"Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 12 Date Sent: June 09, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 1053 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. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Attention New Subscribers You can search Weaver's Words web page and back issues by going to Weaver's Words web page (http://www.iei.net/~davidc/) and entering your search criteria into the PinPoint search box. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 11 Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 07:58:34 -0600 From: "Rae Hunter" To: "David Collins" Only one week left before the Basketry FOCUS 99 in British Columbia at Naramata, A beautiful place. I am looking forward to meeting other WW weavers there. How will we find each other? I don't want to miss anyone. Me? I will probably be one of the elder weavers, Short, Short hair, slightly greying, wearing woven earrings of some type and buttons popping because I have just published my first basketry manual. "How to make a Willow Melon Basket". It became a reality with a lot of prodding from my friend the illustrator, who can now claim to be a "Digital weaver". John Mount by name and he really earned the title. He took my rough sketches from my also rough handout that I used for teaching and did wonders with them. The wonders of this machine never cease to amaze me. I am not looking forward to the long drive but those of you that are there and I get a chance to meet in the flesh will make it worthwhile. See You, Cheers Rae %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Singeing Hairs Date: Sat, 5 Jun 1999 23:12:59 -0400 From: "Lark and DJ" To: You can get a diffuser to go on a propane torch, which makes singeing safer. It just clips onto the end and makes the flame spread out. The flame is cooler and "softer" and it's not so easy to set your basket on fire! If you dampen the basket before you start, you're all set. I think it also makes the process go faster. Lark %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap Basket Date: Sun, 6 Jun 1999 09:36:57 -0500 From: "Jay Fullerton" To: "David Collins" CC: References: 1 It came! It came! Yesterday (Saturday), the mail carrier came to my door with a box from Anette Meier. Inside was a beautiful French Bread basket. Thank you Anette, I love it! Also inside was a recipe for French bread and all the ingredients. The box was addressed to Kathleen POLK (an honest mistake, I had to write 3lables before I got my swap basket out), and the carrier didn't want to let me have it. I recognized Anette's name and knowing it contained my swap basket, I started pulling out all sorts if ID to prove I was Kathleen. I think the semi-crazed "Give me the box if you value your life" look in my eye helped. Anyway, basket received and it is beautiful and I love it. Thank you again Anette. Kathy Fullerton Ft Polk, LA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 11 Date: Sun, 6 Jun 1999 11:06:51 -0400 From: "Susan Tripp" To: "David Collins" Brenda Johnson: I hope you will share your basket history saying once you have it. If it's too long, please e-mail me privately. Bert: I was a new participant to Stowe and therefore could only get into two classes. I took a Nantucket class and made a 5" round and learned a much different technique from Gladys Ellis and Anne Lima than I had learned from John McGuire. Both were interesting and now I have the best of some very good teachers. The other basket I made was the Penobscot Fancy (black ask with lots of curls) with Dianne Stanton. She is a great teacher and I bought the mold to make more of these fancy baskets. In addition to my classes, I made sure to take a peak at all the classes being offered and they were so exciting. It's hard for a new person to pick out what to take from the black and white pics in the brochures. Once I was there, I could not believe how great some of these baskets were - the pics just didn't do them justice. One of the ones that surprised me was Jackie Abrams' Star Pillows basket made out of watercolor papers. These baskets were so pretty and I hope to get in her class next year if she's there. Other classes that have pics that don't do them justice are: Sosse Baker's Inside Out basket (beautiful basket) and JoAnn Kelly Catsos' Mini Fishing Creel. I thought of taking this basket at first then decided against it because of it's size (2.5"x1.5"). Did I ever make a mistake. This baskets is simply wonderful. It fits together so beautifully and is so smooth. Although I didn't get to see Marilyn Moore's Wire Basket class, I did see some of her work and they were really "neat" (for lack of a better word)! Lastly, I heard so many good things about what students have learned in Mary Hettmansperger's rib basket classes that I will