"Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 37 Date Sent: September 10, 1998 Subscribers: 771 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 Basketry Books: ---http://www.iei.net/~davidc/book.html 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. Kotarba contacted me and said it was OK to add a Basket Weaver's Recipe Page on Weaver's Words web site instead of printing a hard copy at this time. So send me your recipes. You can send me as many recipes as you wish. I will add them as quick as possible. When you do send the recipe put "Recipe for Web Page" in the subject line so I don't put it into Weavers Words. Take Care, David davidc@iei.net {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Unlurking Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2098 22:11:24 -0500 From: "Bonnie Fanning" To: "Weaver's Word" Hi All: I promised Joy when I signed up for the basket exchange that I would unlurk. Boy how time flies! First of all I would like to thank David for the forum and say that I would like to see it remain as it is, personal along with basket talk. I found the site through the Missouri Newsletter and went back and printed off all the issues and read them. Boy, do I have a stack of paper. I just read in one of the WW that someone edited out all the dates, to's etc and someone else said they formatted? the letters which had short lines and saved several pages that way. For those of us who are new to computing, could David or someone explain how to do some of these things? I had done very little copying and pasting until David put the instructions at the first of his WW and now it is old hat. I think this old dog could learn a few other tricks, too! Basket stuff: Thanks to Sandy Quackenbush for my exchange basket. It is really beautiful and looks like it was a bear to weave! It has round reed woven in along side flat reed. It seems like you would have reed going every which way as you were weaving. I would like to see two basket exchanges a year. I'm afraid if we do it too often, it will lose it's thrill and become something you "have" to get done. Concerning walnut dye. I bought some concentrate and mixed it as directed, possibly a little stronger. I dipped a basket in it and was not happy with the pale color I achieved. Last week I decided to give it another try and mixed a new batch and soaked some stakes in it for four hours while I was at work and the reed had hardly any color at all. I put the concentrate into boiling water to mix. Could anyone give me any hints? Old baskets...I was fortunate enough to buy a basket at a household sale of a lady I have know for years. I used to live across the street from her and did her hair when I had a beauty shop, so I went to her sale with the idea of buying some thing as a remembrance of her. I was thrilled to see a small egg basket (8" across - 8" 1/2" high with handle) that looked very old. I would like to know if a basket has to be signed to be valuable and how do you determine the materials it is made of? Experience? This basket has what looks like oak ribs and handle. It has green weavers alternated with the natural. The handle is wrapped with a piece of oak? Running along either side wrapped in with the handle. From one God's eye to the other across the bottom, it has an over under weave five rows across. Even if it has no monetary value, it will be a treasure to me. Has anyone made baskets with cat tail leaves and if so, is there anywhere a picture of one can be seen on the Internet? Personal: I would like to see the recipe exchange done in WW somehow. If we could copy the recipes to a word processor, we could search by recipe name or by ingredient for a recipe to use up with their ages at the drop of a hat, but I do know the years! I work as a home caregiver part time, staying right now with a 91 year old lady who is physically fit but items we have on hand. About me...I have been weaving for almost three years and am now teaching the class I learned in because the teacher moved and I was the one with the most "tools"! I have a serious case of TAS & PAS. I did not feel qualified to teach, but the rest of the students made me feel comfortable and I now teach in two other towns. I have been able to enjoy 2 Indiana conventions and one Missouri. I want to thank those of you who give of your time to make such wonderful experiences possible for all of us. I am 54 years old, married for 35 years, have a son 34 and a son 31. The 34 yr old is married and has four children who were born in 1990, 1992, 1994 & 1996! I can't always come up TIA's (small strokes, I have been told) have made her mind a little befuddled. Sorry I was so windy my first time, but I have been saving it up for months! It won't happen again. Bonnie Fanning at Gibson City, IL, 30 miles northwest of Champaign where it is wonderfully cool but warming up by the weekend. {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 34 Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 22:53:13 -0500 From: tblack@iquest.net To: David Collins Hi there! Here's the IBA info that was requested. Membership: Dues are $20 annually for individuals and $25 for business memberships (this is necessary if you intend to teach or vend at convention). For your dues you receive the quarterly newsletter, a membership roster, and the color convention brochure. You need to be a member by Sept. 1 to "guarantee" 1st mailing of the convention brochure. Additional mailings will be made upon joining as long as extra brochures are available. Class requests are filled on a "first day priority" registration, with all requests submitted after "day 1" (everything prior to and including