"Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 29 Date Sent: August 26, 1998 Subscribers: 752 David Collins 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 317-899-5747 davidc@iei.net {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} ***IMPORTANT INFORMATION*** ***PLEASE READ BEFORE PRINTING*** 1.) Highlight entire issue. 2.) Click copy. 3.) Paste issue into a word processor of your choosing. 4.) Now Print. {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} +++++Individual Weaver's Words Pages+++++ Of course you can always find links to each individual page on Weaver's Words home page (http://www.iei.net/~davidc/). Weaver's Words Home Page: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Weaver's Words Back Issues: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/2468.html Weaver's Words Classifieds: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/classifieds.html Weaver's Words Subscribers: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/subscribers.html Weaver's Words Basketry Links: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/basket.htm Weaver's Words Chat Room: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/chitchat.html Weaver's Words Bulletin Board: ---http://www.InsideTheWeb.com/messageboard/mbs.cgi/mb83941 Weaver's Words RIT Dye Color Chart: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ritdye.html Weaver's Words Basketry Wallpaper Page: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/graphics/graphics.html Weaver's Words Basketry Clip Art Page 1: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/graphics/clipart.html Weaver's Words Basketry History: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/history.html Weaver's Words Basketry Dictionary: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/dictionary.htm Weaver's Words Guestbook: ---http://www.lpage.com/wgb/wgbsign.dbm?owner=Basketry Weaver's Words Favorite Links & Stuff: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/cool.htm Weaver's Words Free Postcard Page: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/postcard.html Weaver's Words Bulletin Free Banner Service: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/banner.html {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Hi Everyone, Ms. Cathryn Peters' sent me some pictures of her Wicker Airplane Seats. I've added them to Weaver's Words web page. You can see them at the following address: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/yourpics/peters.html Just curious if anyone else in the group collects Beanie Babies. I've been collecting them for about 6 months and already have about 80. Actually I collect a few things: Autographs, Kaleidoscopes, Larry Bird & Jeff Gordon cards. I'm an addict. Stop by Weaver's Words web page if you haven't already and take the Basketry Survey. So far 67 people have done so. Pretty interesting results. Take Care, David davidc@iei.net {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: About Zeh Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 07:17:50 -0400 From: "D.Brown" To: I am back with another question, such a varied response to my last one, I'm almost afraid! Anyway, friends, my vacationing friend was in Maine and attended an art show in Bar Harbor and saw a display of baskets along with the artist. She was amazed at the prices of his baskets. A pack basket had a price of over $2000.00. A set of nestling baskets was priced for about $8000.00. Can this be for real? She said she didn't see any gold or jewels worked into the pattern! Can anyone tell me more about this artist? They were well made and beautiful, but are the prices for real? Wish you all love and luck, wish I had more time to reply to particular weavers. I am curious how Lisa Nortz is doing with her baskets in LL Bean. Saw the catalog and they have displayed her baskets beautifully. Good luck, Lisa, hope you get another contract!!! Have lots of back reading to do on the WW, so may have missed something about my question or about Lisa, if so, please forgive me! Diane Brown (My fishing creel was a success, thanks to a couple of responses to my question!) {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: materials I use Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 23:37:55 +1000 From: M & A Lizotte To: "Collins, David" Cheryl--hi from down under. You asked what materials I use for my baskets....anything and everything I can gather from my garden, other gardens and the bush. I use a lot of dried leaves: watsonia, red-hot poker (knifophia), iris, daylily, cattails, tall spike reed (juncus), jasmine, periwinkle(vinca), honeysuckle, willow, various suckers, palm inflorescence, cordyline, NZ flax, grapevine, lavender, wild clematis, corn husks and leaves, passion fruit vine, kiwi vine, yucca, kennedya vine, dodder(cassytha pubescens), kangaroo paw, wattle bark, she-oak(casuarina), seaweed and pretty much anything else that is long enough to weave with. I enjoy twisting two-ply cord of various thicknesses with my scraps and leftover bits and then use that to make the god's eye or to weave in for texture. I also use bits of driftwood and bamboo for handles. Today I went "willowing" at a spot I have had my eye on for a while as there appeared to be easy access. Well, I really hit the Jackpot as not only was there an abundance of willow rods of various thicknesses and lengths but many of the trees were also over run with wild clematis and dodder vines so I filled up the back of my van with quite an assortment. When I got home and started coiling the clematis into rings, I heard quite a loud "crack, crack" and thought "Oh no, this stuff is too brittle to use" but it turned out it was the outer bark making the cracking noise as it parted company with the vine. It all stripped off very easily and lo and behold the vine underneath was beautifully ridged and a lovely pale fawny colour and very silky to the touch. Needless to say I was really pleased with what I saw and will be going back soon to get some more! And the bark is a bonus as it peeled off in pretty long strips suitable for a small basket or for twisting into a very textured cord. Going through some back issues I noticed quite a few comments about people not liking ribbed baskets. That is mostly the sort of basket that I do in various shapes and sizes and I find them quite easy but I think that has to do with the materials that I use. I have never made one with flat reed or anything like that. I teach a two-hour class one morning a week in 6 week blocks and we always start with a melon basket (using the term loosely as the students choose the length of their ribs and hence the shape of the basket). By the end of the first class everyone goes home with their basket framed up: we coil the two hoops out of palembang (a vine that grows in Indonesia) then make the god's eyes with flat oval and then put in the primary ribs, again palembang. To keep the ribs from flying out, I always have them tie them in place with a strip of pantyhose. We just tie one end in the middle of the rim and loop it around the middle of each rib all the way to the other rim. If the ribs are particularly "mobile" then I have them tie another strip on each end closer to the god's eye. The pantyhose is removed after they have woven a couple of inches at each end of the basket. They buy the palembang and flat oval from me but they have to gather their own materials for weaving. Sometimes if my boys have felt like earning some pocket money by doing some gathering, I will have $2 bundles of watsonia and cattails for them to buy to supplement whatever they can find. We use the palembang for the frame instead of other vines because it gives