"Weavers Words" Vol. 2 Iss. 99 Date Sent: March 18, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 974 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, To Signify at the IBA Convention that you are a member of the Weaver's Words Family, please attach a Red Ribbon to your nametag. It will be good to connect faces with names. If you would like to meet my mom, Norma Collins, she will be at the raffle table most of the time on Friday and Saturday. Before you meet my mom, I would like to state two things: 1. If she does anything embarrassing, I was adopted at birth! 2. If she does anything impressive, it runs in the family! Some people have inquired about how to add their item to Weaver's Words Classified Page. All you have to do is send me a picture of the item and the following information: 1.) Your full name and e-mail address. 2.) Brief description of the item. 3.) Price of the item (Including Shipping). The address to the Classified's Page is: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/classifieds.html Also there's been a bunch of basket pictures added since last issue. Be sure to check them out. The address is: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/pictures.html Take Care, David %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: I think it is Spring! Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 00:29:02 +0000 From: Tony Stubblefield or Dean Meredith To: David Collins/Weavers Words Hello, It was over 70 today (Tues.) in St. Louis, the sun was out and the sky was beautiful. I have tomorrow off for our big St. Pat's Day parade and I think it is going to be just as nice! Betsy Clark - I was the one who was talking about filling in on a ribbed basket. A number of people have asked me about it (me and my big mouth :-)) so I will put something together and post it on my web site. It may take me a while so please be patient. I may need to take some pictures. Amy from Ohio - I would only worry about wetting hand-pounded ash after it has been woven into a basket. I did that once after I was all the way sides of the basket and boy did I have a mess. I had to take all the weaving out and re-wet the weavers and flatten them out again, kind of looked like crimped hair. I have never dyed any ash but I would think it should take the dye very quickly. Since you only have to slightly dampen it to weave with, bleeding shouldn't be too much of a problem. Carolyn - I had my cat declawed when she was 5 or 6 years old. I did feel guilty at the time, but she was running laps through the house cornering off of furniture and ripping the upholstery with her back claws. I had to make a choice, either she went or the claws went, so I had all four feet done at once. She did pretty well with the anesthesia and was up and around quickly. 6 years later and I still don't regret having it done. Joanne - I don't remember what you asked about routers, but I wanted to add to Chrys' response to you in the last WW. Bits are very expensive if you buy good ones, but they are well worth the extra. Get the ones with a bearing on the end, that way as you move around your piece the bit will roll along the edge and not burn into the wood. Kate - thanks for the complement on my web site and watch for that filling in diagram. Pam Feix (because of my dyslexia you are always going to be Pam Felix in my head, sorry!) - Was it possibly Stephen ZEH you saw at the Ann Arbor festival? He makes hand pounded ash baskets which are quite nice and you are right they are expensive (but he sells them). I have always wanted to go to Ann Arbor, maybe someday. Oh, and thanks for the complements on my web site :-) Everyone wish me luck. I am teaching 2 Nantucket classes this weekend. One on Thursday evening and all day Sunday, making a basic 5" round and one on Saturday, making a 5" shallow basket with cherry handle, rim and base. I am able to do the one-day class because I have shaped all 300 staves needed for the class myself, ugh! I am going to be tired come Sunday night. Until next time, happy weaving, Tony Stubblefield St. Louis, MO http://www.tetranet.net/users/deanandtony/baskets.htm %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 21:47:39 -0600 From: "tthompson" To: Thanks, Bert, for you encouraging words about contributing. Based on my limited knowledge of Ozark styles of white oak baskets, techniques and appearance do seem to be different from what we do. My husband and I have been making a living making baskets for seventeen years, but we have never gotten above Kentucky or west of Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky. I have seen some Ozark baskets and met several folks who used that technique. There probably are some basketmakers out your way that use the same technique we do, just as I knew a couple in Alabama who use the Ozark technique. I have to agree with Pam Feix, Bert. I have this picture of you or at least an idea or feeling of character/personality. Sometimes I feel you are like the matriarch of this group (no insinuation of age intended, but perhaps depth of character and leadership, wiseness, if