"Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 91 Date Sent: March 08, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ 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, My mom needs a recipe for Salt Rising Bread that can be made in Bread Machine. If you know of one, please e-mail it to me. 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 Take Care, David davidc@iei.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 89 Date: Sun, 7 Mar 1999 18:32:12 -0600 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 89 Crystal - I'm sorry to hear that you feel you've been ignored and your questions not answered. I can't speak for anyone but myself, of course, but I don't think that is a thing anyone is doing on purpose. When I answer questions, I only answer ones that I think I have a decent answer for - not necessarily the best answer and certainly not the only answer. Sometimes, if I'm very busy, or depressed or tired or not feeling well, I don't do much answering at all. As we draw ever nearer to having 1,000 subscribers to Weavers Words, it is inevitable that not everyone will be able to relate personally to everyone else. I realize there are a number of regulars who post frequently. A number of these are people who have been doing so from the earliest days of WW - when there were fewer that 100 subscribers. Naturally some of us feel we know each other better because of the longer relationship development period. Some of us have actually met face to face in classes or at conventions or at guild meetings. Unfortunately, I don't have the time or energy right now to reread back issues to see what your questions were. There's no guarantee I'd know how to answer them if I did. It may be that you will still get an answer or two from someone who is behind on their reading and writing right now. If not, feel free to ask again. Sometimes we just assume that an answer has been or will be given by somebody else. If you have an idea who you would like to have answer your questions, there is always the option of asking them directly (either in WW or via personal email directed only to them). Wendy Milne - You will have survived teaching your first class by the time you read this, so how did it go? Tony - Strange as it may seem, there's an antique dealer here in Independence who specializes in things English and happens to have a number of traditional English willow baskets. I wish I could afford to shop there regularly! Let me know if you want the particulars. Dee Grin - Thanks for the kind words. I've been fighting a nasty respiratory infection & that was good mood elevator. Bert Comstock Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Everyone's Comments--Prayer Date: Sun, 07 Mar 1999 21:23:32 -0600 From: Crystal Drenner To: davidc@iei.net To all the Weavers. I am just trying to make everyone aware that we are all unique and should help each other out. I did finally get my answers by people privately e-mailing me, because of the last post. It should not have come to that. I started receiving weavers words when it first began. Then last April 1998, we changed e-mail servers so I stopped receiving weavers words. Within the last month I start receiving again. When I originally started receiving, I attempted many times to ask various questions and offer suggestions, but was for a lack of better terms ignored. I do not blame anyone, but ask you be aware. How would you feel if it were you. Their have been many wonderful weavers who have e-mailed me regarding the matter, voicing the same feelings. I will not mention names, because they e-mailed in confidence. Please lets work together and make this a big family. PRAYERS: Lord I ask you to cover Cheryl in her time of need. She is a child of yours and you feel the pain she is in. Bless her to continue her strength and spirit as she goes through this trial. We don't know why you have certain people go through cancer, but somehow it all comes out in the end. Lord let you magnify your peace and love within her. Bless her family with strength and encouragement. Have your way. In Jesus Name.... AMEN Crystal %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: swap basket Date: Sun, 7 Mar 1999 21:25:29 -0800 From: "Marc L. Ames" To: "David Collins" Greetings to you all. I sure have enjoyed reading WW lately, though I haven't had time to write in. But I must tell you I received my swap basket all the way across the country from Annette Meier in New York. She sent me a square napkin basket with an oak handle and blue accent - my favorite!. It is filled with festive Independence Day candle and napkins. She has added a clever reed bow decoration which I particularly admire as I have no flair for embellishments. In fact I was struck by the whole professional presentation - The well woven basket with smooth sanded handle, the color matching contents neatly tied up with a raffia bow and anchored tightly in the basket, and the excellent gift tag telling me all I need to know about my basket - I realize I have a lot to learn about presentation and packaging. You should see Annette's gift tag. It has a photo on the front to catch your eye. Inside it tells about the tradition of basket making, how to properly care for the basket and very interesting: it instructs the buyer to save the label, tag and receipt to document the value of the piece for the future. What good advice. On the back of the tag is room to write the name and price of the basket and then Annette's address, phone and e-mail (covering all bases.) And her tag is only 1 3/4 by 2 inches! I know I will use this basket all the time as it is such a handy shape and size, and I hope it will also inspire me to come up with a better tag. Thanks Annette for a great basket, and also a valuable lesson! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WW Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 00:57:46 -0500 From: "Jayna Glemby" To: "David Collins" I'm looking forward to the arrival of my swap basket....nothing yet. It's fun to read what others received. Diana F., I think you are so right about finding a box for the basket to mail it out, and I like your idea...get the box first and make a basket to fit it! You go girl! Crystal, I was just about to respond to your posting when anew WW arrived and after quickly scanning it, saw that several others did so. Your frustration, possible anger, certainly came over loud and clear, but your sign off was so sweet! There will probably be another swap later in the spring or early summer. It will depend upon some kind volunteer coming forward and offering to coordinate it. Hopefully you can join in on that one. I think the advice you got about Easter baskets was great....especially if you go to any of the links David offers and then type in Easter Basket at any sight, you'll find something. Please do not be discouraged by WW....I know of no clique, only faceless friends who share information (perhaps not as timely as one might like) and share a love of weaving. Keep reading, and keep posting questions and share with answers you can. PS. Someone sent me a personal e-mail asking me to share the coffee and tea stain recipes I said I had saved from WW, and I still haven't done so....would you believe I can't find the notebook I saved all my wonderful WW tips in! So you see, Crystal, sometimes responses are late with legitimate reasons. Well...let's see if I get it right this time...best wishes to Angie and Carolyn!!!!! I do recall a lesson from "etiquette class" we attended at the Girls club as youngsters. We were instructed to say, "best wishes" to the bride to be, for her coming marriage and "congratulations" to the groom on being so fortunate to have won the love of such a wonderful bride. I remember my ancient teacher saying if we said "congratulations" to the bride it would sound as if we thought she'd never get married. Times certainly have changed, haven't they??? I thought you'd enjoy that. Also, good luck to Wendy in Maine on teaching your first class...lets us know how it went. It is neat to read about some of your first baskets. Marilyn H., your response was especially moving. The fact that you could find something good in all that tragedy and relate it to your first weaving experience is certainly a testimonial to your faith. My condolences to your daughter. Yvonne in Texas..hope you make some new friends...perhaps you could post something on a community bulletin to see if there are any basket makers in the area. Lois, welcome home!! Hope you were warm enough...bet it was a bit of a climate shock!!! Well it's close to 1am and this night owl better get to bed, especially as I am working again! I found a lovely job as the office manager of a small town newspaper. This is quite a switch for me, having been a COTA providing therapeutic recreation to elders in a nursing home for 27 years! Its nice to find a job I enjoy and be gainfully employed again. Many thanks to those who were so supportive during my job search! From Jayna in central Massachusetts were we had a weekend snow storm and it's melting some already. Saw Robins today and red winged blackbirds! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Raffia Date: Sun, 7 Mar 1999 23:22:16 -0700 (MST) From: moore-bernier@webtv.net (john moore) To: davidc@iei.net Have spent a wonderful winter in AZ but my dry raffia is driving me bananas. Since I like to work on my pine needle baskets while watching TV dipping my hands or material in water is just too darn messy. I know that keeping the needles damp and in the fridge is one way, but as an RVer basket material cannot take top priority. Have had good results with waxed linen. What ply is the best? I have split some, but not really satisfied with the end result. Know that when I return to Mi the humid summer weather, when it comes, will take care of my problem. Thanks to all for the Bear Grass info, Soaking up all the sunny weather before our return home. Thanks, Evie %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 90 Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 06:26:23 -0500 From: "Linda J. Braun" To: "David Collins" Naomi - There are several "people finder" sites, but my favorite is switchboard.com. Thirty years ago a friend knitted a most unusual and wonderful Christmas stocking for a baby gift for my daughter and then moved away. Two years ago, I was able to find her through switchboard.com and get her to knit a similar stocking for my granddaughter -- traded her a basket for it and we have kept in touch since. I have also found some old classmates for the upcoming reunion through switchboard. It is easier if the person you are looking for has an unusual name and you have some idea of the state where they might live. Since I am writing -- I have one cat, the Baskets, Etc. Spokescat, named Spokes who found me a few years ago. I also feed four other cats at my office -- seven days a week. Thankfully my office is only two minutes away. Two I can pet a little bit and two who are too wary to be touched. They are a Mama and Dad and two of last year's offspring. Well, one is an offspring and the other was a "ringer" kitten that I think someone dropped off there. They all have extra toes, or "mitten feet". It is so much fun to observe them as they act just like a pride of lions. Mama mothers while Dad stands watch. I even "armored" a big Gateway Computer box with Styrofoam sheets and the handy man's secret weapon, duct tape, so they have a warm place to hang out while they are waiting for food. To Char C. and the Wildwood Guild -- Thanks for a great workshop weekend. Glad it was last weekend as it appears the snow has you pretty well covered up now. Also, thanks to the patient teachers Judith Olney and Patti Hawkins. Linda B. in Ohio where spring can't come soon enough!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: much subjects Date: Mon, 08 Mar 1999 11:50:38 +0000 From: Sandy Atkinson Organization: Atkinson's Country House To: David Collins Hi all weavers, I was going to just buzz through WW this time as I have so much to do today, but I guess I need to make some comments. All this talk about cats, we have a pretty gray and white barncat who lives with us. She was our daughters, who now is in college. I told her maybe we would find Hannah, the cat, a new home, (I really did not mean it) and our daughter, Gwen had a fit. The cat is the owner of us and our household. She rules, and she knows it. Hannah can be so sweet and purr and then immediately turn on you and scratch. My real complaint is the hair balls. I hate them!! To Crystal that did not get her questions answered: I hope you hang in there and perhaps you will get answers. Sometimes it just takes time. I personally know several of the readers on WW and the ones I don't know, I feel I know through WW and I can't imagine any of them ignoring you intentionally. Also, it takes time sometimes to think of the answer. Regarding the TV series: It is aired all throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and several other foreign countries. We give the series to PBS stations free of charge and they can choose to air it or not, when they fit it into their time slots. The stations really need to know that the series is wanted. If the stations have a demand for it, they most likely will air it. It is 13 weeks long, with a different basket each program. There are 5 series out there now. The title is "Country Basket Weaving with Sandy Atkinson". If you would like to see the series in your area, or to know if it is playing in your area, call your local PBS station. If it is not airing, you can request it. The University of Michigan tells me that one letter represents 100 people, so a letter campaign is good to help get it up and on air. We really get wonderful comments about the series and people tell us how helpful it is and how much they learn. I have always said it is good to have several teachers, as you can learn from each one. There is most times no correct way to do things, (weaving included) just different ways, some better than others. We hope to do another series soon. Steve and I will be leaving soon for NC convention and the warmer weather. The only bad thing about being in NC is that it is hard to leave the spring and come home to more winter. Sharon and Larry will be at the IN convention for us. They are new to conventions and vending. Hope you all will help take care of them for us. I keep telling them what a great bunch you all are and how much fun they will be having. Sharon teases me and says maybe - maybe not they will go to the convention. They might just stay in the room for the week-end and have a second honeymoon. Keep an eye on them, they are an "old" married couple, 20 some years. I always tell my students to keep their first basket. I still have mine, it keeps me very humble and lets me know we all start on square one. One student of mine could not understand the relationship I was trying to explain to her in the first class, that one has with a basket. She went home and her mother in law wanted her first basket, took it when she left. She followed her mother in law out to the car to get the basket back. She decided she could not