"Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 97 Date Sent: March 14, 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 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 95 Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 12:30:36 -0800 From: Sharle Osborne To: David Collins Lois in Hawaii- thank you very much for telling us you were having a rainy yucky windy day. We like to know we are not alone. A question- I cut some Kiwi prunings today that looked like they would make great handles. They have a vine wrapped around them. Anybody know if I should work with them fresh or dry and rehydrate them? I suppose it may be determined by how much time I have now anyway. I've also gotten hooked on looking at basket pictures on e-bay. I'm having second thoughts about ordering through amozon.com again. I have now twice ordered basket books and eventually found them for half the price at a bookstore. If we don't support our local bookstores now, we won't have them around when we get fed up with the mega-stores later. We could end up with Wal-Mart as the standard for quality and the standard for pay. In Sequim, WA where it is only raining lightly on the laundry out on the line. Sharle Osborne sharleo@orca.esd114.wednet.edu http://www.olympus.net/personal/skoehler/bskt.htm %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Nantucket Molds Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 21:29:30 EST From: CHobbsNANA@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi everybody, I just finished reading our last great issue, and needed to respond about Nantucket molds. There is a gentleman who personally makes molds, and does a beautiful job of it. I LOVE his puzzle molds. He can be reached at: Bill Dunning, 1928 Knoll Lane, Goshen, Oh 45122. His work is very reasonable. He vends at some seminars, and maybe at Indiana convention. He has all the Nantucket supplies you need. His phone is: 513 722-2918. He will send you a price list. I recommend his fine woodcrafting. Someone asked what are Nantuckets? There are several real good books on the subject, one being by Martha Lawrence. Clare %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: More Stuff Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 03:32:21 +0000 From: Tony Stubblefield or Dean Meredith To: David Collins/Weavers Words Hello again, So much for snow, they were calling for 6 inches by tonight and I haven't seen a flake yet. Ooo, I hope I just didn't jinx myself. Crystal - Sounds like you may have to give up reed and switch to something like hand pounded ash. This is much more expensive than reed, but you just have to make smaller baskets then. You might try coiling using pine needles, they smell great and are really pretty easy to work with. Or you might explore the new willow craze as you could even grow that yourself. Maggie Silva - You are a goddess! I have been trying to find an inexpensive place to buy 20 ga. brass pins and other brass hardware forever. I will email your source immediately. Thanks so much. Joanne - I had not heard about John McGuire's accident. How terrible. I do hope he is doing OK. If you hear anymore please let us know. Judy - about class pricing - First of all don't underrate yourself, you are talented and people should appreciate that. For most reed baskets, like a 10 in. egg or a medium market basket I usually figure the supplies cost around $10-12, I then add $15 for my fee which makes the class around $25-27. For a basket that uses more reed or a more expensive handle the price usually goes up to around $40. I have never had anyone complain about these prices. I have a enrollment minimum of 4 and a max of 10 for these types of classes. That way I usually average around $100 for a full day class. I figure I deserve that much to give up one of my Saturdays. Carolyn - A cure for your peanut shaped baskets is to use a heavier material for the rims. Especially for a larger basket you need something like a 1/2 round reed. Some people find this hard to work with, but if you soak it in good hot water for about 15 minutes and make a nice long taper, 3-4 inches, you should be fine. I always double lash and when I am done I can shape the rim any way I want and it will stay that way because of the tension of the lashing. Once the rim dries your basket will retain that shape permanently. Dolores - How I am able to remember people's name and questions is that I keep pen and paper next to me and I jot down notes as I read. Sometimes I forget what my cryptic note means and I have to go back and look for the posting, but in general this usually works well for me. Happy weaving, Tony Stubblefield St. Louis, MO http://www.tetranet.net/users/deanandtony/baskets.htm %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Misc. Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 20:22:52 -0800 (PST) From: Carol Miller To: davidc@iei.net Hello everyone, should we swap teaching experiences never to be forgotten! Try to teach four classrooms of sixth graders to weave a very simple basket along with their teachers. At some points I thought the teachers were more impaired than the kids! All in all it was a positive experience but a challenge I will never forget. Bouncing back and forth between class rooms and not being completely sure you had actually answered the question that had been ask. How did I get into this my oldest son was in one of the classes, and I've been on the schools list to help out ever since. To my amazement the boys at that age are far better than the girls! Joanne- on the scroll saw the best advice I know is practice, practice, practice. Enjoy the saw along with your husband they are a lot of fun once you catch on. My mother has demoted me to sanding! Keep the letters coming I think they are great. Carol in Montana %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weavers Words Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 21:08:23 -0800 From: hannah To: "'davidc@iei.net'" Oops!!! I cannot believe that I actually forgot to sign my name to my last post. Anyway, I wanted to be sure that Sue Bajczyk knew it was me, who said I would do it for her this time, or take it the next time, which ever she wants me to do. Fine with me!!! Carolyn Black: I am hoping that no one took offense, but to all, I do not know Carolyn personally, only through my posts here and from my registration for IBA, just like the rest of you. I am sure that she did not mean anything personal. I want everyone to come and see all of us, as I know that we all have a lot of different things to offer. So to all of you going to IBA, wear your red ribbons, and Come On Down!!! Pam Woodbury: Thanks for posting your note about juried shows. I agree with you that you have to speak up. I dropped out of a show (will be two years this Nov.) because they had imports and other stuff that is just not crafts. Not that the stuff isn't nice, it just doesn't belong in an Art/Craft show. Gail Jacobson: Noone meant not to ask for support for your friends. That is what we are all here for, I think we just got off of the beaten track with Crystal's post. We just need to get back to our regular forum, and that was all that was meant. Please keep us up to date on your friend, and I will include her in my prayers. Anette Meier: Thanks for the "Words" that you use and the information. I think that it is a very clever idea!!! Bert Comstock: You are quite welcome for my letting you know how my Grandma is doing. Thank you so much for caring. I sure hope to meet you someday. I have this picture in my mind of you. I know one thing, you have to look kind, as you are one of the kindest people who posts on this forum. You always have the right thing to say. I truly admire you. Thanks for being a part of this forum and welcoming all of us who came in after you!!! Now, I want to tell you about a hair product that works on iron, it is a Nexxus product. It is a shampoo that is used to clean rust and iron and other chemicals out of your hair. I cannot remember the name of it, but anyone who carries Nexxus brand products will be able to tell you what it is. I used to own my own beauty and tanning salon, and I used it on some of my clients. I am sure that if it gets it out of hair, it will get it out of clothing. It is worth a try, anyway!! Let me know if it works. Hey, Brenda Johnson, do you know the name of the stuff I am talking about? You watch, I will remember tonight in the middle of the night. I will wake up thinking the name of that darn shampoo. It will haunt me until I figure it out. Well, I am tired from a long show today, and am ready to hit the hay!!! I will be talking to you all again, very soon. Pam Feix, in southwest OH, where we might get some more snow tonight, but maybe it won't be very much!!! http://www.feixbaskets-crafts.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: ebay Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 06:14:43 -0500 From: Judy Clark To: "Collins, David WW" Hi Pam W RE: ebay I find pictures of most of the baskets for sale through ebay. Are you clicking on the line of the item you want details on? If you are this should take you to a new page that usually gives a description and picture of the basket, also instructions for bidding. Be careful that you know what you're bidding on. You can email the seller and ask questions. I haven't been disappointed in anything I've bought but maybe I've just been lucky. I still haven't bought a basket. I keep checking. Judy C in cold but beautiful Mason Michigan %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 96 Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 07:41:30 -0500 From: Pamela Woodbury To: David Collins References: 1 Hi Weavers Chrys - At this time I am not making anything elaborate with the birch bark. I have gleaned all the bark from dead trees on my sons land and now need to find more. His bark was not the best so I made very rustic baskets, which I love, am hoping the public will like them so that I can start going more from the traditional baskets to the contemporary baskets. For those of you who would like a Tender Hearts catalog the # 1-800-443-1367. They have a wholesale and retail book and those of you that get the retail book won't know why anyone would pay that much for a basket and then sell it cheap, but it is the wholesale book with the cheap prices. For instance if you order 12 stairstep baskets you can get them for $12 and that is what those trying to pretend they made them are doing. Actually the book has some cute things and if you are ordering things for yourself and know you are ordering an import I see nothing wrong with that. I find offense in ordering in quantity and passing it off as your own work. Joanne I truly doubt if anyone who sells the import baskets actually uses the import in their pictures. Some of these unscrupulous venders will have a few handmade baskets in their booth, which I am guessing they bought