them a more even, regular shape to work with for their first basket. Later they are free to use whatever they want and some wonderfully "organic" baskets come out of that. Has anyone ever used hop vines? Our basketweavers group has a "HopDay" in March every year as that is when the hops are harvested. We all gather at the Hop Farm for the day and sit weaving with the fresh hops and then at the end of the day we can fill our trunk, truck, van, etc with as many hop vines as we can stuff in and the entire day costs $5. I love working with the hops but they are very rough on your hands, a bit like sandpaper!! My kids love me to rub their backs after I have been "hopping" as it is like getting a back rub and a back scratch all at once! If any of you have access to kelp, you can make lovely kelp stem "buttons" to decorate your baskets with. You take the stem and slice it into rounds and let it dry. It dries into wavy discs and then you can drill a hole in and use to embellish your baskets. They look great! Well, I have rambled on enough....happy weaving wherever you are.....Anna in Tassie where the daffodils are blooming......but the woodheater is still fired up! {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 28 Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 09:46:05 -0400 From: "Carty's" Organization: Pinelands Folk Music Center To: David Collins References: 1 David: I must admit that I am also a beanie baby collector. It all started with one Erin Bear. I wonder also if any others on this list are beanie addicted. Cape May would be a really great place to have a basket retreat, Anyone interested in getting together sometime in the fall (rates or cheaper) in that area of NJ let me know maybe we can get something together. We are watching the weather very close, IF the hurricane comes this way it will be right on time for the Big Phila Folk Festival. Anyone who might be going to the festival, I will be there as a vendor (Dulcimers)I always bring along some of my baskets to sell and work on. Always have extra supplies with me. Well back to the bookwork, Take Care IN PEACE njweaver2 It's really going to be a hot one here in New Jersey today. Mary Carty My Basket swap partner is really going to be surprised I forgot to put a note in the box. {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Issue 27 & 28 Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 11:06:25 -0400 From: "joym" To: Hi Everyone, I've fallen behind on all the thing I wanted to respond to. Not hard to do! *Gretchen: You might try a Weaver's Stain clear coat on top of your walnut. *Dee: There are a number of costs to take into consideration when producing your pattern including design time (oh ha ha- nobody gets paid for this!), writing, typing, paper, ink, printing time, color photo, slick cover. *Kay: You waterproof needlecase sounded like an awesome project. This is for sewing needles? Could you do the same process, only for a knitting needle case? *Eva: How does one contact Union Station? *On the Indian getting more for the baskets: This is a complex issue & obviously involves the history of settler/Native relations as this country developed. Having worked on a reservation, I know that reverse discrimination happens. Any discrimination never feels good, isn't fair, has 2 sides to the story. But, what this issue makes me think of is when the Shaker & Native people were in hot competition for the splint basketry market. Rather than attempting to make the same designs, each group went off & came up with their own designs. The Natives in this area developed what are known as "fancy baskets". I would think that a cue could be taken from this bit of history, and although it requires more work & creative energy, why not use the techniques you know in a different way? *Karen: What is the nature of the lemongrass plant? I don't recall, as I haven't seen it in a while. I recently saw a wreath idea. They used the dried STALKS of the chive plant for the twisted wreath circle. *Jayna: Thanks for the tip on eucalyptus. I use it as rim material in one of my baskets & have never had a problem, but maybe I was just lucky not to get any wet! *Deb: Where can I find instructions for a pillow basket? *Janet: And, where can we see a picture of a Jerry Stripper & an explanation of how it is used? *Wickerwoman: The most important thing is that you are O.K.!, but what an experience you have been through. **About the AOL BuddyList described. It sounds just like ICQ. An alternative for the non-AOL crowd. Lastly: On the issue of not adding any personal information. Personally, I enjoy learning a bit about each WW family member. I look at basketry not as just a compilation of techniques, but as a hobby or profession where the "weavers" have a certain spirit & nature to offer the world. That is all part of how the baskets come into being! For our newcomers, WW is a non-censored forum. Joy Moody Sign of the Crow http://www.signofthecrow.com in Hampden, Maine where we are awaiting "Bonnie" {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 16:13:25 -0000 From: "Jeff & Diana French" To: "David Collins" Hello Everyone! Well, I'm happy to report that I finally got my swap basket in the mail to my swap buddy. Geez, I hope she likes it :~) Now, I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my package... Joy: This swap thing was such a great idea and we all appreciate the work you put into it. We'll have to ask for another volunteer for the next one as it's only fair we all share the load. Maybe we should set up a time frame - like twice a year.. or 4 times a year and then ask for volunteers to run each swap. I think once a month is pushing it - it would get too confusing... especially if the same person was trying to coordinate consecutive swaps. This is supposed to be fun, not work, right? Did Kat arrive yet? I haven't heard whether she made it to Maine yet. Darleena: Welcome back! We all missed your input here on WW and can't wait to hear how the trip went and what new baskets you may be making these days. Cindy mentioned that she didn't like lengthy responses and all the personal info inserted into the WW list, but I feel that if we were just handing out basket info we wouldn't really know who we all were. I love hearing all the basket news as well as the more personal news. It helps paint of picture of who we all are and it makes us all feel more like a family. I read every word of every issue and if some of you prefer not to read the more personal stuff, well that's fine too. Like someone said, you could just skim along and just look for the specific basket info. I try not to be too long winded, but when I get a WW or 2 full of stuff I want to comment on.... sometimes I can't help myself :~) Carolyn Corbett: It's great to hear your husband was on his toes when his truck tire blew. Those trucks can be tough to handle when those things happen - especially if it was a big truck. It will be great to have another weaver in the area... even if we do have to wait until December. Can't wait to get a chance to meet. Thanks for the info. on the basket shop in Jacksonville - I'll forward the info. onto my cousin... she'll appreciate it. Yes, she was affiliated with Kings Bay, but got promoted and is now working in Brunswick, GA - a much longer commute. Judy Benner: I can't bear to throw out anything, so I have tons of scraps around. I bundle them according to reed size and store them in a very large basket. When I need shorter pieces of reed, I always go to my scrap basket first. Scraps are also great for making smaller baskets such as jelly jar or junk holders. I make a pencil basket that always uses up some scraps. Even short pieces