part with it. The next week in class she told us how she thought I was a little crazy when I said I had feelings for my work, for my baskets, but now could relate. Guess she is a little crazy too!! Tell you what, I think a "little crazy" in people make them happier people. Ok, that's enough. Take care with the big storm that's on it's way from the west to the Midwest and beyond. THINK SPRING! Sandy Atkinson %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Room at NCBA Date: Mon, 08 Mar 1999 06:54:39 -0500 From: "Ann H. Ridgeway" Organization: AnnCrafted To: davidc@iei.net To all, Does anyone need a room at NCBA? I have an extra one starting Wed., 24th. I'll be canceling it o/a 17 March unless someone wants it. The wheat weavers national guild will be convening in Williamsburg, VA, in April. It will be at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center April 23-25. Exhibits and some open workshops (quick and easy introductory item). Hastily, Ann %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Fw: Phone company charges for internet access Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 07:40:32 -0500 From: Durenda_J_Pake@besser.com To: davidc@iei.net Thought you could pass this on to all your weaver's words readers!! URGENT PLEASE JOIN TOGETHER IN THIS CNN reported that in the next two weeks, Congress is going to vote on allowing telephone companies to charge for Internet access. That means, every time we make a long distance e-mail we will receive a long distance charge. This will get costly. Please visit to the following web site AND complain. Complain to your Congressman. Don't allow this to pass. http://www.house.gov/writerep Pass this on to your friends. It is urgent! I hope all of you will pass this on to all your friends and family. All of us have an interest in this one. PLEASE FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW TODAY BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: My Swap Basket Date: Mon, 08 Mar 1999 07:40:53 -0600 From: McLean Family To: David Collins I'm another person who just lurks on WW and enjoys it very much. It gives me inspiration as well as great information and tips! I received my swap basket Friday from Donele Monte. It is a twill pattern called "Diamond Duet". It is a beautiful shade of blue and looks just lovely on the island in my kitchen. Twills are my very favorite type of basket and I just love this one! Thank you for all your hard work Donele! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Nantucket rims Date: Mon, 08 Mar 1999 09:18:10 -0500 From: Joe Conroy To: David Collins Pat Moritz: To nail your nant. rims I do the following. I attach a piece of 1"x2" to a block of 8"x8". The 1x2 hangs out over the edge of the 8x8 by 4 or 5 inches. It helps to round off the overhanging part of the 1x2 so that a round rim will roughly conform to the shape of the basket. I drill a fairly good size through the 1x2 so that as I nail the rims the nail goes into the hole so I don't have to pry the rim off the 1x2. Next I cut off the nails flush with the inside of the rims. I then place a small piece of steel (a vee block works nicely) on the 1x2 and then place each nail head on the steel and pen it with a small 2 or 4 ounce ball peen hammer. One of my students bought a pinsetter from Nate. Neither one of us cared for it. A good glue to use is the insta-set glue from several supply houses, including Gratiot Lakes. It's a good idea to invest in the accelerator for the glue too. Glue both surfaces of the rim joint, clamp it, and apply the accelerator. Instant glue joint!! This glue will work on wet or dry material, too. I don't care for Nate's economy molds. The recess on the bottom of the mold isn't too good a place to attach the basket base plate. Martha Lawrence has an excellent spiral bound book on the construction of a Nantucket purse. It has been available from HH Perkins. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: a little of a lot Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 10:18:49 EST From: DebGring@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone in the weavers words family, It has been a long while since I wrote and I am sorry, not that I have that much of importance to say anyway! Last weekend I had the pleasure of going to winter weave in Mentor Ohio, put on by the Wildwood Basketry Guild. Had a wonderful time, got to meet several other WW members, Susan Tripp, Char C. and another lady from Michigan....Took classes from Jim Rutherford (2-pie maple) and Diane Stanton (Woodland Market and woven, folded, stitched) My Husband went along too and worked in the motel room while I wove, so it was a little get-away for us too. Char, you did a great job...Thanks! Several years ago a co-worker asked me if I could make an Easter basket for her kids, I made up my own and put Easter type colors in it, they turned out cute.... I know carpel tunnel conversation is dwindling down, just wanted to add my own 2 cents worth, been there, done that, had the surgery, better. I had it in both hands, about 10 years ago