from somebody like us. These are what they take the pictures of and then have the other baskets for sale. The person I got kicked out of a show with imports a couple years ago pointed right to the handmade ones and I said it isn't those that are the problem and then I pointed right to the imports. I guess they don't think we know enough about baskets to know the difference because they don't know or see the difference. Joanne I quit doing the Turkeyville show because they allowed an entire booth of imports. Their contract said handmade, but I guess they wanted the booth rent more than they wanted good handcrafted work. Pam from MI %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: misc. replies Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 00:59:22 +1100 From: Anna Lizotte To: "Collins, David" Hi Everyone. Well just got back from a weekend away and am trying to catch up on the last 4 Weavers Words! Anne in Sooke--I, too, am a "naturals" weaver. Tassie (Tasmania) is in Australia. We are the smallest state, a small island off the southeastern coast of the mainland. Being in the southern hemisphere, it IS fall here and that is why we are gathering cattails! Welcome to Weavers Words. Judy in Boston--I've tucked your name away in my address book for the next time I visit family in RI! I spent so much time in Boston on my last visit home in 92 as my Mum was in hospital at Deaconess.....at that time, although I was weaving, I didn't realize how extensive it was in the US! And I had other things on my mind at the time, too. So I am keeping track of all the New England people who write in to WW and hope to meet a lot of you one day in the not too distant future! Karen in Georgia--I use "natural" i.e. gathered materials, almost exclusively and make all sorts of baskets, mainly ribbed, but I also try other kinds, like stitched etc. Lately I have been doing a bit of plaiting and twill weaving with strips of NZ flax and that has been fun but exasperating as the flax tends to be slippery. Have had to use lots of clothespins and/or masking tape to hold things in place temporarily. I do use a lot of flax in strips of varying widths, mainly because it is so versatile, so strong, and so available. And I do sell my baskets, but not in great quantities as, with 4 children, my weaving time is limited. I have had stalls at shows with other weavers but would never have enough stock to have a stall on my own, not yet anyway. Yes, as far as I know, Nantucket's are an American thing. I have made one Nantucket and purchased the materials for another when a couple came from the US and held a workshop here. Otherwise the materials are not available here. Some of us purchased the 6 or 8" mold and some the bottle holder mold and we swap and borrow. I have just found someone who is going to make me half a dozen bases of varying diameters and I am going to try using the basics but weaving with naturals....I'll let you know how it turns out. One of our basketweavers has done a beautiful bowl with this method and I really want to give it a go. Diana in Northern Va.--NZ Flax grows in a clump of "fans" of long, stiff, 5-10cm wide sword shaped leaves with a central rib. I think the term they use for this type of leaf is "keeled"...it looks like the leaf has been folded in half and then opened out again. The most common one is dark green and grows up to 3 metres high and the clump can get up to 2 metres wide. It has a flower stalk up to 5 metres long with panicles of dull red or yellow flowers. NZ flax is Phormium tenax whereas linen flax is Linum usitatissimum. The NZ Maoris highly value the cream colored fibre that they extract from the plant and us it to make traditional Maori skirts among other things. They scrape the outer skin off both sides of the leaf with a mussel shell and then boil the exposed fibre for a few minutes, hang it up to dry and then dye and plait it as desired. I gave info on how I use it in Iss. 87. It is nothing like reed and is not very thick at all. Chrys (moonweaver)--I like the idea of your birch bark tags but can see your point about the writing. If you make a paper tag, maybe you could decorate the front with a birch bark scrap or shape rather than a printed picture?? Just an idea. Lori--Amy's post about the teacher's basket is in Iss. 92 Maggie Silva--where in MA do you live? Dolores--I remember the names because I answer as I read most of the time. I copy and paste WW from my email into Works and then read it. I bring up a mail message window addressed to David and then as I read the WW, I pull up the mail window and type in my answers as I go. I also add bookmarks to the works document if there is something I feel I may want to remember. Tony--So, are you going to let us all in on your ribbed egg basket fill in technique or is it a secret? Please, please, pretty please? My first basket--over 20 years ago- a small bowl about 3" diameter out of boiled honeysuckle following instructions in a book called Wildcrafts by Lesley Linsley (I think). Don't know what happened to it but I didn't start weaving again for almost 10 years when I made a large(2' dia) melon basket (egg basket) so I really count that one as my first because that is when the addiction/obsession started. I still have it holding magazines and spare toilet paper in the spare bathroom. Animals--One dog-Meg-part golden retriever part border collie but looks like a Dalmatian, 3 steers, 4 goats, & 4 chickens. I love cats but we don't