"Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 53 Date Sent: October 02, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 1195 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 on the Weaver's Words web page. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Hi Everyone, With this recent turmoil, I feel the need to reiterate the objective of this forum. I began this forum after a similar forum stopped publication. The previous forum was somewhat monitored. Everyone's postings were to remain on the subject of basket weaving. I'm a firm believer that any form of censorship is intolerable. With that said, every SUBSCRIBER is entitled to voice their opinion on any and every subject. From the President of the United States to the cashier at McDonalds, everyone is entitled to freely voice their opinion. But please take into consideration, you are responsible for your words and subject to criticism from people who have differing opinions. So if you would like to write about your guild, shop, weaving experiences/questions, personal experiences or absolutely ANYTHING it's OK for this forum. I have not and will not ever keep any SUBSCRIBER from posting anything. I think most of us consider this forum a weaving family or at the very least a close community. And I haven't met a family yet that doesn't fight like cats and dogs at times. But after the dust settles everything returns to a state normalcy. Remember many subscribers live in rural areas and this forum is their only outlet to the vast knowledge base that all of you offer. Well I've rambled on long enough. Take Care, David %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 51 Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 05:29:05 -0700 From: Mary a Gullo To: davidc@iei.net HI, have not had much time for even reading these, nevertheless writing in a long time I agree with "the difference sells" as if I could EVER make one that looks exactly like another- even when they want a "set "of them. The person who shows my baskets sells her own beautiful feather masks and fans and barrettes. She is a real artist with a fabulous eye. She said - make sets of 3. small, med. and large. All the same. (As in colors) I use no stain on mine just dye, I do Appalachian rib baskets and dye different portions or use different dyed wool's or fibers in them. All depending on what I have bought, gathered or filched out of the trash. It was hard to do. But - guess what. They sold. They sold and sold. Sometimes by themselves but more often as a set. Sometimes I would make 2 mediums and 1 large. This works the best on "wall" (key) baskets She also puts stuff in them, like towels or hair things. People get an idea of what to do with them besides put dried flowers in them. Sometimes we need to be led by the hand out here in La La land. If someone else does this- let me know how it worked for you! Mary %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap basket Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1999 22:23:20 EDT From: AuntPattie@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net I'm headed to the NCBA West Convention in the morning and don't have a lot of time to write but I wanted to acknowledge the weaver of my wonderful swap basket. Marsha Ackerman made me a large totally twilled cathead basket. It's accented with ash & cherry curls and is really just beautiful. The weaving is excellent and all my friends are jealous of me (as usual). Got to hit the sack so I can drive in the morning but when I get back I'll write a nice long (boring?) letter about how the store is going. It's a blast & I have the best family & friends. I hope all of our friends on the East Coast will soon have their lives back under control. Our hearts go out to you all. Pattie Bagley %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: wedding baskets Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1999 21:39:56 -0500 From: cjc619 To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone, I have a cousin who is getting married next spring and she would like me to make baskets for her bridesmaids and flower girl. Does anyone know of some good patterns I could check out for such an event? I have never made a Nantucket basket before. I know several people have made these for bridesmaids' baskets. Thanks for your help in advance! Lisa Carstens in Hartland, WI, patiently awaiting the arrival of her swap basket! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 52 Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1999 20:28:00 -0700 (PDT) From: Jennie Swarthout To: David Collins I would like to make a comment about antlers. Maybe some don't know that deer shed their antlers each year. You can find them in the woods if you are lucky, however, usually they are consumed by other critters, such as rodents for their food value. Just because someone uses a deer antler, it doesn't mean that they are a poacher. Deer hunting is necessary to keep the population under control, and the lucky hunter who legally bags a buck with a nice rack certainly deserves the right to incorporate it as artfully as he so desires. Jennie %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Smoked Reed Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1999 23:33:37 EDT From: Wickrwoman@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net, SarahStoddard@worldnet.att.net Sarah, The only supplier that I know of