"Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 95 Date Sent: March 12, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 970 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: glue, nail ends Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 22:57:49 -0500 From: Winnie Organization: @Home Network Member To: David Collins Hi Everyone, Anna asked about using glue to attach embellishments - I've never given it a second thought. If I want to attach something I just plug in my glue gun. I've never had a problem with things falling off, the glue dries quickly and is almost clear when cool. Leslie asked about interesting baskets I've seen in my travels. I wish I could say I've seen something exotic, but alas, some of the most exotic ones I've seen come from my own studio when I try to do some shaping that is well beyond my skill level. Angie, thanks waxed linen sounds like a good idea for weaving on planes. The next time I order from The Country Seat I'll have to order a pattern. Dianne asked about what to do with the ends of the nails on the inside of a Nantucket basket rim. You can order the nails in different lengths so they don't stick out, or you can use a technique called pinning which basically is just bending over the inside end of the nail with a pair of pliers. The owner of a basket supply store here in Conn. told me about the technique. Winnie %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 94 Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 00:15:23 -0500 From: tblack@iquest.net To: David Collins Just a quick question I forgot to ask before: I started some willow clippings last spring that I got from Jo Campbell Amsler after I took her willow back pack class. They did well - for the most part anyway - but I am unsure of when to harvest. I recall that you wanted to wait until after a good freeze, but with the wacky weather we've had, I don't know if it's too late or not. I don't want to damage the starts. Help? Thanks, Carolyn Black, central IN %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: RAFFIA Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 23:32:04 -0700 (MST) From: moore-bernier@webtv.net (john moore) To: davidc@iei.net Carol: Thanks for sharing your tips. Would love to see your baskets. Tony: Will be sure to check out loom weaving supplies for the type of yarn you recommend. Your baskets are beautiful. I feel the baskets that I have woven with the waxed linen not split look fine. Always look forward to my new installment of WW. Evie in sunny AZ for a while longer %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Nantucket rims & wood bases Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 06:54:12 -0500 From: Joe Conroy To: davidc@iei.net Dianne Gleixner. Re the nails on the rim. Cut them off as close as you can & then peen the end over with a small ball been hammer. You will probably "dent" the inside of the rim. Dents can be removed with a very hot, wet dish towel. Don't lash the rim without nailing it. The nails hold the rim to the basket. If you're installing a "outside" handle on the rim I drill the handle holes before I lash. That way you don't drill through your lasher. Someone wrote in about fitting reed into a woodbase. I assume it was a flat reed basket made on a base similar to a Nantucket. You said you would "jam" the reed into the slot if it was tight. That is a good way to split part of your rim. You would be better off to sand down the reed so that you have a "snug" but not "tight" fit. If your slot is too wide, just use a piece of round reed, or narrow cane (1.5mm or 1.75mm) as a shim to hold things in place till you get your weaving done. After that you can remove the shim if it looks unsightly. Joe Conroy Exeter, RI %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Stuff Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 07:46:01 -0500 From: Judy Clark To: davidc@iei.net Hi David I loved the picture of Jace posted a billion years ago. What a charmer. Darla - Kathy Tessler has the most and neatest double walled baskets I've ever seen. She's written dozens of patterns and teaches at most Michigan Conventions. ktessler@dynisys.com I've made many and her patterns are good. If you had a problem she would be quick to respond. Billie - Count me as one of the eBay addicted. I haven't bought a basket yet but collect a certain pattern glass and Chessie Cat "C/O Railroad" stuff. Got the bid on TWO glass pieces last night. Was I excited. Sue Ann - I can't count the number of anniversaries I've missed with my husband. The Michigan Convention falls on our date often. My honey just says, "well will we be together this year"? He went with me one year. That was fun. Judy - in Mason Michigan Cool today but beautiful. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: access to forum and embellishements Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 08:38:17 -0500 From: jbenner@juno.com To: davidc@iei.net HI David, Yes, I can't access the forum either. I forget the message I get.... maybe can't open this?? I'll have to check again and write it down. I have the exact address as I've checked it several times. Whatever the message is, it isn't saying that it isn't there, just that I can't get it. No biggie, but you asked. Sorry I'm not more literate on this to know why it would happen. HI Anna, I may very well be in the minority, but I do glue embellishments on some baskets. I figure, it's my basket for my own use and if I like that, then why not. I am still planning a small basket that I have teeny pinecones to go around the top. (A gift for one couple I clean for, the pinecones are a joke cause the neighbors tree sheds them all over their patio and I have to clean them up). I don't do it with every one, mostly I tie things to them, but what the heck, if you like the look? Why not? Judy in sunny and cold eastern Pa. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Wow, david! Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 09:10:25 -0500 From: "Gail Caron" To: "David Collins" Hi all. I couldn't believe my email this morning - two WW issues minutes apart! This must be a first. Tony Stubblefield: You are invaluable. Your detailed advice is so welcome - I'm thrilled that you found WW and joined our group. I am now finally going to try to tackle the Nantucket kit which I bought last year from DELS but have not worked up the courage to try. You, Billie, Mindy, Annette, and all of our other Nantucket weavers will probably hear my screams for help. To answer the double walled basket question: I have made Susan Coyle's farmers market basket which is a round double walled basket and liked the pattern a lot. I am frantically trying to complete a basket, which I agreed to donate to the AIDS Coalition art auction. I am using the directions for a multicolored egg basket from Lyn Silers book Handmade baskets. But using #0 and #1 round reed weavers is slow going!! I wish I had used flat reed instead. The directions called for using fine cane as weavers in part of the