"Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 93 Date Sent: March 10, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 971 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, Does anyone on Weaver's Words live in Germany? Is so; I'm desperately looking for two Ty Germania Beanie Babies. These were only distributed in Germany. Germania is one of the newest releases. Here in the States, the new releases retail for $10 or less. I will send you a check if you find them. Take Care, David davidc@iei.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Nantucket rims et al. Date: Tue, 09 Mar 1999 22:10:17 +0000 From: Tony Stubblefield or Dean Meredith To: David Collins/Weavers Words Hello, Well I got up early this morning (Tues.) to reply to the last WW and wouldn't you know it David already had another one complied. You all are too quick with your responses, I don't even think that fast :-) This is going to be long so bear with me. Beverly - About finding classes/workshops - I am on about every mailing list from craft centers across the country. I found most of them on the internet and just emailed them asking to receive a schedule. I also emailed individual weavers I liked and asked if they were teaching classes anywhere this summer. I searched on AltaVista under things like: white oak basketry, Nantucket workshop, specific things like that, not "basket classes" as you will get too many hits. I also looked up specific places I remembered hearing about like the Appalachian Center for Arts and Crafts. I specifically found out about the Joanne Catso class from The Basket Shop/Nate's Nantucket web site http://www.basketshop.com/ where I have gone in the past to take classes. They list their classes there as well as in their newsletter. About NC sweetgrass baskets - My Aunt and Uncle described there being people set up on the side of the road selling their baskets from the trunks of their cars. My Aunt and Uncle were staying on Kiawa Island so I don't know if they found the basket on the mainland or on the island. I assume you may only find the sweetgrass baskets along the coast. I will try to find the card and flyer that came with the basket and give you a specific name to look for. About Nantucket bases - You do want a tight fit for the staves in the groove. In the past the bases I bought had pretty big grooves so I used 3/8" flat oval for staves. All I did was taper the tip a bit and wedge them in. Even with the bases I get today I will still thin the tip of the cane stave slightly so I can get a good tight fit. You really have to balance the weights of your materials for the best results. Pat Moritz - About Nantucket rims - I was reading in the last WW everybody's own system for rimming a basket so I will relate mine here. This is how I do it for my classes and if I can put rim six baskets in a half hour (no one ever wants to do this themselves) I feel confident that it will work for anyone. First of all I pre-shape my rims on jigs so that I am assured of a round basket (or oval). After leveling the basket I fit the inside un-tapered rim onto the basket clipping it as tight as possible. I mark an approximately 3" overlap and remove the rim. I do all of my tapers on a belt sander, it is the only way to go for this type of work. (I do have a full size shaving horse, but only use it for market basket rims anymore) I then refit the rim to the basket rechecking the fit. I mark the overlap again and take the rim back off. I apply an thin even coat of quick-set superglue to one of the surfaces and then clip the overlaps together just shy of the mark so that the inside rim is slightly larger than what I actually measured. This will give you a really tight fit. I have just started using superglue accelerator and like it so far. After the inside rim joint is secure I refit it into the basket. I then begin clipping the outside rim on the basket. I again mark a 3" overlap, I remove, sand the taper, and re-fit it to the basket. I mark again and glue just a hair over the mark so that the outside rim is a little smaller than what I measured. After it is dry I sand all of the overlaps until they are invisible. You usually have one side of the joint that looks better than the other so I make sure that the bad side is facing down when I re-fit the rims. I fit the inside one first with the tail of the overlap where I will be drilling the hole for the handle. I then fit the outside rim with the overlap on the opposite side so that again the handle will cover the tail of the join. (This is assuming you are using an outside hoop handle) Now this rim should be very tight and almost hard to get on. You want as little space as possible between the rims. If even after a some work I can't get it to fit I will take and sand down the inside of the overlap a little as it is usually the thickest spot on the rim. I use a Dremel tool with a sanding drum on it for this. For anyone who doesn't have a Dremel tool get one! They are the best $30-40 dollars you will ever spend. Be sure and get a cordless one. I have both the larger cordless and the mini. Now with the rims on the basket you are ready to