and fortunately I remembered enough to get by. We're not too proficient at signing yet as Dave's deafness is a recent occurrence. My friend liked the "Beginning Square Basket" by Grace Kabel in her book: Basket Beginnings. We followed the directions for spoke size and length and also the handles and braided filler, but then my friend took off on her own - designing with different colored reed and also various sized reed. It was great! She's hooked! We both had a lot of fun and now I have another "basket buddy" to weave with! So much more fun than weaving alone! Rae: Well said! Moonweaver - count me in on April 30! Prices are ridiculous! Two weeks ago in Pa. I saw gas prices at $.85 and today in upstate NY the cheapest I've found is $1.10! Diane Macomber - one of our cats is 16 yrs. old. She eats only dry food - Nutro Max Cat or Purina - both for adult cats - all our cats eat the same food - so I make sure to buy the food that helps the urinary system - one of our male cats had urinary blockage problems when he was younger, but now seems to be ok - I think the pet food industry (at least some companies) is producing higher, healthier quality food products for our critters.... Time to call it quits for now and practice my signing, finish my work, and try to weave another basket! Bye for now from sunny and finally warm upstate NY! Lesley %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: honeysuckle Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 18:00:10 -0400 From: roman@tm.net To: davidc@iei.net While reading my naturals books to find out about wisteria, I came upon this about honeysuckle: From "Natural Baskets" by Maryanne Gillooly - Honeysuckle is strengthened and becomes more pliable if boiled for three hours before it is stored. Now, I have a coil of bark on coiled honeysuckle that has been dried for some time. I wonder if I should boil it for awhile. Soaking it doesn't seem to get the brittle out. Anyone? They also suggest using Horsetail. Wouldn't that be an interesting bit in a basket? Kristin from Midland MI %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Pattern usage Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 18:41:51 -0400 From: "TFD/RHM" To: My two cents worth on the pattern use/notification. Copyright law does give pattern writers the protection of the copyright by requiring users to ask permission of the writer if they intend to use the pattern to make items for sale. Pattern writers can specify that users don't have to ask permission i.e. if the item is being used for charity or personal use. A dollmaker who publishes her patterns specifies on hers that purchasers of the pattern can make up to 20 dolls per pattern per year for sale without asking her permission. This allows her to get around the need for saying yes or no to requests from small producers and let her negotiate with the people who would make large numbers from one pattern. Could be a solution for some basket pattern writers, too. Ruth M %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 113 Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 18:50:20 -0400 From: martyhln@juno.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi David and World Basketmakers...Last weekend I spent the weekend at the Basket Bash "99" in Mayville, MI. What a great time I had, no cooking almost no sleep, just great fun. On Friday I did a great Antler basket taught by Pam Woodbury. On Saturday I did the Slufoot 1,2,3 taught by Pat Levitte. On Sunday I did a small Bamboo taught by Jodi Shebester. They were all fun to do. The one from Bamboo was the first time I had worked with Bamboo a new weaving material for me, I am looking forward to work with that material again. Pam had a great time at bossing me around, all in fun. For those of you that know Pat Levitte she is so laid back. Ruthanne Morningstar, Joanne Shilling and Cheryl Czerwinski also taught there I wasn't in their class however, it didn't mean they didn't pester all of us. What a great group of teachers. Of course I did my basket the way they wanted me to. LOL. Right Pam. In defense of pattern writers, they expect you to make baskets from their patterns, to sell. Or whatever you may want to do with them, when you buy their patterns. I don't believe you even need to put the acknowledgement on you baskets. If someone ask it would be nice to say it was inspired by the originator. I don't think you need to price to the originators price, but before you price way below the value you might want to consider your worth. If you write a pattern then see that pattern being offered by someone else, with their name as the originator, that is a problem. The problem with the current controversy is not a problem with the use of a pattern, and selling a basket. It is much deeper than that. Money is the root of all evil. Don't get caught up in this issue...Karen you can use Wisteria fresh or soaked later just like Kudzu...Judy I carry a small board in my tool basket it is about 2" wide and 6" long by about 1/2" thick, doesn't take up much room, I use it whenever I use the sureform shaver, for shaving my rims and weavers at the beginning, especially flat oval to reduce the bulk...Lois, I always want my baskets to be able to carry elephants if the need be so I overlap 4 spokes and small reed especially on large baskets 6 spokes I also tuck every spoke at the end, I never have to worry about the thing falling apart. Until next time, everyone have some fun go weave a basket. Peace and love to all. May the SUN shine on you...Warmest Regards...MartyHolihan...Flint, MI... dholihan@gfn.org (or)...martyhln@juno.