basket and dying it. I have a question about that though which I hope someone can answer. Will the cane accept the dye on its shiny side (Which will be to the outside of the basket every other row) and will it take up the walnut hull stain when I finish the basket? If not, I don't know that I will use it. Thanks Joy for reminding us that we do need to focus more on basketry - that doesn't mean to eliminate all of our personal interactions, but to remember that the underlying reason we all subscribe is to share our basket knowledge and learn from each other. I find WW to be an invaluable resource. One last note: Last weekend I met a fellow WW in person - Juanita Gulden from Baltimore Maryland. Other than Mary Carty and Kathi Calvert, she is the only member whom I've met face to face. It was great fun. But your email messages to me always arrive blank Juanita. Got to get working on that donation basket. Gail Caron in southern NJ where now that spring is approaching it is getting cold %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: weavers words Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 09:34:47 -0500 From: tblack@iquest.net To: davidc@iei.net OK, I'll admit the error of my ways and ask for forgiveness... I didn't mean to impart any preference or favoritism when I made my comments about shopping at the IBA convention. It was not my intention to play favorites with regard to vendors when I mentioned visiting Pam. I just recalled a number of her postings mentioning she would be there and for WW to stop by and visit, that's all. So please, I send my apologies to anyone who may have taken the remark inappropriately. Please, when you come to shop at convention, be sure to visit ALL of the vendors, and look out for those red ribbons so you can chat! Sincerely, Carolyn Black %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WW Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 09:53:12 EST From: CHobbsNANA@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone, Had a couple things I wanted to respond to. The dye stabilizer, or stuff that helps prevent bleeding, can be found in quilt stores, but there are several different brands. I have a different brand, and it works very well. I just put a capful in my dye water. Nantucket rims-for nailing rims, or making nail holes, a small anvil works swell. I have found 2 sizes at BIG LOTS, for $1.00 each! There is one that is about 1/2" wide, and the other is 1" wide. The whole thing is about 3"long, and pretty heavy. Works great! Also, at BIG LOTS look for cable ties-you can get a whole bunch for $1.00. Cradles- I have made lots of little ones, but I have made 2 huge ones. They are big enough that my grandbabies have slept in them for 6 months. About that time they sit up and look over! For one I used a pattern - TRIPLE BRAID CRADLE. This pattern can be had from RESTORATION PRODUCTS, their phone is: 1-800-562-5291. They also have the cradle boards (already have the rockers on). These boards are about 18" X 36". This makes a big, beautiful cradle. Once I gave a "burden basket" to a lady with many burdens. I filled it with something, and gave it to her with the instructions that when her burdens lessened, she might want to give it to someone else with many burdens. The last time I saw her, which was probably 20 years later, she told me she still had the basket. I agree with Gail Caron on the Crystal issue. I suggest we drop it. Guess that's it for now. My daffodils have buds on them, plus 6" of snow! Clare %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: seaweed Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 10:10:08 -0500 From: "Angie Longenecker" To: "David" Hi all, Anne in Sooke - we had a question on our Open Forum page about seaweed (as we live a couple hours from the shore, none of us has ever tried weaving with seaweed), I was wondering if you could give some pointers re. weaving with it. How much does it shrink? Any hints or suggestions? I'd like to know myself. Angie in PA The Country Seat http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Someone New to your List Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 07:42:55 PST From: "Marilyn Thompson" To: davidc@iei.net Hello David and Basket Weavers, It's so nice to turn on my computer each morning and listen to everyone. This is my first time writing to you David. You have done a great JOB! :0) This is a great way for all of us to talk to one another and questions to be asked and answered. E-mail is wonderful and you have given us an area to join up in to meet with your WW. Thank you David! ! I have been weaving for almost 10 yrs. and I have gotten our 4-Her's involved in Basketry and it has grown so much since our first year. I also teach classes and design baskets. But I have not published them. Someday maybe. For those of you flying, you should pack all your sharp items in your suitcase for you will be stopped. It's best not to carry them on you. And those who are attending the IBA for the first time, remember to bring your camera! You will want to take pictures of all your friends and baskets plus a note book for all those e-mail addresses. Hint: Don't be shy, all basket weavers love to talk...talk...talk....talk... Everyone have a great day & hope to hear from some of you. Marilyn Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Book Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 08:16:46 -0800 From: Bob Kleppick To: David Collins Does anyone know where I can get a copy of "Basket Totes to Weave", by Sandra Dye? A friend of a friend is looking, and can't find one anywhere in the area. Thanks for all the advice on Nantucket Rims. Really came in handy. I make some baskets with the wooden base and nailed rim. One consignment store manager, whose opinion I respect, complains that since I don't bend over the point of the brad/nail on the inside of the rim, most customers don't feel that the rim in secure enough. To me, the rims seem very secure and I feel that the basket looks neater with the inside of the nail cut flush to the rim and sanded or not penetrating all the way through the rim. I'd like to know others thoughts on this. Hope every one is fine enjoying weaving. Thanks, Bob Kleppick %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 92 Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 11:22:57 -0500 From: Pamela Woodbury To: David Collins References: 1 Hi Weavers, Everyone must feel like me this winter, it has been too long and too cold and we seem to be spending a lot of time on the computer. Keep those WW coming. Anne - I embellish with a lot of natural stuff. I make antlers and birch bark baskets. Sometimes drilling and tying the embellishment on just loses the natural affect. When possible I put a little glue behind the embellishment and tie on as discretely as possible. I use a lot of fungus on the birch bark and it just loses something tied on as the affect I want is for it to look like it looks on the tree. I can't quite remember who asked about juried shows. I only do