nail the rims. I mark where the handle is going, again assuming you are using a outside handle. If you are using cane or something thin for your staves it really doesn't matter if the handle hole is exactly in the center of a stave, the holes just need to be exactly opposite each other. I then place a pencil mark on the outside rim every third stave. This is where I will nail. I start each nail hole with a pushpin just so my drill bit doesn't slip around. I use my Dremel with a very tiny drill bit and go through the outside rim and stave, you should be able to feel a change in pressure as you pass through the stave. I then use nails/pins 20 gauge X 1/4 to 3/8 inch long. I prefer that the pins don't pass all of the way through the inner rim. In general I never peen over the nails. If the point does come through I use a pair of angled nippers and cut it off and sand it smooth. I used to use a small 6" anvil and a ball peen hammer to nail my rims, now I use a Nate's Nantucket pin setter exclusively. I the pinsetter to work great for me, especially in classes. I have even gotten a second one so the adventurous students can pin their own rims. I will drill and pin on four sides of the basket making sure by eyeballing that the rim is still level. I then drill the remaining holes and go around the basket squeezing the pins in place with the pin setter. Now I am ready to lash the rim, I will sand the top edge of the rims making sure that none of the spokes are sticking up beyond the rim. This also gives you a nice flat surface for the rim cover to sit. If you have nice tight fitting rims a 3mm piece of cane should be more than wide enough to cover the seam. I won't go through lashing as that is pretty much the same as any basket. This is how I learned to rim a basket at a workshop last summer in New Hampshire from Lisa Thayer. This was the only thing keeping me from teaching Nantuckets. I now have taught quite a few classes and they have all gone very smoothly. Sorry this was so wordy, but many people have asked me and others here in the WW about rimming a Nantucket basket. I hope this explanation has helped a little. Pat, one more thing. Sometime you should have me show you how I "fill-in" or turn back on an ribbed egg basket. There is a little trick that I learned from Appalachian oak egg baskets and it works like a charm. When done the "filling-in" is almost invisible. Maggie Silva - About English willow baskets - See I should have asked here on the WW before my trip about where to find a good basket in London. Since I am new to WW I sometimes forget what a great source of information everyone out there is. Oh, and thanks Bert for the place in KC that sells English baskets, but I really want to get one myself on a trip, it will have those sentimental meaning then. Evie - About stitching material for pine needle coiling - I usually use wool "warp" yarn I get from a loom weaving store. It is a very tightly plied yarn that holds up well to the repeated pulling through the pine needles. It is available in a myriad of colors, which I really like. I use it doubled and split the stitch in the previous row so I get a chain stitch running up the basket. I have a basket like this on my web site on my "Contemporary Basket" page http://www.tetranet.net/users/deanandtony/contemporary.htm If you really like the traditional look of raffia you probably won't like the look of yarn though. Also I only wet my needles when I very first start, I never bother to dampen them for the sides of the basket. My needles are about 10 yrs old and couldn't be much dryer. That is why I really like this type of basket for travel myself. Well this is probably the longest post in WW history! I hope that this answered a few questions for people. Talk to you later, Tony Stubblefield http://www.tetranet.net/users/deanandtony/baskets.htm %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: My friend Cheryl Date: Tue, 9 Mar 1999 21:58:21 -0500 From: "John Jacobson" To: "david collins" Hello everyone, I was so pleased that several of you responded to my personally about my friend Cheryl. She is undergoing stem cell transplants to try and beat her third bout of cancer. She is staying at an apartment at a medical complex in Detroit and the only visitors she is allowed are her husband and her sister, who has been staying with her throughout this phase of her treatment. I had mentioned this before and asked that you remember her in your thoughts and prayers. I just received her address and hesitated whether or not to print it. But, everyone who writes in seems so caring and thoughtful. If you feel so inclined, please send her a card and let her know you are thinking about her. She will be spending her birthday there too, March 15, so even a birthday card would be appropriate. Our daughters were in the same preschool, which is how we first met,(they were 3 then). Their birthdays are a week apart and they will be 12 in June. We were pregnant again at the same time and our sons are 10 days apart, turning 10 in October. We became friends, and then she took a couple of my basket classes. Needless to say, she has been hooked since then. We roomed together when she attended her first AMB convention and it was great to see her enthusiasm and how she had to buy "everything". We've all been there, huh? Some of us still are :) Anyway, I have only seen her about once a year since we moved to Ohio in 92 and she has been through a lot since then. She is such a caring, generous individual who never once throughout all of this has felt sorry for herself. I realize I am babbling but I feel like there is so little I can do being so far away. So, keep her in your thoughts. She is not on the internet, so probably has no idea what WW is, but she'll soon find out! Thanks to all of you kind and thoughtful fellow weavers. Fondly, Gail in Ohio where winter is revisiting right now. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 91 Date: Tue, 9 Mar 1999 19:33:43 -0800 From: Sharle Osborne To: David Collins Hooray for Swaps A week ago I was whining, pulling my hair out, near tears as I sat surrounded by tax paper work trying to figure out depreciation when my husband walked into the room with a package from clear across the country. It was a beautiful round basket with a wooden base and ceramic handles made by Natalie Brown. Is there a time when I have ever needed a pick me up more! Cats- we currently have three and it may be one too many. First basket- before taking any classes or workshops, I had Susie Vaughn's Handmade Baskets from the library, went out into the yard and cut willow (weeping), plum prunings and all kinds of branches and put together a crude round basket. I was so pleased with it. It is now out on the porch (due to that one too many cat peeing in it) and working its way to the burn pile. The Basketry Symposium at the Seattle Art Museum was great on Saturday. A full day with four lectures with slides and demos and lots of really great folks. From Sequim where the days are getting longer and it is light when I get home, but it has been ever so wet and windy this year. Sharle Osborne sharleo@orca.esd114.wednet.edu http://www.olympus.net/personal/skoehler/bskt.htm %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WW #90 Date: Tue, 09 Mar 1999 23:22:09 -0500 From: David & Ruthanne Morningstar To: David Collins Hi Weaver's Words People: The Basket Bash '99 was talked about last year and it is on the WW Bulletin Board. We hope to do it again next year and we'll notify WW as soon as we agree on a date for 2000. We're having a good response and things are running smoothly. Pattie Bagley- There are two styles of Snowshoes and how to make them in the book "The Complete How-To Book of Indiancraft", by W. Ben Hunt. ISBN 0-02-011690-X - Published by Macmillan for #13.95. Interesting book on many other crafts too. My husband and I have visited a snowshoe factory and watched them make them in Shingleton, MI (upper Peninsula) several years ago. We've only used ours a few times, but they are easier to master than Cross-Country skiing. My first basket was an Easter Basket with curls. My 22-year-old niece has it. She's been told to return it if and when she doesn't want it any longer or be subjected to the "Wrath of Aunt Ruthanne!" A friend told me about that little rib basket on the Antique Show. I love antiques and watch old movies and hunt Antique Shops for old baskets. I enjoy making the large, utilitarian baskets and find many ideas for designs. Many times the baskets are not in good shape so I don't want to add them to my collection, but they still want a fortune for them. This incident will probably make every basket worth much more! Looking forward to Indiana. It's been several years since I've attended a Basket Convention. Gail in Ohio - I'll look for your friend Cheryl at Spring Event. AND, Thank you David for all you do for this Group! Ruthanne in cold, snowy Dryden, MI, where even the Dogs don't want to leave the wood stove to venture outside. David & Ruthanne Morningstar Dryden, Michigan Mstar@mich.com dmstar@CompuServe.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: catching up on basket talk Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 00:02:38 -0500 From: Richard Calvert To: davidc@iei.net Hi David and Everyone, Well, I already broke my New year's resolution of trying to make sure I write in more often. But, I'm trying, things just get so busy around here. I envy all of you who are getting to go to conventions--lucky dogs! I did go to the NCBA convention in 1996 and I can tell you--if this is your first time going--get ready for a weekend of pure heaven!! Also, bring lots of cash or credit cards with "room to breathe" , as you will be sorry if you don't. I wish all a great time and I'll be there is spirit. With my business being so new ( and in debt) it is impossible for me to have that luxury right now, but maybe in a year or two. My daughters will be older and they can help me vend and maybe I'd be able to sneak in a class or two----dream on! Oh, well... Joanne: To answer your question about weaving with slotted bases, yes, sometimes they can be buggers. I'm sure Judy Spates will be answering you either here or privately as she is the mother of so many wood bottom baskets. I