had surgery (local anesthesia) on both hands at the same time, was off work for 7 weeks, but they are much better now. The danger in letting it go on to long without treatment is as Bert said, permanent nerve damage. I did find that before the surgery the splints I wore at night helped as did the B vitamins my doc told me to take, I believe it was B1 and B6 but am not positive ( I find that my memory is not what it was at 25, now that I'm 47!) I just realized what time it was, have to scoot back to the hospital for a meeting, will add more later! Debbie in endless winter of NW Ohio, waiting for another storm.... %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Lurkers Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 07:25:14 -0800 (PST) From: Carol Miller To: davidc@iei.net It seems to me that some of us may be "lurking" for the same reasons as Crystal. Maybe our questions will be deemed too basic to answer? Hi Crystal, Thought the response generated was GREAT! I am new to the net so I avoid throwing my two cents worth in, to be completely honest I was sure 'til recently how to send a response, I am very green at computers. Remember we all started somewhere. Hang in there Crystal. Carol %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 10:56:18, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net Bits and Pieces First need to say excuse all the typing errors I will make-my mind and fingers don't seem to be coordinated today and am tired of corrc/retyping everything. I thought I send a post a short while back but never saw it (I think) so will send it again. sorry if I 'm duplicating I have lots of necklace baskets that I don't seem to wear very often as they are out of sight. So I put up a wooden tie holder in the downstairs bathroom above the light switch and hang the necklaces there. First they are displayed for all to see and then I also remember as that is usually the last place I am before I walk out the door. So I am more likely to wear them. I thought about one of those expanding X type racks but things tend to slip off of them and when miniatures make it to the floor in this house they are just a mouthful for granddog Charlie-he doesn't' eat them but they end up mangled. right after he came here to live Fusspuss batted a mini egg basket that I had just finished off the jelly cupboard and almost into his mouth-who could resist such a challenge. About identifying folks at convention several years back we typed big @'s in red and stuck them to our name tags. Worked fine and got lots of quest. about what it meant. Alice-thanks about your tip for using the rr to hold the spokes in the Nant. don't know where my mind was(lost as usual) as I have done that to other types. Whoever? asked about how to nail on the rims-Jim Rutherford sells what he calls a pound pony- which I use to hold the baskets while I'm nailing. It works as well as anything else. Are you pre starting your holes with either a small drill bit or push pin depending on the size. A dowel works well for a mini as you can just slide the basket over the rim. Beverly-only in your dreams would spokes and bases match up. First even the same size spokes materials vary in thickness. Also if the spokes are wet they swell a little so they don't want to fit. If you look back in Alice's post to me (a couple of ww back) you will see that she uses rr pushed into the rim to hold the spokes in place. That really probably is the best bet if it is way too big. I don't think I'm making sense today(even less than usual) Crystal, I'm sorry that you feel we are ignoring you I assure you it isn't intentional. I read most of these off line and then answer them next time I sign on. But even if I make myself notes about things I need to answer I have been known to lose the notes. If you need a specific question answered in a certain time frame it might be better to email someone privately. And keep in mind that many of us work mainly in one type/area of weaving so might not have the answer as that is not in our realm. Although that doesn't' always keeping us from offering suggestions. Well enough for now in sunny but cold and windy southeastern Va. I don't envy all you folks your snow. Billie %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 11:43:28 -0500 From: "Jane A. Wilson" To: "David Collins" Hello to all members. I have a request to make of anyone who keeps up with back issues. When we were writing about our "ideal dream basket studios" I did not pay that much attention because I never thought I would get one. Now it seems like I might. We have our house on the market and are designing a new house with a daylight basement. I need to go back into the archives and re-read about ideal basket studios. Can anyone give me some assistance in finding those issues? It seems like it was at least a year ago. I want to add my comments about how delightful the Greater Atlanta Weave and Twine in 99 conference was. The small atmosphere was so friendly. The teachers were great. I had Mary Heppmansperger, Jean Cadmus May, and Judy Briscoe. I would