"Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 05 Date Sent: May 19, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 1035 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. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Hi Everyone, I would like to thank everyone who has purchased books through Weaver's Words Book Store. Now you can save 50% on all the New York Times Best Sellers. The address is: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/book.html Take Care, David %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 20:55:18 PDT From: "Jennifer Forsyth" To: davidc@iei.net Robbie from Wilson: I have used water-based stain before and found it easy to use and definitely easy to clean up. My only concerns regarding water-based stains is that it seems to make the basket very dry. They make a cracking noise and they appear dry on the outside. One thing I tried was after the stain had dried I put on a light coat of boiled linseed oil. That's my input, maybe others will share their input and experience. Also, to the person who wrote in about Wood n' Baskets and their experience with them I would just like to say that I have ordered from them quite a bit and have had good luck. I have never had to send any reed back, but I do understand the need for a no return policy on open coils of reed. In my experience I have learned that as customers and business owners it is necessary to put things in perspective. As you said it was one coil of reed (5.50). You could have easily let it go and they could have easily let it go. This is a two way street. You have to decide what is really important to you. Well enough for now. Getting ready for a trip to Florida. Talk to you all soon. Jenn in North, Central Massachusetts %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 04 Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 07:55:58 -0700 From: Naomi Paquette To: David Collins References: 1 Hi David, Just a short line on WW, I was at my guild meeting and there were a couple of weavers there who are new to WW and are being pushed away with all the bickering along with the rest of us who don't like it. Thank you for your comments in the last WW. Maybe it will stop now. Someone in Mount Vernon WA can be looking for their package next week. Hope you like it. Pamela Woodberry I tried to print the "stain tip" page and it wouldn't print for me either, David is that the way it is suppose to be???? Someone wrote that they purchased a Hilary Burns Willow book do you have a place to purchase it??? I think I've found a willow patch right here in our community and if so I'll be a happy weaver. I have to get my clippers and go to the patch. Naomi in sunny DRY Florida, the rain sticks aren't working. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: re: wrong item shipped Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 12:22:43 -0400 From: "Angie Longenecker" To: "David" Hi all! Allison Britton - If The Country Seat ever shipped you something that is our error (such as the mismarked reed that you mentioned) we would replace the item at no charge shipping. It is your choice if you want to return the wrong item (in that case you would be refunded the cost of the item and the cost of the shipping to return the item) or keep the wrong item (you would be charged the cost of the item and there would be no shipping charges for the replacement). We hope each order that is sent out is perfect, but mistakes happen. Hopefully your orders from us will be mistake free.:) If you have any questions, drop us an e-mail. Angie The Country Seat http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: weave a bike basket Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 12:48:53 -0400 From: "Angie Longenecker" To: "David" Hi all! Gail Caron - very well said. We do have the lowest gas prices. When in Australia - it usually costs at least $30 - 40 to fill up the gas tank, in many countries the gas prices are much higher than here. Hey Anna in Tassie - what's the price per gallon over there now? Very few people walk to the store anymore - it's like you said - 5 little trips here and there. In many European countries, people ride their bikes to the store and put their groceries in the BASKET on their bike. Why don't we as basketmakers try to encourage that over here in the US? Why not weave saddle bag baskets or baskets to hang from the handle bars of bikes?! People will ask you "what is this for" then you can tell them how a bike basket could improve their life. Think how healthy people would be if they used a bike more! Please don't jump down my throat if you live miles away from any stores - I do too. I understand that a bicycle can't be used for every trip. But think how much nicer the world would be if cars on the road were cut in 1/2! Angie in PA were we have the toughest part of the Appalachian trail in the whole 2,000 some miles from GA to ME! But what a great hike it was! 7 miles on Sat and 15 on Sunday over rock and boulder fields and some beautiful rock free sections! Met a through hiker who averages 23 miles a day! I'll have to work up to that. The Country Seat http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits and Pieces Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 13:28:21, -0500 From: BDKE97B@prodigy.com (MRS BILLIE A DORRIS) To: davidc@iei.net Well folks survived the first show of the season and survived