certainly don't have her skill, but I have woven several and I love them. As you know reed is almost never the same thickness ( darn), and when they slip around too much, you can stick a little piece of small reed in there to tighten up the spot in the groove. Just a little "chunk" of 3/16" or 1/4" sometimes can help. I have sometimes put a tiny dab of wood glue on the ends if i see I am having them all slip around a lot. You still will be able to play with your spokes as you are weaving up the side, but, no once it's dry it's stuck where you put it in the base of course. Until you get your first row or two woven around, I almost always am battling with making them stay put. Per Judy's patterns, the directions always are given to twine or chase weave around a few rows--make sure that first row is real good and tight. Once you start weaving up the sides, they will not come out. When the reed is too thick to go in the groove--well that's really a pain as you just need to use thinner reed---or see if you can "jam" the spoke in with a small screwdriver without hurting the reed. The problem then is, if you need to move your spokes to adjust them to be more even, it is a little more work taking them out and getting them back in--usually there is enough slack that you can just slide them over if you need to. Don't drive yourself crazy by "test" pulling on the spokes after just a row or two. They still will seem as if they can slip out, but once you get weaving they will be fine. Guess I've said enough about wood bottoms--huh? Oh, and Joanne--watch your mail in about 10 days--little surprise from the mainland heading your way--hee hee : ) I think I had mentioned back in the Fall that I was starting to teach classes through our county rec. department. I was a nervous wreck before I started, as I am self taught and am often unsure of the skills I have so far---have so much more to learn and soooo little time to weave lately: ( But, the classes have been great and I am gaining more confidence, mostly because the feedback from the students is so re-energizing. They love it!! I'm also very proud of how all the student's baskets have turned out. I used to bring my first basket to class as a reminder that shaping may not be perfect that first time around---but I am embarrassed now as the student's baskets all have turned out so nice. I give all my students a "My First Basket" brass splint at their first class. I also give them a folder with some info to help them get started on their own if they want. They have all been so appreciative and they have made it a positive experience for me. So, if anyone is thinking of teaching and is afraid--give it a shot! One last thing before I hush up--yeah, I know this is getting old, but.... Crystal, being self taught, I sometimes feel intimidated because I haven't had experience with as many things as I sometimes hear others at WW talk about. But I am getting over that and you should too. I have found it to be so exciting to be able to help others learn the little bit I have become comfortable with in this fun world of basketry. I know the weavers who write in here are very giving people, and..... I also am pretty sure none of us are the type who "expect' instant gratification or "instant " servicing of our questions or problems. Weavers Words is simply a place where sometimes you can pick up some helpful info on basketmaking, and sometimes you can offer ideas yourself. Expect less and you will receive more............. Well-- happy weaving everyone. To my customers, remember I will be away March 18 to March 29th. I wasn't going to spill the beans until I got back--but I'm so excited I have to tell... My husband surprised us with a trip to see "the Mouse", so we are Orlando bound. My kids are 9, 12 and 14, so it is one last hurrah before they won't want to walk around being seen with their parents. I just can't wait to get where it is warm!! I am freezing in New Jersey! Take care everyone. In withdrawal from no weaving time.... Kathi Calvert KMC Baskets & Folkart kmcbaskets@worldnet.att.net http://www.kmcbaskets.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weavers Words Date: Tue, 9 Mar 1999 21:19:40 -0800 From: hannah To: "'davidc@iei.net'" Hi all, it's me again, I just have a quick, short message for Pattie Bagley: My friend said that you can go to http://www.snowshoe.com and you will find what you are looking for. That is where she bought her kit from. Good luck. Please let us all know how they turn out. Pam Feix, in southwest OH, where I am sick of Winter!!! http://www.feixbaskets-crafts.