that carries any smoked reed smaller in width than 1/4" is H. H. Perkins in CT. It is not listed in their regular catalog but can be found in their catalog insert, listed under "smoked reed," what else? I started buying the 11/64" flat oval from them several months ago, maybe even a year, whenever they first offered it in the catalog. FYI, we weavers on the AOL Basket Weaving Board have been questioning whether or not "smoked reed" is actually smoked or not, to obtain that "smokey" color. Directly from the horses mouths at Perkins, "It is not smoked or dyed, but processed some other way to obtain the brown, smokey color and is called smoked reed only because of the color. I absolutely love it because it is very flexible and you only need to soak it a few minutes before beginning to weave with it. The contrast against natural reed is wonderful too, makes a striking basket when the two colors are mixed. Look at some of my more recent antler baskets using the combination to see what I mean. The Wicker Woman/Cathryn Peters/MN http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=16796&a=72533 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Newbie basketmakers Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 00:01:31 EDT From: Wickrwoman@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net, janicep@execpc.com Jan, I am one of those basketmakers that uses "bambi antlers" in my baskets and must admit that the idea kinda turned me off at first too, but I got over it quickly. It still bothers the h_ _ _ out of me to actually cut off the antlers from the scull and do the rest of the drilling and other prep, but it has to be done if you want to create something lasting and impressive. The best thing is to use the shed antlers, (all antlers from the males of the deer family, fall off every year, naturally), but if that is not possible, another good source is getting them from the butcher shops. Those deer antlers are harvested from deer that were used to supply families with meat for their families. Just the same way as the farmer supplies us with meat to eat from cows and chickens and fishermen catch fish to eat. It's a natural thing that humans do to exist, with the exception of the vegetarians, of course :) Now, it seems that I digress, what did I start to tell you? Oh yes, I remember now, you were wondering about how to learn about the craft shows, set ups, basket classes, guilds and all that sort of thing. One of the best ways that I found out information (before getting on the Internet) was to subscribe to all the craft magazines I could discover. Some of the best general craft magazines, in my opinion are; The Crafts Report, Sunshine Artists, The American Craft, Fiber Arts, Threads and the Handweaver's Guild Associations rag, Shuttle, Spindle and Dyepot. If you want to get more specifically into baskets there are; Basket Bits, Black Creek (oh boy, now I'm in trouble, cuz I can't remember the rest of the title, help me out someone), Just Patterns and some others I can't remember the titles of now. You might also contact your local state arts board to join up and receive their newsletter and then of course, basketry guilds are a wealth of information. Most of the craft publications offer sections on booth presentation and cost, business development, pricing issues, political situations at arts & craft shows, listings of events and competitions, calls to entry, that sort of thing...I can't praise the craft magazine and book industry enough, they were my only lifeline for many, many years, because I am not near any big metropolitan city. Hope this helps you and any one else that is relatively new to the basket world. If you need any further assistance or advice (?) I am always here to put in my two cents, just ask. Just for giggles, check out my first few show displays listed under "Arts & Craft Shows" in my PhotoPoint Album pages. The Wicker Woman/Cathryn Peters/MN Cathryn Peters' PhotoPoint Albums http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=16796&Auth=false %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weavin' In Winona, Minnesota 2000 Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 00:18:37 EDT From: Wickrwoman@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everyone, Would you all please add this information about an upcoming event for next year, to your "Events, Conventions, and Workshop Calendars," please? 7th Annual Weavin' in Winona 7th Annual Weavin' in Winona basket weaving experience to be held in Winona, Minnesota on June 9, 10 & 11, 2000. FMI send LSASE to: Margaret Grund 704 Olmstead Street Winona, MN 55987 Email: grund@luminet.net Submitted by: The Wicker Woman/Cathryn Peters/MN, but I am NOT the contact person for this event, Margaret Grund is! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap Basket Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1999 22:33:51 -0700 From: ROY LEA To: David Collins Hi Swap Partner, Your basket is on the way, never fear. If you have the same first and last initials and live in the state where the hemlock is the official state tree, the mountain laurel the official state flower, and the ruffed grouse the state bird, then it is on the way to you. (I just love the stuff one can look up on the Internet!) So watch for the USPS delivery, and I hope you like the contents. I had a lot of fun on this end working on them. Thanks, Bert, for organizing the swap, and thank you in advance to all those lovely people who volunteered to run future swaps. Happy weaving to all, and don't sweat the small stuff. Life is too short, in my humble opinion. As the Polish guard at the kaserne in Germany used to say, "Better you smile." Diane in AZ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits and Pieces Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 01:42:55 -0400 From: John Dorris To: "Weavers Words" Well Folks tho's it's long past what should be my bed time I wanted to write as this may be the last time I have much access to the computer until after Arrowmont. Jan, don't let us "old timers" upset you when you find you are doing something we don't agree with. We tend to be a rather vocal group and have no problem expressing our opinion and just because we don't like it "don't mean it ain't right". Use what we offer that makes sense to you and ignore all the rest (which is what those who know us well do anyway). You'll probably find the longer you weave the more you begin to reject methods that you once thought were great. Trust me this is the voice of experience speaking. One of my favorite stories was told by KC Siebert who started weaving so long ago she got over it and got a real job making real money. Anyway she said she was at a friend's house and she picked up a basket she saw and put it by the front door with her things so she wouldn't forget it when she left. Her friend asked what she was doing, her reply " I am going to take it home and weave you another- I don't want anyone to ever know that I made this basket." Anette, If your nesting set is the one I think it is be glad you used cherry rims because if you had used half round they wouldn't nest because there is not enough allowance for the thickness of the rims. You've hit on what is one of MY pet peeves. The "experts" who don't thoroughly test their products before they sell it to us. I know they can't test for every possibility but at least check for the common problems that might arise. Don't everyone get in a panic- I'm not talking about patterns. I've been know to send molds back. I once made a Nantucket purse and when I got the lid done it just wouldn't work out. After much gnashing of teeth and consultation with a friend (who is a math teacher and understands these things better than I do.) we figured out that the slope of the top of the lid wasn't at the same angle so it would never work out right. I was MOST unhappy as it was for a special order and thought I was almost finished. Another time the two screws that hold the base weren't aligned so the base would always be crooked. These were from different suppliers. Will keep my mouth shut on the latest "disagreement" tho' those who know me well know I'm biting my tongue. Since it's 1:30 a.m. and the clock is set for 6 a.m. I think I've rambled on enough. Billie in Va. Beach. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 52 Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 08:27:25 -0400 From: jbenner@juno.com To: davidc@iei.net HI Jan in WI, I too am doing my first shows these next few months. Not to discourage you, cause you don't live anywhere near me, but I've had an awful time this summer. My friends and I did a street fair and what was billed as a craft fair in a park. The street fair was the 3rd of July in the sun and about 100 degrees. I sold one basket to my girlfriend's sister, and that wasn't even at the fair! It was after the fair. The second one I sold nothing. Zip. But, the good? thing was there were 42 other vendors there and none of them did well. Many sold nothing, and the few that did sell made just about their table cost. How do we know? Cause we all spent the afternoon wandering in boredom from table to table and talked. People came, but they went to the top of the hill to listen to the bands, eat and drink. By the time they reached the bottom of the hill they were out of money, dragging crabby kids (the beanie babies sold well), and a bit on the tipsy side. Even the show coordinator who was stationed next to us had a beer in her hand all day. Our next one is a real craft fair, inside, where you pay to come and shop. We'll see how it goes. On pricing. I know how it depends on where you are and all but I have a question. A friend who paints and I collaborated on a basket. It's called a mitten basket, but it is just a squarish wall basket to me. About 12"high by 8" wide by 6" deep? Nothing particularly special or hard about it, but it did take me 2.5 hrs to weave it. Rims are always a long process for me with the shaving. Anyway, I then passed it off to my friend who cut a lid, and made a brace for it and hinged it and all. She painted acute little snowman like he was peeking out of the basket. We added a bow and tied wood mittens to the bow (painted of course). It took her 5.5 hrs to do this. She has about 6.00 in materials into it and I think I have about that. It's very hard for me to judge how much the reed cost. Esp. if there's just a touch of a color. So, here's our assessment of this. **IF** we could sell this thing for 40.00 (doubtful in this area but we'll try), we'd each get 20.00. Out of that take away 6.00 and we have14.00. Now for me that's about 6.50 an hour. But for her? Less than 3.00an hour! Not worth it IMHO. Even if I give her more of the "profit" hah!!, we'd each make around 4.00 an hour. Is there a solution to