definitely try to take one of her classes next year too. All the baskets were so much nicer in real and up close. Waiting for Stowe 2000 (May 15-21) Susan in NY %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WW basket swap Date: Sun, 06 Jun 1999 11:38:43 -0500 From: wanda crist To: davidc@iei.net Hello one and all- A very special thank you to Delores Gatz for her dear antler basket! Avery special treat was tucked inside-hand painted paper! The whole gift is something to be treasured, again THANK you! Happy weaving-Lori %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: BIG Thanks!! Date: Sun, 6 Jun 1999 15:56:47 -0400 From: "Robbie & Skip Sykes" Reply-To: "Robbie & Skip Sykes" <@coastalnet.com> To: A BIG thanks to all those who responded to my question concerning the use of commercially prepared, water-based stains. The advice was terrific and I decided to use my own recipes. A big "thank you" also to Pam Woodbury for all her encouragement and advice. Basket Hairs: I too, try to use the best reed available. You come out better in the long run because you don't have to spend as much time clipping--more time weaving. When I do have hairs, I try to clip as I weave. I would never consider burning these off as you can (and I have) accidentally set the basket on fire--all that time and energy gone up in flames! When you don't feel like working on a basket, just sit down, turn on some soothing music and clip hairs. Trust me, it can be very therapeutic. I have found the best tool to use is those Plato shears with angled blades. Most of the basket suppliers carry them. Have to run turn off the sprinklers--another hot and dry summer in NC I'm afraid. Take care, Robbie in Wilson, NC. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Missouri Convention/WW Date: Sun, 6 Jun 1999 16:24:17 -0400 From: "mkoch" To: Hi, We just arrived home from the Missouri Convention. We had a wonderful time. They really out did themselves. Thanks to all of you that worked to bring this great event together. See you next year. Mark & Dollie Koch The Weaver's Stain Family. Kim, it was nice seeing you. I wish we could have gotten together for a chat. Next time for sure. We will be in North Carolina in March and Michigan this November. Maybe then. We could at least share a pizza. Time is so short and there is always something to do. We can at least try. Hope your next move is a smooth one. Your Welcome to all of you that emailed us to Thank us for the FREE Pattern section. Later, Dollie %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Counting 'em down... Date: 7 Jun 1999 13:40:41 -0000 From: "J. Choate Basketry List" To: List Member J. Choate Basketry List - http://www.corecom.net/~choatepp We're almost ready to blast off for the Lower 48! It's hard to leave Alaska when we're having such lovely weather but we're enticed with thoughts of intense heat and sandy beaches. This in exchange for liquid sunshine and glacier silt sounds like a welcome change for a summer. Some new additions for the "Headin' Back East - Tour 2000". It looks like we will be heading that way via Texas. When you come from Alaska everything is relative. If your in the Lone Star State and are interested in attending a class you can contact: Linda Courtice in El Paso/LasCruces by email at hcourti1@elp.rr.com or if you reside in the Houston area the Clear Lake Basket Weavers will be hosting a class. You can contact Shelby Cefaratti by email at cefaratt@toast.net or by phone at (281) 280-9750 for more information. Until our paths meet... Jill Choate Talkeetna, AK %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Date: Mon, 7 Jun 99 13:51:03 -0400 From: Nancy Gorbics To: "David Collins" I am enjoying reading Weavers Words very much. Now I need to know where to find the Joyce Chen scissors that were mentioned several times. Nan %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: The Pine Needle Group Date: Mon, 7 Jun 1999 11:20:09 -0700 From: "Pamela Zimmerman" To: "David Collins" Hello! There is a new basket making group on the internet. The Pine Needle Group. We are gathered "to further the art of coiling", and have a website at: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Trail/9114/index.html We have a gallery of member's baskets, links to coiling sites, and a list of members. In fact, there is already a link from The Pine Needle Group to your site! If you are interested in membership, you may sign up through the link at the site, or reply to this email with the following information: 1. Email address 2. Name as you wish it to be listed 3. Where you live 4. Statement about yourself (baskets or other) 5. URL or web page address (if you have one, or want one listed) 6. Web page name (if you want one listed) Once you have submitted membership information, please feel