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Tue, 9 Mar 1999 21:54:56 -0800 From: "Anne Boquist" To: "Weaver's Words" Hello Out There. I'm another lurker coming out into the light. I found Weaver's Words about a week after I got this computer and I love it. I've been weaving away quietly for the last 15years or so, self taught, but now I'm out of the closet! Lately, I've taken a few formal classes (after giving workshops at our community school here for the last 5 for 6 years) I'm now learning some fancy techniques. I just signed up for a 2 day class to be given at Pearson College in July by Judy Zaffroni (I think) sounds exciting just to spend 2 days with a like minded group of basket cases. Are you out there Judy? Has anyone taken a class from her? She teaches in Mexico, I'm told --sigh-- I should be so lucky. Anyway I weave entirely with gathered materials, mostly seaweed (my fave), but also roots, cattails, leaves, vines, bark. Whatever! I enjoy the gathering as much as the weaving. Anna in Tassie-- I heard you say(!) you're going to gather cattails now! We gather them in the fall here, when the swamps have dried up, just when they're starting to turn color. Where is Tassie? I live in Sooke on Vancouver Island. Jan-- Please let me in on the next swap. It's such a neat idea, I'd love to be able to participate. David- thank you for this venue. I love it. Anne in Sooke annieb@islandnet.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: aloha Date: Tue, 09 Mar 1999 20:41:56 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha, all, I have to laugh at Joanne--when we Hawaii residents get up in the morning and turn into the local news, our weather report is always the same: sunny, breezy with a chance of mauka showers--every morning same old same old. Yes, Joanne, I*ll bring the RingDings which did not get crushed in my suitcase--a miracle really since a lot of other stuff did. As for your weather back east--I can whine about it all day, but secretly, I really enjoyed it. The first day it snowed (and just enough to look nice on the roof of the Great Hall--which was built by our founder Juliette Gordon Low), I found an Arizona native and we ran outdoors and danced in the flakes.....until a native said "That isn*t snow, it is ice"--but she was the sort who would wee wee on anyone*s parade. Sitting by the fireplace on a gloomy day really was cozy and nice......so as much as I*m happy to be back in hula land, I enjoyed my trip; rain, thunder, lightning, ice, snow and all.... Winnie--be most careful on your trip to Egypt. My hubby works for the gov*t and we hear it is a very dangerous place to visit right now. Anna--about gluing natural things on a basket....I*ve found that glue tends to not last a long time...would it be better to drill and wire? Easter egg dye?? I*ve heard about that someplace. I would think it would work and I remember someone discussing Kool-Aid as a stain, too. While in NY (and I was 45 miles north of NYC), we took an excursion to Chapaqqua and ventured in and out of country shops and antique shops....and I didn*t see one basket-- not one. That was a surprise. I agree with Gale. When people write of problems in their families, I do hope things will work out, but please, no more outright prayers... And David, this onslaught of WW*s is great!!! I*m overjoyed to get so many in such a short time. You are such a neat fellow to do this for us. Aloha, Lois %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Willow cuttings Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 07:39:26 -0600 From: "rharrison" To: "David Collins" I would like to mention another source for willow cuttings- us! Willow Dreams Farm at http://www.creative-net.net/~rharrison/english.html. That page does not go into a lot of detail as to what we have because it is a personal page and not a commercial one, but you can email us and we will be glad to send a list of the cuttings, and the willow that we have. And I think if the people talking about using weeping willow would use willow that is "bred" for basketry- they would see the difference. Wild willow and using it with "bad" end results , have made some folks not like willow. But- all willow is not the same! Thanks David for all your time and effort! Ron and Bobbie http://www.creative-net.net/~rharrison %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 8:54:36 -0500 (EST) From: Judith Richmond Spates To: davidc@iei.net To Joanne Howard: I've designed 37 patterns for wooden base baskets in all sizes and shapes. I'm real picky about the bases having just the right groove width so that stakes fit in the base as snug as possible. Since the thickness of reed varies, it is impossible to have snug stakes every time. If you should have stakes that move around too much, poke in either #2 or #3 round reed on top of the stakes to hold them in the base tighter. Feel free to e-mail me if you have more questions. I'd be happy to help you. To Myra Stutler: I'm glad your granddaughter likes the doll cradle. My two-year- old niece makes sure she tucks her Raggedy Ann doll in her cradle every night. I'm in the process of designing a couple new wooden base patterns . . . I'll let you know when they are ready!! To Kathi Calvert: Hope your trip to Florida is fun and relaxing. You deserve a break! From the bitter cold Boston area, Judy Richmond Spates "The Judy Richmond Collection" JSpates@hope.gordonc.edu %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits and Pieces Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 09:04:52, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net Thought it was time I tossed my cat story into the ring. Fusspuss is 20 years old and weighs less than 