is the correct word for it. It was in a lovely park in Norfolk, Va. and is always a pleasure to do because of the surroundings. Not this time however-we had a charming Nor'easter park on top of us for 2 days. Sat. was terrible with rain and winds over 30 mph and cold to go with it. Surprisingly we had some customers mostly those who live in the area and could walk over when the rain eased for a bit. Yesterday started miserable but finally changed and the sun came out. I have about decided I'm getting too old for this stuff. But did have an interesting experience. Two elderly gentlemen came by and looked in the morn and we talked a bit. Later one returned and said his "father" was following along because he was much older. I thought to myself if he's old enough to be your father then he wouldn't be walking at all. Any way he finally arrived and they discussed which miniature he was going to buy. Decided and while I was writing it up one of them said" I bet when you do some of these you need us around to give you absolution" I almost fell on the floor. It turns out that they were retired ministers of some sort (catholic I suspect because of absolution) but they were so cute and I thought it a riot that they realized that at times (with the mini's in particular) my language would be such that I would need forgiving. I was checking the credit card number to make sure my machine had gotten the numbers right as they sometimes aren't readable and he told me to look through the window on the credit card at the number. He said it was a magnifying glass for old folks like him. The card (I think it was Chase) had a small clear strip on it that magnified things. I thought it was a great idea and had never seen one like it before. Anyway they are the type of customer that it's a pleasure to do business with. I think everyone in the section of the country must have seen the Antique Roadshow with the miniature egg basket that is worth? over $5000. I told them I thought it was a bit overpriced. The other thing I get often is that are my baskets of pine straw as they look like the ones made in Charleston?? Shows just how little the average public knows about baskets because I have a hard time visualizing that coiled sweetgrass resembles Nantucket's. One tip before I go. Can't remember if I've given it before but. Save the orange plastic bottles your prescriptions come in they make perfect rim molds for the mini's. That reminds me-yesterday I was discussing the mini's (ash) with a customer and said something about finding clothes pins that would hold them well (I know about the copper clamps from radio shack but they don't always work when the rim is rounded) anyway he suggestion I use suture clamps? said he thought they would work fine. He obviously was a medic of some type-any of you out there know what he was talking about? Of course he didn't tell me where to find them and doubt if most of us have access to that type of medical supply catalog. I'm game for trying anything that might work. Enough for now. Billie in Va. Beach where the sun is finally shining but still cool in the middle of May %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: aloha Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 09:07:14 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha from really wet Honolulu, Robbie--I use oil based stains on my baskets, but I*m curious about a water based stain. I used, when I began weaving, walnut hulls (my cousin in West Virginia used to gather them, run them over with her truck (to get the nuts out) and ship them to Hawaii--and we weren*t sure if they should have been passed through customs or not) because I didn*t know of any other way to do it, but I noticed that my baskets would "spot" if a drop of water got on them (the same with the tea/coffee stain). Would this happen if I used a water based stain also? I don*t (and never have) put a sealer of any sort on my baskets. One of our guild members used to seal her baskets and when I got one in a basket swap, the slightest touch would create cracking noises. Re: getting mis-marked reed (the 7/8" marked as 3/4")--when I began weaving on my own (no longer taking classes), I found a source and ordered some reed. Along with my order came a rather sharp letter from the business owner saying he had no control over the size nor the shape of the reed he sent and he would not take it back nor exchange it regardless. He also charged a "re-shelving fee" for handles, etc. that were not the right size. I decided there had to be better business to do business with (and there are!). What would I have done with the 7/8" flat? Tossed it in a drawer for future use (I have a friend who developed a neat market basket made from 7/8" flat in case you are interested in the instructions--she won*t mind) and ordered some more 3/4", letting the company know what had happened (maybe they didn*t know there was a problem). And kind thoughts will be with you during your baby*s surgery. We are having great weaving weather...it has been raining so hard (there were 15 accidents yesterday evening) I don*t want to leave the house! Oh, if you are a painter (tole, folk, etc.) there is a neat site available. This site allows you to check out pages of painting books before you buy them (like actually seeing a basket pattern before you buy it!) It is http://www.ArtistsClub.com Aloha, Lois %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: pricing baskets Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 12:49:41 PDT From: "ms. ann" To: davidc@iei.net Hi, All!! Just some info about pricing your baskets for sale. A couple of years ago at IBA, I purchased a neat little book, THE WEAVER'S FRIENDLY HANDBOOK FOR PRICING AND SELLING HANDMADE BASKETS. It is written by Grace and Forrest Davis. It was published by Simple Things, Rt. 1 Box 196W, Bunnell, Florida, 32110. The copyright date is 1997 so I don't know if it is still available. It has some wonderful info and has worksheets to help you figure the price for a basket. Hope this helps anybody who might be interested. Happy weaving!! Ann %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 04 Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 18:42:11 -0400 From: "Donna" To: "David Collins" Gail Caron - Couldn't agree with you more -on ALL points. Most people have it way too convenient. When your nearest supermarket is 13 miles, and those 13 miles take 30 minutes to drive due to road conditions, you learn to schedule and/or do without. We make a trip to "town" (if you can call it that) once a week with lists in hand. Forget about the nearest mall - that's 35 miles and a horrendous trip due to road construction right now. I always keep a running list of things needed so when I get to an area with stores I can pick things up. Believe me, I'm not complaining as I choose to live where I do. I used to get a kick out of my neighbor where we lived before - she would run to the bank - come home; run to the grocery - come home; then maybe the garden center, etc. etc. I guess she just had too much time on her hands. I have never had enough hours in a day, so when I go out, it's a marathon to see how much I can accomplish in how little time. Carolyn - Re Longabergers - They recently held a benefit in this area and called us to solicit a donation - cash only - so that they could go out and buy them. After recovering my composure - HA! - I asked them if they knew what we did here - No, of course not. I offered to donate a basket to their cause, but they declined as they only wanted Longabergers. They claimed to have made $17,000 on ticket sales to 425 people - that comes to $40 a head and you can bet not everyone went home with a basket. 425 people could come to my store and drop $40 a piece and all go home with baskets! Donna in beautiful, sunny PA http://www.countryseat.com ctryseat@fast.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: jealousy Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 22:51:40 -0000 From: "Jones Family" To: "David Collins" Hey fellow weavers & Louie! I'm so jealous that you will see Star Wars long before we even get it on our schedule- here on this tiny island! I've been on leave for a month and after reviewing a few WW's I deleted the rest in the mailbox. I'm sorry to see and read so much "stuff". Let's see- who was it that enjoys a good cup of tea? I know Louie does. Was that Jayna in Mass who also sits back, relaxes with a cup of tea and reflects on basketweaving? I think we need a cup of tea and a challenging pattern to set our minds on- Forget the "stuff" and think reed. Darleena in the Azores %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: [Fwd: Weavers Words V. 31. 04] Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 21:06:29 -0700 From: "Larry T. Boitnott" Organization: Larry T. Boitnott To: davidc@iei.net Hello everyone, I just finished skimming the last issue and have a few comments to make. Robbie - When I do weave reed baskets I use a water based stain. The brand name is Devoe. I purchase it by the quart and have it made up to order. This stain has to be mixed. I request that the formula for walnut be mixed using 1/2 the strength. When using this stain, I generally mix it up per basket, adding water until it is the color that I want. The excess stain can be saved to use again. I just add more stain and water the next time. I water it down enough so that it does not cake on the basket and the order is all gone within a day or two. Anna, I just finished mulching my oldest willow patch and laying down the soaker hoses. The new growth isn't even knee high and you are cutting yours. Hard to remember the change of seasons around the world. I am looking forward to a summer of walking through the patch and you are thinking about making baskets. Take care everyone and I wish peace filled days to all, Sue Ann in Weidman, Michigan %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: 18 May 99 00:31:22 CDT From: Marty Zielke To: David Collins Well, I knew it was too good to be true. For the first time in a long time, Vol. 3 came and for the most part, it was related to basketry. No sniping, no complaining. What a treat. Then comes Vol. 4. Despite David's admonition, all 1000+ readers were treated to a diatrabe by someone who thinks it was necessary to go on a personal vendetta against a vendor. Why, oh why, do people think that they must let all of us know what their personal problems are with a vendor or another person. If you have a problem, resolve it with that person or vendor, and please spare the rest of us. There are always two sides to a story, and many happy customers, or these people wouldn't still be in business. Do the vendors get on here and gripe about all of their rotten customers???????? People are dying like flies in Kosovo, and we get to read for a half a page, how someone's reed was 1/8 of an inch too large. For heaven's sake, let's get back to basketry on WW's. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Thank You Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 23:49:32 -0800 From: "moonweaver" To: davidc@iei.net Hi Fellow Weavers, Just thought I'd drop a quick note and thank all of you who answered my questions in regard to original work and price on the birch bark basket. I forget who asked, so sorry, about the birch being large pieces or pieced togeather - they are large pieces - I have been very blessed. Hope all of you are well and happily weaving. Chrys MoonWeaver Basketry http://people.goplay.com/moonweaver %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 01 Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 12:46:09 -0500 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 01 Kristin from Midland MI - Unfortunately, something else came up and I haven't been able to get back to the honeysuckle yet. I hope to get it boiled later this week though, and will report on how it turns out. If it doesn't work, I'll have to go collect some more & will boil the next batch while it's fresh. I have a friend who has oodles of it, so that's one natural material I can always get more of. Chrys - If anything, the price you asked about for your big birch basket is low. Have you looked at what it costs to buy birch bark? And if your basket is woven of birch bark strips, it has a lot of bark in it! Jackie - Rit dyed reed will run less if it has been allowed to dry after dyeing. I add extra salt to the dyepot to help set the dye. When weaving with Rit dyed reed, I soak it in a separate container from the undyed reed. Then I wipe each piece with an old towel before weaving it into the basket. Mary Hooper - My latest glue discovery is Elmer's siliconized acrylic latex 'Squeez-N-Caulk'. It holds well and dries clear and flexible. Also shiny. But any that gets where you don't want it can be scraped off with a pen knife. Lynn B. Gammon - Welcome to Weaver's Words. Thanks for writing in to clarify that misunderstanding. I hope the two of you are able to reach a mutually agreeable conclusion. Kay Harradine (Ames) - Hope you're feeling much better by the time you come to Kansas City! Those respiratory bugs seem to hang on an awfully long time. Lois - Going to Molokai to teach a class sounds like a great adventure! Have you scheduled that trip? I'll be waiting for your report when you get around to doing it. Your backpack sounds great. I like the sound of that bottom configuration. I'd think it would be worth it to get leather straps. I don't know about their availability in Hawaii, but we have a good place for leather supplies here. It isn't difficult to attach whatever kind of buckles you want it to have. An inexpensive alternative would be to shop your local thrift stores for a couple of leather belts and then adjust them to fit the basket. Or you might try heavier woven webbing - like military belts are made of. That should be available at a military surplus store. Karita - Check the back issues on the WW web page for demonstration baskets and chidrens classes. There have been several good suggestions for teaching young beginners. Bert Comstock, Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Stains in spray bottles Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 18:55:29 -0400 From: gatsby@larck.net To: davidc@iei.net Robbie, I use a spray bottle to spray my baskets with walnut stain. I don't make enough to have a big bucket to dunk them into. I leave the spray bottle in the fridge and use it as needed. It doesn't mold this way. It also goes on very well with the spray bottle. Dot in Maine where school is coming to a close and the flowers are opening-finally %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Stuff/WW Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 20:43:27 -0400 From: "mkoch" To: Lois & Pam: Your welcome!!!! Glad you enjoyed it. Pam: Our email address is mkoch@iei.net. I am not sure why the tip sheet wouldn't print off for you, maybe David can answer that one. He does all of our computer work. We wouldn't have a web page without him. Robbie: I have used Jadvick's water based stains. However, I did not follow the instructions on the bottle. I used 1/3 water, 2/3 stain into a spray bottle, shake well and spray your basket. I had to use several coats to get the shading I liked. Once it was completely dry, I sprayed it with Weaver's Stain Clear. To seal it so it wouldn't bleed. You can get some neat colors. I have never been successful with walnuts. Restoration Products had a light green shade on a basket in their shop. It was really pretty. I have also used Pickling Stains. Full strength. For a different look. I also used several coats. The reed really absorbs a water base formula, so you have to play with it. Dolores Gatz: Your stained yarn shouldn't catch anymore dust than normal. I have noticed that seagrass & sisal will have a shine SOMETIMES. When I stain a seagrass basket, sometimes it shines and sometimes it doesn't. I am a heavy stainer (don't do as I do, do as I say :) ) so that may be the reason. I haven't experimented enough with it to really know why or why not. I always recommend that you spray a scrap piece of anything you are questioning. Suggestion: If you have a natural running through a