"Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 88 Date Sent: March 03, 1999 Web Page: http://welcome.to/Weavers-Words Subscribers: 968 David Collins 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 317-899-5747 davidc@iei.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Do You Like Weavers Words? Click Below To "Recommend-It" To A Friend! http://recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=210339 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% "Web Cards" - Create Full-Color Postcards For Your Web Page. http://www.printing.com/affiliate.asp?site=davidc For every free sample of "Web Cards" that you request from the above link, I will receive a $1 commission. It cost you NOTHING. Once you receive your free sample, you can purchase personalized "Web Cards" for your web page and/or business if you like. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% "Bare Walls" Basket Pictures/Prints If you are looking for basket pictures/prints, check out "Bare Walls" through Weaver's Words site. I will get a 15% commission from Bare Walls for every picture/print ordered. The address to check out the pictures is: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/prints.html %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Hi Everyone, If you haven't already, everyone need to check out the forum/bulletin board that I added to Weaver's Words. This is a great way to post messages for everyone to see. It's particularly great to post your basket weaving tips & techniques or any special gatherings or events you may have coming up. A few of you have already taken advantage of the bulletin board and I think you will all like it. The address is: http://www3.bravenet.com/forum/show.asp?userid=zb101628 There's been more pictures added. Check 'em out. The address is: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/pictures.html IMPORTANT WARNING: If you receive a message from ANYONE with an attachment called happy99.exe, DO NOT under any circumstances download or click on the attachment. Happy99.exe is a virus. A friend recently downloaded this virus and havoc ensued. Please do not become paranoid. You CAN NOT get a virus simply by opening and reading e-mail messages. The two main ways of getting a virus are downloading files of the Internet or files attached to e-mail messages. I hope this puts some of your minds at ease. Just remember there are many "people" out there with nothing else better to do than make the lives of others miserable. I use the term "people" very loosely. Sorry if I come across a little harsh but these "Internet Terrorist" really rub me the wrong way. Take Care, David davidc@iei.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket weaving Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 22:10:47 -0500 From: martyhln@juno.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi David and World Basketmakers...I always look forward to getting everyone's opinions...Norma ...it was good that you let us know, we are keeping David out of trouble. Now if I could only believe it, David you are not telling all. Mothers are too trusting. ;-) right? Oh well I hope you are having fun anyway...Barbara 10 thumbs weaver...I was sorry about your loss, but glad weaving is giving you some comfort...Eileen...It is called reverse weaving not backtracking. Some of my best lessons have been learned from the reverse weaving. If they are not right you learn to accept of reverse weave, I choose the later...Tony...in Issue 85 you mentioned Sweetser style ash baskets. I have never heard of that type of basket. Would you please explain to me what the basket type looks like? Thanks...Sandi...Your question about sisal in baskets. Yes you can use it in baskets, sometimes it looks real nice woven along with natural stuff. Another way that I have used it was a 3/8" rope for handles on a basket which I thought looked real nice. You can buy it at most hardware stores, K-Mart, Wall- Mart, Meijers and places that carry farm products, TSC, "Farm and Fleet" Some sporting sales carry rope made from it in natural sisal, it can be unwound and used. Look for it you will find it, lots of places in cord or/and rope. Good luck, have fun. Go weave a basket. Peace, joy and love sent to all. Warmest Regards...Marty Holihan...Flint, MI...dholihan@gfn.org (or)...martyhln@juno.