have any due to the wildlife i.e., bandicoots, possums, echidnas, birds, and lizards. We have enough problems with the feral cats. Thank you to everyone who answered my queries about juried shows and gluing on embellishments. MY gut feeling is not to glue but I realize there can be exceptions. What prompted that question was that recently I saw a gorgeous coiled basket made from casuarina needles, about 12" high and shaped like a ginger jar and it had a swirl of the casuarina pods on it. I was a bit disappointed to find the pods were glued on but, actually, to have drilled and stitched each one on would probably have taken another 2 hours! Still...I think it would have been worth it. Anyway, better head off. It has taken me forever to catch up and I am sitting here with a cervical collar on due to a recurring neck problem and its not too comfortable typing with it on. When my neck is niggling, I have to wear it or I'll be one sorry chook the next day! Hope the winter weather is easing off a bit for all you northerners....I see the weather reports on NBC Today (airs here about 1 am). BRRRRRRRRRRR. Anna in Tassie where it is apple time...yum! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: links Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 01:57:55 +1100 From: Anna Lizotte To: "Collins, David" David, Just a quick note. Have been trying a few of your links and thought you might like to know that I couldn't get Twomama's Baskets and Bonnet Run Basketry. Both came back with error messages. Has anyone visited Darryl and Karen Arawjo's site???? An amazing nest of 17 baskets there. Unbelievable! What craftsmanship! Hope to visit all the links eventually! Not enough time in the day! Anna in Tassie %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits and Pieces Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 10:26:56, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net Probably shouldn't write before I read the next issue but I have to go offline to read and will forget before I sign on again. Cane will only take color on the dull side-not the shiny. To make it work right weave with the dull side out then when you get to the rim give a small twist to the weaver to keep the right side out. This really doesn't show as it is (If I'm "seeing" right) as the base of the rim. Judy Wilson teaches this way in her wonderful egg baskets and it does work. When you over dye cane it will darken slightly but not really take dye on the shiny side. That's all I can remember for now but am sure lots will come to me as soon as I sign off. Billie in cold rainy miserable Va. Beach %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: responding, straight sides, thanks Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 10:50:30 -0500 From: Winnie Organization: @Home Network Member To: David Collins Hi Everyone, Dolores asked about responding to questions. When I want to respond to a question in WW I do it immediately. I open "new message" on the tool bar, address it to David, from the address book, fill in the subject and write my response. Then I minimize it, it goes to the task bar on the bottom of the screen, and I go back to reading WW. If there is another question that I feel qualified to answer I click on the task bar and write my next answer. When I finish reading WW, I just sign my name and "send". Lori asked about the sides of baskets going in. I call these figure 8 baskets. To avoid the problem be very conscious of the spacing between your spokes as you weave up the side of the basket. If you've established a 3/8 " space between spokes at the bottom you could use a 3/8" weaver, placed between the spokes, to check the spacing between the spokes as you weave up the side. Thank you Angie and Donna for the information on waxed linen. I've never used it thinking it was very tiny. I don't know where I got that impression, but I have large hands so I never pursued it. When I received my beautiful swap basket I was intrigued by the different type of material used in the basket. To me, it looked like Danish Cord but it was a wonderful wine color. I wrote back to the person who made the basket and asked her about it. When I checked my email this morning her response was first and WW was next, both directing me to Royalwood for waxed linen. I think it's a sign I think my weaving is headed in a new direction. I can't wait to get some and start. Thanks to all for the ideas and friendship. Winnie, waiting for 6-9" of snow to hit Conn. and hoping for a snow day (no School) tomorrow. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: whatever comes to mind Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 09:56:17 -0600 From: "tthompson" To: Pam from Michigan-- I would think those sweetgrass baskets are not necessarily imports. Where I live, I pick up sweetgrass baskets in thrift shops, antique shops, etc. for under $5. People here don't know what they are, and I don't tell them. Also picked up a Nantucket for $15 and the lady knew the name of it, just didn't know the value (the lid attachments were broken). Has a whale carving on the lid. I don't know if it's old or new, but it has a nice dark patina to it. I knew new Nantucket's are expensive, so I figured old or new I was getting a steal. Sometimes the problem I find is that people think they know what a basket is made of and they really don't. Personally, I wouldn't buy one through ebay without a picture unless it was dirt cheap and I didn't