of dyed reed can be used as a color insert on a wrapped handle. Waste not, want not :~) Sherry Gregg: You were looking for a fishing creel pattern. I recently bought one through basketpatterns.com - It's by Lisa Nortz. I've already made the basket and it wasn't too difficult but you do have to pay attention to the shaping. My dilemma is the lid - I need to find someone to cut one for me as I don't have the tools here to do it myself. If you have the means to make the wooden lid, then this basket may be what you are looking for. Cathryn Peters: The wicker seat pictures are great! It looks like you put a lot of hard work in those chairs - they're beautiful! You mentioned the AOL - instant message... Well, anyone can get that and you don't have to subscribe to AOL. Just go to http://www.aol.com//aim/promo/73010/aim_download.html/ and you can download the IM and start chatting with everyone else that has AOL or the AOL - IM. I have it and my buddy name is DFrench14 if any WW'er's want to add me to their buddy list. This just gives you access to the IM program not to other AOL sites such as bulletin boards and AOL specific chat rooms. Cheryl VanDeVeer: A Longaberger basket is a basket manufactured in a factory. They only sell through home parties - a lot like Tupperware. They are nice baskets but are lacking in personality and they can be quite expensive. Well, Cindy - looking back I see that I was very long winded this time. Maybe I'll do better next time. Happy Weaving to all From Diana French in hot, and very muggy southern New Jersey {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: miscellaneous Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 14:20:57 -0400 From: "Gail Caron" To: David: I sent this message earlier today, but I am not sure where it went. Unlike my other sent messages it didn't appear to leave my outbox. If you receive duplicate messages from me, feel free to use either one. Thanks. Hi all. I am still anxiously awaiting my swap basket. I feel like a kid on Christmas eve waiting to open presents. I am sure that I will love it, especially since everyone who has written in about their baskets has been so excited. I would love to participate in another swap, Joy, and would like to volunteer to help coordinate it. I would like to add my opinion to the discussion about non-basketry comments being put on WW. I enjoy reading about the other aspects of subscribers lives, I am interested in their families, where they live, what their other interests are. I also think that it is nice to acknowledge other members' responses to questions in an open forum - everyone likes to be appreciated publicly. If you do not want to read these comments it is easy enough to scroll through the message. To Chrys from NE Washington - I am thrilled to find another WW member who is also interested in horses. I have three horses of my own right now. I have just made several baskets based on Lyn Siler's garden tool basket to use for brushes and grooming supplies. I am, surprised, though, that you are awaiting the birth of a foal at this time of the year. I don't know much about your winter climate, but here in the east we would be worried about the timing (its a little late for foaling season here). This past weekend my fiber arts guild held a basket class where we made a tall square to round basket with a 10 inch square base. I haven't been able to get my cat out of the newest addition to my basket collection for two days. There were quite a few first time weavers at the class (most of the guild members are spinners and/or weavers), but they all enjoyed themselves and went home with a useful basket. Well, that's all for now. Hope everyone is well. Gail Caron in southern NJ {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Re:Heart & Fishing Creel Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 16:07:16 -0400 From: "Angie - Country Seat" To: "David - Weavers Words" Hi All, Diane Vanden Heuvel - Th pattern you are looking for is the Puffy Ash Heart by Oz/Longenecker for 1.50. The pattern shows 2 sizes made in thin ash, but of course once the basic pattern is learned, the size and materials can be changed. Sherry Gregg - We carry 2 pattern sheets "Wicker Fishing Creel" by Otto $5.50 (round reed) and "Fishing Creel" by Nortz $4.00 (flat & flat oval with a wooden lid). Also, "The Basket Book" by Siler $12.95 contains a round reed fishing creel. still feels like summer, Angie The Country Seat, PA http://www.countryseat.com {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: aloha Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 10:37:09 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha from very breezy Honolulu, The cat bite saga continues..due to a blood test taken during treatment, some problems were found, so I*m being scheduled this aft. for 2 surgeries. Maybe the bite did more good than harm! I will have to agree with another "old timer" on this one (forgive me, Pam!), but I have to vote on leaving WW the way it is. I enjoy hearing about things that go on in everyone*s lives, other than weaving. This page is like receiving many letters from friends around the world (beats checking the mailbox everyday!). We ran into something like this when Shirley ran the page, but it sort of faded away. I think simply writing about baskets and related topics will make this list a little dry. Just an opinion from yet another weaver. At the Virtual Guild, we chat a few times a week and if we limited that to only basket topics, there would be a lot of dead time....we*ve been chatting so long that I feel if I ran into any of the VBG members on the street, it would be like meeting an old friend. To our friends on the southern East Coast, do let us know how things are going with you with that hurricane churning out there. Lois Honolulu {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 28 Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 18:10:35 EDT From: Sandybsk@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net MS Creations has 3/16 flat and 1/2 flat Superior reed for $4.00/lb, while supplies last. The word is out so if you are interested please e-mail me ASAP. Sandy {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: varnish and basket swap Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:04:57 -0400 From: gatsby@agate.net To: davidc@iei.net I received my basket from the basket swap. It is a wonderful tote. I had never made one for myself and now I don't want to use the one I got because I don't want it to get dirty. Thanks again, Brenda. I have a question that I think was answered a while ago, but I can't find the information. Can/do you use varnish on your basket? I seem to remember discussion about not using it because it makes the basket crack. Any comments would be appreciated. Dot in warm days and chilly nights Maine where school starts in just 6 days! Yuck! {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Basket Swap & Misc. Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:48:51 EDT From: JanHardt@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone, I'm another guilty lurker coming out in the open. I just received my swap basket from Pam Duffy-Kope and what a treat! It's a Geometric Rib Basket with a beautiful braided handle. As I told Pam, this swap turned out perfectly for me as I like ribbed baskets but don't enjoy making them. Thank you Pam. I'm ready for the next swap and would be willing to coordinate it when the time comes. Thank you, Joy, for all your hard work to make this a success. I have been weaving since 1992 and do primarily small, ash baskets. Recently I started working on some waxed linen pieces. Does anyone know where I can purchase waxed linen other than 4-ply?. Some of the patterns I have call for 6, 7 or 12 ply. David, the Weaver's Words site is fantastic. I really enjoy viewing all the pictures and exploring the basketry links. And, your favorite links have been a great help. The one I use the most is NetLingo -- I don't feel quite as "out of it" now. When someone posts something I don't understand, I can just look it up. Thank you for all the time and energy you devote to this project. Jan from West Des Moines, IA (hot and muggy, again) {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: RE: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 28 Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:50:30 -0400 From: Susan Tripp To: "'David Collins'" It's too bad that AOL's chat is limited to just AOL people and all us others can't participate in your basket chats. It doesn't seem to be the way of the web for everyone not to be able to connect to one site. AOL is not the only one with the "buddy list" either. ICQ and some other free downloadable programs do the same. I just downloaded ICQ so I can chat with a buddy from Australia. It automatically tells me when she is on line. We've even done the voice mail messaging. Now that was fun! Can you imagine if all 700+ weavers downloaded ICQ and could chat like that? It's refreshing to know that someone doesn't know what a Longaberger basket is.... I enjoy hearing about everyone's weather, trips and kids (and veggies!). It seems it would be so much easier for those folks who don't like it to just skim those parts?!?!? Ruthanne - what about that dandelion preserve recipe? Is it a secret, or can you share it? I'm so excited about my upcoming basket events. It seems I've been so jealous of those of you in the mid north section there with all your wonderful conventions and so many baskets events. I just got my confirmation that I made it in the Nantucket class being taught by John McGuire in October (due to one cancellation - thank you whoever you are!!). And, I'm on the list to take a Willow class or two in September from Bonnie Gail. Plus (oh, I just can't stand all this excitement) I just mailed in my Winter Weave '99 registrations for mom and me. It's hard to function properly when you're so excited about a convention that is six months away. Susan from warm, muggy upstate NY {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Alaska Trip Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 22:41:35 EDT From: Reavelys@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net I just returned from five wonderful days in Juneau and Gustavus, Alaska visiting my son, Nate. He graduated a year and half ago from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, worked with a social service organization in Seattle, WA helping to settle Russian immigrants. (He's fluent in Russian!) and then decided to go to Juneau to work for Alaska Discovery, a kayaking expedition company. What an experience it was. Alaska is beautiful and the people delightful. And we especially LOVED the cool weather. (It's 90 degrees and about 100% humidity in Iowa today). But what I really want to share is my delight in finding lots of Jill Choate beautiful antler baskets in the shops. The gift shop in the Juneau airport even had several. Since I have been reading some of the comments on antler baskets, it was wonderful to be able to see one up close. I'm impressed! I also got to see the exquisite "Baleen" baskets. Thought before I went to Alaska that I'd like to have one, but lo and behold, I couldn't bring myself to spend a minimum of $700 up to $1800 for one. Maybe if I become independently wealthy, I can go back and buy one. I feel pleasure, however, in at least seeing them. Sally Reavely (the "Lawyer Basketmaker") {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: baskets and misc. Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 01:31:04 EDT From: Arlo1225@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi All! I must disagree with those who feel WW should be limited to basket-related topics. I too feel "connected" to other weavers when I learn of their day-to- day happenings. Also, others' stories bring to mind past experiences and fond memories in my own life that were previously half-forgotten. Susan, for example, allows me to picture in my mind all the wonderful sights of the Finger Lakes area of NY every time she mentions something about Ithaca - I can "see" all the gorges surrounding Ithaca, the Commons, the great restaurants (yum!), the Cornell campus, shifting on the steep hill-streets, Cayuga with the sailboats and crew teams........keep on writing Susan, and thanks for the memories! To Carolyn (of Suffolk) - thank you for the information about the ornament. To Cathryn - WOW - your plane seats are fabulous! Would love some more info on the plane restoration as my husband and son are now building model gas- engine planes and love to research the older planes. Do you know about any related web sites? Thanks in advance. Deb Curtis - Here's the info you requested: Indian Handcrafts, C. Keith Wilbur, 1990. The Globe Pequot Press; Old Saybrook, Ct. ISBN: 0-87106-496-0 Diane in Beloit - I agree - learning a little at a time is the best way - also starting out small! Learned that in quilting! So much satisfaction when you complete a project - especially when you are just a beginner! It gives you motivation to tackle another, bigger, and/or more complex project the next time! (Please, just don't ask me how many quilting projects I have yet to complete, just know that my first large quilt took 10 years to finish! I now make wall hangings....small ones :-) ! ) Janet - A trip to Australia - lucky you! Anna in Australia: Welcome! Please keep us up-to-date on your weather in the coming months as we will be well into our winter and will be in need of some warmth and sunshine - in thought if not in reality! :-) To Cathryn (WickerWoman) - Glad your shop area was left untouched. Good luck getting back to "normal" and thank you for your "disaster" tips - one quick, but not complete way of documentation is to videotape each room of your home - we've done this, describing items as we tape. We've also taped the building of our home (we did most of the work ourselves) - it's an easy way to remember where all the pipes, wires, etc are within the walls....... Our exchange student left us Sat. - it was so sad - many tears were shed by all. Sent 2 small baskets as gifts but didn't have time to order patterns for the other ones I want to make - fortunately baskets are light so shipping shouldn't bankrupt me! Our 4H packages weighed a lot and the first time I shipped one to Japan I was floored by the shipping costs.....live and learn! Again, thank you Dave - WW is wonderful! Bye for now! Lesley {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Baskets (what else?) & etc. Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 09:21:13 -0500 From: "Bidstrup, Elaine" To: "'davidc@iei.net'" First, David, thank you for all your hard work! I subscribed to WW about 3 months ago, when there were about 550 of us. To think that the group has grown by 200 + since then, and it's all due to your organization and dedication to us as a group. My husband collects baseball cards, I collect perfume bottles, and we both collect postcards. (That last happened sort of by chance, as my mother-in-law (who never met a piece of paper she didn't like and keep) moved from her large house to an apartment and gave us postcards from various relatives, friends, etc., that date back to about 1904.) No Beanie Babies, though. If you're looking for something special I could keep my eye out for you, as coin shops, baseball card shops, and others are also stocking Beanie Babies. I'm a relatively new weaver (a little over a year) and am very grateful for all the basket tips. I'm also a little intimidated by the Basket Swap as my buddy is an experienced weaver, and frequent contributor to WW who owns a shop. I'm also overwhelmed with other "stuff" and need to put the handle and rim on my basket before staining and mailing it. I promise to get it out before Sat. I for one enjoy hearing about other aspects of people's lives. My own life is so confused, congested, and complicated right now that I enjoy hearing about other weavers' triumphs and pains. It helps me put things in perspective. As someone said yesterday, skip the parts you aren't interested in. I'm a school counselor and work for the Missouri School for the Blind. Anyone else out there who is a counselor or works with the blind or has a blind relative? I've thought of trying to teach some of the students weaving (as part of my guidance program I emphasize giving from oneself to others and we always make holiday gifts). Does anyone know of a blind weaver? Or have any suggestions as to how I would go about making this a rewarding (and relatively inexpensive) project for these students, who are about 11-14 years old? Elaine From Hot, Humid, No sign of fall yet St. Louis {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Basket Weaving Books Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 19:29:07 -0700 From: Linda I Nelson To: davidc@iei.net Have been a silent reader for awhile, but all the talk about old books on basket weaving gave me cause to write. I found in a library sale, for fifty cents each 2 old books, oldest one has a copyright published date of 1902, called How to Make Baskets by Mary White and has several basket patterns that I have yet to try. The second book is called The Basketry (Twelve Lessons in Reed Weaving) by Mary Miles Blanchard (Master Craftsman of Reed Basketry) with a copyright of 1934. So my family and friends continue to search for any basket weaving book, they check up updated book list and purchase or reserve for me. Only problem I have with either book, is they state "To be proficient in this task one must be persevering, accurate, neat and capable of making the hand obey the mind". Sometimes as I am weaving a basket, my hands don't always obey anything and I get a unique basket. I am mainly using natural fibers, so they are stronger than the mind and take on the shape they were meant to be. I hope to retire from the Navy in July 99 (26 years) and go to my home in Port Orford, Oregon. Where I will weave and dream of baskets. Linda at skipynet@pacbell.net currently in San Diego {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Weavers Words Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 23:26:01 -0400 From: "Russell & Leslie Johnson" To: Hello David & Fellow Basketweavers, Well I sent my swap buddy's basket off last week, hope she likes it. I haven't received mine yet, but I am waiting patiently!! David: Yes I collect some Beanies, but I don't think I am as addicted as you are!! In fact today, I purchased Fortune the Panda & Fetch the Golden Retriever, they are so cute. I saw a crown today made of Austrian crystals that was made for the Princess Bear. It was 19.95 and so cute..It is easy to get hooked on those adorable animals! My son signed up on a list at a local Hallmark to be able to purchase Princess & Erin if and when his name was drawn & his luck, his name was drawn for both of them!! Cathryn Peters: I was very impressed with the airplane seats you made. That must have been so exciting to be involved with such a project! You did such a marvelous job duplicating the original. I do hope I will be able to catch the National Geographic special about the flight, if you find out when it will be aired, please post it here. Pam Woodbury: I also live in a rural area, and I am lucky to have a good postal delivery lady. She will always attempt to bring packages to the door before she lives a slip in the box. But in the past, I had experienced postal delivery persons who wouldn't bother to take the time and always leave a slip & the maddening part is, you are home and yet can't get the package 'til the next day!! I am real glad you reported her neglect to her superiors! I would like to add my two cents to Pam's comments about the objective of this forum. I love hearing about all of you, your families, trips etc. It makes everyone seem more familiar, yet I don't know any of you!! I hope it doesn't stop. Obviously David doesn't mind or we would all be chastised for posting trivia instead of basket related talk. I also participate in a chat room and have for 1 1/2 years...we do talk about the subject of the intended chat, but mostly about each other's happenings!! We all feel like friends, we share each others joys and disappointments, birthdays, births & such...the internet gets a lot of bad press, but it can be used to bring people with similar interests together too. I hope WW stays like it is, it is so nice to hear all about you :-) I see a lot of you took David's survey and it made me laugh, seems most of you fall into the same category as me..."too many patterns to count". I plan on attending the Mich. convention on Sat, and I was wondering if there is a lot to buy there? Like should I go loaded with money & a trailer? LOL Well I have a basket to rim before I go to bed, and this is longer than I intended. Happy weaving to all...from Leslie in Adrian, Michigan where the mosquitoes just carry you away... {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Trip to Iowa Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 00:44:35 EDT From: NAJOSLIN@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Last week I returned my nephew to Iowa. The entire trip the Tootsie Roll jingle kept going through my head with alteration. Whatever it is I think I see becomes Hanks of Weaver to me. It was hard to drive there was so much great stuff, thanks to Weavers Words and the AOL Basket Making Board, I've feel driven to collect. Not much collecting can be done at 70 mph. I will be moving to New York State in January. What should I plant to harvest and weave? And when should I plant it? Are there any guilds in the area of Fort Drum, NY? While in Iowa I delivered a swap basket to Jessie Buehlmann (of the Basket Class) at the Iowa State Fair. They were doing wonders for promoting basketry. Complete with a weave-your-own area. I don't know the permanent residence of this basket, but Norma Buehlmann has made the most tremendous egg basket (it was filled with small pre-started baskets.) It absorbed 78 hours of weaving, so you can guess how huge it is. And beautiful it was so hard to look at Jessie while talking to her, my eyes kept going back to the basket. I was in awe. Norma - have I mentioned I like the egg basket you had at the fair. While making my last basket (a potato basket in 1.5 hours a personal best) a splinter embedded itself in my finger. My initial response of OW! was quickly replaced by "Hey, look first splinter from weaving!" My family replied with yep-she's-crazy looks and nods. What splinters the more active weavers must have. I'm doing research on Medieval (500-1600 AD) Basketry. Does anyone have info? Names of paintings or Tapestry plus Artist, Resources, Patterns, Books any and all information appreciated. (Please e-mail me direct so as not to offend others.) Cheryl VanDeVeer --- Longaberger is a basket Co. (they also make pottery) out of Dresden, Ohio. The company was started by a woman Hurray who began as a collector. I am unclear if she ever wove one herself. I'm sure they have a website on which they offer more