definitely take classes from them again. They were full of helpful hints and were very patient. I love wearing my beautiful green and gold sweatshirt. It helps me relive the great weekend. Good job done by all the guild. I hope you will have one next year. Thanks in advance for helping me find the ideal studio. Jane Wilson %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: brittle weeping willow Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 11:55:35 -0500 From: "Angie Longenecker" To: "David" Hi all, Karen - from all accounts - weeping willow branches are too brittle to weave with. They are alright to weave, but when they dry they become very brittle. Still VERY cold in PA and soccer starts today and we'll be outside practicing! Angie The Country Seat http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weavers Words Date: Mon, 08 Mar 1999 12:32:02 -0500 From: "MYLOIS@PRODIGY.NET" <"MYLOIS@PRODIGY.NET"@prodigy.net> Organization: Prodigy Internet To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everybody: Haven't responded lately as I have been shoveling snow -- a lot of snow -- every day -- more due tonight -- will it never end! In response to colorful Easter baskets -- I made a beautiful, large Easter basket for my granddaughter and dubbed it Morgan's Basket. I used a large, solid wooden base (actually, I think it was Judy Richmond's base and handle) and wove it in the reed I liked as high as I wanted it to go. I used dyed pastel reed (pink, blue, yellow, and purple) and got on a wide strip I inserted, I painted little wooden hearts all around in between each spoke and painted them blue. I also ordered a wooden rabbit from Basket Patterns.com and painted it and glued it to the bottom (Mabel Caverly's pattern??). The basket was gorgeous and very durable for a toddler to haul around. You can also obtain really cute Easter basket buckles from Basket Patterns.com -- they are adorable. Hope this helps. I find myself using my imagination more and more when weaving rather than just making baskets from patterns. Go with it!! Crystal: We are really nice people -- no clique at all. Some people know other people personally from conventions or the area they live in. If your questions don't seem to be getting answered, you can always e-mail someone personally to ask for help and I know they will do everything possible to get answers for you. You can pretty much tell from the responses the experienced weavers versus newbys. I, myself, am sort of in the middle -- can weave on my own but still have a lot to learn. Myra mylois@prodigy.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: and the rest of the story... Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 15:01:02 EST From: DebGring@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hello again to all, I am back from my meeting at the hospital and can now finish my letter. Regarding animals, we have 2 cats, Pumpkin (scardy cat male) and Puddy a lovable female. We also have a daschound, Toby who does go into my weaving room with me, but doesn't like to stay too long as there is much too much to do outside. The cats go in just to check for mice I guess, Pumpkin will stay in for a few minutes, Puddy is scared of the reed I think. Neither play in it or bother the baskets. Someone wondered how many nurses???? I am one. I've worked at this hospital for 25 years. I work on a general floor, but this unit has a few more amenities....(carpet on the floor, special food, private rooms etc). I worked on an Orthopedic/surgical floor for 19 years before going to the Suite. My first basket was an Appalachian Cookie Cutter basket, and I do still have it. I stained it with the wrong stain though and it got stiff. But I still have it! Not too much else to add, so will stop. Enjoy all the comments and reading all the "words" of weavers! Thanks David! Thanks weavers! Debbie G. in NW Ohio, waiting for more snow. Is spring ever comming? %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re:"Weavers Words" V.2.I89 Date: Mon, 08 Mar 1999 13:13:58 PST From: "CLAUDIA HOPKINS" To: davidc@iei.net Crystal D - I am sorry you feel that way about Weavers Words. But I guess everybody has a right to voice their opinion. I have only been a subscriber for less than a year and I feel this is a great sight and I feel that David is doing a great job, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK DAVID!!! I have asked questions in the past and have gotten replies back and I am not part of a click. When I was at a craft show this past fall I met a lady from Weavers Words and we have kept in touch ever since. Hi Jayna But I hope you will give it another try. Wendy M.