that's a word, you exude common sense). It would be interesting to meet you to see if you are anything like my thoughts of you. Enough daydreaming. Pam on the panhandle(FL) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: This and that Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 23:03:36 -0600 From: rounds To: davidc@iei.net To all, Thank you so very much for your kindness in answering my question about a clear finish for baskets. I have placed an order via my basketweaving teacher for some Weaver's Stain in clear. (I didn't know she had such a stain in CLEAR) I have learned quite a bit from that one question....such wisdom abounds in these digests! To Joanne Jackson: a point of interest for you..my mom drove a purple Dodge in the 50's...and I drove a (sit down now) purple Gremlin in the 70's. I have a ruby red car now (for my "ruby years" according to my husband). Perhaps when I'm a wee bit older I shall begin to wear purple! Glad to hear someone has their own style! I'm into tea and all things tea so I wear tea pins, tea necklaces, tea watches, tea-shirts, etc. I also drink it, decorate with it, etc. I've made a small basket into a Tea For Two basket and painted the ash strip with small teapots, cups, teabags, and spoons around the basket. I use it when my husband and I travel...I carry two cups and saucers, tea, creamer, sugar, and some biscuits to eat with tea. He loves it when I add that to the car for our trips. Enough about me.... Denise Tulsa, OK %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 98; waxed linen, SV AZ, Nantuckets, oilcloth, retayne, site search tool Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 01:42:09 -0600 From: ROY LEA To: David Collins Amy in OH- I agree with you that the "Simply Round" basket is a good project using waxed linen thread. Great as a thimble basket. Also very portable and great to work on while traveling. Royalwood's site is super because of all those pictures. Joanne in Marshall, MI - Sierra Vista is in the far southeastern corner of AZ. (Just had a funny thought - I'll be going from the Land of Oz to the land of AZ. What a hoot.) It is near Tombstone of Old West fame, 70 miles SE of Tucson. Ft. Huachuca is beside Sierra Vista, which is how we came to know the area. Threw me thefirst time I saw a sign at a McDonald's in a border town that said they accepted pesos. SV is about 30 miles from Mexico; one can see Mexico from the Coronado National Monument about 5 miles S of our house. (Why did I take French as a foreign language instead of Spanish?) Funny to me, although I grew up with the odd Canadian coin sneaking into one's change; can you guess - I grew up in Michigan, near the middle of the mitten, in Ithaca. When we moved to Arizona the first time and I saw cattle in their brown surroundings, I said, "It is supposed to be green where you have cattle." Little did I know. Loved the info about you and your purple. I'll know how to identify you whenever we get to meet! Hope you find a place that suits you in the Sun City area. Tony Stubblefield - Thanks for the info on kits. I would have automatically thought that all kits included instructions, but with the way you mentioned looking for that, I can see I could easily have botched the job of just getting a kit in the first place! I'll see if I can find copies of the books you recommended, too, since I'll enjoy the pictures for reference. And don't worry about being longwinded on my account; I like your explanations. (Did I relate the story here yet about my brother-in-law stating that he has never seen a picture of my sister with her mouth shut - i.e. she's always talking - well, it does seem to run in our family. Grin.) Dolores - The oilcloth you wrote about sounds much easier to transport to classes and store than a rigid mat, probably more economical, too. Since you mentioned picnics, is this the waterproof flannel-backed tablecloth material? What an excellent idea! Pam Feix - You are more than welcome to the info about Retayne. Hope you find what you want at one of the sites. Do let us know if you are handling the next basket swap. I can't wait. Only wish I'd gotten online with WW earlier so that I could have taken part in more of the previous ones. Dearly love the basket from the Conroys and their info regarding Nantucket's. Kathey Ervin Sequim - site search mechanism is on the home page after the links to the different site areas; type in your topic and give it a go. General info/question - I've tried to remember to put everything I've addressed in this post in the subject line, since when I tried to search for posts regarding Retayne to find Pam, I got no hits. Maybe the item has to be mentioned in the subject line? Am I out in left field? Entirely possible, you know. :-) John McGuire - So sorry to hear you injured your hand. I grew up in farm country where accidents with machinery were common, but that doesn't make them any easier to live with. Best wishes on your recovery; I hope you can heal quickly and adapt. Weavers of double walled baskets - loving all your posts, as I have yet to do one of these. Hoping to remember your tips when I do. Better sign off and give someone else a chance to contribute. It would be too funny to have an issue of WW that was just one person's post. ROTFL. Diane in Kansas - one daffodil bloomed today; it was 71 degrees and breezy. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 98 Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 08:47:58 -0500 From: SUSAN A REED-FANFONI To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Greetings from the Shenandoah Valley. We just got 10" of snow on Monday and today (Wednesday) it is in the 70's. Crazy weather this week! I am writing in response to Dawn in Greenville about painting her pig basket using the acrylic paint. I paint a lot of the baskets that I design such as the snowman, bunny, etc. I dilute the paint to a wash consistency and apply it to the basket using a sponge brush (poly brush). By making it a wash, then the "paint finish" doesn't crack as bad when it dries. I also "paint wash" individual strips (reed and maple, etc) to weave in a basket when I am looking for a particular color. The color shows up fine when I over dye the basket. I use Weaver's Stain for the best finish. How heartbreaking to hear about John McGuire's accident. So difficult when your hands are your livelihood. I am working like a mad woman trying to get ready for the NC Convention. Come visit my booth when you are in the vendor's area, I would love to meet you all. Hope everyone is healthy and warm, Susan Reed-Fanfoni :) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 98 Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 08:48:19 -0500 From: Pamela Woodbury To: David Collins References: 1 Hi, Thanks to all of you who answered my e-bay question, I have since gone on and seen pictures. Guess it was that the couple I tried to look at didn't have pictures or that I didn't go far enough to see a picture. That is really terrible news about John McGuire. As many of you know a couple of years ago cutting wood bases for me my husband cut a finger on his left hand. He is right handed thank goodness. That finger hurt him forever. I certainly hope this will not end John McGuires basketry career as he is one of the best. Pam %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits and Pieces Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 09:30:34, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net Kathy?-I too am trying to write and read at the same time. I know I can do it on my husbands email but never thought to try it here. Am spending more time on his address anyway as it is unlimited and that's where I do ebay. Am planning to drop Prodigy fairly soon and combine with him but we are supposed to be getting the new server in this area throughout the cable that you don't have to have a phone line so am waiting for that. Only thing I hate is having to change addresses as I have had the same since day one. Think there has been some confusion about the seagrass baskets. Although seagrass baskets are made in Maine and elsewhere I assumed (yes I know better) that she was talking about the type made by the gullah women of Charleston since she was talking about the Carolina's. They are made with palmetto strips as the "lashing" material and are woven with the same technique that the slaves brought with them from Africa. They are mostly coiled. Mary Jackson is one of the best known of these weavers and some of her prices make Nantucket's look like Kmart. However they are exquisite. I actually have two of hers that I bought many years ago. They were probably the first expensive baskets I bought. I use one for my potatoes in the kitchen and everyone cringes when they see it but they were made as functional pieces. Yes, I had noticed the new Nant. on ebay and thought something must be up as the prices are way too low. At least for one I'd make. Not to be picky (never) but all baskets are hand woven regardless of where they are made. Those folks are just willing to work for a lot less than we do. I agree with Tony about buying a kit for your first Nantucket. It really gets expensive to buy all that cane if you just need enough for one basket. Some suppliers also will rent molds and that's not a bad deal. Right off hand I think G. H. does and many others as well. Whoever mentioned the Arawjo's-our guild was fortunate to have them teach their fishing creel purse several years back. They are great teachers. You should see their jewelry basket. It is custom designed and has lots of little Nant. perfectly fitted inside a big one. When I win the lottery. Enough for now. Am glad everyone is remembering to sign their name and really like the weather report to go with it. I think it helps emphasize how scattered we are. Billie in Va. Beach where the sun is shining. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weavers Words Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 08:50:21 -0600 (CST) From: Kathryn M Gomm To: David Collins Hi everyone - As a self-admitted lurker, I want to take a moment and de-lurk. We've got a great forum here. I think that as long as it stays the way it is, with everyone discussing baskets and basketry, it will remain a great list. Thanks to Kathey Ervin on her comment about my basket, and thanks to Joy for the picture. The willow in that basket was all purchased willow, but I do grow some of my own (not enough though). Willow is an amazing plant. I had some of my cultured willow reach 11 feet last year - in one growing season. Another variety did horrible, and it's the variety of choice in England! Go figure! The tip I have about willow planting is that you don't want to plant a willow start that has any damage to the bark. The willow growers in England indicated that this would allow disease to get into the plant and stunt or kill the start. When to cut - I have been leaving my willow uncut through the winter and cutting it in the spring, prior to budding. That way I don't have to worry about cutting it on a slant! ;v) Whatever time works best for you, as long as it is in the leaf-drop timeframe, is the best time to cut. Keep the good tips coming! Kathryn Gomm Milwaukee, WI %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Teaching(learning) experiences Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 07:31:54 -0800 (PST) From: Carol Miller To: davidc@iei.net Hi David and all David does your mother not use the computer? (Smart woman!) Kate C. - Your experience teach touched me, so similar to mine. I had been weaving for about 8 years at the time. I have taught my children (3 boys)to weave but the size of the group I believe is were my problems came from. Anyone else with teaching experiences to share? I don't know about everyone else but I get quite a kick out of some of the thing that happen in those situation , even when it has happened to me.( and I've had time to think about it.) Happy weaving, Carol in Montana where it looks like the beginnings of a beautiful day! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Cutting Willow Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 10:23:28 -0600 From: Jacalyn Bedworth To: "Weaver's Words" Just got back from another wonderful apprenticeship session with Joanna Schanz in the Amana Colony. The weather there is quite a bit milder there than here in Minnesota, so Joanna and Jo Campbell-Amsler over in Monticello, Iowa have been rushing to get their willow cut and stored away. Both of them reminded me that NOW is the time to harvest, its almost too late once the buds start to swell. If its too early to plant in your area, simply make your cuttings from what you harvested and store them (wrapped) in the refrigerator until you can get them in the ground. Another tip Joanna and I learned when we were in Europe last fall: cut the willows as close to the ground as possible. A grower we visited (DeVoss in Belgium) does this and he has some of the straightest, most elegant withies I have ever seen or used. He said cutting off at the ground forces the willow to form buds underground, resulting in a larger (although hidden) "stool" and therefore more and straighter rods. Weave on, willow women! Jacki, in wild, windy, though mild, downtown St. Paul %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 12:45:54 -0500 From: bscott@ma.ultranet.com (Beverly Scott) To: davidc@iei.net Dear David; I bet your mother was thrilled to read your "warning" to anyone who meets her at convention! Kathy Ervin - David's page has a search feature that I have used many times either to find a name, pattern/method, or topic. It gives you a list of WWs in which your topic appears and you can open each one and then do a "find" (mine is in my edit menu) to locate your topic within that WW. Let me know if this is not as clear as it seems to me and I'll try to explain it better. Tony Stubblefield - I just got a look at your web page last night and the baskets, both your collection and your construction, are beautiful! Your page makes me realize how much I still have to learn as well as how much better my weaving could be. Thank you for putting all the pictures on the web site. I especially liked your short description of the individual baskets or some technique used. Well, back to clearing snow, Bev Scott, MA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Swap Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 10:28:42 -0800 From: "Mike Bajczyk" To: CC: Now that I've caught up on the last few weaver's words......many inquiries as to another basket swap....I would be happy to organize the next one. How about a consensus as to when you would like to see it "happen". Jan, Gail, or Joy: Could you please send or email me your guidelines, tips, advise......Thank you, very much!!! Sue Bajczyk Hibbing, MN %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WEavers Words Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 14:45:42 -0500 From: Dolores Gatz Organization: Eastern Suffolk BOCES To: "'David Collins'" I was so please to get email from some of you that were interested it the WABG classes that we have going on over the year. If anyone, else is interested just let me know. The classes are held between to places