this? It's such a neat basket, and we took them into the daycare she owns and everyone loved it and wanted one. Until, they heard the price. Then they wrinkled their noses. But these are the same people who pay big bucks for "L" baskets. Except for one, who buys real cheap ones that I am suspecting to be tender Hearts baskets. IS there a way to tell if they are TH baskets? A marking perhaps? Thanks for the tip on only setting different baskets out together. I will try that, and the idea that all stained the same have a mass market appearance. That's true, but I *like* the dark color stain! (VBG) Seriously I do have varying colors and shade. One more question and I'll shut up. If someone makes a basket which requires natural and different colors of reeds, how can you stain the natural after weaving? Or even spray it? I made a few garden angels by Susan Reed Fanfoni and it takes some colors and such. The only way I could figure to do it was to dye the naturals first. But my problem with doing that on a large scale for all baskets is, I may run out of a certain color in a certain size, and don't want to have to buy and dye a whole coil of each color of each size. Storage is getting to be a problem. And weavers are hard to gauge an amount needed. Thanks for any help! Judy %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Swap Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 09:16:53 -0400 From: "Meier, Anette H" To: "'David Collins'" Hi All, Well, after a hard two hours of racquetball, I came home to find my swap basket!!! Many thanks go out to Ellen McClure who wove a BEAUTIFUL Bouquet Basket. This was her own pattern, of which she kindly included with the basket. The basket was done on a 5 x 14 d-handle with wine and navy twining, navy braided seagrass, and a drop dead gorgeous wine and navy Gretchen Border. The handle was sanded smooth and the basket has an overdye of light oak stain. Ellen, I would have also emailed you personally, nice note didn't include an email address. Apologies not necessary, we have a whole month to send out the swap basket. It doesn't have to be in the mail within the first week of the swap. It takes me three weeks just to figure out which basket I want to weave. Anyway, many, many, many thanks for such a special basket. Have a safe trip to Connecticut! Rit Dye: I have written to the address on the Rit color chart to request information about purchasing Rit Liquid in other colors, but I haven't heard from them. The stores in my area just have the standard "crayon" colors, but I would like to have some of the other colors, too. Do any of you know where I can buy, online even, Rit Liquid? Thanks! Happy Weaving! Anette, in I don't like the cold Long Island ;^) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: You Should See My Swap Basket!!!! Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 09:49:11 -0400 From: "Robbie & Skip Sykes" Reply-To: "Robbie & Skip Sykes" <@coastalnet.com> To: "David Collins" WOW!!!! You WW guys should see my swap basket!! Patti Steinmetz made me a "Homespun Sewing Basket" and it's spectacular. It's round made with flat and round reed and leather handles. The sides are done with an arrow twill and cane overlaying a hunter green accent weaver. The bottom and lid also have a hunter green arrow twill accent. Inside was a lovely little basket to match for bobbins, etc. How Patti knew I loved to sew was beyond me. Maybe she's physic? Anyway, she did a fantastic job. I don't work with round reed as well as she does, so I "tip" my hat to you, Patti. Thank you so much. I will treasure it always. Thanks also for the kind words and thoughts! We're okay here, but so many others are not. The floodwaters rose again yesterday down stream and are due to rise more today and tomorrow. A dam up stream in Raleigh has run over the spillway and the Corp. of Engineers is having to release some water to prevent damage up there. We hope it doesn't affect our friends down stream in the Tarboro, Washington, New Bern and Greenville areas. They are some of the hardest hit. Thanks also to everyone for your thoughts and prayers and good wishes. Jan: Please remember; we were ALL new weavers at one time!!!!! And don't be intimidated by us. We like to share our experiences and some of us who are just getting into this like to hear from the more experienced ones. Basket weaving is suppose to be FUN! That's the whole purpose of it. You will enjoy making baskets and the craft shows have always been a lot of fun for me; even if some have not been extremely successful. The main thing is I enjoyed every minute of it. And so should you. This is the fun part! Happy Weaving! Robbie in beautifully sunny, DRY and cool Wilson, NC. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap Basket Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 09:20:54 -0500 From: "Anthony Robbins" To: Hi Ya'll, Guess what the UPS man brought for me yesterday evening? You guessed it, my swap basket from Angie Rhodus. It's a be-u-ti-ful cat head, about 10 inches in diameter, with a baby seagrass and round reed inset (an inch or so wide) about 3/4 the way up the sides. I love it so much! Angie called it a "simple" basket--and she's right--it "simply" suits me to a T! Angie: Thank you note will follow in a few days by snail mail. Cindy in Bama where it is a glorious fall day %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Question about weavers in Ky., etc. Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 10:55:32 -0400 From: "Judy Mullins" To: I am looking for weavers in the Ky. area of Lexington, and North to the Cincinnati area that are not necessarily in a guild, but would just like to get together as a group. I am midway between the two cities. We could meet at my log cabin. I have made baskets for many years since I was 13, but just made mostly ribbed baskets, & a few splint baskets. I never learned the fancy weaves like some of you speak of. I'm not even sure if I would want to join a guild. Some of the ones I have heard of, are according to a basket weaving friend of mine, a little snooty. I would just like to have a friendly get together, maybe once or twice a month to exchange ideas, no money involved, everybody just bring their own materials. Please let me know, if you live in this area, and are interested. Sorry, I can't remember everyone's name, but to the person that wanted smoked reed, Cane & Basket in L.A. used to carry it. As for the advertising on WW. I suppose I have been somewhat guilty of that. Sorry if this offended anyone. I have never complained about others that do this in a discreet way. If I'm not interested, I just scroll on down the page. My only problem with this whole situation, is using foul language on WW. I am not a miss goody two shoes, but there are a few words that I find very distasteful, and they are the "P' Word, and "F" word. That's just my opinion. I call members of my own family down, for saying these words. My comment to them is, don't you have a larger vocabulary? Can't you find words to express yourself without saying that? That's it, I've had my say, just could not stand it any longer. Happy Weaving! Judy in cooler Ky. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Naturals Newsletter Date: Fri, 01 Oct 1999 11:18:50 -0400 From: Linda Finger To: davidc@iei.net Would you include me on the mailing list for the Naturals Newsletter. I love reading the WW and maybe will have something to offer one of these days....just getting back to my weaving after a few years pursuing other interests.... Thanks, Linda in upstate South Carolina Linda Finger Greenwood Genetic Center 1 Gregor Mendel Circle Greenwood, SC 29646 E-mail: Linda@ggc.org %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Thank you! Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 10:27:48 -0500 From: "Sarah S. Watts" To: Thank you to everyone who sent me private e-mail giving me the information I requested about smoked reed. I am a very new weaver, and it helped me out a lot. I already loved this community, but now I have been shown first-hand how eager everyone is to help. I didn't expect so many responses or to have them so soon. Thank you again to everyone, and thank you to David for the work put into this wonderful medium. Sarah Watts in increasingly chilly southern Alabama... %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: An opinion and a question Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 11:03:53 -0700 From: "JUDY B. DAVIS" To: "David Collins" Hello Weavers I'm a new subscriber to WW and I am finding it very interesting to click on and find out what other weavers and thinking, making, and doing. THE OPINION - One of the most useful things about this forum is being able to find out sources for materials and information about classes etc. I don't consider that "advertising". It is passing on information. In fact I just found out that Jill Choate is going to be offering a class in my area (upper East TN) and I would how otherwise known nothing about it! Please don't try to prevent people from passing on useful info such as this just because someone might make some money out of it. What wrong with making money out of our art form anyway? THE QUESTION - I have been weaving for several years and over time have developed several original designs. I intend to start making patterns from my designs. My question is --Where is the best (i.e. cheapest) place to have multiple copies of photographs made? I have checked with a few local photo processors but thought someone out there might have a really great source for this. Thanks. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Birch Bark Classes Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 14:44:40 -0400 From: "Angie Wagner" To: "David" Hi all, Time is running out. If you'd like to take one of the birch bark classes given by Vladimir Yarish on October 15 & 16, 1999, please visit our Info page - http://www.countryseat.com/info.htm - and click on Class Info in the table of contents or e-mail us for more information. Angie Wagner The Country Seat ctryseat@fast.net http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: my goodness Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 21:41:33 -0700 From: "Ellen McClure" To: Pass over it and get over it. New subscribers everyday need this site as a means to begin and progress with their weaving. I am very religious and write many patterns. Nothing has affected me enough to make me write in to WW until now. The profanity (vulgarity) whatever you call it has got to go! What has happened to friendliness? Kristin gave her opinion. Patti gave her's. Kristin blew-up. Patti over apologized. People respond to others at home all the time. Don't sign on to groups (sites) like this if you don't want other members to have your home e-mail. Patti