- I agree with you Baskets off Joy is a great place. I have a close friend that lives near there and she knows that when I go visit her that we have to go to Baskets of Joy. How did you make out teaching your first class? What did you have them make? And how many students did you have? The reason I was asking is that I just started teaching also. I was nervous at first but it went well. I hope yours did also. Now I have a question. Awhile back someone mentioned about something (I forget the name) you can buy in a quilt store that helps dyed reed. Can you say it again and just how do you use it? I also enjoyed the last basket swap and can't wait for another one to be started. Thanks for everything. Claudia Hopkins Chepachet, R.I. (Where we just got thru another snow storm. Now that spring is just around the corner it seems now we are getting all our snow.) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: RE: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 90 Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 16:19:52 -0500 (EST) From: Judith Spates To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone! Many of you have purchased my patterns in the past and have had trouble reaching me to order the wooden base frame. My area code changed last year. My phone number is (978) 921-1324. Sorry for the inconvenience it caused. It sounds like lots of you have kitty cats. I'm a bird lover and was wondering how many of you have pet birds. Out of 8 birds, I have one bird who loves to help me weave (at least he thinks he's helping!!). If I could only get him to hand me clothespins as I need them, I'd be all set. Instead, he likes to dump them one-by-one onto the floor. He also likes it when I mist my basket to rewet it!! Six of my birds are budgies and 2 are "Bourke" parakeets. Take care, Judy Richmond Spates "The Judy Richmond Collection" JSpates@hope.gordonc.edu %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Cats, Nantucket Rims, Baby baskets Date: Mon, 08 Mar 1999 17:45:29 -0500 From: Winnie Organization: @Home Network Member To: David Collins Hi all, Cats: Angie-my daughter has a cat with six toes on one front paw and five on the other, very strange looking. His feet are so big it looks like he has baseball gloves on. Nantucket rims- Pat-I've made a few Nantuckets. When it's time for the rim, if the basket is big enough I put it over the corner of a very heavy table that I use for dying reed. The open part toward the table and the base end away from the table. If the basket is too small to fit over the corner of the table, I secure to the table a flat board that will fit inside the basket and slip the basket over the end of the board. I use a push pin to make a starter hole in the well soaked rim piece then hammer in the nails. I attach the inside rim with about 5-7 nails evenly spaced around the basket first. I always start in the center of the rim piece and work to the ends, overlapping the ends. I then put on the outside rim, again starting in the center of the rim piece and working alternately in each direction. My problem with Nantucket rims is keeping them round over a long period of time. After a while they aren't as round as when they were first done. Has anyone else had this problem, and if so have you found a solution? Baby Baskets: Chris-I made a large cradle using a 12" x 24" base. I used a plastic clothes basket for a "mold" to get the shaping right then removed it before I did the hood on the cradle. Donna-Yes, I'm back from Paris already, but just today I received my tickets for Aruba next January, and I'm headed for Egypt this summer. (I have to figure out how to weave on an airplane.) Winnie %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap Basket Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 18:58:17 -0500 From: "Valerie S. Miller" To: "David Collins" I received a very beautiful basket from my swap partner Rae Hunter. It is a burden basket made out of split willow and limegrass with a bundle of sweetgrass tucked inside. First Nations People believe dreams are very important and are a form of memory recollection. The burden basket is supposed to hold your burdens so you can rest peacefully. It is about 6" tall, 4" in diameter and cylindrical in shape. The outside is embellished with feathers, shells, birchbark, bells, pinecones, wood, bone, and a piece of shed snakeskin. Thank you Rae for a very special basket that I will always cherish. I was speechless when I opened the box. Even my husband was very interested in it and thinks it's gorgeous. This was my first swap, and I'll never forget it because of you! Thank you Jan for organizing the swap for us. Who's organizing the next one? If past organizers are willing to help out a beginner, I'd be happy to help with one. Valerie in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 90 Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 19:44:55 -0500 From: "Donna" To: "David Collins" Hi everyone - I truly promise that this posting will not be nearly as lengthy as the last. Those of you who know me, I think, realized that I was trying to prove a point. It is absolutely impossible to answer each and every person who posts. We pick and choose what we're going to reply to at the moment for many reasons - our personal interest in the particular topic, the amount of time available, even down to the mood we happen to be in as to whether we "feel" like being sociable when reading a particular issue. I