Croton Point Nature Center, Croton on Hudson, NY and Newtown, CT. Lesley - I just finished typed up the information and will be emailing it out the same time I send this out. I hope it works okay. I happen to have a job that I work in various rooms and on various types of machines. This machine only happens to have Word Pad on it. Boy, do you get spoiled fast when you have all the MSWord; WP, Publisher, Works and then have to go back to plan word pad. I keep waiting for words to capitalize themselves, spell check to correct my spelling. There's no type-o's; I don't make type-o's. First, let me say, I've found basket people to be super. But! one basket person was not. A couple of years ago, while at Stowe there was a teacher whom came as a participant, not a teacher. She was selling some stuff at the Student Market Place on Friday night. She had some neat Mitzuki balls and baskets she was selling and patterns. Well, there was some stuff that she was out of so Judy Flanders and myself ordered the stuff from her and paid her up front. To this date, we have not gotten the stuff we ordered from her. Now, I don't want to be accused of flaming, so I won't mention her name. I have seen her name mentioned in weavers' words by some of her students. And they have always raved about how good she is. (It always made me sick to read this part.) She lives in Texas and that's the only hints I can give to whom she is. I don't believe our not receiving our merchandise as an oversight, because we both wrote her many times to remind her. I personally wrote her every week for a couple of months. She finally got email and I even emailed her a couple of times too. We were ignored. Not a word from the person, so she knows she did wrong. I know it in my heart that this was intentional. We've finally come to the disappointed solution that there is nothing we can do. For one thing, I will never have anything good to say about her and I do mention her name when I talk of her in person to anyone. I will never purchase from her and never purchase any of her patterns from anyone else. She made her profit from me and will never see a sent of my money again. I was sooooo disappointed. She was my first and only screwing by a fellow basket person. So many other goooood baskets people that I've ordered from always we good. I mean many of them, I've ordered from over the phone or email and they've sent the stuff right out to me with the bill enclosed. And I then immediately sent them the check. Well off that subject and on to happier ones. For the person about the sweetgrass baskets. Go down Route 17 to Mt Pleasant, South Carolina. It's not too far from Charleston. All along Route 17 there are stands of Sw eetgrass baskets one after another. You really have to shop around. The prices vary so much. I had a good time hitting one after another. I found one lady that dyed her sweetgrass so the baskets were in pastels. I understand that after to Christmas holidays they close down for a couple of months. I think they start opening back up in March to start catching those snowbirds that went to spend the winter in Florida. Does anyone know when the next basket swap start. I'd like to get in on the next one. If in the future a coordinator were needed I'd be willing to give it a try. Everyone deserves a round of applause for all the wonderful baskets that you've woven for the past swaps. Well, its time to run I have to more on to another room and another machine. Maybe, I'll get to spell check this before I send it out. The snow is melting and the flowers are blooming. So am I. Spring if my season. Dolores %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 98 Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 15:41:03 -0500 From: "Donna" To: "David Collins" Hi Dawn - welcome. Personally I don't see why the acrylic paint won't work out just fine for you. Experiment on some scraps first to determine if you want to color the reed before weaving or the entire basket when done. The only possible problem I see is that by painting afterward, it may have a very "hard" look about it. Since acrylics are waterbased, you could wet a sponge, dip in paint (thin if necessary) and just draw each strand through the sponge. Let it dry to "set" the color, and then just moisten to weave. Please let us know which direction you take and how it turned out. Donna L. in finally getting warm, PA http://www.countryseat.com Check out our new online searchable catalog with shopping cart ctryseat@fast.