was clearly being polite trying to spare everyone else needing to "just pass through" messages. When you start a message "Here it goes" or when you end another one "Royally ___ ___" in where ever, what did you expect? I assume you are an adult, act like one, especially in front of your colleagues. With that said, I will continue. New weavers have got to know where and when to find things they need. I started years ago and only a couple of people were willing to help. Everything was so secretive it seemed. Come on everyone. If you enjoy weaving let someone else in on the goods. I am not saying give away all your ideas or your special ways of doing a certain weaves. I'm saying let these new weavers have all the avenues possible to learn. If you're selling race car parts, o.k., go somewhere else to sell. Otherwise "passthrough" if you aren't interested. A lot of times it is the customers "plugging" a supplier or a business. Most suppliers don't have time to read WW and if they do GREAT. They are using every means possible to keep up with what weavers want and need! Until, of course, David stops them. This is the American way. Do unto others as you would have them do to you. I don't believe anyone is really trying to hold anyone back. Put a smile on and shrug your shoulders. Give your opinion back, but give it with class not trash. Ellen P.S. why don't you forward Patti's message to all of us if it was so terrible? %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 49 Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 23:12:39 -0500 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 49 Cathryn P. - Thanks for posting the list of basketry sites on the Internet. Regarding your question about posting class information and prices, I am definitely in favor of doing so, even for small local events. Sometimes just getting one or two more students to sign up can mean the difference in whether a class is successful, and keep the teacher from going in the hole. Rather than posting all the details, though, I think we should get the information to David for posting on his event calendar at the WW web site. Then we can mention it WW and those who want more information can look it up on the web site or email us privately. Evie - I think Sharle Osborne is providing interested people with sign-up information for the Willow and Naturals list. If you haven't heard from her (or Rob Sutherland) in the next week or so, I can get it for you. Pamela Zimmerman - I didn't mean that public notes about swap baskets were unnecessary. I love reading about all the baskets, too. What I was trying to say is that your thank you to the weaver should be sent directly to the weaver, preferably Before you send a post to WW about it. Your description of the basket for WW should not be a substitute for a personal thank you note. And speaking of the Swap!... Here it is the first of October and time that everybody's swap baskets should have been sent. However, I have only been notified about the sending of around 75% of the baskets, and receipt of about 35%. The gap is understandable, considering how many baskets were sent in the last couple of days (mine included). Any of you who have sent or received your baskets and have not let me know about it, please do so right away. I will be sending individual messages to everyone in the swap I have not heard from. If you have not yet sent your basket out, an explanation is in order, both to me and to your assigned recipient. I hope to have all baskets accounted for before I leave for Arrowmont on Tuesday the 5th of October. PLEASE! Bert Comstock Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 50 Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 23:28:01 -0500 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net "Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 50 Gretchen - It's great to hear about your teaching and the kids who are learning basket weaving from you. Youngsters in that age range are so much fun to work with when they are so enthusiastic. Bert Comstock Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Swap Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 09:02:50 EDT From: KSLERB@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Well, I sure must be nervous about my first basket swap. I sent my swap basket yesterday priority mail to someone with the initials B.F. who is east of me, I believe ;) I had a dream last night that she was standing next to me opening it and had an awful, disappointed look on her face - she held it up and it was smashed and broken. She just put it back in the box and walked away (!) Yikes! Hopefully my swap partner's reaction will be more favorable!!!!!! I enjoy reading the Weaver's Words so much, thank you David for doing this. It is such a nice group of people and I look forward to every digest! Sue Erb in Webster Groves, Missouri, where we are having a nice, cool fall-like morning %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Walnut stain Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 09:53:26 -0400 From: "McCrea" To: "David Collins" References: 1 For all of you who don't want the same color of stain, try using walnut hulls. It's just the right time of year to gather some. Last week I boiled about a dozen walnut and hulls (that had turned brown) in water. Put them in an old stocking or plan to strain you stain. I brought them to a boil and