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 87 Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 23:38:02 -0600 From: ROY LEA To: David Collins Hi all, Have time to make a quick post and then I better get busy again. Too many swap projects in the basketry and quilting zones! They are always fun, but sometimes I get carried away. Why don't I stop to remember how I procrastinate? I have sent out my swap basket to my swap partner; I hope it reaches her soon. Can't wait to see how she likes it. It was soooo hard to decide what to make and send. So I hope that a certain someone in South Carolina likes my decision. I did have the opportunity to attend the Feb meeting of a local basketry guild, and it was great fun. We made a nice tissue basket with flowers of colored reed. It was actually the first time I'd made those curly flowers. I really had a lot of fun. The first person I met had a familiar name - she's a member of Weaver's Words! Small world, eh? Alice, it was a pleasure to meet you. It was fun to put faces to a couple of names, and it was fun to weave with some other people for a change. Wish I could make one of the March meetings with the guest instructor, but my DH has other commitments, and I don't think my little one would last long enough to attend. Guess I'll have to take up willow at a later date. It has been fun to read all the kudzu comments. If you want some fun with kudzu, try encountering it when you are on a highway survey crew in North Carolina! Did that when I first started working with the highway department there; it sure was nice when I got to move along to be a bridge inspector. I'd rather do slump tests on concrete any day! That kudzu is stout. Didn't weave baskets at the time, so missed the opportunity to try that. Hope everyone is doing well. I know that many have had sad occurrences while others have had happy ones, and some people are traveling, so just have to hope that all members of our extended weaving family are well. Will keep you all in my heart. Take care, and happy weaving. Diane in Kansas where it was warm and windy today. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: aloha! Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 21:55:06 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha, all! I will be leaving for the airport in about 45 minutes and the new WW just came in--so of course had to stop and read it.... Just a couple of comments-- Angie--nuts to long engagements. I met my honey on St. Pat*s day of *73 and ten days later (yes, that is 10 days) we told our parents we were getting married. No, they didn*t take it well at all...but we waited for 3 months to get married--and will celebrate #26 in July. Yes, I do have "bas-cats" as Linda Braun calls them. I have 2 children from the cat who attacked me in July--Thug, who is a huge tabby (and is afraid of everything) and a most gentle friend--and Princess Boo, who is rather homely-tabby, grey, calico and black with 2 white feet and a tail that is broken in 2 places (yes, she was born that way) but a real lap sitting sweetie. We also have 2 pups--17 year old Misty (a yorkie) and 10 year old Jake (a silky). They all like to hang in the basketroom. I don*t know what I*ll do without basket reed for a week----but you all have a good one and I*ll let you know how the cultural shock hits me once I*m back in the real world. Lois %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 87 Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 08:13:54 -0500 From: Pamela Woodbury To: David Collins References: 1 Hi Weavers, I just thought I'd like to tell about my first basket and lesson well learned. Actually the basket came out really nice. It was a wall basket on a 6 x 10 D handle. I was quite proud of it. Well it was so plain and the lady who taught it talked about staining and what she uses so I bought a bottle of this water based stain from her. I have been weaving 12 years so don't even think the basket shops are selling this stuff anymore. Anyhow it said to mix with X amount of water and paint onto the basket. Well painted on is what it is. The basket is black, hard and brittle. Totally ruined my little basket. I still have it cause it is the first but am disappointed every time I see it. Of course this was a lesson well learned. I kept trying to use this stuff on other baskets and thinned it down with more water, but it ran and bled and I never did like it so discarded it and started using Minwax and have been happy with it ever since. Ruth the smell of minwax doesn't really bother me, but an overwhelming smell sure does. I try to have all my baskets stained and aired out for a couple of weeks before I do a show so they don't smell too bad. I have gone into booths at a craft show, both baskets and woodworking and the smell was so overwhelming that I couldn't even stay to look at the merchandise. Smelled like they had stained everything the night before the show. I had a lady set up behind me at a show last year that told me right from the beginning of the show she was going to have to move or I was cause the smell of my baskets was going to bother her. I told her I didn't have any freshly stained ones so she stayed. A while into the show I asked her if they were bothering her and she said no. The overwhelming smell of some potpourris will give me a migraine, which I have gotten by spending a weekend next to people selling potpourri. I now ask to be moved if I see I am next to somebody selling that, but the funniest part about me being next to someone with potpourri was that they specifically had asked to be next to a basketweaver. We have one dog and one cat. Have had our cat for 8 years and the dog is just 8 months old. I think they have some sort of relationship