"Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 33 Date Sent: August 05, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 1122 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 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The Basket Bookstore Stop by "Weavers Words Basketry Bookstore" for a great selection of basketry literature & save up to 40%. Over 40 titles to choose from. The address is: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/book.html %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 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. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Attention AOL Subscribers For some reason some AOL subscribers haven't been receiving Weaver's Words through email. If you are one of these subscribers, or know one of someone who has not been receiving Weaver's Words, you can get all of the issues of the Weaver's Words web page. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Catching up Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1999 19:47:23 -1000 From: Joanne Howard To: "Collins, David" Aloha, I have been spending the last few days trying to catch up with weavers words. I have two more to go!! I had a great five weeks on the mainland. Naomi, sorry I didn't get to call you. I had a whirl wind time in St. Pete. I never got to Tampa, except to get on and off a plane. Nor did I get to Nokimis to the basket shop. I would have loved to have done that. My niece did take me to a Michael's Craft Store. Holy Cow, I hadn't been in a store like that in years. I spent hours looking through painting books and assorted craft items. Thanks to Jennifer for sending me all the maps of Stowe, Vermont. They were a huge help. I did go to the Dutch Cafe Pancake House for the best breakfast in Stowe. I found a few antique shops but no basket shops. I did go to a Antiques and Uniques show in Craftsbury Common. There I found the most unique things. I found one basket maker, Ramona that did the nicest work. I asked all around for anyone on Weavers Words, but didn't find anyone. I also found a gal, Irene M Ames. She goes by the name IMA BAskets. She did the most fantastic work I have ever seen with brown ash. She is terrific. She said she did this type of weaving as a Sweetster Family Tradition. From the tree to the basket!!! She was very nice to show me what the splints looked like before they became the beautiful splints for weaving. What an experience. I wish I could have afforded one of her baskets. Her little ones started at $125. And believe me, they were well worth it. I did find a beautiful basket in my father in laws wood shed. I almost fainted when I saw it. It looks like a big oval laundry basket. It was so dirty you could barely see the actual color. He said they have been using it to haul wood and kindling to the cottages for at least 50years. He remembers it when he was younger. I spoke to my father in law about its history. He can date it back to the 1920's when his family first became owners of the cottages on Caspian Lake. Unfortunately, no signature or date on the bottom. Lois looked it over for me and she doesn't think it was made of reed. Rather made from just raw wood. The rim of the basket looks like a whittled down rim made from a stick. I hosed it down just to get the dirt off and it cleaned up very well. It is still very sturdy. I don't know what else I should do to it. Anyone out there know if I should oil it or something like that? I don't know anything about restoration. The basket is at least 70 years old as far as we can tell. Any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated. I wish there were some way to find out some history about this basket. Any ideas???????? Gail- I ate the world's supply of Ring Dings, Devil Dogs etc. while I was back east. I couldn't stuff in another yodel if I tried. I did however, have a Fluffer nutter for lunch today. I wonder what color trucks deliver Drakes Cakes? It's back to the grindstone. Lois and I are looking for another painting teacher. Our teacher gave up at our craft center. I think another was just hired so I hope to have a chance to check it out. I am looking forward to getting back to basket classes come September. Look out Lois, class will never be the same!!! I'm Baaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!! It was great living on the East Coast for a while. I experienced your heat wave at it's finest!!! I had no idea what hot meant!!!!!!!! Ya'll come to Hawaii. Hot is hot, but not that bad!!!!!!!. Take care, I hope you all are staying cool and healthy. Aloha, Joanne %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits and Pieces Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 09:19:36 -0400 From: John Dorris To: "Weavers Words" The new issue of Crafts Report is out and it has a short article on 8 basket weavers. Realized as I was typing this that there are really 12 people as two are couples. Each of them does a different type of work and of course all are outstanding. Must admit I had only heard of three. Sallie Metcalf of Vida, Oregon who works in round reed, Kathleen Peelen Krebs from Berkley, Ca. coiled types of pine needles and such. Gail Campbell of Bisbee, Ariz. bark, Joyce Shannon, La Pine, Or. coiled of round reed and raffia. (Amazing-of course I hate raffia). Rosemare Hohol and Roger Hauge, Evanston, IL. round reed, . The ones I am familiar with are the other Billie Ruth (Suddath) Bet you didn't know I am also a Billie Ruth. Cass Schorsch who does wonderful things with bark. She is from Ludington Mich. I have other friends from Ludington, which I find interesting as I don't have a clue to where it is. We were stationed with the other couple many years ago. At out last reunion they offered to host the next get together but only if we came in Jan. which I take to be an indication of the type of winters they have. Remember misery does love company. I spent 3 years in the U.P. so I know what Mich. winters can be like. The last couple are the amazing Darryl and Karen Arawjo from Buskill, Pa. Our guild (the one in Northern Va.) was fortunate enough to have them teach a class in their fishing creel purse several