haven't finished reading this entire issue, but I do hope that we'll all address our feelings on the particular topic at hand and then drop it. I would hate to see it flame to unnecessary lengths. ENOUGH SAID. Karen - I'm sure others have had more experience than me, but I have woven with weeping willow - in fact, it was the very first basket I ever made in a local "naturals" class, followed by a coiled corn husk basket stitched with cane. The weeping willow will weave quite nicely when fresh picked but becomes very brittle and does not hold up. The coiled basket lasted many years holding a plant until the bottom rotted out from moisture. My advise would be not to waste your time with it. Let's see what others have to say. Lois - Glad your trip went well - See, I told you to stop by my house, we could have switched wardrobes. While you were freezing, I was basking in sunny New Orleans. I heard JFK was closed for a while on Sunday, did you have any trouble getting out? Stay warm everyone, and to those of you farther north, please stay safe. Donna http://www.countryseat.com Check out our new online searchable catalog with shopping cart ctryseat@fast.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: (no subject) Date: Sun, 08 Mar 1998 14:14:07 -0500 From: John Miles To: David Collins My husband and I went to a Home and Garden Show yesterday and they had a building with crafters. My husband said the only reason I wanted to go was that I saw in the article in the newspaper that there would be baskets there. Could be some truth in that. There was a basket booth there and the lady said she did 20 shows a year and that she sold 620 baskets last year. She said here days are very long. I can't imagine. I love to weave but 620 a year. It was great for my husband to see her baskets. They were nice but he always says, no nicer than mine. He looked at the prices and started figuring how much money I had home in finished baskets. He thought he came up with a really good idea: sell the baskets and pay for my expenses to go to the convention in North Carolina. That wasn't even funny. There was another interesting booth there. A precious little Oriental gal was weaving baskets with material made from telephone books. She had rolled the pages real tight and made coils about the size of #4 round reed. She had baskets of all sizes and shapes. When she finished them, she had sprayed them with a clear shellac which made them shiny and firm. I'm not sure how she got the pages wrapped so tight but it was very interesting. You could see the print on the pages if you looked very close. It was a fun day! Convention time is coming and we are very excited. It has been wonderful to meet gals on WW who have been so helpful to us to prepare for the convention. Thanks especially to Joni from Dover. Dover is just 1 hour form me and there are 10 women from there going to NC. Four of us from the Eastern Shore of MD. We would love to have some of teachers I hear about on WW come to our area for classes. Flo Hoppe, Judith Onley, and others. Could someone tell me how we would go about this. We do have enough weavers in our area to support these classes and I would be glad to co-ordinate them if I can make the proper contact. Any info would be appreciated. My first basket is a pitiful looking Williamsburg. We had a Women's Retreat for our church a couple of years ago. One of the gals had taken some classes and agreed to teach us to weave a Williamsburg basket. There were about 30 women. I can't believe she did that. I am sure it seems like a nightmare to her now. But, most of us finished our baskets and some of us became addicted. I will always keep that basket just as a reminder of Cindy who had the patience of Job with all of us. It is very cold on the Eastern Shore of MD today. Snow is in the forecast for tomorrow. I am been so hungry for snow cream but it would have been better in Jan or Feb. Hope to meet some of you in NC. Judy Miles %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 20:13:27 -0700 From: "Rae Hunter" To: "David Collins (Weavers words)" Crystal Don't be so hard on us and yourself. I live in Canada and I'm absolutely sure I don't put as much into WW as I get back from it, and nobody has deleted me yet. I notice that Bert has answered your question about the swap basket. Stick with it, it's like making a basket a bit of patience doesn't hurt at all. I'm guilty of not answering everyone's questions and thinking someone else has more knowledge than me and they will answer. Bad thinking on my part. I don't always have the time to detail all of the chat but I sure would miss you or anybody else if you went away and didn't come back. I hope you will stay with us, I really don't think it is a cliche group. I do think it may appear so because some people put more effort into staying in touch for weaving and friendship. David does a great job and is worth supporting. The swaps are better than Christmas. I'll watch for you more carefully in the future. Cheers Rae %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.