mind losing the money if it wasn't what it was suppose to be. Someone mentioned that the only place to get sweetgrass was South Carolina. Years ago when I use to go to the Florida Folklife Festival in White Springs, FL, there were some ladies from around the Jacksonville, Fl area that were making and selling sweetgrass baskets at the festival. What about the Georgia coast? None there? Carolyn Corbett, do you know about the ladies around Jacksonville? Pam on the panhandle of Florida %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: More bits and pieces Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 11:20:34, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net See, I told you it was a mistake for me to write before I read the last issue. First before I forget-would everyone try to remember to sign their name at the bottom of the note-When you get as forgetful as I you can't remember whose note you are reading by the time you get to the end. It would save have to scroll back to the top. Also not all email addresses tell the actual name of whose writing. Not to answers and you'll note I can't remember who asked what so I usually answer generically. Of course I could write down the names on the notes I make but then that would be too efficient. For cutting slots in the bases of Nantucket's etc. there is a sloting/sliting attachment that fits on to a drill press. Don't rember where we got them as a friend ordered. Somewhere in Mich. I think. Joannne Jackson-it's good to see you again. Been awhile. I do remember the trips you made to Ca. Joanne and I "met" on an old prodigy bb back in what seems the dark ages. She is the purple lady if I remember right. Working with waxed linen is wonderful but it does take a long time so don't expect to finish overnight. Most people who list on ebay do have pictures. Don't know why you're not getting them. Could you have your don't load images button clicked? About the prices-some of the prices are low because the seller doesn't have a clue about baskets. Others start low and climb rapidly-besides the object of the buyer is to get something as cheaply as possible. There are lots of imports but that doesn't always matter. I got one last week for $10. that was African. I knew it when I bid but it's still a great baskets for the price. One of the main problems is that those listers who know nothing have only heard two words connected with baskets Indian and Nantucket. So that's what they call them I've seen rr baskets listed as Nant. Also a miniature to them is anything small.(8x8). You will soon recognize a pattern among both the sellers and buyers as to who is knowledgeable. Stick with the tapestry. It does get easier. The first one I did after taking the class took forever as there was lots of weaving followed by "reverse" weaving. But now I just weave it in and it seems to work out without lots of pre planning. Will close as my machine keeps doing funny things and would hate to lose all I've typed. I recently learned that the second line that we use only for the computer doesn't have call waiting so if it rings it cuts the computer off line. And that is a number that I give to no one (don't even know it myself) so I know that the call is a solicitor. Til next time Billie in Va. Beach. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: EBAY Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 10:32:25 -0600 (CST) From: catslapbaskets@webtv.net (Russell / K.L. Mitchell) To: davidc@iei.net Hi David and World Wide Weavers! Wishing everyone a great time at all the conventions and workshops coming up! Weave Happy! Pam Woodbury Re: EBAY Some of the items don't have pictures and I don't think many of those get sold unless they are something that need no description. Many do have pictures you can tell by the little (PIC) sign after the name of the item. Just click on the item number and scroll down the page to the picture. One thing I have found is the you get different lists and amounts of items if you use basket, baskets or basketry when you search for items. The word basket brings up over 4,000 items today while the word basketry brings up only 17. So whatever you are looking for you might try to search under several different terms. Also make sure if you are bidding on a book that you check out Amazon.com before bidding if the books are still in print you can often get a better deal and if you use the link on Weavers Words site David will get paid! The only Ebay purchase I have made is a piece of costume jewelry, a bracelet with cats in baskets! Speaking of cats! The Cat count here is Four. Esmerellda who is 15, Queen of our world, whose picture is on Baskets, Etc on the Question page. Esmerellda pretty much runs the show here! Next in age is Bouncer, five year old male, a part Maine Coon cat, we got when he was 3 from the Humane Society, his hair had been cut off as it had been matted....so he has spent the last 2 years growing it back and sleeping. (growing hair is hard work and he needs to rest up!) Reggie is an orange colored 3 year old male who is in charge of material handling when we weave!! The latest addition is Nancy a calico who stopped by our house last June and we fed her, it took us all summer for her to let us touch her and by then she was ours....now she resides happily inside with the others and is a total lap cat! Gail Jacobson: Thanks for posting about Cheryl and giving her address, I like to be able to send something to fellow basket