info. The baskets are sold as COLLECTOR items, every one is signed, numbered, and dated by it's weaver. The baskets have a conformity and sameness to rival Cold War era Mother Russia. My husband is in the military. Where their reps abound like burrs in a cattle pasture (or un-mown grass.) In one month alone I received 6 separate Longaberger party invitations. They are sold on the same basis of Tupperware. I have been responded to in every possible manner when I reply. I weave baskets. The snobbish ones get me the most because here the are promoting baskets as the way to store everything (even punch, they sell liners too) and yet they automatically have no use for me as I am no longer a source of revenue. (Much the way some, not all craft show people have treated me when I have stated the same.) Oklahoma Basket Weavers Marcia Balleweg and myself (Roxanne Joslin) are wanting to form a Guild in Oklahoma, be looking for info. -Roxanne Joslin, Oklahoma native looking forward to the day when the value of a basket is determined by it's own merit. The other stuff is just icing. {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 28 Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 11:25:56 +0000 From: maggies To: David Collins References: 1 Hi David-- I have thoroughly enjoyed reading each issue of WW. Thanks for this wonderful forum. For Laurie re books on antique baskets: in addition to the two already mentioned, my favorite is "The Wallace-Homestead Price Guide to Baskets" second edition. The cost when I bought it was $16.95. Almost any antique shop that sells reference books should have it. The publisher is Wallace-Homestead Book C., Radnor, PA. Because I collect Northeast Woodlands Sweetgrass Baskets--430+--, I find this to be an excellent resource. Maggie Silva from southeastern Mass {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Basket Received Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 10:44:08 EDT From: JFerrency@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi All, My Basket Swap basket arrived, and I am just thrilled with it! It is a perfect little birchbark basket from Chrys Lunsford in WA; it's a gem! The handle is decoratively wrapped with braided horsehair from her Arab mare! I really like that it is made from native materials. Perhaps that could be a theme for another swap since we all have different things available locally - and covet what grows across the country! We have just returned from Alaska where the baskets were astounding! We saw beautiful baskets of many different materials and styles, made by a great variety of peoples. Waxed linen baskets were the most finely woven I had seen before their grass baskets. They appear to be similarly made but are finer yet in weave and much, much larger. These were museum pieces that I didn't get to touch - I'd love to know how they feel! There were coiled baskets with wonderful shapes and decorations, baleen baskets with exquisite carvings as handles, and spruce root baskets and birch bark containers of many descriptions. Jill Choate's antler baskets were also a treat to see. It wasn't until we had already spent our time in Talkeetna and left for other parts that I discovered she lives there. Our Alaska experience was incredible - now we know why our daughter has chosen to live there! Thinking of going? Just do it!! Bye for now Jacquie in hot and humid New Hampshire {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: weavers words Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 11:38:17 -0400 From: Larry & Amy To: weaverswords Hello Weavers! Just wanted to share a "cheat" I came up with. Yesterday I made my first "Simply Round" waxed linen basket. Being so small, I had some problems keeping the shape nice. When I was finishing it up, I came up with an idea. For the second I got out a thimble and used it as a mold. It came out really nice! It went faster, too, but I don't know if that was because of the thimble, or because I (kind of) knew what I was doing! Thoughts & prayers go to those on the coast. Hope Bonnie is kind to all. Amy from Ohio, where we got 6" of rain in the last 24 hours and Interstate 75 has been closed 30 miles south of here because of flooding. But today's the first day of KINDERGARDEN!!! {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Weavers Words 2:28 Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 09:54:12 -0700 (PDT) From: Marsha Ackerman To: davidc@iei.net Dear David and Weavers, In response to Joy's comments about another basket swap: Thank you for the instructions; we all need to be aware. As much fun as this first one was for me, I cannot imagine doing it monthly!! How about 3 or 4 times a year maximum? I suppose if more people got involved in the "work" of the swap organization, they could be done monthly with each of us only signing up as often as we wanted. But, I think if things are done so often, or are "always" available, they become less valuable to us. I vote for 3 or 4 times a year. I would be willing to try helping you, Joy. I received my swap basket yesterday from Laurie Burns. It is a beautifully done adaptation of the Antique Darning Basket, a pattern I have made, given away and sorely missed! Thank You Laurie!! I will try to get a picture to send to you, David. Thanks David and Joy and Laurie for the First WW Swap! Marsha from the pleasant, sunny, 70's of the Michigan U.P. {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: basket swap Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 12:54:17 -0400 From: Preston A Raymer Organization: The Raymers To: "davidc@iei.net" I feel like the luckiest basket swap participant! I just received my baskets (yes- there were two!) from talented Sharle Osborne in Sequim, WA. Sharle sent me a pouch made of wild cherry inner bark with cedar root lacing and handle. There are slits in the front that have cedar root woven through them along with some curls made from the outer bark. The second is a necklace pouch made with red cedar spokes and woven with waxed linen, Alaskan yellow cedar and sweetgrass. It also has an embellishment of sweetgrass cordage. These baskets are so special! I have had very little experience with natural materials so this is great. I have to get some film so I can send you all a picture! Thank you, thank you Sharle! Your baskets are well received and certainly appreciated! Thanks to everyone that makes weavers words such a wealth of information, inspiration and friendship. Signing off for now in western MA Christine Raymer {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 09:57:27 -0700 From: hannah To: "'davidc@iei.net'" Hi all!!! I hope this message finds all of you well and happily weaving. I am getting my basket swap basket put into the mail today, so be on the look out. I am also still awaiting mine (*_*) Peggy Lawson: Thank you so much for your comment in the V.21.27 issue of WW. The comments you made about my baskets and the bases were very nice and unexpected. Your friends, Gail and Sharon seem to both be very nice gals!!! I am happy that they are allowing me to sell my baskets in their shop. It is such a privilege. Joy, thanks for the advice on website development. I thought I would be done with it by now, but NOOOOOOOO!!!! I am now having my son to do it for me, so I can have time to WEAVE!!!!!! Also, I am interested in another basket swap and I think that twice a year sounds reasonable to me. Maybe we could even have a secret pal that we could send little things to all year and then on a designated date, reveal ourselves to the other person. We would need their birthdate (year excluded!!!), anniversary, colors in their home, hobbies and such so we could remember them