6 pounds. He recently used up the 15th of his nine lives. At Thanksgiving he had an infected eye that was so bad that neither the Vet or I thought he would still be here at Christmas although neither would say it. Well 4 months later he's still here. We were not cat people but have always had dogs. When we lived in No.Va. the lady next door had 3 cats and 1 dog, we shared a driveway and were great friends. One day Fuss (pronounced fus)came in through the dog door, climbed into my husbands lap and settled in. It seems that he liked living in a sauna otherwise known as the family room. Besides he had no competition in our house and had the best of both worlds as he could go back and forth between the two as the mood took him. His first family sometimes called him "the prince" which sort of gives you an idea about his attitude. When we moved to Va. Beach he came with us as his first family was moving into old town Alexandria (metropolitan D.C.) which is no place for a cat who had lived in the woods all his life. The best fuss story is told by Charlene and Bill White. They were in town to teach a Nantucket class and since I have the most space it was held here. Late in the day we were lashing the rims and he came to investigate. Something startled him and he tore down the stairs- with Kathy's basket trailing behind him-he had somehow gotten tangled in the long lasher and when he took off it he jerked it from her hands. It came loose only after it hit the island in the center of the kitchen. By this time we were rolling on the floor. Just one of those times you wish for a camera. Bill tells this story everywhere he goes and I have promised him a picture of Fusspuss. Judy Miles? I think you're the one from the Eastern shore going to NC. Most of our group go down on Weds. and meet for dinner Weds nite with the folks from No.Va. If you are going to be there by then let me know so you can join us. We have several members in your section of Va/Md. I am one of the few people who doesn't' use the instant cure glue. This is mainly because I am just too uncoordinated for something so instantaneous. I get it all over my hands and also have been known not ot get the rim just right and have to take it off. I just use elmers wood glue-yes it does take longer to bond but that gives you the chance to make adjustments. After applying the clue I use either clothes pins or the cable ties to hold it tight. I also don't let the nails go all the way through the rim. I use ones that are just short enough to hold it all together without sticking out. It's just a personal preference but it's one less step to do and I think it looks neater. Does anyone have a copy of Shereen Laplantz's first(?) book, Plaited Basketry: the woven form, they no longer want.. My copy has disappeared. I think the same gremlin who eats socks in the washer must live in the book case in my house. Guess I'd better get a move on if I'm going to get anything done today at all. Billie in cold wet southeastern Va. P.S. Knew i"d forget something. Someone? Sandy A? Angie L.? emailed me about guild info. I didn't ignore it I was in a hurry and was going to do it later and then forgot. My mail box only saves things 3 days unless you retain it and now can't find who it was. Please let me know again and I promise to do it this time. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weavers Words Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 09:12:12 -0500 From: "Meier, Anette H" To: "'David Collins'" Hi There, Jan Hardt: Thank you Jan for all your efforts in coordinating this last basket swap... Susan Slaven made for me a beautiful basket woven on a Williamsburg Handle... The basket looks like the one on the cover of Basket Bits. It has a mauve bow and is over-dyed in walnut stain... The colors work perfectly in my home! It is nice to have a basket that someone else made, because I will never give it away. If I make one and someone likes it, it almost always leaves with them. Thanks again Susan... ;^) Nantucket Nailing: the folks at Nate's have the pin setter, which is nothing more that a picture framing brad setter. I don't like it and in fact they recommend that the nails don't come through to the inside. Well, if you live in a area with fluctuating moisture, the swelling and shrinking of the wood will back the nail out. The nail should come through to the inside... use a wire cutter (they have different sizes), cut the nail off as close to the rim as possible (you'll get closer with experience), then EASILY mushroom over the top with LIGHT TAPS of a ball peen hammer. This mushroom creates a burr that creates a sort of nail head on the inside of the rim. Essentially you create a nail with two heads, and two heads are better than one (sorry, I couldn't resist that one). Baby Cradle: to the person wanting to make a cradle that is human baby size. DELS has a cradle mold 36" by 24" by 14" specifically for a baby... there are three people on the waiting list for the mold which carries a $60.00 rental fee. There is a stand that you can purchase also... The ticket for the materials starts at about $600.00, the stand is separate.... by