weavers when they are in hospital. I know we are all hoping for a speedy recovery for Cheryl. Crystal Drenner: Since you are allergic to the solutions on reed, why not branch out into other styles/types of basketry?? Waxed linen weaving, coiling, using naturals and barks. There is a fabulous weaver in Wisconsin, Susan Monde, who weaves with strips of water color paper she has painted ... lots of other options beyond reed! Any Iowa weaver wanting info on the spring meeting April 10th contact me! Also a couple of us are staying over night at a motel in Ames, in case anyone else planning that we will be at the Heartland! Sunny here in Mpls and more sun and warmer temps to come....or so the Weather Dudes promise......so all that snow we got last week will soon be a memory! Happy Weaving to all. Karen %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 95 Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 13:10:04 -0500 From: Pamela Woodbury To: David Collins References: 1 Hi Weavers, I thought maybe I better explain myself before I get into trouble with some representative of Tender Hearts. In no way do I believe these big companies ever plan on people buying their products and passing them off as hand made. Wangs, LTD Limited, etc. are all big companies that sell imported craft items. Places like Wal-Mart, Michael's, etc. buy from this big companies as well as some so called crafters. When we buy a cute crafty item from Wal-Mart in no way do we ever think it is anything but an import and in fact usually on the bottom it will say made in Taiwan, or wherever. My problem is with the people who buy from these companies and try to pass it off as hand made by them. I really have a problem when they forget to take the tag off and as they are acting like they made it you turn it over and it says made in China. I have to tell a funny story. A young woman probably mid twenties bought a basket from me. She asked me if I sold those wire basket hangers that hang from the ceiling. I told her no cause this was a juried show and everything was to be hand made by the person selling it and I surely couldn't make those wire basket hangers. About a half hour later she came back into my booth. She had a wire basket hanger. I said where did you find that. She said the lady selling them explained that it was okay she was selling them cause she bought wholesale. I was so dumbfounded I just said oh. This young woman believed that if you buy wholesale it was alright to pass it off in a juried show, now do you suppose the crafter selling it believed her line of you know what!!! Pam %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 96 Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 12:50:17 -0600 From: ROY LEA To: David Collins Hi all, Alice Edwards - I was planning on sharing or having a table at that sale mentioned at the Feb Woven Circle meeting, but I'll be out of town after all, and I won't be able to participate. I wish you much luck on your endeavors there. As it turns out, we will be doing a partial do-it-yourself move to Arizona during that time. Getting ready for the move back to our house in Sierra Vista, and looking forward to meeting weavers there, too. We're heading out there with some stuff to check out the condition of our house since Ian has a long spring break from school. The renters just moved out; hope they left everything in good condition. Anette - Thanks for sharing your info with us. I usually put info about the basket on cards attached to the basket, but I hadn't put care info before. Should probably add that on! I also use my business cards - which I print on the computer - as my hangtags. Nice to see a concise bit of wording that we can all adapt and use as we desire. Nice of you to share. Bert - Yes, that sounds like me - long dark hair with a touch of gray. (More of a touch than I'd care to admit! But, hey, I earned every one. Big grin, haven't we all.) I even ended up using your basket as an example for those curly flowers that day, thanks. Sounds like you had great fun with the willow class. I did so want to take that, but my schedule wouldn't allow. Sure sounds like I missed a fun experience. I'm glad you could go. And about that other teacher; you're right, she might have had more limited knowledge than I presumed. I hadn't looked at things that way. Never hurts to get some other input on how things might have been, eh? She did mention that she was sort of practicing teaching to see if she would want to pursue it at their next duty station, so she may have been unsure of some of the things I was asking. Nantuckets - I love reading all the tips on how to do these baskets. I haven't tried one yet, and I think reading all this info will help me when I do attempt one. I'm looking forward to it, but don't know exactly when I will do so. Do you think that getting a kit is the best way to approach it for the first time? That would probably be secondary to taking a class? Just curious. Will keep reading the hints to help me when I do get around to weaving one. Bascats - We aren't really a cat family, although our boy would like to get one. My hubby definitely is not a cat person, and while I don't mind them, I'd pick a dog first. We have one dog, a Samoyed named Wile E. Coyote, which we adopted after our other Sam had passed away. This guy is an outdoor dog, which he likes just fine, as he would have to be forcefully brought into the house anyway. The people we adopted him from had to