free to submit basket photos for the gallery. If you don't have access to a scanner, please let me know, and I will scan for you. Any artwork that involves coiling is eligible - not just pine needles. Hope to see you there! Pamela Zimmerman Founder The Pine Needle Group http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Trail/9114/index.html http://www.homestead.com/lizardskinsnpineneedles/baskets.html %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Navajo basket classes Date: Mon, 07 Jun 1999 20:20:06 +0000 From: Tony Stubblefield or Dean Meredith To: David Collins/Weavers Words Hello everyone, Someone asked me the other day if I knew of any Navajo Indian basket classes. I was wondering if any of you might have some information I could pass on to her. Thanks for any info you might have. Spring is going by so fast. I have hardly had any time to weave or plan my basket trip out to New Hampshire for my class with JoAnn Kelly Catso. I am very excited, but I need to work on my itinerary, as I want to stop at many shops on the way. I have my list ready, now I just need to figure out how to time my driving so I will get to the shops during business hours. I am having an apprentice, Jackie Zehring from Virginia, come work with me in my studio for 4 days in July. This should be very exciting and intense as we have planned on packing a lot of work into those 4 days. Jackie was able to get a grant from a local artist guild to come out and work with me. The grant will cover her supplies and my instruction. She just has to provide her own transportation and lodging (fortunately she has friends in St. Louis to stay with). I will have to let you know how things turn out. Well I need to get to work on some freelance graphic design jobs I got conned into doing. Oh well, the money will buy me some more basket supplies :-)) Happy weaving, Tony Stubblefield St. Louis, MO http://www.tetranet.net/users/deanandtony/baskets.htm %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 11 Date: Mon, 7 Jun 1999 19:49:49 -0600 From: "Faye Stukey" To: References: 1 David, I received a reply from Michelle Gates regarding the four-lobed egg basket I was looking for. She told me it's a Grandmother's Basket and to get the pattern from The Country Seat. I contacted them, and was advised that it's no longer available. They suggested I contact the Misti Washington Gourd &Basketry Guild. I am trying to order it from them. They charge $5.50 postpaid by ordering it from Ed Washington, 521 Canyon Drive, Solana Beach, CA92075. Just in case anybody else out there is looking for the pattern, I thought I'd pass this information along. Thanks to Michelle Gates and Cindy at The County Seat who lead me in the right direction! Faye %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: willow and naturals forum Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1999 09:38:12 +0000 From: "Rob Sutherland" robert.sutherland@balliol.oxford.ac.uk Reply-To: robert.sutherland@balliol.oxford.ac.uk To: davidc@iei.net Dear David, please feel free to post the relevant portions of this message to WW to clear up any confusion. Sorry to trouble you, but please do not change Mary Hooper's e-mail address to baskets@maillist.ox.ac.uk. Whoever Gloria is, she must have been mistaken. baskets@maillist.ox.ac.uk is the address for a mailing list I set up here in Oxford, England to complement your WW. It is a forum for discussions about weaving, growing, and preparing willow and other natural materials such as bark, vines, grasses, etc. It has a much smaller number of subscribers and discussions are focussed more tightly on weaving, growing, and preparing. Anyone is more than welcome to subscribe. They should not send a subscription request to the actual list (baskets@maillist.ox.ac.uk). It is probably easiest if they simply e-mail me directly at robert.sutherland@zoo.ox.ac.uk, and I will sign them up. As far as I know, Mary Hooper's address is still mjhooper@mitchell.main.nc.us I hope you will be able to change it back before the next posting of WW to prevent everyone on the list getting it twice. thanks for your help, rob %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Antler Basket Patterns Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1999 08:40:57 EDT From: Wickrwoman@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi David and all you weavers, I have just completed four deer antler basket patterns and am working on others. Carole Kaeding from Gratiot Lake Basketry has one called, "Deer Antler Wall Sculpture--Smoked Reed" for sale through her supply business for $5.00. This wall sculpture does not have a pocket and is plain, but can be embellished whatever way you like. I would call it an advanced level basket, you must have prior rib basketry techniques down pat before