the way, it is a Nantucket cradle. If you email them, they will send you a catalog and a list of materials to make the cradle... www.dels.com Minwax Colors: I have order from my local hardware Minwax stain in colors. Right now they have 9 colors, but if we all email them with a hint of making other colors, or how we can take a clear stain and mix our own, maybe they can offer some advice, as did the folks at Rit Dye. Prim-Dritz: these folks make a fiber reactive dye that has a fixing agent that is added to it. I haven't used it yet, but they say if you are using it on a basket, just don't add the fix. The fix is supposed to make the "material" sun resistant, and run proof... it is worth a shot... Has anyone any experience with this? To glue or not to glue embellishments: for me, certain baskets have rules of construction... shakers, don't glue, Nantucket's, glue is acceptable, reed, well? If you are using glue because you are trying to hide a mistake or just to be lazy, then that may have an overall effect in the final product. But, if glue, nails, or anything else is used as a "tool" to build a better basket... I don't think anyone will argue with the technique... Big slots: as suggested in a class with Martha Lawrence... thin the end of your reed or cane a bit, fold it back on itself and slide it into the slot... trim the excess if necessary... Well, so long for now... Happy Weaving! Anette Meier %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 92 Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 09:21:14 -0500 From: "Susan Tripp" To: "David Collins" Hi Weavers, Amy: I was at Winter Weave but am not the teacher you talked with. I took Jim Rutherfords two pie maple basket (wonderful class), Patty Hawkins's Japanese Spiral. Where were you sitting? I have a pic from that class with everyone sitting there and if you tell me your proximity, I can see who you are. I met lots of nice people that weekend, but unfortunately I'm terrible with names. I took patty's stained glass windows baskets and have received many compliments already on the design. I also purchased a couple twill babies from patty as she assured me I would have no problem with them even if I never twilled before. She was right, and they are so much fun to make! Also, I purchased a beautiful waxed linen bowl/basket kit from Susan Coyle who, again, assured me I should not have trouble with it having never woven with waxed linen. I started this wonderful little basket and am really enjoying weaving with the linen. It is a lesson in patients as after three days of evening weaving, I am only 1 1/2 inches into the base! But, it is going to be a beautiful basket. Judy: I would have loved to see those telephone book baskets. If you did get her name, please share! I just want to say I have one cat that was left at our house. I'm not a cat person, but this is the darnedest (sp?) cat. Almost like a dog with as much attention as this cat demands (I'm a dog person). He has tested out every single basket I have made. It is funny to see him squeeze his overweight body into the tiniest of baskets. When the Boxers get over zealous with him, he runs for cover and jumps into a basket because he knows they are off limits to the dogs. The poor boys just come to a dead stop and whine at the kitty in the basket. Gotta love 'em! Like I said in an earlier posting, I'm signed up for the basket event at Stowe. I've never been up that way before and am trying to jam all sorts of stuff into my short trip. I'm now wondering how far Baskets of Joy is from Stowe since I could not get into any classes on Thursday and will have the day to explore??? Bye for now from cold, snowy upstate NY Susan %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: (no subject) Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 09:26:35 -0500 From: Preston A Raymer Organization: The Raymers To: "davidc@iei.net" Anna- I am no expert on pine needle coiled baskets. As a matter of fact, I have never made one at all! They take too much time. Personally, I would not dream of using glue on something so special. Amy- I think your idea of the children weaving a row on the basket sounds wonderful! Darla- Dianne Stanton's pattern, "Double-Wall Seagrass Market Basket", makes a beautiful sturdy basket. It has a twill base. The inner wall is woven with flat reed and the outer wall is woven with seagrass. It has a notched handle. Dianne's patterns are excellent and this one is no exception! Pet count- Bob and Josephine (cats) were taken in as strays about eighteen months ago. Now we also have Sophie who by this time is three months old. Sophie is a beautiful patch beagle and spoiled rotten already! My first basket was made from a kit. I painted sunflowers on it then filled it with gardening tools and flower seeds as a gift to my sister. I went to visit her last year and saw the basket. I hadn't seen it in years but it was not as bad as i thought it would be! Christine in Western MA where the half-inch tulip buds got buried under five inches of snow last week. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words- Long Post Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 09:47:42 -0500 From: "joym" To: Hi Everyone, Just returned from a brief R&R - snowed in at the beach, but not before getting in a few antique malls. Crystal, you've gotten lots of feedback by now. I've been on this list for several years & some of us were also on two previous (now defunct) lists. Needless to say, we've covered lots of territory & had many people join us. There have been times recently when I wasn't all that thrilled with certain aspects of the list, but then when I thought about it, I realized that's the nature of ever-evolving lists: some questions get addressed over & over, some get passed by for a variety of reasons, personal stuff is shared, political & religious stuff creeps in etc. etc. Since we don't re-print the words of a previous list's post, people will use a name to personalize & help others remember what the topic was. Just keep writing in. It's not unusual for a number of issues to come out before a question gets addressed. Guess I'll take this opportunity to say that though I've supported personal postings so we can get to know each other, I would like to see the list PRIMARILY be about basketry - resources, techniques, materials etc. I do not enjoy the more religious &/or political postings. Being outspoken, I'd like to respond, but I do not want to see the list divert to highly volitile topics. I was particularly upset in recent times to have (what felt to me like) someone's political/religious view dumped & then invited others with differing opinions NOT to respond because it was a sensitive issue for the writer! It took extreme control on my part not to jump through the computer screen, particularly since my experience & exposure to the issue was dramatically different. The point is, I'd like to see us keep this list about BASKETRY. Nantuckets: yes, snip off the nail. Then, hold the rim against a heavy surface & pound the head to slightly spread the end of the nail. Also, glue is not a "no no" for Nantucket rims....Double walled basket for newbies: I saw a pattern listed in basketsofjoy.com that said it was a good one to start with. Kathi K.: If you're coming through the Bangor, Maine area on your way to Nova Scotia let me know! Sue Ann: Perhaps you can help me identify a natural. I have the sumac that has red plumes. Is that staghorn? Would like to be sure before I handle it!! Better leave the rest for another post, as I can't catch up with the last 3 issues all at once!! Joy Moody Webster: http://www.signofthecrow.com Handwoven baskets for the discriminating buyer. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: From Dreamland Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 10:33:34 -0500 From: bscott@ma.ultranet.com (Beverly Scott) To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everyone, I wanted to add to the list of first baskets, and this might answer Billie Dorris' question about where I was when I thought that Nantucket bases should match the thickness of the cane --- I was in new weaver, self taught, all is possible because I don't know any better - Dreamland. My first basket was a kit (that way I knew all the pieces had to go together somehow), but it was for a small oriole basket because I had always admired that basket. I didn't even realize that my hand would not fit into the basket easily which made it very hard to weave. Needless to say I stuck with it for about 3 months before I threw it against the wall for good. However, I learned a lot from that experience and ordered another kit, this time a large Jeremiah basket. It was beautiful, nowhere near as hard as the oriole and I was off and running. I have learned a lot since then, and am still learning new things, like you might have to adjust the stakes in a Nantucket base to have them fit ---Who would have thought!!! Lyn Levan - this will be our third year going to the Outer Banks. Have you been there before? and where have you stayed? We will stay in Kitty Hawk this year, it is a relatively quiet section of the beach and we love it! We will be there the week following your week. Did you find any basket related sites to see while you were there? Pets - We have a cat, named Boots, who is a real terror! He is a great mouser, chipmunker and birder - we are not real thrilled with the way he had matured. He can be a real sweetie, then the next thing you know he is off killing something - Ugh. We also have a Dalmatian who is my "baby" she is really a one person dog and follows me around all the time to lay at my feet, I always have to be careful when I turn around quick. Her nose is "out of joint" because we also just got a Pug puppy who is the most adorable thing, his face is homely - and that's being very kind. His disposition is the most loving and sweet you could wish for. He greets everyone as they come home by hopping around their feet til they pick him up and greet him and let him know he is loved. He drapes himself over anyone who sits down and promptly goes to sleep. He hops into any of my baskets he can get to and curls into a ball. Well by for now, Beverly from finally sunny MA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.