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 19:16:58 -0400 From: "MYLOIS@PRODIGY.NET" <"MYLOIS@PRODIGY.NET"@prodigy.net> Organization: Prodigy Internet To: davidc@iei.net Lois in Hawaii: I always overlap 4 rows for the first 4 rows or so. After that I overlap 2. Usually the larger reed makes me overlap only 2 as I get farther into the basket because it distorts sometimes if I try to overlap 4. The smaller reed it doesn't seem to matter although sometimes the flat oval in smaller reed causes distortion. Myra %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: aloha again Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 13:31:44 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha from a gorgeous day in Hawaii....sunny, breezy and warm.. I cleaned out the weaving room (and found a box of handles that included all my 5 x 14 D*s which I just reordered so thank goodness they are such a multi-use handle), did minor housework, dyed a batch of teal, amethyst and navy and showered to get all the dye that splashed up my arms--packed for class tonight....and all this time, I*ve been thinking about our discussion on the past few WW*s. It was the topic at our guild meeting Monday, on chatroom yesterday and at class yesterday aft. and to be honest, people are troubled by it. I know a lot of WW-ers wrote in and said it shouldn*t have been brought up (but it was) and it should end, but I think a lot of people, including myself are still troubled by it. While we were having our pattern discussion a couple of years ago, someone said no one watches over us--weavers and pattern writers do whatever they choose to do and we have no "watch dog". And that*s both good and bad. But I think it is the ethic thing that bothers me. The majority of weavers I have met are most ethical, but it is the ones who are not that make me sad. One case: I have a good friend who used to live in Hawaii and who sold at a shop. The shop owner built up a great dislike for my friend because my friend sold at fairs and gave classes and sold to friends. The shop owner expected total loyalty with my friend selling only at her shop. So the shop owner took all my friend*s baskets and gave them to two other, less talented weavers and said "copy these and we*ll sell them for less money". She wanted to drive my friend out of her shop (and she was under contract at the time). So when my friend went into the shop one day and saw "her" baskets, most original designs, copied and priced less, she paid to get out of her contract. One of the new weavers, who no longer lives here, sells her own designs now. Needless to say, I wouldn*t do business with her. One weaver who used to sell here would buy baskets from others at fairs and copy them and sell at the next one. Another weaver, whom I taught, would go to a fair, look at my designs, and show up at the next fair with same basket, right down to the exact color. The thing is, none of these weavers live here anymore--they*re living in your communities now. All of the above was done without ethics, without scruples--in the name of the almighty basket dollar. I certainly wouldn*t expect everyone to live by my morals or standards..everyone chooses their own path. But I won*t do business with anyone who I feel isn*t ethical. I will tell my students the same..and I*ll do the same at guild. The best way to show how I feel is to do my business elsewhere and to encourage others to do the same. Patterns, patterns, patterns...I buy them, I use them and someday, I hope to sell them. But I refuse to buy a pattern that has been blatantly copied by someone else who has changed the size, the color, or the name and pasted their own name on it. And since I*ve been weaving for 8 years, I*ve seen lots and lots of patterns and chances are good I won*t buy a "rip off". But if you are going to sell something, don*t steal the idea from someone else. We cannot take a pattern, reduce the size and say "adapted from a pattern by whomever but redesigned by me!!"and still use the same color, glue the same wood cut-outs on the sides and call ourselves "authors". Should you choose to do this, someone will catch you at it (especially if you are doing this on the net), call you on it and maybe you will lose your reputation in our business. Which is more important--having a good strong reputation or selling a pattern you copied? This might sound harsh, but I feel that without some business ethics, we are nothing. I*m not picking on one person--in fact, I*ve seen this on other sites and by saying "well, people steal MY designs, so what is the big deal" doesn*t make it right. This topic has made me do a lot of thinking....and I am full of joy realizing that the majority of weavers are good hearted souls. But I feel sad for those who feel the need to cheat to get ahead. Lois P.S. David--thanks a lot for using spell check..the older I get, the worse my spelling becomes.. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.