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weavers Words Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 16:00:06 PST From: "Alice Edwards" To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everybody, Hello, hope all is going well for everyone. I am hopelessly behind so will send a quick note with what I remember and send more later if I missed something. If something remains unanswered hope they ask again and give me another chance. I have been enjoying all the discussion and getting so many issues. Though realistically I know that in busy seasons and convention times, they will slack off. Ruth - It suddenly occurred to me that in discussing stains and odors, I am not sure anyone mentioned the various tea, or tea and coffee stains. You might experiment with various concentrations and scrap reed. I would suggest using the 'search' box that David added to the weavers words website. I used it to look something up the other day and it worked well and seemed quick and easy to do simple searches. Also, you might check into some of the 'wood' color dyes. I haven't used them myself yet, but know there are several available. You just buy walnut or oak, instead of Navy or Dark Green. I bought some oak, but it is at home and I am at work so don't even remember the brand. To the weaver with the allergy to the reed treatment and latex both. You might want to check with a drugstore about getting non-latex gloves. It might need a store that was only a drugstore and medical supplies outlet. There is one close to our hospital and doctors office. I know they have special gloves available for medical personnel and patients who have latex allergies. Think I must have seen them when I was in the hospital last year. They would probably cost a bit more, but it would provide you with an option for when you wanted to use it. I haven't used Easter egg dye, but did play around with Kool-Aid. I found some of it worked okay for light pastels for the smaller reed such as #2 RR or 1/4" flat. But was not as satisfactory for 1/2" flat. What I did a while back when I wanted a variety of colors was order several bundles of #3 RR and 1/4" flat in the mixed colors. Several suppliers do the bundles in various color mixes. Gave me a nice variety without lots of dye work myself. It does cost more, but so does my time. And if I make the basket to sell, this gives me a way to quantify the cost of color. Happy Weaving from Alice Edwards in the damp Kansas City Area %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: dyed ash and other stuff Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 11:11:44 -0600 From: pphawkins@juno.com To: davidc@iei.net To Amy---who asked about dyeing ash the size I have in my Twill Baby kits----I'm not sure if you got my separate message, but I dye the ash basically the same way as reed. Bring water and dye to a boil, and then put the ash in with the water at a "simmering" level. It takes very little time for the ash to absorb the dye, so watch carefully. Yes, the ash will swell when wet, but it doesn't damage the ash at all. When you rinse it well and allow to dry, all you need to do is wet it quickly (dunk in and out of the water) when you're ready to weave with it. About the space-dyeing, just loosely coil the ash and submerge about a third of the coil in one color of dye. When that color has "taken," take the coil out and dip another third of the coil in a different color, allowing the colors to overlap a bit. Continue until the whole coil is dyed. Generally 3 colors makes a nice combination, but lately I've dyed the ash using as many as 5 colors---it's so much fun to play with! I appreciate the many nice comments in WW lately about my Twill Babies. One of my favorite things about them is that they are so portable. I have woven them in the car, on a plane, on the bleachers at a ball game, wherever! It's nice to not have to haul so much stuff around with me to weave----as I had to do the time I worked on a bassinet for my nephew at my kids' ball park! Now THAT took a lot of space and a lot of stuff! I don't contribute to WW as much as I'd like since I'm on the road so much--have taught the last 3 weekends and am now getting ready to go to NC. Between all that and my kids, I stay busy! I'd love those of you going to the NCBA convention to look me up there---it's always great to meet more basketmakers! Patti Hawkins %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weavers Words Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 22:06:47 -0500 From: "Marilyn E. Miller" To: davidc@iei.net I wanted to pass along awareness of an exhibit on Japanese bamboo baskets and an article a friend recently passed along to me. The article appeared in the Sunday New York Times, on February 21, 1999 on p.49 of the "Art/Architecture" section. It is entitled "Japanese Rarities That Even the Japanese Seldom See." The exhibit is on view through May 30th at the Asia Society in Manhattan: "Bamboo Masterworks: Japanese Baskets from the Lloyd Cotsen Collection." The baskets on exhibit are from his collection of some 900 sculptured bamboo baskets. Anyone will find this article interesting, and I'm sure for those who may be able to see this exhibit it is quite something! Marilyn Miller Lawrenceville, GA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 08:22:42 -0500 From: "joym" To: I'd like to clarify my post about the mass produced Nantucket's listed on ebay, as it may have been misleading. I was NOT saying that these baskets have oak or hickory staves. As a matter of fact, the direct question of what the staves are made of was avoided, as was my inquiry as to whether they are U.S. made. My impression was that at least part of the baskets are made overseas. They are definitely made by several individuals, piecemeal. JOY Moody Sign of the Crow http://www. baskets@signofthecrow.