Dec. 1 is counted as day 1), ordered by postmark. dues can be mailed to me (payable to the IBA) at: Carolyn Black, IBA Membership 4062 Restin Ct Greenwood, IN 46142 Convention: 1999 IBA Convention, "Continuously Weaving Into the Next Century" is being held March 25-28, 1999 at the Adams Mark Hotel in Indianapolis (at the airport). John McGuire is our featured artist, and will be teaching his Spoon Basket (shaker style basket in black ash), and a Double Handled Cherry Lidded Nantucket Basket. Other artists we will have include: Flo Hoppe, Dianne Stanton, Jill Choate, Jayne Stanley and many others. We have 60 instructors coming and are very excited about our selection this year. Hope this info helps, and if anyone has any other questions, let me know. To Bert: The peanut basket pattern was one I purchased from the shop. I don't know what that does as far as copyright or infringements. I'm fairly sure they didn't think too hard about it when they put the pattern out either. Not that that makes it right, but it does unfortunately happen. To Diane Rigterink: the last show I did, I wove one of Judy Wilson's 7" egg baskets while sitting. Now she doesn't sell these kits any more, but you could use that idea anyway. It's an egg basket in #0 or #00 round and it's all multicolored. Egg baskets would be good to work on if you already have the gods eye done and all of your ribs inserted. There's not a lot of additional space or equipment needed to work on them after that's done. Easy to put down and pick up again without losing work. The only bad part about it was that everyone wanted to know if I would sell that basket or make them one like it! I had to laugh. I have made only one, and it would cost so much more than anyone would be willing to pay for it that I would never sell it. It's truly beautiful. I figure I did well, since I only had it a year before I finished it. Most people I know who have one, have never finished it and have owned it for years! I forget who was asking about AMB convention as a first timer, but I went last year and it was a blast! I had only been to Indiana's convention before and I really enjoyed myself. Convention is fun to go to regardless of where, I think. 3-4 days away from home with basketweavers is truly a vacation in my book. Unfortunately I am unable to go this year to AMB as I have a new baby (she's 10 weeks old now), and as a nursing mom you can't be gone 4 days from your baby. Oh well. Next year! Also, I think the recipe book is a great idea, and I'd like to get involved in the next swap. Will the info be posted here or on the web site separately? This means though that I have to convince my girls (2 yr.old and 2 month old) to let me weave. That could be the trick! I also like the idea of sending David cookies. 6 is not a big deal for each of us, but 4200 is a lot of cookies! Happy Weaving, Carolyn Black {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 35 Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 00:43:54 EDT From: froggestow@juno.com (Roberta R Comstock) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 35 (B): Patti Bagley - your picture of the basket I made for you is better than the ones I took. Thanks for sending it in. And thanks to David for posting it at the website. I have taken a good picture of the basket Leslie Johnson made for me and am sending it to David. Cindy Dunham - I have made Barbara Morton's Walnut Gathering Basket which is essentially a reed version of the Gibson-Curry white oak Umbrella Basket. Mine stands just under 16 inches high at the rim. If/when I put umbrellas or canes in it, I will probably weight the base with some stones or a drawstring bag of river pebbles (something easily removable). Linda J. Braun - I've been thinking about the underwater basket weaving comments and have concluded that I agree with what you said about keeping a sense of humor. Life is much too important to be taken seriously all the time. If we can't laugh at ourselves once in a while, we must be pretty touchy and insecure. If basket weaving was Not a viable occupation, either as a hobby or a vocation, maybe the humor wouldn't be so funny. Some of it is unfunny just because it's poorly thought out or written by someone who doesn't really understand their subject. But basketweaving Is a worthy pursuit! And some of the jokes really are funny. :=) I believe dialog is more valuable than censorship. Darleen in Hawaii - I thought the shop discussion was very interesting. I certainly didn't consider it a war. Several very good points were made about things to consider when putting your baskets out on consignment in somebody else's shop. The only way I know to entirely eliminate "tan lines" from your baskets is to dye or stain the materials before weaving, or submerge the completed basket in the stain or dye (not always practical). Joy - Your proposal for rotating the swap coordination and letting the next coordinator call the shots looks reasonable to me. Gail Caron - I can go along with the Oct-Nov time frame for the next swap. I was comfortable with the rules of the first one. I am a bit dubious about a handle swap. Would that be awkward for people who rely on specific patterns for their weaving? I would enjoy a seasonal theme, but don't really want to go for holidays that imply particular religious affiliations unless we would know the affiliation of the recipient. Thanksgiving would be pretty neutral, though. Please let us know what most people seem to want, and how you want to handle it. Thanks for taking this on! Claudia - You can stain large baskets by putting your stain in a wide shallow basin such as those used for bussing dishes