juried shows and boy do I wish they were exactly like Angie says they are. A juried show does mean that you send your pictures and they are supposed to be hand made by you and that is what you are going to sell, but let me tell you there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there. I have gotten many a person selling Tender Hearts Baskets removed from a show. Now I know this makes me a BI---- and I really am not, but I make all my baskets, I have the carpal tunnel to prove it, I pay the higher price to be in a juried show and when somebody very well aware signs a contract that they made whatever it is they are selling and then brings in imports it burns me BAD. I guess I could almost live with them selling the imports at a juried show except for the fact that none of them are smart enough to put a handmade price on the basket. When I show up at a show and there is a Tender Hearts stair step for $20 and I can't even buy the material for $20, it ticks me right off. Last fall I walked into a JURIED show and right inside the door was an entire booth of Tender Hearts. Now I've gotten smart I carry a catalog with me. Well she had every single basket in the book for about 1/3 of what a hand made basket would sell for. I pointed out the baskets in the book to the coordinator and she told the woman to remove them. The woman tried the I really did make them and I said not for those prices you didn't. She did remove all the baskets, but I was positive the other stuff was straight out of Tender Hearts, but my expertise is baskets so I left the rest alone. I figured as soon as the show started she'd set the baskets out again, but she never did. In order for a show to stay truly juried we have to help the coordinators because they cannot know about every single item being sold at their show. Pam %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 94 Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 14:07:17 -0500 From: "Perry S. Brown" To: David Collins References: 1 Hi everyone! It has been a long time since I have written in. Last summer we moved from Hawaii to South Carolina. My husband got out of the service and accepted a job with Fuji Photo Film Inc. We have been adjusting to civilian life and are loving it. This area shocked me when I got here. It was so unsaturated with baskets. Looks like I have my work cut out for me. I have been receiving WW for a couple of years now and really enjoy reading every issue. I also participated in the basket swap and received a beautiful Cabin Boy basket from Evonne Smith. Along with the basket she sent me 2 pairs of basket socks. They are my favorite! Thank you Evonne! I would like to respond to all the comments in regards to prayers and such things. I think that's great that people can openly let others now that they are praying for them. So called "religious beliefs" are personal but don't have to be a private issue. We have a great thing in this country called freedom of speech. I know many of you out there come from different back rounds and beliefs. But I don't see how lifting someone up in prayer is offensive. I know this is a basket forum but many other things are often mentioned that are not basket related yet no one makes a comment about that. I am sorry if I offend anyone with comments on this issue and I am not at all trying to start a war! Many of you expressed your view and I simply wanted to express mine! Happy Weaving! Natalie Brown Greenwood, SC %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Aloha Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 09:49:12 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha! Wow! I found 2 issues of WW when I came home from painting class! Joanne and I had a fine time at class--we ate S*mores and she ate her Ringdings--Marshmallow Fluff and Ring Dings aren*t available in Hawaii so I dragged them back from New York. And we did some painting, too... I saw a most interesting thing in the new issue of COUNTRY HOME on page 170. It says "Wooden baskets weaken after a season or two in the garden. The handles may hold up but wet soil and a heavy crop can put too much stress on the basket bottom. Here is a solution: Weave a basket around a large tin can. Cut the sides of the can into strips (they would still be attached to the bottom of the can), fan them out, then weave thin pieces of wood around the metal. The basket is tight, light, and the perfect size for a dinner*s worth of green beans." There is a neat picture showing the basket from the bottom. I don*t think it would be a long lasting basket as the can will rust and you would have to be careful not to cut yourself on the strips, but it is unique and certainly a functional garden basket. The "wood" does look like reed, though. I can*t believe we are back to the old "let*s keep the conversation to baskets"--we went through this months ago and I do believe the majority of subscribers want to hear or share a few personal tidbits about each other. It makes us seem more like a "ohana" which is Hawaiian for "family". I may disagree with something that is said--my political stand might be to the far left--but I can skim though that part. The day this list becomes strictly baskets, I*ll become a lurker as it will no longer be interesting or fun. Lighten up..... And the weather from Hawaii? It is a miserable rainy nasty day.....and you think the sun shines all the time here! Aloha Lois %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: (no subject) Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 15:16:14 EST From: Arlo1225@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everyone! These numerous volumes of WW sure help chase away the lingering winter blues! Thanks Dave! Joanne - would love to swap chips and cakes for coffee! E-mail me your address! Sharle Osborne - No need to throw that basket out! My cats (luckily for them I'm not sure which one[s]) have also soiled a basket or two. I soaked the basket in "Nature's Miracle", a product you can get from a pet supply shop, mail-order pet supply, or your local farm shop (Agway/Blue Seal, etc). Have patience, it takes a while. After a few days of soaking, rinsing and resoaking, if the odor still lingers slightly when basket is dry I use lemon oil or Liquid Gold over the entire basket and that usually takes care of the problem. I feel that I'd rather try to save a special basket, even using drastic measures, than to just throw it out. Hope this works for you! Kathi C. - Have fun in Disney! Send some warm, sunny weather north please! Joy Moody - re: Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) - the buds are very hairy and leaf scars (places where the leaf attached to the stem) are in a somewhat "C" shape. The major identifying feature is the velvety texture of the stems - hence the name "Staghorn", as the stems resemble the velvety new antlers of the stag/deer. The "velvet" remains on 2-3 year growth, older stems are gray and relatively smooth. If you cut into a new stem, it is aromatic and the inner area (pith) is