you try these antler rib baskets, don't want anyone to be discouraged thinking it's a beginner basket! I also have three other antler patterns for sale, but am having a problem with the mailing situation. I checked with the post office yesterday, and to send up to three patterns in their sleeves, in a photomailer, the cost of the mailer and the postage is $2.80. Now if you want several patterns at a time, it would be most advantageous to go priority at $3.20 with their stiff mailing envelope. There are other mailers available, but need to have cardboard added to keep the patterns from getting folded or crushed, and all cardboard weighs differently. Do any of you teachers that sell patterns have a better alternative? Check out the ones I do have for sale, but if you want "Entwined" or "Deer Antler Wall Sculpture--Smoked Reed" as the pattern is called, buy from Carole at Gratiot Lake, her address and all can be found on http://www.weavenet.com/. I have also sent David three photos from my caning class at Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri. Will be sending more soon. This weekend it's off to Weavin' in Winona, teaching another antler wall sculpture and the caning class. I will also be taking a class from Dianne Stanton, can't wait to meet her. ~~The Wicker Woman/Cathryn Peters/MN~~ "For Sale" Basket Patterns http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=16796&a=251136 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Fw: Weaver's Words Vol. 3 Issue 11 Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1999 12:08:52 -0400 From: "Donna" To: "David Collins - Weaver's Words" Billie - Hairy reed is sometimes impossible to avoid. We buy ONLY the top quality, highest grade, alas the highest price reed available which we sell as Select Quality in Flat & Flat Oval, Premium Quality in Round Reeds and yet we still occasionally get hairy reed. Our prices are not the highest on the market, nor are they the lowest. We can get a case of reed and 98 are perfect and 2 are horrible. There are several reasons for hairy reed: (1) Dull blades in the cutting process is one of the major causes of hairy reed - this happens in every factory. To stop cutting reed to sharpen blades means less production coming out of the factory, which in turn means less income coming into the factory. (2) Particular species of rattan being cut - some species are of a denser nature than others. The more dense the vine, the less hairy the finished product. Unfortunately, since the raw rattan is less plentiful than years ago, they cannot afford to be as selective as they used to be about what they cut into reeds. The smaller sizes (1/4" and under) almost always tend to be generally hairless as they are cut from a different species than the larger sizes. This is why you sometimes see bark on the edges. They try to get the maximum width from the vine. Personal tip - these smaller sizes with the bark, tend to be the very best reed to work with. You may not like it as the bark will not accept dye, but for flexibility, it cannot be beat. I don't want to go on and on about species names etc. but being in the business for 25 years, I have picked a lot of people's brains, including someone from Hong Kong who has visited with us on several occasions. I am constantly asking why, why, why? regarding quality control until I think he wants to scream sometimes. Although I trim my baskets very well (I only make ones as samples for the patterns we sell in our store) I have found that they do get hairy and I have to give them another trim after a period of time due the amount of handling they get. (In addition to replacing curls and embellishments that excessive handlings have managed to break off, but that's another story!) To minimize final trimming as much as possible, I'll snip off anything I see as I'm weaving, beginning with the base as soon as it's laid out. This way, it's not such a monumental job when the basket is finished. I will often rub fine sandpaper over the outside of a basket when it is finished. Go in both directions as this serves a two-fold purpose (1) smooths off the surface and (2) ugh - raises more hairs to be trimmed. Faye - You're also probably referring the Grandmother Basket. We have no copies of the book left, but I understand the Misti Washington Gourd Society in California still sells it. David probably has a link to it on his site, if not, we do have a link from our info page under guilds on our web site. Splintwoven Basketry - To be absolutely fair to everyone who already owns a copy of the book (while probably reducing our sales of new copies) the book is an identical reprint of the original down to the page numbers with the exception of the color photo gallery. The colored pages are not numbered, rather just inserted into the