all year long. I do this in my sorority and we have a blast with it. It doesn't have to be expensive, it is just that you know someone will be thinking of you and it is a great way to make new friends. And what a great idea, a friend who also loves to WEAVE!!! I would be willing to help to do this with you or whatever. You let me know and I will help, IF AND WHEN it is decided that we will be doing this sort of thing again. However we decide to do it, I want to participate. You were great in organizing the first swap and I greatly appreciate it. Susan Tripp: Thanks for the information on the antique basket books. I collect antiques and baskets are among my favorite item, besides the furniture, and I have often wondered about an antique basket book. I will be looking for them in the local library or my local bookstore. You are a peach!!! Barbara Marshall: I appreciate the information that you gave to me about my trip to Massachusetts in October. Unfortunately, I won't be there until October 21st. I will ask my cousin about some of the places to visit, that you suggested. Thanks for the information, it is truly appreciated. Donna at Country Seat: Thanks for the quote from Lyn Siler, I am a firm believer in that saying, that there are no BAD baskets. They are all wonderful!!!! (with the exception of imports!!!!!!!!) Kate Conroy: Since school is starting your basketweaving is coming to an end, as you say, but mine is just beginning. Oh the freedom!!! Thank you thank you thank you to all of you teachers out there who tolerate our kids while we sit at home and weave!!!! Sherry Gregg: I have a pattern for a fishing creel that I bought at the Indiana Basketmaker's Convention in 1997 called the " Deer Creek Fishing Creel or Purse" originally designed by Arline Moltrup and revised by Yvonne Buenthner and Lyn Siler. I find that is a very easy creel to weave, unlike the ones that use the round reed for the entire basket. The round reed ones seem to be harder to weave, for me, and this one was really nice. The very first one I made, I gave to my step-father who just absolutely adores it. You can contact Yvonne Guenthner, The Basket Shoppe, 2200 Philadelphia Road, Edgewood, Maryland 21040, (410) 676-7152. I hope that she still has her shop. Let me know if you encounter a problem reaching her and I will see if I can find one from another pattern supplier that I know. Hope this helps and Welcome to the World of Weaving!!! Everyone is Welcome!!!! Brenda Johnson: I think that if you have to go to all of that trouble to rewrite the pattern it should just say: Originally designed by: the author and Revised by: Brenda Johnson. And then all of your bases are covered and your students won't have to pay the cost of having the original pattern, just the one that they are learning from. Let them know where they can purchase the other one from, if they are interested in it. More power to ya gal!!! The Wicker Woman: So sorry to hear of all of the storm and flood damage that you have had to endure. I hope that all is well now. Glad to know that you are back among us!!! Just a quick note about AOL Instant Messenger. You don't have to subscribe to AOL to have instant messenger. I don't have AOL, but do have instant messenger and it is absolutely wonderful. I also have Microsoft NetMeeting, which I am told that if you have Windows 95 or Windows 98, then you have NetMeeting. I didn't purchase it, and I have Windows 95 and it is right there listed in my programs, so I hope that you all find it to. It is very easy to set up, and you can actually talk to people. Also, you can see people if they have a camera, but be careful, as I was so smartly advised. Some of the people out there can be really crazy!!! Cheryl VanDeVeer: A Longaberger Basket is made here in the good old state of OH. Dresden, OH and it is a factory where they make splint baskets. They have collectable baskets, liners, and a bit of pottery, but mostly baskets. Their factory even looks like a picnic basket, for real!!! They are very expensive, and are nice, but they are MASS PRODUCED and I personally appreciate the homemade handmade baskets myself. I think that is what we should all call our baskets: Homemade-Handmade Baskets by: whomever you are!!! I think that sums it up quite well. David: My next stop is to the WW site to fill out the survey and to look at what is new since I was last there. Thanks again. I am sorry if I took a lot of space, I will try to keep it short next time. Happy Weaving to All, and in the words of Amy from OH, Baskets Forever, Housework Whenever!!! Pam Feix, from Southwest Ohio, where it just rained and cooled down!!! Ahhhhhh!!!! {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 28 Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 18:29:26 EDT From: DeeGrin@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net First, I hope and pray all the weaver's on the East Coast will brave the storm and not be hurt or have damage from the hurricanes. After reading what happened to the Wicker Lady, it really makes one realize how lucky we are to survive through the weather some have to encounter. Hope you have things back in order soon Cathryn. As for some of the comments of there being to much extra to read that is not associated with weaving. I learned 40 years ago as a nurse, not to get into discussions about sex, politics and religion, but don't see where I can pass up on this one. I really like reading the Weaver's Word because people do share their sorrows, joys and triumphs, whether they be their allergies, their significant children's events, their losses and joys in canning preserves, and whatever. It surely is related to weaving and weavers, as it is the woven threads of our daily lives that are so important! So for those who don't want to spend the time reading the "extras", just skim on through!!! I really have enjoyed and feel I know Bert Comstock as a loving and very caring person, although I don't know her personally, because she always takes the time to respond to everyone, and I know that takes a lot of time, as I never seem to get back to reply. By the way, where are you Bert? LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO HURRY!! I remember over 45 years ago a man driving one of those horse and buggies in St. Augustine told my dad that!! Now, back to weaving. If you haven't looked at the pictures of the Wicker Lady's Airplane seats. Take a look. What a wonderful job and such a talent!!! I finally learned how to connect to David's links, after six months!!! Janet Frebain- what is a "jerry stripper" Is it too cut strips of ash etc. and where do you get one? Deb Curtis- do you mind sharing with us what pillow baskets are? Carolyn from Jacksonville- You brought back memories of my first basket making experience. It was on one of our annual camping trips to Fernandina Beach when my now grown daughters were in their teens. They had a class by the old depot outside one Saturday morning and I made my first grapevine handle basket and still have it!! And my husband says if he only knew now what he was in for!! Love to go camp on Cumberland Island someday, (Which is close to St. Mary's GA.) always have meant to do that. I guess I'm really showing my age in this one, but have loved almost every part of my life and am still learning as I grow older how to deal with the more difficult times. Diane and everyone else, thanks for all the ideas to use scraps. I have a very hard time throwing any away, esp. my brown ash!! The Christmas star is really nice in brown ash if you've never tried it. My mouth just watered when someone recently described the classes she took in Alaska. Guess, I will have to go back to work to afford