in restaurants, or catching used oil under a car. Then you can set the basket into the bath and roll and turn it to soak all the sides or simply baste the stain on with a turkey baster or pour it over the basket with a measuring cup or ladle. Another option would be to put the stain in a spray bottle and spray it on. This will probably take several sprayings to get the color dark enough. (P): Linda Kotarba - I wasn't trying to horn in on your cookbook project when I asked David about posting recipes on the web page. Just wanted to find our if it was a reasonable option and see what you and others think of the idea. Thought it might be a way to reduce the overall workload and cost, and let it be useable while it grows. As David kindly reminded me, it's your call. I do have several original recipes that I will contribute. I don't know what your other printing options are, but there are several places around here that beat Kinko's prices. (I usually go to Copy Max.) I like your plan to include website URLs and email addresses, along with the authors' names. I am also in favor of a few explanatory comments from the contributors. In cases where non- original recipes are submitted, I think it is important that the original author or source be credited and that any necessary reprint permission should be obtained by the person who submits the recipe. Cindy - Good idea on the elephant ears! I have had fried flour tortillas with cinnamon & sugar, but usually in a cut up form (like tortilla chips). Donna - Will you be sending in your violet pudding recipe for the recipe book? I love making things with edible flowers! Bert Comstock in Independence, MO {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: aloha Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 20:05:06 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha from Honolulu--sunny, breezy, tropical Hawaii, I*m glad our neighbors have such neat fruit trees--they*re overloaded and hanging over our walls and fences so we can pick kiwi, avocado, and a sweet grapefruit for breakfast (though I*m a real Fruity Pebbles breakfast-type girl) and our own banana tree should give birth anyday. The last WW was a treasure! Thanks to Angie for the suggestion of mineral oil (especially on handles) and Kathy for the suggestion of adding natural Minwax instead of mineral spirits. I*m always happy to hear such neat ideas to pass on to my students. Pam F....hope things will go just fine for your grandma--I*ll keep her in my thoughts. However, I don*t think you should skip the basket swap for fear of someone not liking the stain/dye you use. Nor do I think we should have to give our favorite color, style, etc when signing up for the swap. People who participate in the swap should do so with an open mind and an open heart. If someone takes the time to weave a basket for a swap and puts her talent, her time, and herself into this treasure, the recipient should appreciate the gift she is getting. If it doesn*t match your decor, so what? Granted my house is a tad eclectic, but it is filled with things my family loves, regardless of the style, the color, whatever. What a better environment than to be surrounded by the things you cherish? Our guild has a basket swap twice a year and it is the highlight of that meeting. We can*t wait to tear open our brown bag and pull out our gift! Also, I have an idea that organizing a swap with at least 100 weavers is quite a chore and I feel we should give the organizer a break and not heap extras on her. David, hang in there and don*t let the idiots who feel the need to leave in a tiff get you down. Lois Honolulu {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Cookbook/Recipes Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 08:11:50 -0400 From: Linda Kotarba To: Weavers Words Joy Moody... Even though a cookbook won't be going forward at this time, I sure appreciate your support. We'll wait and see how many recipes David receives and perhaps sometime in the future we could revisit the idea. I'm looking forward to seeing one of your good German family recipes on the WW Web site! Hannah... Your Grandma has been on my mind and in my prayers. I would be interested in the information you offered to share with regard to a publisher, for future reference. No hurry at all, you certainly have more pressing things presently. Your comments about financing the project were positive and appreciated. Thanks to everyone that commented and offered to send recipes... David... Should we send our recipes to: davidc@iei.net -- or would this slate them to be part of the list? And do you really want tons (hundreds) of recipes? Or do you mean to feature those recipes that happen to create interest through conversation on WW? Okay, enough about recipes. Funny how an idea meant to decrease 'talk' on a subject, increased it substantially... but temporarily :) Weave happy! Linda Kotarba {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Stenciling Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 08:16:21 -0500 From: "Bidstrup, Elaine" To: "'davidc@iei.net'" This time I'll try to be brief! (Former English teachers tend to run on and on and on . . .) How does one neatly and successfully stencil on baskets? My first stenciling effort ever was to do a border of sunflowers around the ceiling of my laundry room. If I do say so myself, despite standing on a ladder to do it, it came out well. My first and second efforts on baskets have been disasters! Help!! Glad to see you've joined the fun, Rita! Any blindfolded weaving (any weaving for that matter) has been put on hold for the rest of the month. September is IEP month at our school (although it tends to spill over into Oct) and I'm chairing 31 this month. Elaine from McGwire Land where it has finally cooled down into the 70s. {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 07:27:14 -0700 From: hannah To: "'davidc@iei.net'" Hi all, Just thought of something. A discussion was made for us to each make cookies and send them to David. Well, that is a lot of cookies. How about all of DONATING $5 each to David for the time that he gives to us for Free. I think that if we are going to spend the money to buy cookie supplies and them make them for him and then him not able to eat all of them because there are just so many, then we should donate to him and let him go buy something for himself. He does an awful lot for us and allows us to use this forum and now he is even accommodating us by sending us more so that we can all receive the entire issue. I just think that we owe it to him, he isn't charging us, and is doing an awful lot for us. I, for one, am sending him $5 today along with a thank you card for all of his trouble. You never know, he may even need it to upgrade his computer or what ever else. Just a thought, but mine will be in the mail today. Pam Feix, Southwest OH, where it was in the 40's again last night, but the weekend is supposed to feel like summer again. Happy Weaving :):):) {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Weavers Words V.21.35 & 36 Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 08:24:25 -0700 From: boitnotl@sensible-net.com (Larry T. Boitnott) Organization: Larry T. Boitnott To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everyone, My name is Sue Ann Boitnott. I am new to Weavers Words. Found out about this wonderful organization from Kristin Monastyrsk who recently moved to our area. David C. does an outstanding job. I am not very computer literate so I really do appreciate this forum. Have been weaving mostly reed for 7 yrs. Am a member of the Association of Michigan Basketweavers and several guilds. I have also learned to weave willow baskets. I grow some 10 varieties of willow on a corner lot in a small town, having moved here 3 yrs ago from 14 acres 150 miles away. It is wonderful to grow and tend my plants and then harvest and weave a basket. The best of worlds- gardening and weaving. My willow teachers are the best! Enough personal, I was prompted to come out of hiding because of Linda J. Braun who wanted to know if anyone collects buttons. My granddaughter does and she would be tickled pink to receive a surprise in the mail. I would gladly pay the postage. Her name is Deborah Gregory "Annie" - 8 yrs. They have a button day at school and prizes for the most buttons, oldest button, etc. Her address is: PO Box 415, Weidman, Michigan 48893-0415. Gail Caron, I would love to be included in the next swap!!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like the first one was wonderful. Though I haven't read where anyone uses water based stain, I am going to jump in and say that I stain my baskets with Devoe interior stains. I select a qt. of basket stain and the store mixes it to my liking. When staining a basket, I add water to the consistency that I want and paint it on with a brush. After letting the basket dry for 30 minutes or so, I burn off the hairs with a propane burner. I like the this stain because the odor does not linger very long and the stain does not distort the dyed reed very much. For a first timer, I probably have rambled altogether too long. Sue Ann in central Michigan where the weather is crisp and we could use some rain. Take care all and peaceful weaving! {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Elephant Ears Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 11:37:00 -0400 From: mbzaj@infinet.com To: David Collins References: 1 Bert: The man who made my elephant ear for me said that the recipe was just flour, yeast, and water. After I raises, he takes a ball, rolls it out, pokes holes into it with his fingers, and fries it. As I said earlier, he then drains it, brushes it with buttery oil or butter, and sprinkles it with what appears to be brown sugar and cinnamon. (It could be white sugar, I'm not sure.) TTFN, Brenda Johnson In Darke County OH {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 36 Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 14:01:12 -0400 From: "Donna" To: "David Collins" Hi everyone - Excuse me while I digress into the personal realm for a moment. For those of you who do or don't know us, Angie & I are mother & daughter. We do not compare answers we are sending to WW or even talk about it until later at the supper table so if we duplicate, sorry. It's usually a 6th sense knowing what one or the other of us will respond to that this doesn't happen too often. Angie - Yes, I must agree. Don't "borrow" your parents (or kitchen) turkey baster for staining especially since, as you've learned, they seem to be very hard to replace. Elizabeth - you asked a tough question regarding shelf life of reed. So much depends on the area of the country you live in and what kind of storage facilities you have available. Before starting in business more than 25 years ago, I bought flat reed from the estate of a weaver who had passed away many years earlier. It had been stored in a barn and was still supple enough to bend gently around my finger without breaking even though the color had darkened considerably. When wet, it was beautiful - it had a texture you just don't find today. I would say if your stash can be bent without "snapping" it should still be OK to use. Hot attics are the worst place for storage. Reed needs to be someplace to absorb the moisture