brown. Fruit of the Staghorn is a red, hairy drupe. Poison sumac produce ivory-white drupes and the bark is smooth, not velvety. Also, the leaflets are not as long as those of the Staghorn. Sorry, I guess I got carried away....hope this helps. Delores Gatz - could you e-mail me info re: the basket events you mentioned in the last WW? Thanks. Time to meet the school bus - Happy Weaving! Lesley %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 15:17:40 -0500 (EST) From: Judith Richmond Spates To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone! IT'S FINALLY READY!! Many have asked me to sell my wooden base basket patterns in book form. What I have done is made up an easy to use notebook that includes 37 patterns. "The Judy Richmond Collection" Pattern Notebook can be ordered for $42.95 + shipping (which is about a $68 savings over the $3.00 per pattern cost). Please e-mail me if you are interested in obtaining a copy. I want to thank everyone who encouraged me to do this project. Now that it's done, I'm excited to be able to offer this notebook to all of you who enjoy basketweaving as much as I do! Judy Richmond Spates "The Judy Richmond Collection" JSpates@hope.gordonc.edu (978) 921-1324 - evening (800) 343-1379 - daytime %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 16:01:22 -0500 From: bscott@ma.ultranet.com (Beverly Scott) To: davidc@iei.net Dear David: I think that this week we have done our job of keeping you busy and out of trouble very well!!! I think we set a new record! Thank you for keeping us current. Aunt Pattie - I have a catalog from Wilcox and Williams, Inc. in Edina, MN, called Traditional Kits. It has kits for snowshoes - even if you have no snow! It also has kits for Old Tyme Musical Instruments - thumb pianos, banjos, door harps and a beautiful mountain dulcimer as well as canoes and "snowshoe weave" chairs, magazine racks and tables and even snowshoe lamps. Everything in the catalog can be ordered either as a kit or as the finished item. I don't know if this is what you are looking for, but their phone number is 612-929-4935 and their ordering number is 1-800-216-0710. Maybe I should call them myself, my brother lives in Atlanta - maybe he needs snowshoes too :^) Beverly Scott, in cold and raw Massachusetts %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: weaving with naturals Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 16:42:51 -0500 From: Richard and Karen Horner To: davidc@iei.net First, thanks to all who answered my questions about weeping willow, and also about use of naturals. Is there a site where I can see some baskets, etc. made out of willow? I checked out Bonnie's webpage mentioned in the last WW, but no pictures. Sounds like a good newsletter though. Do I understand that you use the naturals as embellishments, mostly? If I had some things I wanted to weave into a basket as decoration, what kind of simple basket would I start with? What kind of baskets do you experienced folks make when you incorporate naturals? Anna Lizotte, thanks for your info on naturals. Do you use a lot of flax? What kind of baskets do you make? Do you sell them? Oh, by the way, are Nantucket baskets just an American thing, or do weavers do them down there? Hope everyone's weather is improving. It's been a strange winter. I'm glad you all are out there. Let's just enjoy each other. Karen in Georgia %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Stowe Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 16:59:50 EST From: CHobbsNANA@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net To the person going to Stowe Vt. I have been there twice. Since I'm from Indiana, I flew out there, and rented a car. The last time, I made arrangement with the Round Hearth to put me up while I did some sight seeing. They did this very reasonably, including meals. It was wonderful! I had about 3 days of just investigating the area. The Stowe experience is awesome! Have a wonderful time. Clare %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 16:18:29 -0600 From: jlouts@lsumc.edu (Loutsch, Jeannette) To: bigdog1@ameritech.net CC: davidc@iei.net Cindy, I just received the beautiful CD basket you sent. I love it. The colors are my very favorite and I use them a lot in my own weaving. It came as an added pick me up to a week that has my shares of stuff happening. As you may have guessed, I do research in the medical field. The bear is cute and it has been deemed the Science Bear and will sit right next to the Science Pig that I keep in my office as good luck. (Some days the science field needs every kind of talisman to help things go well.) Well I best run. I have a late conference call with the West Coast to get ready for. Thank you once again for the lovely basket. Quick question. What stain do you use? It is really nice. Jeannette %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits and Pieces Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 17:46:01, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net Before I forget again. Whoever was interested in sweetgrass baskets- you will find them in the Charleston area of South Carolina not North Carolina. To all those going to your first convention. Definitely take lots of cash and checks and remember not all of the vendors will take credit cards and few of those at Teacher's Market Place do. Think maybe they have changed but for a while the Pattern Room only took cash-no checks. Also be sure to take plenty of snacks and drinks. Everything is so rushed sometimes it is just easier to go back to your room to grab a bite to eat and soda machines get expensive after a while and they only serve "soft drinks". One thing you must admit is that Crystals letter certainly stirred us up. WW is coming fast and furious and that's a good thing. We are actively communicating once again. The more people we have posting the more info we receive on everything. Enough for now Billie in Va. Beach %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Cheryl's address Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 20:29:19 -0500 From: "John Jacobson" To: "david collins" Dear Everyone: I guess I need to make clear my intentions in asking for thoughts for my friend. I also think this is a place to mainly swap basket talk and never meant to impose my own beliefs on anyone when I mentioned my friend Cheryl. When I first started reading WW, I noticed that some mentioned the passing of their husbands, close friends, losing a grandchild etc. So I hoped that with the positive thoughts of so many others, Cheryl's chances of a complete recovery would be enhanced. I sincerely apologize to anyone I may have offended. At the same time, I have received emails from several of you requesting her address. I forgot to include it. I am going to be out of town this weekend and away from anything resembling technology, (Actually I am going on a weaving retreat with four of my close friends), I can't personally answer any emails. So I am putting her address here and if you feel so