years ago. They are one of the group that actually makes a living at basket weaving. When I look at what this group has to offer I realize just how far I have to go. Question for Nantucket folks. I have some molds from Perkins that I really like but they don't have the hole in the center for mounting on a stand (they are the hollow molds). How do you work on this type? I have been holding it in my lap when weaving on the sides but I don't like this method as I feel the spokes are at real risk of being broken in the beginning before their tight to the mold. I thought of drilling a hole in the mold but since it is hollow I wasn't sure it would work. Am open to suggestions. I am paranoid about broken spokes as they're almost impossible to replace once you've woven past the curve. One of the things the Arawjo's used was a small pair of scissors that he had taken apart ground away the sharp edge and bent to the shape of the curve. He then inserted this into the space of the broken spoke to hold the place where the new spoke is to be inserted. It worked well and have often thought of trying to make one myself. Well will get off here and back to weaving. I seem to keep getting my fingers on the wrong keys this morn and have had to retype most of what I've written. Billie in sunny, not so hot Va. Beach %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Some great household tips Date: Thu, 05 Aug 1999 06:20:24 PDT From: "Connie Curran" To: davidc@iei.net Some great household tips: 1) Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips. 2) Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle - perfect shaped pancakes every time. 3) To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes. 4) To prevent eggshells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling. 5) Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan - the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers. 6) To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing. 7) To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop - skillet will be much easier to clean. 8) Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces - no more stains. 9) When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead - no white mess on the outside of the cake. 10) If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato - it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix up." 11) Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator - it will keep for weeks. 12) Brush beaten egg white over piecrust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish. 13) Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it backup. 14) When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness. 15) To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh - if it rises to the surface, throw it away. 16) Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away. 17) Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces. 18) If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy. 19) Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water. 20) To get rid of itch from mosquito bite: try applying soap on the area -- >instant relief. 21) Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march - see for yourself. 22) Use air-freshener to clean mirrors: It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine. 23) When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily. 24) Look what you can do with Alka-Seltzer: A) Clean a toilet - drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty>minutes, brush, and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china. B) Clean a vase - to remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets. C) Polish jewelry - drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes. D) Clean a thermos bottle - fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary). E) Unclog a drain - clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water. 25) If your VCR has a year setting on it, which most do, you will not be able to use the programmed recording feature after 12/31/99. Don't throw it away. Instead, set it for the year 1972 as the days are the same as the year 2000. The manufacturers won't tell you. They want you to buy a new Y2K VCR. Pass this along to all your friends. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Blue Ribbon Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 08:28:26 -0500 From: "Clinton County Emg. Manage. Agc." To: "David Collins" Hi everyone! I'm soooo excited. I wove Susan Reed-Fanfoni's "Snowman Family" and entered it into the fair and won a Blue Ribbon! I must be doing something right. I also won a Blue Ribbon for the "Buggy Wheel Rug" I wove on the rim of an old buggy wheel! Boy, two in one day made my Monday! Have been looking around to see what I can pick to weave a basket from materials at hand. Saw some really skinny cattails in the county and think I will give that a try. What do you use for spokes? Also asked my DH to save me the leaves from the sweet corn, he thought I was nuts, but he saved them. They are drying on the front porch. Don't have a clue what to do with them, but read in a book you can weave with them, so I guess I'll save them. Haven't received my basket yet, the suspense is killing me. I know, patience is a virtue! Looking forward to the next swap already! Take care everyone, Sandi atcarstds@cis.net mailto:ccema@clinton.