in the air without being so damp that it turns moldy. Sunny PA where another beautiful weekend forecast looms ahead. Donna http://www.countryseat.com {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: Baskets and such Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 16:27:55 -0400 From: "cabcar" To: "David Collins" Hello fellow weavers, Can't believe good luck having so many WW. Thanks David. I agree with the mineral oil finish. Really brings the reed to life. I do use baby oil, which is mineral oil with a little fragrance added. This is a lot cheaper around here. I would love to have some mineral oil and add a little lavender oil for extra nice fragrance. Might try this with baby oil anyway. I use a good paintbrush to apply but could be wiped on. Dries real quick on a warm day, if in the house I leave on the bar overnight. Pam---Idea sounds original, do you put stain over orange dye? Is this a quick dip or a deeper color. Always interested in new ideas. I am especially looking for an aged looking gray stain .Any Ideas???? Judy Miles: I don't have a shop but my baskets are sold in Farmer Franks Holland Market. On the left side traveling west you will pass the Two Wheel Cafe and then this is the next building on right. Yellow building. I am just about four miles away. Phone-657-6939. People are welcome to come to the house as long as they aren't two shocked at the sight of baskets in various stages of preparation. We sold 60 within a 7 day period. Really depletes stock. Only have 10 or so at shop but they have been selling, takes about 4 minutes to replenish when needed. Will go but lets keep sharing ideas. I picked up the mineral oil, baby oil from this site and find it invaluable. Thanks again, Carolyn of Suffolk {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: What makes David---David??? Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 03:10:22 -0500 From: David Collins Organization: Weaver's Words To: davidc@iei.net Hello Everyone, I am Norma Collins, David's mother. The suggestion from Joy Moody about sending cookies to David has prompted David wanting me to write to all of you about him. To many of you at least part of this will be old news as I did write in some time ago but since then the subscriber list has more than doubled so many of you know little or nothing about David. David is 27 years old (actually almost 28 as his birthday is October 17th). He has an Associate's Degree in Applied Science (Mechanical Engineering). David collects kaleidoscopes, sports racing cards, sports bobbing heads, first day covers, autographed pictures and beanie babies. David was born in 1970 and in 1977 he was diagnosed with Duchenes Muscular Dystrophy. It was a shock to all of us as MD is a genetic disorder and to our knowledge was never in our family before this. David walked up until he was 10 years old at which time his muscles had weakened to the point that he had to rely on a wheelchair for his mobility. David kept a positive attitude and life went on. David put out the first issue of Weaver's Words on May 5, 1997 and shortly after that his ability to breathe on his own had diminished to the point that he needed help. On June 17, 1997 he had surgery to have a tracheotomy and had to go on ventilator help full time. Due to muscle weakness and some complications with the procedure, they also had to place a feeding tube. From that time on David could no longer eat by mouth. It has been a very rough adjustment for David. Giving up eating has been harder on him than becoming vent dependent but he has adjusted to it and to many other changes. Knowing that you want to show your appreciation means a lot to him. He enjoys doing Weavers Words for all of us. He would have liked to have done this for all of us without any of you knowing all about him but that has become more and more difficult as time has gone on. He did not want you to send him cookies thinking that he was enjoying them when in reality he can't. He does appreciate the thoughtfulness. As David would have liked to have kept all of this from all of you please when you think of David and all that he does for us, don't think of his disabilities but of all of his ability to provide this media for all of us. And even though he can't please all of us, as no one could, he does an exceptional job of attempting to do so. In spite of all that David has had to overcome he is an exceptional young man. Thanks to all of you for your thoughtfulness. I wish that I had more time to contribute to Weavers Words more myself. I do enjoy hearing everything from all of you. David's mom, Norma {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} Subject: RE: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 35 Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 19:48:10 -0400 From: Susan Tripp To: "'David Collins'" Swap food for thought.... According to David's survey, 23 people responded they prefer natural weaving materials, and 122responded to reed. Maybe someone from the Naturals group could organize a natural swap for that small of a group since it would leave so many of us "non-natural" weavers out??? Gail: I really like the idea of the Christmas basket swap. I think since you are the coordinator, you'll just have to pick the idea and set the date. There are too many of us to wait on to see if we all agree. I'm not so sure limiting the swap is the best. Maybe Gail can work with another volunteer and split the list up for two people to work on and mix and match??? Susan from upstate NY - it's freezing here! {*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*}{*}-{*} If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.