basket and don't like the look spraying gives it. Cover your natural piece with aluminum foil or Reynolds plastic wrap. Spray, let dry and unwrap. I wove a basket with jingle bells all around the braided top. I wrapped each bell in aluminum foil, sprayed, let it dry and unwrapped. My bells looked great. If you need to do some touch up, you can move the bells from side to side to see if you need to. I do the same thing with bone or porcelain knobs, except I wrap the knob in masking tape. Dolores, we would love to travel to Stowe to stain baskets & demo. That's if they would be interested in having us. We are booked for this year. And we are filling next years calendar. Thanks for the feedback, we appreciate it. We are working on additional tip sheets. Happy Weaving, Dollie Koch %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 04 Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 07:41:04 -0700 From: "Anne Boquist" To: "David Collins" Carol in Huson -- the basketcase-- a parcel in the mail for you! Hope it arrives in one piece. Anne in Sooke %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: BASKET SWAP Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 10:52:03 -0400 (EDT) From: moore-bernier@webtv.net (john moore) To: davidc@iei.net Just received a call from Nancy Skinner in Marietta, GA letting me know how well she liked the pine needle basket I made for her. What a relief to know that my basket is appreciated since it is my first attempt to join the swap. Now that I am back home in Mich. I need to organize my storage shed and get going on my weaving. Brought home so many basket related "goodies" from our winter in AZ, of course I usually have our5th wheel loaded for our return trip. Would whoever was interested in trading some Devil's Claw contact me again, that is if you are still interested. Always enjoy WW especially when it keeps to it's original premise, BASKETS, BASKETS, BASKETS!!!!!!! EVIE %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WW Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 13:47:10 -0700 From: "Pam Feix" To: "David Collins" Hi all, Just a couple of quick notes and I will be along my way to go and weave!!! First, I am not taking names for the next basket swap, yet, but I will post when we are ready. I would like to know when you all think is the best time to get started on one. If I take names beginning in June and then start them on July 1, that will be all right, as the swap would be well under way while I go on vacation, and then the baskets would need to be mailed by August 1 to your swap buddy. The only problem I could for see is if someone would not be able to do it, after signing up, and then tried to reach me while I am gone on vacation. I think when you sign up, if you have not dropped out by July 1 then you are committed. If you have a tragedy or an extremely good reason why you could not fulfill your obligation, let me know as soon as possible. I, think, that with these guidelines, the swap would be well under way and I would be able to go on vacation while you guys do the weaving. I will make mine prior to going on vacation or while I am on vacation, but I will get mine done and mailed in time, as well. If all are in agreement, I will start this next swap on June 1st. I won't take any sign ups until then and I will post what I will need from you all. Sue Bajczyk: Please forward me any and all info you have in regards to coordinating a swap. I will be needing this information. I also want to thank you for coordinating this last swap. Any points you or any of the other coordinators have, please pass it along to me. I will need all the information that I can gather in order for this to work out well and to pass along to the next coordinator. One last thing: I received an order from my web site on Sunday, May 16th but the person who ordered did not put in their name. I don't know how this happened, but if you have ordered from us within the last few days, please check to see if you got a confirmation and if the confirmation number is: 3290 then please let me know that this order belongs to you. I cannot process the order without knowing who it belongs to. I am sorry that the system did not prompt you to input this info as it is supposed to because the fields are supposed to be required fields. Anyway, anything can happen on these machines, as you all well know. Please just let me know who you are and I will be happy to see to it that you get your order. Happy Weaving to you all!!! Pam Feix in southwest OH where it is in the 70's but near zero humidity, very nice. Feix Family Baskets & Crafts http://www.feixbaskets-crafts.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WW Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 14:18:57 -0700 From: "Pam Feix" To: "David Collins" Hi once again, I just figured out whose order that was in question with my last post. Somehow, my computer re-submitted an order to me that was originally ordered on May 12. The one that was received on the 12th had the name on it, and I have no idea why the system duplicated the order on a different day and without a name. Oh well, just wanted you to know that I have already figured it out. I have everyone else's names for their orders. Thanks a lot and sorry for any confusion. Pam Feix Feix Family Baskets & Crafts http://www.feixbaskets-crafts.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.