although it is a strange one. My husband and I have been trying to decide where to take a vacation this year and all the talk about Gettysburg has got me thinking I might want to go there. We have always wanted to see Gettysburg but just haven't. Think I'll write the Penn. Chamber of Commerce and get some info sent. Perhaps I can just look on the internet and find all the info I want. Pam %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: re: stains minus odor Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 11:58:33 -0500 From: "Karen M. Johnson" To: Ruth Emberg asked about finishing baskets without the odor of stain and for quite some time now I finish most of my baskets with lemon oil. I just get the least expensive at the grocery or Wal-Mart and apply it with a sponge brush. It not only does not smell bad, it smells good!! If you want to add more color, just add some Old English Scratch Guard (only 1 or 2 drops at a time - it will make it too dark!!). Experiment on scrap reed for your desired color. Hope this helps. Karen Johnson Brookline, NH %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: forgot something about lemon oil Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 12:07:06 -0500 From: "Karen M. Johnson" To: The only thing I forgot to tell you is that you should let the basket set on newspaper (I put blank newsprint on top so the ink will not rub off onto the basket), for a day or two (depending on the amount of lemon oil used) so the oil will not rub off onto the contents of the basket or whatever you put the basket on. Karen Johnson Brookline, NH %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Misc. Read for Weavers Words Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 21:37:54 -0600 From: "Marilyn S. Hillsman" To: Hello All! What a pleasure to be able to read all the postings on Weaver's Words. I learn something new every time I reed (read). David--don't know the story of how you started WW but it would be interesting to know. Thank you for your obvious hard work in seeing it done. Hi Alice Edwards in the KC area--hope to meet up with you sometime since I am from Warrensburg, MO. Do you ever take/teach basket classes in our area? I work at Powell Gardens, and try to take classes from all that teach weaving at Powell. Jayne--regarding your question about having the first basket I wove--It will always be a special basket for me for many reasons. I made it on June 21, 1997. I was going to my first basket class at 9:00 a.m. 20 miles away, only to find a flat tire on my car. Ended up driving on a doughnut tire & arrived to class late. Took me three hours to make a beautiful market basket, by God's grace I marveled the whole time about how weaving is like the way God works in our lives. I had just lost my father unexpectedly on May 01, and my heart was very tender and sensitive to God's voice. Delighted with my basket I went home. Had been home 30 minutes or so and received a phone call from my 23-year-old daughter. She was a newlywed of 4 months, and she hysterically told me her husband was dead; killed in a drunk driving accident. So basket weaving started in my life associated with a day I will never forget. My daughter is doing well and God continues to mold me and mine as I continue to take a lot of loose strands of reed, oak, or whatever and imitate creation by basket weaving. I believe God was preparing me the whole three hours of my first lesson to trust him to always make something good of everything he allows in my life. My first basket represents his love to me. Pam--thanks for the basket bash information--I can't make it this year, but would love to try in the future. You will have lots of fun! Jan in Des Moines--Will you do another basket swap soon? How do you choose who swaps with who? Do you try to keep novices with novices, etc.? I would like to participate if you do another swap. Marty! I loved the tired joke! Now I know why I am tired all the time! Ha! To all weavers--how many nurses do we have? I am fascinated by the common threads I see in WW, animal lovers, weavers, etc. I won't always write so much, you all touched many areas this last few issues. Marilyn from Missouri %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 87 Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 11:19:24 -0500 From: "Chris Baker" To: David Collins Gail Caron- Your love for cats seems to be the same as mine. I also have 4 cats. One was a stray that actually found me & I let her in (she never left). I told my hubby she was just visiting & hence got the name "Visitor". It stuck. She is the one that is like your Eliza. I keep my reed in plastic bags with large openings & she will jump in & sleep on top of the reed. And, yes no basket is too small for her. I will send a photo of her nestled in one of my cathead baskets to David, and maybe he will post it on the site. Jennifer Forsyth- Thanks for letting me know about the pattern. But it has to be a basket big enough to carry a real baby. I am still looking for any info about where I can obtain a pattern for a Moses Basket that can be used to carry a newborn baby. Chris Baker-ICQ#19347967 Days Gone By http://w3.ime.net/~cbaker online catalog: http://w3.ime.net/~cbaker/catalog.htm Be the 1st to receive info when my new pattern is out! Join my mailing list. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: swap basket Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 15:32:37 -0500 From: "Tom Rigterink" To: Hello Everyone I just got back from the post office and found my swap basket waiting for me. The return address said Roberta Comstock...so I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE GREAT Bert made me a very beautiful "beachcomber wall pouch", and along with it she sent the pattern...her original. Thank you Bert, it's a treasure! My sister and I have been doing craft shows in Chicago for approximately l year and have had a lot of fun. The end of March we are planning on an open house, again in Chicago. I would appreciate any and all suggestions from those who have done this before. Thanks Diane %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: KMC Baskets UPDATE Date: Mon, 01 Mar 1999 19:11:48 -0500 From: "Kathleen M. Calvert" To: Kathleen Calvert Hello Everyone, Just stopping in with a March Update from KMC Baskets & Folkart. MARCH "REED OF THE MONTH": 11/64" flat $4.95 per 1 lb. coil--no minimum order Please get your Reed of the Month orders in early as I will be out of town from March 18th through March 28th. NO SHIPMENTS 3/18/99-3/29/99 New catalogs are being printed--hurray!!!!! Website is up with some info posted--much more to come. Online catalog area is under construction and will open when I return on April 1st ( no, not an April Fools joke!) Don't forget to check in and bookmark my site. If you have any guild or workshop info you would like posted, let me know and I'll do my best. Well, I will let you get back to weaving. Signs of Spring seemed to be popping up everywhere here today-------makes a weaver's heart turn to............BASKETS! Happy Almost Spring Everyone! Baskets of Blessings, Kathi Calvert KMC Baskets & Folkart 13 Mayberry Dr. Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 732-389-0832 kmcbaskets@worldnet.att.net http://www.kmcbaskets.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 80 Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 18:00:22 -0600 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 80 (I think) David - Having the photo's alphabetical by basket maker is wonderful! It makes it so easy to see who'd doing what. Thanks again! Angie Longenecker - Thanks for sharing your photos of Australian possums. Thirty years ago I had a suede coat with an Australian possum fur collar. It was incredibly soft and luxuriant. It was only many years later that I learned what the animals look like. Pam W. - Glad to see I'm not the only one to put baskets in the dishwasher. I routinely do that with my 'wicker' plate holders after they have gotten food or grease on them. I let them (being cheap imports) go through the entire cycle along with the dishes. It extends their functional life considerably. For better baskets, I just run them through hot water with no detergent. Hope you're getting through and over the remodeling chaos and tax time. I share your dislike of telephone solicitations. The ones that really make me mad are the ones who won't take 'NO!' for an answer and just continue babbling on. It took me a while to learn to return their rudeness by hanging up on them. We don't even listed to obviously recorded sales pitches. It doesn't bother me a bit to hang up on a machine! On a more interesting topic, is the BASKET BASH an annual event? If so, would you please post information as early as possible in advance for next year? Thanks! Hope to see you at MO Conv. in June. Tony Stubblefield - Can't remember if I told you how much I enjoyed your web site. Will you be coming to KC for the MO convention this year? Pam F - Hope your friend picked up on the significance of what you told her about hand made baskets & bought one of yours. Barb Foster - Have you tried doing a web search for the pattern author you are seeking? There's at least one people-finder search engine that is amazing. I used it recently to find the author of some Naalbinding workbooks. It gives street addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, if available. Karen Horner - Your kudzu site is very good. Keep at it! For more about kudzu go to the WW website near the bottom of the home page and search for 'kudzu' - it will find all the previous discussions for you. Some of them are very informative and some are really funny. Sue Ann Boitnott - Don't forget to tell us all about your trip when you get back. It sounds so exciting! Bert Comstock In sunny Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: IBA Question Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 20:45:27 -0600 From: "Richard Cornelius" To: Hi David and Fellow Weavers, I decided to come out of the closet after reading Weaver's Word for about 1-1/2 years. David