old copy. BUT, we do have in stock Billie Ruth Sudduth's new book, Baskets - A Book for Makers and Collectors which is absolutely beautiful and very well done with some outstanding photography and interesting approaches to basket weaving. Sorry I got so windy, but you haven't heard from me in a while. Donna in really Hot & Humid PA ctryseat@fast.net Visit our on-line catalog - changing daily. http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: weavers words Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1999 12:08:59 EDT From: CLAYART2@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Wickerwoman......Lord I got tuckered just reading about your travel adventures! How exciting for you to be able to meet so many different weavers. Thank you for sharing with us. Judy Mullins...Congratulations Grandma! That's almost as good as coming home to see your basket swap basket waiting for you on the doorstep! LOL. The thrill of receiving a basket made just for you comes, I think, from making all those baskets for selling for just for gifts for others and not keeping everyone you make yourself. It is a tremendous feeling to know that this package waiting patiently on the step is your very own!!!! "Senior Moment"----losing your memory isn't all bad, just think, you get to make "new" friends every single day. So Bonnie F in Ill..... Don't give up hope...your special box will be on the way!!! Nora in the Colorado Mts. where there is still loads of snow on Pikes Peak and the tourists have arrived!!!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 11 Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1999 18:24:16 -0400 From: jbenner@juno.com To: davidc@iei.net HI All, Better late than never. I received my basket about a week ago from Jean Weineich of Connecticut. It is a replica of an antique basket she found and she is making a pattern for it. What a beautiful piece of work! The base is about 6.5" x 9" and curves so the rim isn't rectangular but oval. Nice job in shaping, not one of my strong suits! It's about 4.5" high to the rim and has the neatest handle. I don't even know what the base of the handle is. Could be about #6 RR or 1/4" flat oval? IN any case there are three of them side by side going over the sides. Then she wove 1/4" flat through all three if them in such a neat pattern. The whole thing was stained dark with a minwax stain. I know I'm in the minority but I love the smell of stain. Go figure. She tied a gingham bow on it and included two notepads with basket designs on them. Thanks so much Jean!!! On the storing of dye. I tried that and the color didn't work. Just became kinda dull washed out nothing. That was after 6 months and it was RIT dye. Now I am storing in another type of container. These are basketry dyes and instead of storing them in plastic jugs from parrot food, I am using old kitty litter containers. Like from the sand litter? My dad saves everything and sent these for my son. I needed something in a hurry. They are as strong as detergent bottles but have a real wide mouth and sit nice and square. Since so many of you have cats, I thought this might help. I'd be surprised if this were easily eaten through. HI Sheila, I'm so glad you liked the basket I made. Shaping is something I'm learning. (g) Funny, my hubby's name is Jerry too. I've never seen a Jerry stripper though... Take care all, Judy Benner from hot hot hot Eastern Pa. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: new basket friends Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1999 18:53:57 EDT From: Cabnec@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net While my husband and I were recently in Minnesota, I was able to attend the St. Paul Basket Guild meeting and met a great group of ladies there. They were friendly and kind and made me feel so much at home that I feel I have known them for a long time. It was truly a wonderful experience taking an egg basket class and weaving with fellow basket enthusiasts. I made my initial contact through a name I spotted on Weavers Web - thank you David. Suzanne from New England %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: weavers words Date: Wed, 9 Jun 1999 08:26:19 EDT From: MaryJLind@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi all, I am writing to ask for encouragement. I am a fairly new weaver. It seems like my basket weaving tension has two settings (loose and too tight). My most recent project was a large Williamsburg basket. This was made with 7/8" spokes that were cut in half after the base was made. I started the weaving numerous times, but every time, my basket curved inward instead of outward. The finished basket was very misshapen. Somebody convince me not to throw in the towel! Thanks, Mary %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.