inclined, drop her a line or a funny card. She has a great sense of humor! Cheryl Ryan Guest Housing International 3737 Beaubien Blvd. Detroit, MI 48201 She is scheduled to be there until the 20th of March. Her birthday (#44) is on the 15th. Thanks to all of you for your kind thoughts. Gail J. in Ohio %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits & Pieces Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 22:30:51 -0500 From: Roger Marek To: davidc@iei.net Hello David and Fellow Weavers, Well, I've been "lurking" for approximately a month and felt it was time to contribute. I've only been weaving for 11/2 years so I feel like a true beginner after reading how many years all of you have been weaving. I weave only with reed at this time. I am truly amazed when reading about the different materials that everyone weaves with. I hope I can experience weaving with different natural materials in the near future. The swap sounds very interesting but after looking at all the pictures of the swap baskets, I have a long way to go. Joanne Howard: Regarding getting the reed to hold in wooden bases, I use round-tipped toothpicks to stick in on the top of the weavers to hold them in tight. The toothpick breaks off at the edge of the base and the weavers are held in tight, not to mention that toothpicks are very inexpensive. I have never had a problem with my reed coming out of the base using this method. Like others, I also twine around the base a couple of times just to be safe. Gail in Ohio: Your note about your friend Cheryl in Iss. 93 is what actually prompted me to write. My sister, who was diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks before Christmas and will be at the same medical complex in Detroit on April 8th to undergo the stem cell transplant. Like Cheryl, her husband, my mother, and I will be the only ones allowed to see her during this ordeal. She has been through so much since first being diagnosed but remains very positive. I know it has been written that we should just keep WW about baskets, but it helps to know that there are others out there who care about our families and friends who need extra prayers. Pet count: I have two cats named Muffin and Snickers and two Samoyed dogs, Meaka and Kayla. Snickers loves to hide from the dogs in my baskets and like others I have to vacuum them out every week to get rid of the cat hair. Neither of the cats bother me while I am weaving. Last but not least, David I love WW. I have found this to be a wonderful wealth of information. Even though I am new to all of this, thank you for all the time you put into this. I was so excited to find two issues when I came home from work today. Mary Ann, Scottville, Michigan where it's sunny but very cold. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Various Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 23:26:20 EST From: Corbettrj@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Tony- All the information you provided regarding placing the rims on Nantuckets was most helpful. Darla - The tip about dying reed in a plastic bag was super. I hate to dye reed because I am always a mess when I finish. This would be a neat/clean way to do it. Also, it would work well when you just need a small amount of a particular color. I have been without the WW Newsletter for quite some time as we were in the process of moving. It was a great pleasure for me to once again be able to read all the great tips everyone shares. I began as a self-taught weaver. My first basket was the two pie basket in Lynn Siler's book. I had to laugh when everyone was talking about their first baskets. My two pie basket is shaped just like a peanut. I took the basket to our daughter's home at Christmas because it is so roomy. She thought the basket was wonderful and asked if she might have it. Of course, the answer was yes. She will treasure it as she appreciates everything one makes, even if it is shaped like a peanut instead of the proper rectangle shape. Bert - it seems that everyone I have met in our new area has had/or has an upper respiratory infection they can't get rid of. I am included in that group. It has been a long, long siege of not feeling well on top of retiring from a job I loved and moving to a new area. In the move I lost three Nantucket baskets. We searched everywhere we could think to look. We even went through all the boxes of our Christmas decorations. I love to weave Nantucket's, but didn't want to start all over doing the ones that were misplaced. I had given up and was about to order the supplies to start all over. We were in the garage searching for something when I spied a green lawn trash bag. I picked up the bag and immediately realized that the trash bag was full of baskets. The missing Nantucket's were there. I usually just pitch things away without looking -- my husband says he will now check all of the rubbish to be certain I am not throwing out anything valuable. It is wonderful to be receiving Weaver's Words again. I have missed it greatly. Carolyn Corbett formerly of Jacksonville, FL, now of Seaford, DE %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 07:28:38 -0500 From: "joym" To: Checking in from sleet & snow Maine! Pattie: I have another source for snow shoe making - Building Snowshoes, ISBN#0-89933-001-0 I don't know though, if it's still in print. Tony: Have you tried the patented Carve & Scarf from John McGuire for your rims? It makes a paper thin scarf with ease! Now about dying & dye running: I really must admit, I don't know what all the hulla ballo is about! If good quality dye, formulated for basketry (not fabric) is used, there is not need for extra mordents & additives. I've tried adding some vinegar or salt, but found it's not really necessary. I dye, rinse, wipe each strand & dry. I after a brief soak for weaving, I wipe each piece as I weave it in. Darla: It's not necessary to seal a dyed basket, but if you've only colored some pattern weavers you can dip or spray stain the entire basket. Your colors will change slightly (I keep test strips with notes on cardboard). Or, you can add a clear coat of Weaver's Stain Clear which adds a nice glow. I have used Olde English spray but it has quite a lingering odor; it dissipates over time; & I'm not convinced it does much to protect in the long run. Happy basketmaking everyone! Joy Moody in North central Maine where more snow is due today http://www.signofthecrow.com . %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weavers Words Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 10:10:16 EST From: ZOHE@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Greetings: Decided to write again while in the mood and comment on various letters. Anna: No, I don't like the idea of embellishments being glued onto baskets instead of being affixed with stitches, but that could be old fashioned prejudice, they make excellent glue these days. Maybe it's because I look upon baskets as an art that has been done for hundreds of years and am resisting innovations. Please describe New Zealand flax, I always picture it as linen threads, can you get it as thick as reed? Gail, I too am sometimes made uncomfortable by people's religious expressions in this basketry forum, as we are not all Christians, but decided that when they are meant as kindness and not as preaching I will accept them as such, and appreciate good thoughts from Moslems, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus and Native Americans who love the earth. Pagans too. I'm glad more people are putting their states or cities after their names. I like to picture your whereabouts and there are always newcomers who are not acquainted with you. Was interested to learn more about beneficial magnets and Elmer's Wood Glue. Also about Kerry McNew's wire handles, maybe he could make wire goose bases. Weavers World and David are a fount of information. Diana in Northern Virginia. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 07:57:59 -0800 From: hannah To: "'davidc@iei.net'" Hi David and all of you weavers out there!!! I am trying to keep up with all of these wonderful WW that have been coming our way. Tony Stubblefield: Thank you so very much for sharing your technique for rimming Nantucket Baskets. I have been struggling since last convention with a rim from a kit that was purchased at convention last year. I have never taken a class so was not sure about it, but will be taking a Nantucket Purse class at the IBA, I am soooo excited. Once again, thanks for sharing, and also the web site address for Nate's Nantucket. Angie and Donna L: Thank you so very much for sending me the information about your area. I think I have talked him into a trip there this year and, as I said before, we like to make our plans well in advance. We have a motor home and need to reserve a site to accommodate our needs!!!!! Donna: no apology was needed for not getting right back to me, I would have asked you directly in one of my e-mails to you for supplies, NO PRO BLEM!!! I hope that the Open House goes well for you all. And, one last thing, thanks for telling me about your mother, it sounds like they absolutely got it all!! I am glad that you got to enjoy her for another 30 years!!! Diana McLeod: Thanks for the address and the info on the crayon basket. I am going to send for one as well. Dolores Gatz: Trying not to sound like a complete idiot, but what is Quatrefoil? Elizabeth Kourkounakis: I live in southwest OH, but have a weaver friend, who, as far as I know is still a WW member, lives in Avon, OH and her brother lives in Canton, OH. If you want to contact her, let me know and I will send you her e-mail address. She is a really neat lady. Of course, all weavers are neat, right??!!??!! Gail Jacobson: Please don't keep Elizabeth and I in suspense about what part of OH you are from. I would really love to meet all of you. I wish there was some central place that we could all get together at and weave, weave, weave!!! Kathy Halter: Please post those pictures to WW. I won't get to be at North Carolina to see them and you have peeked my curiosity, and I am sure, others would like to see them as well. Thanks a lot. Retayne: Someone had written in and given us an e-mail address on someone to contact about retayne. I forget who. I wrote to them and they responded to tell me how much it was. I then e-mailed this person back on where to send a money order or check and never got a response. I would really like to try some and I do not know of any place around here that would sell it. (I live in a small rural community, not a lot to offer but pig farms!!) Anyone who has access to it and would be willing to get some and ship it to me, please let me know and I will send you the money right away. I will include money for shipping!!!! Carolyn Black: I will be looking for you at convention. I think I met you last year, but am not sure. I volunteered at the registration desk and at the raffle desk last year and that is where I think I met you. Who knows, it may have been someone else, but I will get to meet you this year. Last year was my first year that I spent the whole weekend and took classes and I was just so excited over everything that I don't remember everyone. I will be in class on Thursday and Friday then on Saturday I will be at the registration desk from 10-12 (look me up), and then I will be in the vending room. My husband and son will be in the vending room and our daughter may come to help out. Since I will be taking classes, Dan may need some help, maybe not, but don't want to leave him without any in case he does!!! I am so very happy to hear the good news about your mother. I heard that they think that they have a cure for leukemia, something about arsenic? Well, anyway, I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers, as I will everyone. Joy Moody: Thanks for telling us who was next in line for the basket swap. Sue Bajczyk, if you are not able to do this next one, let me know and I will do it, or otherwise, I am volunteering to do it after Sue. Y'all just let me know!!! Annette Meir: I, too, would like to know what your little tag says on your baskets. I have tried to come up with something, but it is always too wordy. Currently, I just tell my customers how to care for their baskets, but a tag would be really nice. Thanks. Wood bases: I am fortunate enough to have a hubby who does my bases for me. He has determined the slot size by taking my reed and then figuring out what size slot it should be. Of course, some reed is thicker than others and I have to insert another little piece of reed to keep them in, but that does not happen very often, I assure you. If you have a problem with them staying in place, you can either glue them in with wood glue, or you can use a small piece of round reed as suggested before. You could even use both, for that matter. Good luck. Embellishments: I don't think that there is anything wrong with gluing on embellishments. You can tie some on, drill a hole and attach others, paint some on, do the rub on things, sew some on, and why not glue some on? I have glued wooden apples onto some of mine and I think they look really nice. I get a lot of compliments on them. I don't just use regular hot glue, I use an industrial strength hot glue. I got my hot glue gun at Sears and they have this Super Strength - Slow Set hot glue sticks that you can use with this gun. Anyway, once it is on, it isn't like other hot glues, it is there to stay, I haven't had one single problem with it since I have been using it. As a matter of fact, I have tried to make an adjustment after it had set, and found that I had to pry it off and then I had to re-weave that row in my basket and start my embellishing all over again. If done neatly, it will look professional. Good luck on what ever you decide. Well, I apologize for this being so long, but was afraid if I didn't answer who I felt I needed to this time, the next time I wrote, it would be even longer because I would have more WW to respond to. Did that make any sense? See you all later and Happy Weaving!!