is so wonderful to do all that he does and more. Without him, we all couldn't get together and share all our feelings, thoughts, and helpful tips. I am going to the Indiana Basket Convention, which will be my first convention. My big question is: I am flying in from Texas so - how do you get your tools on board the plane with security the way it is? Also how do you get the baskets, materials, and all the things you buy back to Texas? One of my classes will be an antler class, and I'm not sure if that will fit in a suitcase. I was going to take along an empty case but if all you veterans have suggestions for me, I would really appreciate it. Any other helpful tips about anything on a convention, spending money, etc. would help me out a lot. Please either email me direct or if you like, put it on Weaver's Word. I look forward to meeting some of you at IBA. My prayers and thoughts go all to all of you that have had tragedies. Time doesn't always heal but it does get better. Also congratulations to all the accomplishments several of you have made. I just moved to Texas 6-1/2 weeks ago with no family or friends here, and my husband is in civil service stationed in Korea for a year. Weaving will surely help me pass the time. Happy weaving to all of you from Texas where it seems to stay about 78 degrees in the day and anywhere from 30-60 at night. Yvonne Cornelius %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WW Date: Tue, 02 Mar 1999 11:11:28 +0000 From: Sandy Atkinson Organization: Atkinson's Country House To: David Collins Hi All, Just a few answers for the many questions on WW this time. 1) We still have some sisal, hand dyed in some colors. Our stock is almost gone though. I like to weave in into a basket, makes a nice accent. Looks real nice if used with other natural type materials. This sisal is soft and does not smell bad. 2) Norma, please get with Sharon at our booth at the Ind. convention and she will have for you a donation for the raffle. Steve and I will be in NC, Sharon and Larry will be in IN. 3) David, go to our website, sandyatkinson.com where we have a guild section. It contains almost all the states with the contact person. I don't see any problem with you taking the info off that page for your page here. Hope that will help you. 4) Anyone involved with a guild, may want to check out the site and make sure the information is current and correct and help us keep this updated. Thanks. Sandy Atkinson Atkinson's Country House %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 87 Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 08:22:43 -0500 From: SUSAN A REED-FANFONI To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Hi, I thought I would try to give what information I do know to some of these girls trying to start their own guilds. You will need to come up with a guild name. (A name that is descriptive of the area is good to use) Next you will need to elect officials such as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Decide what details they will be responsible for. Decide what your dues will be ($10.00 to $20.00 is the normal range). Most banks will help you out when you go to set up a checking account (a good idea to have two signatures on the account). If one bank doesn't seem to want to help you, try another one. They are out there. They will also guide you in what you need to do. Most guilds meets monthly usually at the same place, same time. A lot of guilds makes baskets at these meetings, with everyone taking turns in being in charge of organizing it. Also the newspaper has a section on meetings that will let you print your guild monthly meeting date for free. This will help you recruit more members. When I lived in N.C., we rented a space at a craft show twice a year and all of the members contributed baskets to sell. The guild kept 25% commission. This was our way of raising money to pay for out of town teachers to come and teach at our guild. Some times we adopted a worthy cause such as a Christmas tree decorated with mini baskets that was auctioned off at a charity benefit. There are many things that you can do as a group. If you would like more information or ideas, you can email me personally at reedbasket@juno.com. I really enjoy reading Weavers Words, just wish I had more time to write. Happy Weaving! Susan :) In the Shenandoah Valley where spring seems to be peeking at us. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 82 Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 11:11:41 -0600 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 82 Jackie Zehring - One good way to find what kind of baskets were used in a given location in any particular era is to look at illustrations from that era in contemporary books and art collections. Talk to the people at your local historical society or museum and see if they have any baskets or information about baskets. Most baskets used in early days of Europeans moving to the American colonies would have been ones they brought with them from the old world. They probably also brought their basketmaking skill with them. So if you can find examples of traditional baskets from the homelands of the immigrants, it is probably safe to assume they would have made and used similar baskets in the new world. Some of the Native American tribes already had well-established basket traditions of their own. There was undoubtedly some exchange of goods and information that eventually led to changes in the basketry of both the natives and the settlers. Part of this change may have been related to the unavailability of traditional European (or other homeland) materials. Adaptations could have been a response to the traits of locally available basketry materials. Check back issues of Weavers Words on the website to see previous discussions of historic basketry. Scroll down to the Search command on the home page and tell it to look for 'historic' or 'history'. Marge Smoot - Anyone of any skill level is welcome to participate in the WW basket swaps. There is usually a break of several months between them. The next one will undoubtedly be announced well enough in advance to give anyone who wants to participate an opportunity to sign up. I encourage beginners to get involved. They will be pleased with the positive feedback they receive. We were all beginners once. This issue seemed very familiar to me. If I have already said these things in an earlier post, please forgive the redundancy. I couldn't remember if I had responded or just scanned it when it arrived. Bert Comstock Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 83 Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 11:12:30 -0600 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net WW V2 I83 Barbara- in Louisville - I'm so sorry to hear of the death of your husband. Please accept my sincere condolences. Connie in upstate NY - I can't recommend that anyone plant kudzu intentionally. (Although there is a good chance that it would be killed off by a New York winter.) I would suggest you try to set up a materials trade with someone who lives in a kudzu zone. They could dry some vines to send to you in exchange for some native material that you could collect in your own area. Bert Comstock Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 84 Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 11:13:32 -0600 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 84 Marty Holihan - I'm nearing the deadline on a major long-term project, so I'm way behind in my personal correspondence, including Weavers Words. Eventually, I'll get caught up. Thanks for asking. But don't look for a lot out of me before April. It really makes me feel good to know that my absence is noticed. I will be back. I miss all my friends here. Joy Moody - It's good to hear from you again. I think of you often. Dianne Gleixer - There's a basket shop at the Ohio History Center at Columbus, among many other living history shops and displays. Eileen - Some baskets I undo and redo a lot! I redid my forest Gretchen border 3 times before I was satisfied with it. By the way, I had a note from Diane Rigterink today (March 1) that she had already received the swap basket I sent her last Thursday. It's always a relief to know that they have arrived safely & a thrill when the recipient really likes it. I can hardly wait for my new basket to get here so I can see who made it for me! Bert Comstock Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 85 Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 11:15:40 -0600 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 85 Winnie - Hope your trip to Paris was great. Did you see any French baskets? Tony Stubblefield - Your posts are always so interesting and full of good information and enthusiasm! I'm so glad you're here. Joan Culler - I've been in a local guild for almost 2 years. I'm not really up on how all the officers work, (other than behind the scene) but the term of office is 2 years. Our annual dues are $10; the newsletter comes out almost monthly; we meet at a local historical museum (little, if any fee); and many of our classes are taught by established members, most of whom also teach outside the guild. Classes are priced individually, with fees payable to the instructor. If there is a site rental fee, the guild collects that separately. Several times a year we have guest instructors - this weekend Marlys Sowers will be down from Iowa to teach 2 all-day willow baskets. I'm signed up for the Sunday class and really looking forward to it. The basket will be a flat shallow potato tray with rib construction. (The Saturday class is a heart-shaped rib basket). In the summer, usually July, anyone who is interested in teaching at the guild's November 1-day weave-in brings the basket they propose to teach and everyone votes for the several baskets they would most like to learn. There are usually about half a dozen baskets selected and taught. This year we are hosting the MO convention in early June. I believe the class schedule books have recently been mailed out to people who were already members of the state guild. People who join the MO guild now can probably still get a copy of the book. I'm not sure when the next mailing will be. Probably after registrations begin, so the established members can have first choice of the classes. There are a Lot of great classes lined up. I'm sure there will be plenty of room for everyone who wants to attend (although perhaps not always in their first choice classes). Bert Comstock, Independence, MO - where it's rainy and glum and my 4-week sinus infection has migrated into my chest - ugh! Back to the clinic this afternoon. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap Basket Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 23:27:22 -0500 From: "Susan Tripp" To: "David Collins" I just wanted to write and say how thrilled I was to receive my swap basket upon my return from my first basket convention - Winter Weave 99. I had a great weekend then came home to find my box waiting for me at work. I tore into it like a kid on Christmas and inside was a beautiful anniversary basket from Lori Reeves in Decatur IL. It is beautiful with colors that match my living room! I will have to send a picture because it's hard to explain - sort of shaped like a hearth basket with a fancy top and a pretty decoration in front. Thank you so much Lori. It made my first day back to work after a long weekend fun, and it received many compliments from all my coworkers! Susan from upstate NY %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: Nantucket Molds Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 07:34:10 +0000 From: Tony Stubblefield or Dean Meredith To: David Collins References: 1 Hello Basket Makers, Karen in NH, I buy most of my molds from Nate's Nantuckets (603) 286-8927 http://www.basketshop.com/ right in your neck of the woods in Sanbornton, NH. I prefer to buy all of my molds from one supplier, especially one that makes them themselves. This way I know that all of the sizes are consistently shaped for nesting and I can get bases, handles and rims that are all going to fit my molds. I do have a couple of other odd molds and have a terrible time trying to get bases and handles to fit them as they always seem to be in-between sizes. Nate also has handle and rim molds that match each of the basket molds they sell. His molds, I think, are very reasonably priced, especially the smaller sizes. I am kind of a mold addict, as I really like they way they look and I have a hold set of shelves dedicated to my collection. I don't find mold weaving to be the lease bit restrictive. I can make a wide variety of baskets using the same mold. Tony Stubblefield St. Louis, MO http://www.tetranet.net/users/deanandtony/baskets.htm %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 87 Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 13:36:05 -0600 From: ROY LEA To: David Collins Dear David, Just a quick note to say that thanks to my swap partner, Kate Conroy, I have a lovely new basket! It is just beautiful! It resembles the Nantucket baskets, but it is made of f/o reed. My little boy already tried to lay claim to it, as he does with many of the baskets I make, but I don't think he'll get this one away from me! I'll send a pic when I get one ready, so that you can put it on the website. It is the first basket I have from Rhode Island, and it is definitely one I will treasure. Joe and Kate sent a really nice letter explaining the procedure of the basket's construction and their involvement in basket weaving. That was a nice touch, and it makes the basket even more special to me. Sincere thanks to the Conroys! I really enjoyed participating in the swap. Thanks, Jan, for putting it together for us. I'm going to go check the status of the package I sent off to my partner when I get done with this message. Hope it is well on the way to the addressee. So, when are we going to do another swap? I have noticed a few posts from people who missed this one, so I hope we do another soon. You all take care. Diane in Kansas %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: sisal Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 16:40:35 -0800 From: Kathy Halter To: davidc@iei.net Hi! Sandi Q. Sisal comes from the Agave or Century plant. It would be great worked into a basket, You can probably find it many places, but Frank's Cane and Rush Supply in Calif. carries it for sure. It is used extensively in Ecuador where they make ropes and shigras from it. Shigras are looped pouch like bags used by the Indians to carry things in. We will be seeing lots of sisal rope and shigra weaving during our Basketmaker's trip to Ecuador in May. It is fun to see the leaves of the plants laying all over the roads for the cars and trucks to run over so the fiber will come free. Beats pounding it! Just got back Mon. from Winter Weave in Mentor. It is a wonderful smaller conference that I would highly recommend! Char you and the guild did a great job! Kathy - in snowy & windy North Central Ohio %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.