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: swap basket Date: Thu, 05 Aug 1999 08:40:35 -0500 From: jan1dave To: davidc@iei.net Greetings from NW Indiana. Long time reader, first time writer and first basket swap. Thanks Pam for the wonderful job. I'm sure it isn't an easy task but it brings such joy to so many people. Which brings me to my point. I've met 2 wonderful people through this swap. Lisa Carstens, whom I sent my basket to and Connie Hughes who went WAY overboard in making my basket"s". (But, I'm not sending a one back) Thank you just isn't good enough. A gorgeous lazy Susan basket with apples tole painted (by Connie) on it, a candle in a basket (with more beautiful tole painting), a basket pin, 3 of her "mosquito houses" which are just adorable and the nicest note. I'm envious of who gets this gal in the next swap. I'll try to send pictures. Thank you David for this forum. Jan from slightly cooler Indiana %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap basket Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 09:55:18 -0400 From: Chris & Melissa Kile To: davidc@iei.net To the mystery weaver from NY--I received my wonderful miniature Adirondack pack basket yesterday in the mail--but didn't receive your name! Thank you so much--it is perfectly woven with miniature straps and a beautiful dried flower arrangement set inside. Good timing--I am camping with friends this coming week, one of who (is that correct grammar?) wants me to make him a pack basket. Now I can show him a "model"! Thank you so much! Melissa Kile %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Space dyed Reed Date: Thu, 05 Aug 1999 10:37:06 -0400 From: Gary &Katy Ulrich To: David Collins Can someone please give me a little tutorial on space dyed reed? I've been playing around with the idea of making some baskets that have yellow, orange, and red (yes, I'm thinking fall already). I have looked at the cost of purchasing spaced dyed reed, and it's pretty prohibitive. Thank you!! -Katy %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 32 Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 10:58:32 EDT From: Hairbasket@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hello, I'm new to WW and thoroughly enjoy each one I receive. I've gotten so many new ideas and information from them. I know yall might be able to help me! My husband and I are going to Lancaster, Penn. over the Labor Day weekend. It is where his dad was from and since he never knew him, we thought we might go exploring (he passed when John was 4 years old). Would any of you around that area know anything about the family of Zook's? Also, since I love basketweaving, are there any places up there that I could go exploring? And any other places of interest around that area we would like to see. I can hardly wait to see what all of you have to tell me. Thanks so much, Phyllis %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 32 Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 11:50:20 -0400 From: "Donna L." To: "David Collins" Judy - I always thought kiffles were a Polish pastry. They settled here in eastern PA to work in the coalmines and brought the Polka and some wonderful food traditions. To those in the dark, they are about a 4" square of pastry dough, on which you put a dollop of jam or nut filling, fold 2corners diagonally across and bake. Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar. Tina - Your story reminds me of the time my husband made his grandmother's milk pie recipe, which simply calls for crumbs. When it was done, I asked him what all the green flecks were and his reply was that we only had Italian seasoned crumbs on hand. (Milk pie was a treat for the kids made on baking day with the leftovers - make a little pie shell, fill with milk and the leftover crumbs {butter, sugar & flour mixture used on pie toppings} and bake it till it sets up.) He'll never make that mistake again. Lois - All the patterns we sell on our web site with painting are marked "painting instructions included" in the description so everyone knows exactly what they are getting. You can easily locate them by entering the word "painting" in the search box. Donna L. in absolutely beautiful PA where we are desperate for rain ctryseat@fast.net http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: basket from Ginny Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 09:42:27 -0700 From: "Dolores" To: "David Collins" What luck! Returning home for 12 hours from Ontario, leaving the next day for Edisto Beach, I stopped by our local post office. "There is another basket box for you," she announced. "Are you going to open it now?" The absolutely charming Shaker style basket traveled with me and during the last ten days has gone shelling on the beach, picnicking with Charleston's special little lemon cookies, carried tomatoes from one cottage to another, and attended church with crayons, pencils, paper, etc! So thank you, Jinny, for a special basket, which now all my extended family wants! Barb and Rae, how do you prepare lemon grass to use in a basket. For that matter, do any of you know about sweet grass? I have heard of various complicated and time consuming ways, but don't have a written recipe. Also, does anyone know how the women in Charleston prepare the palm leaf to use in lacing their baskets? Is there a special kind, or season forgathering? Good basket making to all! Dolores in S.C. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Double walled round baskets Date: Thu, 05 Aug 1999 14:38:30 -0400 From: gatsby@larck.net To: davidc@iei.net Judy, you asked about how to do a base for a double walled round basket. I have never done one but I would think you would do it the same way you do an oval or a square one. You do the inside base and weave up. Then, make the outside base with the middle spoke going under the bottom spoke of the inside basket. K. Tessler does a lot of double walled baskets and the ones of hers I have done are attached this way. Hope this helps. I received my swap basket a week ago from Joann Griesser in Arizona. She made a beautiful, oval oil and vinegar Nantucket basket and included hot sauce from Arizona. I waited to open the box until a fellow Weaver's Words and basket swap participant came over. She was also very impressed. Neither of us can make Nantucket's but have always admired them. Joann did a wonderful job. Thanks again. I will definitely be waiting for the next swap. Looking forward to hearing from you Bert. Dot in Maine where I have a sweatshirt on and it is finally RAINING! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 32 Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 18:37:46 EDT From: VLBLOMBERG@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi to David and everyone else! I took two wonderful ladies advice at the IBA convention and have been reading newsletters until I have a fairly good idea of what this is all about. Actually, Clare noticed that I had sent a short message to someone about Gratiot Lake. And I do notice Marti posted every once in a while. Thanks for advising me on the sit back and observe method of understanding. It isn't right for everyone but I am thankful. At this time I don't need any advice or support but am very thankful that there are so many people out there willing to give their two cents on many topics. It is also inspiring that people are from all over the United States. Think about what that says! So we will all survive the summer, fall, winter and spring with whatever is sent our way...heat, flood, famine, cold, snow, wind.......as we weave to our hearts content. :-) Vicki Blomberg (From near Madison, Wi) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 32 Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 17:30:03 -0700 From: "Pamela Zimmerman" To: "David Collins" Sorry, folks, the last time I sent in a request for help, the forwarded message didn't come through. I don't know of any coiling teachers in MA, but I'll wager someone out there does. Here it is: Hi, I would love to class to learn the fundamentals about pine needle baskets. I live in Massachusetts so the best thing would be a teacher in this area. Thank you, Nicki Croghan %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Swap Funny Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 20:27:43 -0400 From: "Kati" To: "David Collins" CC: Well, well, well... The strangest and yet the most delightful thing happened to me this swap. Sit down so you can have a good belly laugh!! I mailed my swap partner - Brenda Johnson from OHIO - her basket at least 2-3 weeks ago and couldn't imagine why I had not received a response or e-mail or something confirming that she at least got it even if she hated it and every day, I'd check my e-mail, WW, the snail mail, the sky - and jeez- nothing! I thought maybe the basket was lost or maybe it wasn't too good or who knows. Well, on this past Wednesday, 8/4/99, I was at work trying my best to get everything ready for my students on Thursday, and my 15 year old daughter paged me. I called her, thinking this was another one of her silly questions, and she was beside herself. It seems that there was this woman on my front porch to see me from Ohio and she said her name was Brenda Johnson and that I was her swap partner. And she was from WW and was asking for Kati Pittman. Well, you see folks, that is my user name on the computer. My name is actually Denise. So I thought she had lost her mind for sure - I mean, she is 15!! So anyway, I asked if she had let this person in and she said of course not - she had opened a window a little just to talk to her!! Poor woman is melting out in the heat!!! But my kids did what they have been taught to do! So I told my principal that I needed to leave for an emergency - I didn't have time to explain - and I rushed home to see who this person was standing on my porch. And sure enough, it was Brenda Johnson from Ohio!!! She had come through my way on the way to Myrtle Beach and she had a story to tell me. Apparently, I had left my name or any other identifying information out of my little swap package. She got a basket and had no clue who it was from. So she did a little detective work herself and tracked the package backwards through UPS, discovered it had come from close to NC Basketworks in Vass, NC where she was going to visit on this little trip and then she contacted our swap coordinator, Pam Feix, and through all of this and some ingenuity on her part, she found my house. And while, I live in town, I have friends who can't find my house who live in Rockingham!! So I invited Brenda, her husband, and two sons in and we had the nicest visit. I showed her my baskets and my basket room where I work. Before she left, her husband took a picture of us outside and she said she was going to send it in to WW. They will be on vacation for a few days, but I hope when she returns, she will see this and get another laugh. Brenda, you really brightened my day with your surprise visit. My husband did not believe me at first, and the kids had to back me up. I think he thought I had lost my mind. (Which sometimes happens when I start back to school!!) My whole family and my basket weaving friends at work had the biggest laugh at this story and they were all amazed and touched by your visit. Thank you so much for taking the time to come to see me - I will never forget it. Your family is wonderful and I think my kids were telling this story on their first day of school today. My 15 year old said that she will make sure that when I mail the next swap basket that I put my name on the basket!!! Of course, she really thinks I am old and flaky now!! See ya' Denise (or Kati) in NC %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap Basket Thanks! Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 17:51:39 -0700 From: "Kathey Ervin" To: "David Collins" Hi Kim Carmony - I tried to email you twice but it keeps coming back! Thank you so much for such a nice basket. I have a list of thoughts on what I will put in it and where I will display it in my home! For the rest of you - it is a tall hexagonal Cherokee pattern basket with a wooden bottom. Very nicely shaped and crafted by someone who obviously knows how to handle commercial reeds and great color and pattern choices. It will have a good home for many years to come. Thanks again Kim! And thank you Pam for your great organizational skills in coordinating this swap. We here in the Pacific Northwest have our Lake Crescent Basketmakers Weekend in a couple of weeks and I am thrilled with the three classes I chose - with three wonderful artists to work with - Jan Hopkins, Polly Sutton and Donna Sakamoto Crispin. I also wanted to mention that there are about a dozen of us Washatonians coming cross-country to the HGA Conference in Gattlinburg. So get ready - here we come!! I don't know how many others planned together to come but I decided on my own and am so glad there will be lots of familiar faces around plus lots of new folks to meet. Kathey Ervin THE BASKETRY STUDIO kater@tenforward.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.