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WW Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 08:36:23 -0800 From: "Kathey Ervin" To: "David Collins" Hi all, I haven't written in awhile and with so posts coming in lately, its hard just keeping up with reading - not that I'm complaining. I think its great and I know we all appreciate all you do David. Wish I had that Beanie for you! Dolores - Sorry I don't have a pattern on the Cedar Bark Roses. I learned to make them from Anna Jefferson who is a Lummi native and learned by watching her. I know they are also made in Hawaii out of the lahala(sp?) leaves and I've also used cat tail and I think New Zealand Flax would also be nice. Maybe one of our Hawaiian members has seen a written pattern. I worked with Polly Sutton last summer also - she's a fine teacher! I am very determined to get film in the camera this weekend to shoot slides of some new work and more film for some photographs of my stuff and the last two baskets I received from the Marvelous Swap! Thanks Jan for the great job organizing this one. Haven't heard that anyone had problems receiving theirs this time so that's great. I found an 'old' willow fishing creel at an antique store recently that I am just in love with. I know I will be making on in a workshop before too long. Anybody ever made one? And I can't end this without mentioning my babies! I have Buzzard - a long haired tabby - who was originally Buz and belonged to a neighbor who had him as an outdoor cat and I have kitty doors in the house and studio so now he's mine and I have little pal Joey - a cute short hair gray. They are my official greeters at classes I teach here at my home. And I must mention my old girl who passed last year - Butcus - named after the football player Dick when we thought she was a he...but she was a great friend for 15 years. Kathey Ervin in sunny Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: web site Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 13:01:27 -0600 From: "tthompson" To: Hello to all, I have not been writing, but I enjoy reading everything, and one day hope to find time to participate in a basket swap. Since I weave with white oak, I can't contribute anything much due to lack of knowledge about working with reed or other mediums usually discussed. We (husband and myself) have just developed a web site (with a lot of help from our fifteen year old son) and David has added to basket links on Weaver's Words. We hope you will visit at Uncle Tom's Outhouse, way down near the end of the alphabetical list. Pam Thompson In the country part of Florida, the panhandle %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Stuff Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 14:58:23 -0500 From: "Meier, Anette H" To: "'David Collins'" Hi Folks, I've been asked about the tag that I put on my baskets, how I make them and what is on the inside. The tag is a business card folded in half. I use Microsoft Publisher 98 to place the words on the tag, Microsoft PhotoEditor to tweak the basket photo on the front, and business cards from Paper Direct or Avery... The basket photo is of my husband's grandmother's melon basket, so that makes the tag unique to me, so you can use one of your baskets. ............................................................................ ............................................................................ ................................................. The words on the inside left half of the card says: Congratulation! You've just purchased a finely handcrafted basket. ---------------------------------------------- Great care has been taken to follow the same exacting techniques of the original makers of these styles of baskets. Whether your basket is Nantucket, Shaker, Native American or Eclectic, you can be assured that each piece is made to last a lifetime. And like any collectable, saving the labels, tags and receipts will only add to the future value of your purchase. The words on the inside right half of the tag reads: Maintenance and Care of Your Basket *Use your basket, this gives the rich patina that, in time, increases its value. *Rotate your basket so it has a chance to age evenly if sitting on a shelf. *A light vacuuming with a soft brush once a year to keep dirt and dust out of the crevices *Most of all... enjoy it!!! With Sincere Thanks! ............................................................................ ............................................................................ ................................................. I may change the color of the tag to fit the season, or to coordinate with the colors in the basket. The basket on the front of the tag is also my logo on envelopes, stationary, business cards etc... MS Publisher also has templates that you can follow if you are not comfortable in your creativity, then you can tweak it to fit your needs. It is really very easy... If any one here wants to use the words above, it is OK with me.... Hope this helps. Anette %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: IOWA BASKET WEAVERS GUILD Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 16:30:36 -0600 (CST) From: catslapbaskets@webtv.net (Russell / K.L. Mitchell) To: davidc@iei.net Hello David and World Wide Weavers! To any and all weavers in Iowa and the surrounding states the IBWG spring meeting is on April 10th at 10am. It will be held at the Storey County Conservation Center just North of Ames. Iowa. If anyone on the WW list needs more information and directions to the meeting please email me catslapbaskets@webtv.net Happy Weaving to all! Karen %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 88 Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 18:45:31 -0600 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 88 Diane in Kansas - I think I met you at that Woven Circle meeting, too. Do you have really long dark hair with a touch of gray in it? Were you sitting near the window end of the tables? I sat on the end away from the windows. (Can't remember how I had my hair that day.) Marilyn from Missouri - So far, the coordinator has been different for each basket swap. I'm not sure who will do the next one. If we were to do one in July I would be glad to coordinate, but there may already be someone lined up to do it. If so, they can just add my name to the list for a future swap. There is no attempt to match novices with other novices. The pairing is entirely random as far as I know. Don't be deterred by that. Yvonne Cornelius - You may have to pack your tools in your checked luggage when you fly to convention. Having an extra suitcase for taking things home is an excellent idea. I've never been to Indy, but I remember how much stuff (books, materials, handles, tools) I bought at my first basket convention here in MO 2 years ago. Take lots of money! What part of Texas are you in? Bert Comstock Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 90 Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 