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 98 Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 12:19:10 -0500 From: Nancy Hedberg To: David Collins References: 1 I've been lurking for the last 6 months. I've really enjoyed the conversation about Nantucket's. It's interesting to hear all the different opinions about rims. I always peen mine with a small anvil and a ball peen hammer. I have several different hammers of different sizes. I'll use a small one for a small basket and the larger ones for the larger baskets. I usually attach the rim with a size 56-wire gage escutcheon pin. I use a larger one for the handle attachment. I also use a belt sander to taper the ends of the rims, though I usually scarf them by hand first and just use the belt sander to smooth it. It takes a bit of practice to use the sander and not take off too much or too little, or even too far up the rim. I like to get the rim on and not be able to find the joint easily. Sometimes I'm more successful than others. I'm sending a picture of the 18" rectangular picnic basket that I spent so much time on last summer. It has a purple heart base, rim, and handle. I was really pleased with the result. Keep up the good work you do for us, David. What a gift you give us! Nancy in sunny and warm (70's today, finally) Jonesborough, TN %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 17:01:28 -0500 From: Jeff J Braunscheidel To: davidc@iei.net DIANE from SE MI -- Thank you for answering my questions so promptly. I don't know many weavers from my area. I live in Ann Arbor and would be interested in talking or maybe getting together to talk. Please e-mail me if your not too far away and like my idea. JAYNA--Thanks for the dye recipes, as soon as it is warm and I have some free time I plan on giving them a try. NEWSLETTER THOUGHTS -- I am recently new to WW and I agree sometimes they are VERY lengthy!!! I don't know any of you and sometimes I get tired of weeding though all the personal stuff to get to the good basket helps and info. Is there someway to mark the basket tips, helps, etc? Maybe make them bold or in caps? This computer stuff is still kind of foreign to me. Someone who is more computer literate may have some better ideas. Just a thought. WINTER WEAVE 2000 -- I would like to get further information about it, when available. The 1999 weave got such great reviews here on WW! Could I get on the mailing list or e-mail list?? Please Thank you in advance. Tammy from SE MI clueless1013@ juno.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 2 I. 98 Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 17:03:50 EST From: DeeGrin@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net David and fellow weavers I'm having a hard time keeping up with all these weaver's words between visits with the granddaughters. I was so upset to hear of John McGuire's accident. It just happened last week during the snow storm. I just talked to him on the phone a few minutes ago and he said I could share his e- mail address, hope I have it right. basketman@linnet.com I know it will help him to know our prayers and thoughts are with him during this difficult time. He is one of the greatest as far as I'm concerned. I have never had the opportunity to take a live class from him, but through his marvelous detail in his books and video I have been able to achieve working miniatures in brown ash and love working with it and also have completed my first basket with a carved handle from a white ash log from watching his video. Just wanted to take time to share this with all of you. Have really been enjoying all the issues, especially Dot, I think it was you who shared how you do wooden bases. Thanks for sharing and all the others. What great group. See some of you next week with my red ribbon in N.C. Naomi, in San Antonio, send me your phone number by e-mail and maybe we can get together for the April meeting of the Tampa Bay Weavers. Would love to meet you. Dee in Fl. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: (no subject) Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 10:22:05 +1100 From: Anna Lizotte To: "Collins, David" hi everyone, Kathey Ervin--I'm sure you will get lots of answers to your question but just in case this is one of those times when everyone thinks someone else will answer...although I haven't used it, David has a search feature on the site where you can go back and search the back issues. Hope you find what you are looking for. By the way, I just looked at your photos and the site...your baskets are beautiful!!!!!! Chrys--we don't keep our goats for milk or meat...just as weed eaters. We have 5.6 acres and the goats eat the blackberries and bracken fern and other weeds and the cows keep the grass down in the paddocks. Blackberries are a noxious weed here...hard to believe the blanket of vines that covers tassie started with 6 cuttings brought over by the