keep him in his crate too much, and he associates that with coming indoors. He'll go into the garage happily under his own steam, which is where I had him stay a few times when the weather was terribly cold. He does love to hang around the back door, and he comes to ask for milk bones there with a funny "woo-woo-woo". I love to play with him. He did tear up a basket that I left on the railing of the deck once, though, so I learned to be more careful. Thank goodness it was a small basket! I would have been less likely to laugh had it been a quilt tote! It was one of those small Kisses for Two baskets, so it wasn't that hard to replace, lucky for both of us. It was one that I'd made without a handle, so it wasn't a biggy. He hasn't ever bothered anything on the clothesline, (yet?) so sometimes I put baskets there to air out from being stained. I do that when it is in the shade quite often. So far, so good on that one. Take care, and happy weaving. Diane in Kansas, where it is beautiful outside today. Roy (DH) is painting the enclosure he made for the trailer for the DITY move, and Ian will be making bubbles outside shortly. He loves that bubble stuff. I made a big homemade batch with a recipe from some internet website. Helps being a weaver, then one has the glycerin. :-) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 14:37:54 -0500 From: "MYLOIS@PRODIGY.NET" <"MYLOIS@PRODIGY.NET"@prodigy.net> Organization: Prodigy Internet To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everybody: Beautiful sunny, bright day here in Michigan's Thumb and quite mild for a change. Read the post about the 21-year-old cat. My old cat lived to be 23. I had to have her put down last spring as her back end gave out. She ruled the house until the end. How I miss her. Myra mylois@prodigy.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 95 Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 14:44:10 -0600 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 95 Carolyn Black - In the willow class I took from Marlys Sowers last weekend, she tole us that willow can be harvested any time when there are no leaves on it. So you should be able to cut yours before it leafs out this spring. The sam goes for cutting willow back to encourage more sprouts to come up from the stump. Joe Conroy - Thanks for sharing more Nantucket techniques with us. This discussion has really picked up my enthusiasm for trying to make a Nantucket style basket of my own. Karen in Georgia - Rib baskets are an easy type for adding natural materials to your weaving, although you can work them in on just about any kind of basket - such as inserting a couple rows of tree bark into a flat reed weave. It's also possible to make baskets entirely out of natural materials. The style of basket may depend on what type of materials you have collected. For example, long pine needles are great for coiling, but not suitable for weaving the sides of a large basket. The New Zealand flax that Anna uses often is a long fibrous leaf, and not at all like the flax plant from which linen thread is made. Mary Ann - Hope your sister's treatments go well. Carolyn Corbett - Hope your respiratory problem is clearing up. You had me so worried about your lost baskets - it was really a relief when you finally found them! Must have been even more so for you. There's a lot of interesting historic stuff to do and see in your new location. Surely there will also be some basket weavers nearby for you to get together with. Pam Thompson - There's a lot to learn about working with white oak. I've taken several wonderful classes from Betty Curry here in MO, but it always fascinates me to hear other people discuss the processing and their weaving methods. So it seems to me you really Do have contributions you could make to our discussions. Anette - Thank you for sharing your basket tag format and wording. Bert Comstock, in sunny, dry Independence, MO (the latest big storm missed us entirely!) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: basket swap? Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 14:13:12 PST From: "Marilyn Thompson" To: davidc@iei.net Hi David, I was wondering how I might be able to get my name put on the basket swap list and how does it work? I live in New Castle, Indiana on a farm, I have 3 house cats, and 2 teenagers. My daughter is a junior in college and my son is a junior in high school. My husband works in a factory as a engineer. I work at our local high school as a library aid. My friend and I will be attending the IBA only on Saturday and hope to take a lot of the 1 hour classes and shop. Pam F. we will see you there and have fun making the Nantucket purse, you will love it. Everyone have a great week and hope Spring gets here. Marilyn %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Clear finish suggestions Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 16:29:20 -0600 From: rounds To: David Collins References: 1 I'm a newbie at basket weaving and as I finish a few baskets for my home I sometimes want to leave them in their natural state and not add the stain of oak, etc. What do you all use? I have Weaver's Stain in oak, but wondered if you dare use a polyurethane satin finish on something as dear as a hand-woven basket? I'd love to know what variety of products you all use. I've so enjoyed and learned from you experienced weavers. I have only woven 1 1/2 years but it's getting to be something I 'need' to do. Denise Tulsa, OK Where there is snow on the ground, the sun is shining, and the streets are clear! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: cat fabric, retayne Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 17:59:42 -0600 From: ROY LEA To: davidc@iei.net, "David C. Collins, Jr." Cat lovers - I don't know how many of you would be interested, but there is a mail-order source exclusively for cat patterned fabrics. Maybe some of you sew basket liners or other fabric items. It just occurred to me today that you might be interested in the cat fabrics. The address is Blythe Designs, P.O. Box 17506, Seattle, WA 98107. Giselle has over 100 different fabrics featuring cats. She has a fabric swatch service, too; you can contact her if you are interested. Just thought I'd pass this info along. Retayne - I just bought some of this from the local quilt shop, but I haven't used it yet. I know somebody asked if anybody could send them some. I'm truly sorry, but I've forgotten your name. :-( If you want to e-mail my local quilt shop, they also do some mail-order business. They could send some to you. I don't know how much you'd pay for shipping. It might be cheaper if you could find a local quilt shop, but I think you said there weren't any around? Their e-mail address is: quiltersqtrs@lvnworth.com. The 16 oz. bottle was $4.50 at the store. Their web site is: If you would like another source, you could call the following toll-free number and request their catalog; this is the number to Hancock's of Paducah, and they have numerous items available. This would be an inexpensive place to purchase one of the ruled rotary cutting mats that people sometimes use when laying out bases. Call 1-800-845-8723, or e-mail to hanpad@sunsix.infi.net, and they can let you know what they carry. There are also numerous quilt shops online; I just don't know which ones carry Retayne or list it on their web sites. Many probably carry it and don't list it. Just wanted to pass this info along, too, in case it helps. I am not affiliated with any of these companies; I'm just trying to share info. :-) Happy weaving. Diane in Kansas %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WW Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 20:55:36 -0500 From: "Jayna Glemby" To: "David Collins" Hi everyone: Here in New England we are bracing for the storm that hit Oklahoma. Winter is making herself felt more in march than all season! First: To Dolores who wanted to know how we remember names and items to comment on. I print out my WW, and sit and read them over a cup of tea and star the ones I want to comment on. In fact, some of the following may deal with items from several issues back. Kudos Jan Hardt for her efforts in coordinating the recent basket swap!!!!! Welcome to Anne in Sooke and Pat Walworth in TX. Jill Choate I enjoy reading of your escapades with the dog team. Back in Feb. you mentioned "the infamous (SOB) hill" in medical terms SOB stands for Shortness of breath...maybe that actually applies to the hill!!! Char in early March you mentioned Winter Weave and using birch and elm bark. Coming from New England where all our elm trees were wiped out by Dutch Elm trees many years ago, I was surprised to learn you used elm bark. Good to know the trees are still growing elsewhere...they were such beautiful, stately trees. A reminder to Maggie Silva you said you would tell us sometime about bringing reindeer antlers home from Sweden...is it sometime yet??? Jane Wilson, you asked about finding the back issues that discussed an ideal studio. It was sometime around early November. I recall because I had just moved and had the luxury of an extra room to use for basket making! Several people told me of David's wonderful search engine, when I lost my tips on coffee and tea dyes. It works wonderfully....you may want to try it. It's on the bottom of the main page for Weaver's Words. Of course, when I typed in 'coffee' it also brought up any page where someone talked of drinking coffee. (thanks Bert!) Speaking of dye....a few of you asked about using Kool Aid and Easter egg dyes. I recall others saying they work, but you will get a very pale dye. Cats: I have the sweetest tiger...Molly Marie. She's about 4 and was abused . I got her from a shelter when she was 2. She was left there with her kittens, and they all got homes but no wanted an older cat. She was terrified of the other cats and couldn't be integrated into the cats 'living room' and stayed alone for over 6 months. Someone adopted her but brought her back because she was too much of a shy frightened cat. When I heard that story, that did it, I said I would give her a home. The first 2 weeks I had her I knew there was a cat because the food dish kept emptying out & the litter box got filled. She hid. It took patience and forever, but now she is sooooo lovely and follows me everywhere and sits on the windowsill when I weave and chases any clothes pins that go flying. She's petrified of loud voices and noises. It makes me so happy when she sits with me and is content at long last. Needless to say she is no spoiled rotten but I think she deserves to be spoiled. Good for you Pam for your stand at the juried show. I get the Tender Hearts catalog and think you were smart to point those items out. There are devious people everywhere. Jayna in central MA, where it's already starting to snow.....who knows what we will have by morning? %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.