18:46:25 -0600 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 90 Gail, in Ohio - Please pass my get well wishes on to Cheryl and let her know I will be thinking about her. Last month I lost a friend due to complications during a bone marrow transplant. He had been battling leukemia for over a year. Gail Caron - It's good to see posts from you again, too. Naomi Paquette - Our ISP is AT&T using Netscape Navigator. There is a choice called People Finder on the home page. If this doesn't find them, there are others on other search engines, but I don't know them by name. Mostly, if one search doesn't work, i try another. Maggie Silva - I have to ask: Did you weave baskets on your reindeer antlers? Lois - Well, yucky as the weather in NY was while you were there, I think you can be glad it was last week & not this. I understand they are getting hammered by heavy snow again! By the way, Independence shares a city limit line with KC, MO - so if you get over for the GS conv in Oct, be sure to give me some warning so I can show you the town. Hope you're managing to squeeze in some weaving time by now! Donna Longenecker - I haven't found bleach to be very effective on iron stains. In this case, it's more than just a simple rust stain on fabric, as the iron in the water actually reacted with the tannic acid in the oak to form black iron tannate. Bert Comstock Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 91 Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 18:48:03 -0600 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 91 Right now while I'm thinking of it, I want to answer the 'first basket' and 'pets' questions (since I've been enjoying everyone else's answers so much). My first woven basket was probably a checker weave May basket of construction paper strips - we (Mother, Aunt Cleo, my brother & 2 cousins) did so many different ones when I was little (paper doilies rolled into cones, origami 4-pocket ones with pipe-cleaner handles and so on), that it's hard to remember them individually. The first basketry project I did entirely on my own was a braided grass straw hat and tote purse for a story-book doll (pre-Barbie days). I stitched the braids as in making a braided rug. No idea where that ended up. I have had cats and dogs in the past, as well as fish and lizards, and my kids' ponies & hamsters. I always thought of myself as a dog person & really enjoy it when my son brings his golden retriever-type dog down from Alaska for a visit. Bob had 2 black cats when I moved in with him - Olsen (a mostly Siamese female) and Bruiser (generic short hair, whose name did nothing to macho up his teddy bear self-image). Because of the severity of my allergies, he agreed that we would not get any new cats. We lost Olsen to a respiratory infection about 10 years ago. Bruiser died (about 3 years ago) at the age of 21. He had been semi-invalid for nearly a year because of a stroke, but remained very people-oriented, going from lap to lap to lap when we had company, and never gave up on his watch for someone to leave the door to my cat-free zone open. Since I couldn't handle him, he had learned to lay at my feet to be toe petted (a sometimes awkward situation when he'd come up behind me in our tiny kitchen). I still look down before backing up from the sink, to make sure I won't step on the cat. So now Bob gets his cat 'fixes' by feeding the neighborhood strays on the front porch and visiting the many cats of our friends. Can't remember who wanted wheat weaving info recently, but here's some contact information that was published in the Kansas City Star last month: National Association of Wheat Weavers, Gladys Brockway, 804 S. Maple, McPherson, KS 67460. Also "For books, tips and general information and to see examples of wheat weaving, check out the World Wide Wheat Weavers online at www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/4565/" Evie - The best ply of waxed linen is whichever one you prefer for your project. There are some light weight ones available that you wouldn't have to split. Jayna Glemby & Jane Wilson (and others who want info from back issues) - Go to the WW web site and scroll down to near the end of the home page to the Search option. Fill in the key word or words you are looking for (such as 'dream studio' or 'studio' or 'stain') and follow the directions on screen to activate the search. Winnie - I envy all your traveling. :=) I try to have a waxed linen project to work on when I'm traveling (twined or loopin or knotted). They are usually small enough to fit in a zip top bag in my pocket. Tools required are minimal (and small). I generally carry a blunt tapestry needle, a fingernail clipper and small crochet hook in my purse anyway. Most of my linen baskets don't call for any other tools. Bert Comstock, breathing again (more or less) in Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 92 Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 18:49:17 -0600 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 92 Lesley - I know you asked Pat M. about this, but I have to put in a good word here for a book called _Textile Techniques in Metal. It's published by Lark Books and I got it from Amazon.com via David's WW bookstore link. It's excellent! Anna - A juried seminar or show is one in which people who want to teach or show their work must submit in advance for review by a committee which selects the best of the lot for their event. As opposed, for example, to a county fair where everyone who submits something will have it shown or some of the adult education programs (such as 'Communiversity' in KCMO) where anyone who wants to teach a class my get into the catalog by submitting the required forms. Jurying is common in the art world where is a standard quality control practice. Naomi - I had my first willow class last weekend. Marlys Sowers came down from Iowa and taught 2 different baskets. I didn't do the ribbed heart on Saturday, but had a blast with the big flat ribbed potato tray on Sunday. I'm hooked! I actually finished filling in the weaving on my tray night before last. Hope you have as much fun as I did! Marlys 7 her husband Jeff (family) live on a Christmas tree/willow farm. He is a woodworker, par excellence - she had some of his Shaker boxes, wooden slat trugs, a Kentucky lunch bucket, and a number of Nantucket type molds and bases that he had made, in addition to an array of her other baskets and extra bundles of willow and red osier dogwood for sale. Please tell us more about your class and the Russian instructor and what kind of basket you made. Pam F. - Thanks for telling us how your Grandma is doing. I still think of her often and am glad she's doing so well. Karen M. - Thanks for the tip about beeswax on raffia. Why didn't I think of that? That may inspire me to dig out my raffia stash (if I can find my beeswax - I bought a big block at the war 2 summers ago). Bert Comstock - waiting for predicted snow and sleet in Independence, Mo %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.