all the exciting experiences there are available to weavers!!! Australia, Alaska, New England!!! I will sign off for now, First time I actually replied to all I had highlighted in an issue. Dee, it actually has been cool enough a few mornings to weave outside in Fla. {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Longaberger Baskets Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 17:37:48 -0400 From: Carolyn & Lewis Megginson To: David Collins I can't think how lucky it would be not to know what a Longaberger Basket represents. I had a craft show this weekend and of course Longaberger and something called Baskets and More were there. Always try to show courtesy to other crafters but this was almost more than I could take. The sales people were making them seem like a big investment and any time you wanted to sell you would get a lot of money for your old ones. I even looked at a catalog and they made it seem like the baskets were made by hand. When Senator Dole was running for President he was at the Longaberger factory with the President of the company, they had molds going around on a machine and operators were feeding the reed. Please correct me if I am wrong. I have never heard of such deceptive advertising practice, not to mention the brainwashed salesladies. I've met and been at nice people with Longaberger but not this week. One customer ask me if mine were Longaberger and I gave something of a quick answer, but did apologize for this. Sorry if this seems like sour grapes . We are waiting for Bonnie, if she is short on wind guess I could spare a little. This has made me rethink the type of craft shows I will attend. Enjoy hearing comments from other crafters. Carolyn of Florida: Sorry about your misfortune in Emporia. I am only 40 minutes away. Ever by here give me a call or drop in. Carolyn of Suffolk {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Weavers Words Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 17:55:16 PDT From: "Alice Edwards" To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everyone, David - no Beanie Babies, although I know people who do collect them. I just collect books, records, basket patterns, boxes of craft stuff and yarn. Now if I could just afford a really big place to keep them all. Thanks for all the effort you put into this for everyone. Ann Ridgeway - Hope someone had the issue you needed of "YANKEE" magazine. If not, you might try accessing it through a library with an online "Readers Guide to Periodical Literature". At our library at least, articles from the last 2 or 3 years of most magazines are available online for study and can even be printed off for study purposes. I only learned about it by accident when helping my sister look up information and thought it might be useful for others as well. This didn't have pictures, but did have all the text. Gretchen (The Cat Basket) - I don't have enough experience with the natural walnut stain, but it sounds like your teacher might have used a purchased stain to dye the weaving material. Several companies do make it and I think you use it just like any other dye. I have been used the aerosol cans of Weavers Stain recently and it gives a very nice finish. Judy Benner - You have already received some very good suggestions for using reed scraps. I also use them as spacers occasionally when weaving bases. I store my reed in 2-gallon zip-type plastic bags and just put pieces I haven't used yet back in the bag. I'm thinking about a separate bag for shorter pieces in the widths used for the wooden bases. I saw a hint 'somewhere' where the weaver had a pattern that used short pieces of reed and she rinsed and dried out a 2-liter bottle, marked it with the description of the contents, cut the pieces of reed to length and dropped them in until she needed them. Another use for short pieces of reed is to use it as a brake. Not everyone likes to use them, but sometimes when you are having trouble getting the first few rows of a basket to work they are very useful. Basically you just weave a short distance, then use the short (6 - 10") piece of reed and weave a second ( and maybe a third) row above the row you are weaving. I used them more often when I first started weaving, but they can be helpful. Laurie in Clinton, NY - about out of print basket books, 'bookinfo@bookbrowser.com' is apparently just an address for e-mail. Do you know the web-site address or somewhere to link from? I do know and check http://www.bibliocity.com or http://www.bibliofind.com, both of these sites list books from lots of different dealers who deal in used books. I used the bibliofind site to locate an out-of-print book, then you buy it direct from the dealer. I called the dealer direct, but mail would probably work as well. Kay Harradine - Thanks for sharing so much detail about your experiences at 'A Basketmaker's Weekend at Lake Crescent'. I enjoy hearing about the various opportunities that are available. One of these days I am going to find the time to do some of them and it's nice to learn more about them now. I'm thinking about starting a special file of ideas for review later. I'm eagerly awaiting more news of Diana's Canada Goose pattern, but it looks a bit intimidating. I may chicken out and just buy one for now. And also, a big thank you to everyone else who has been sharing their experiences. I really do enjoy learning about all the varied experiences available. For those of us who are new to basket weaving and its' varied offerings, you perform a valuable service. Anna in Tassie - I currently get several different magazines. It is hard to know what you would prefer. Just Patterns is a good magazine, but it is mainly patterns for reed baskets. It has an interesting website, so you could look into it at http://www.justpatterns.com. I also take and enjoy a couple of other magazines, but again they mainly deal in patterns for baskets made with reed. If you mainly use natural materials, they would probably be less interesting. I do get a magazine called "Basketry Express" by Ankaret Dean from somewhere in Canada. It has mostly articles, and does have more about naturals. It is a small pamphlet, about the size of a piece of typing or copy paper folded in half, but very reasonably priced, I thought. If you are interested let me know and I'll look up more about it. I can't remember what web site I originally found the information about it on. Deb Curtis - What is a 'pillow basket'? Janet Freebain - That sounds like a lot of bark. I haven't used bark yet, but someday, for now I'm curious. What is a 'jerry stripper'? Cathryn Peters - (The Wicker Woman) Saw the pictures of the airplane seats. WOW, what a neat project. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. And thanks for the info about AOL, but since I use the computer at work, I don't get to choose such things. This is also one of the reasons I don't ever get to do chat sessions. Maybe if I get a computer at home someday? However, while checking out basket sites, I think at the Mining Co. site, I found a reference to a different basket list that is based on AOL. Do you, or anyone else, know anything about it? Sorry to hear about your storm damage! I am working on taking some pictures, but I have so much stuff. I keep meaning to catalog my books, records, craft stuff, weaving stuff and all the rest. But, there is so much of it and I mostly have good intentions. I am planning to start by cataloging the important books, but I wouldn't have thought about the ISBN number and replacement cost. Everyone - take care and enjoy the rest of the summer. Alice - in the still very hot Kansas City area {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.