English....our winters are not harsh enough to kill them back in the winter. The vines make beautiful baskets but preparing them is a lot of work. I use leather gloves and an electrician's wirestripper to strip the thorns off but I don't use them too often...there are too many easier options! Tony--Thanks for your reply. I didn't intend to imply that you were keeping secrets! :-) Like you, I think techniques should be passed on...I'll keep an eye out on your website. And by the way, I for one don't think your posts are too long. They are always so informative and well worth reading every word. Kate--I have forgotten my RI geography...I know I have been to Exeter but how far is it from Little Compton? Not that anywhere in RI could be "too far" from anywhere else in RI! Maggie--thanks for the invite! Well, better go. My craft group meets at my house this afternoon and I must get some housework done so I can go weaving tomorrow with a clear conscience! Tomorrow is our group's day at the hop farm! Weave, weave, weave!!! I am planning to make a basket for our dog. Poor thing, she has grown so much the only thing that fits in her current basket is her butt and tail! I tried to get her to use a bigger basket that I have but she didn't like it because it doesn't have a hood. She dragged the blanket out and put it back in the old basket. What I do is make a melon basket frame but set the rim ring low on the handle ring. Then I just weave from one rim, up past the other rim to the handle, thereby closing in 3 of the "quarters" formed by the two rings. She just loves snuggling in under the "hood" formed. So with any luck, I'll get a new one done for her tomorrow. The hop vines work up really quickly. Anna in Tassie where it is cloudy and cool today. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bases again Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 18:53:16 -0500 From: gatsby@larck.net To: davidc@iei.net When I wrote in about how to make wooden bases, I was talking about ones that would be used for reed baskets, not Nantucket's - at least I don't think they will work for those also. Hope I didn't mislead anyone. Betsy - I live in Vassalboro, between Augusta and Waterville. It's a wide place in the road with one General Store. Small town America and wonderful. Pam F.- I get the paper for business cards at Staples. It comes with perforations and colorful borders(if you want). They aren't very expensive and you can print your own using your PC. I haven't tried it but one of my students assures me that it is easy. I have him fooled that I'm computer literate. Thanks for all the thoughts during the last storm. It was just a typical snow storm. We dug out and continued on with life. Spring is on the way. It was 50 degrees after the storm. We'll take it. Dot in Maine %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 19:26:18 -0500 From: "Patricia Steinmetz" To: David Collins Greetings from the crossroads of America, David, So you told us were to find your mother at the IBA convention, where are you going to be? You know, Connie and I could come by and pick you up on Friday and you could spend Friday afternoon in the raffle room with the rest of use worker bees. What do you say fellow weavers, wouldn't you like to meet the person that puts us all together. Drop David a line and let him know how much you would like to meet him. Let's see if we can get David to come to convention for a few hours. (Boy am I going to be in trouble for this one.) If David suspends me from WW, its been nice knowing all of you. Love you David. Joanne in Marshall, There was a lady that lived in Evansville, Indiana who had a purple house and car. When she passed away and the house sold, the new owners kept it the same color because it was such a landmark in the town. By the way, on our many trips from Indy to Ypsi, we always stop in Marshall at Schuellers (sp?) for a meal. Love there seafood chowder in the bread bowl that they serve in the bar. Nora in Colorado, I really enjoyed you bio. It is nice to read a little person info from new people. Kind of makes one feel connected. I had several other comments I wanted to make but can't find my notes. Besides my notes, I think I may have misplaced my brain. One other thing I wanted to share. Last Friday night found me at an indoor track meet, listening to a basketball game on my walkman and reading WW in between watching my son's track events. Had to leave the track meet early so that I could get home a take a nap before going to work at 3AM. I have got to find a way to simplify my life. Can't give up baskets, can't give up my son, can't give up my job, don't want to give up basketball. Has anyone out there found a way to squeeze more hours out of a day. Help! I can't wait 'til next week when I can spend three days thinking about nothing but baskets at IBA. Hope the see some of you there. I'll be wearing my red ribbon, if I can find one. What do you say David, are we going to see you at IBA? Pat, in Indy where we have had sunshine for two days straight. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.