simmered them for a while. The next day I stained a few baskets and they came out a beautiful light brown. I let my brew sit another day, and stained some more baskets that turned out a deeper shade. I ran out of stain, but I'm sure it would have turned darker with age. It's probably a good idea to refrigerate it, to avoid mold. This homemade stain has no toxic odor and your basket smells great. Clean up is quick, just wash your brush with water and throw the hulls in your compost pile. Each time you make a new stain, you'll have a different shade. Another plus, it's a lot less expensive than buying stain. Please put me on the list for the newsletter on naturals. Penny %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: swap basket Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 09:53:59 -0700 From: "Ellen McClure" To: A very big thank you to Carol in PA! What a beautiful English Shopper by Linda Scoggins. I not only received one wonderful gift, but two. The packing pieces Carol chose to use are now entertaining my 3 sons so I can weave more! Huge thanks. Ellen %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: aloha! Date: Sat, 02 Oct 1999 10:06:29 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha from sunny, not yet so hot Honolulu, Someone was looking for a ribbed basket from Scotland to hold yarn..is this the same Scottish yarn Basket in Jean Finley*s ribbed basket book? Robin Daugherty has a much larger one on the cover of her book--at least the copy I have, but she doesn*t call it a Scottish yarn. It is made on2 18" hoops that are Gods-eyed together. Even a seldom ribbed weaver like myself made that one with few problems. Question--I*ve started putting together a newsletter for those who come to my classes. I did October*s edition (the first came in Sept) while everyone was out last night and the house was quiet. I am enjoying this a great deal and I*m doing it to give those at my class new sources, tips I pick up, my class schedule, upcoming fairs, a recipe and a free pattern (yes, it is my own design). This month we have class schedule, a blurb about a newer country shop in town, craft fairs, comments from the editor re: the new weaving group starting in Jan., a section on subscribing to WW, how to find a chat room, Tip of the month, where to find a pattern for basket liners, 2 recipes (yes Joanne, one is for those cinnamon rolls), how to dye your reed, a blurb on Weaver*s Stain (which is mega popular right now), new sources I found, guild happenings, stenciling using those sticky stencils, Caroline Prevost*s new arrival, clip art and a full page for the pattern (this month*s is Katie*s Harvest Basket done on a 6" base). Whew. I could add 2 more pages as I have so much stuff. Since I*m not computer savvy, I type up everything and do actual cut and paste (my best friend is Elmer*s glue) and take it to Kinko*s where they put it on one big sheet of paper for an unbelievable fee of 26 cents. So when I fold it, I have a four page newsletter. So here is the question.. Does anyone else have anything similar they give to classes, etc.? If so, would you like to exchange? I*m not talking guild newsletters--that is a different topical together--just handouts, etc. you give out at your classes. Sad note: while I was at basket class Thursday night, my 17-year-old Yorkshire Terrier passed away. What a sad homecoming after such a terrific class.. Counting down the days 'til I fly to Kansas City.... Lois %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: My beautiful swap basket arrived!!!! Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 20:29:39 EDT From: KSLERB@aol.com To: lcutrigh@wvu.edu CC: davidc@iei.net Dear Linda Cutright, Thank you SO much for the beautiful basket you sent! It is a large twill woven (hope I'm using the correct term) basket with a wire handle. It was an original design from Linda called 'Wendy's Pail', named after her daughter. Linda, I can see why you get so many requests for this basket - it is spectacular! I also love the dark stain and am curious what you used to stain the basket - I really like the matte finish. I so enjoyed the lovely letter you wrote and am sure we will enjoy the HOMEMADE jelly I found inside the basket (as if getting the basket didn't thrill me enough)! I cannot wait for the next swap - this is so fun!! Thanks again, Linda!! Sue in chilly Webster Groves, MO....brrrrr %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 52 Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 17:57:44 -0700 (PDT) From: Marsha Ackerman To: David Collins Dear Weavers, I would like to "publicly" thank Pamela Zimmerman for the beautiful lidded pine needle basket she made for me in this last swap. I believe she has a picture of it on David's picture site. This one is so lovely I may one day have to learn. I rarely get involved in our little disagreements here. I love reading Weavers Words, and I think it is still so because I have learned to read or skim - whatever fits the topic as it relates to my interests. Some days I only want to read basket related tips. Other days I enjoy the personal stuff. As others have recently said, life is too short to waste time fussing. I, personally, appreciate much of the advertising. If it tells me something I want to know or how to find something I want, great! If not, so what? No one is forcing me to buy anything, or even read about it. For months I have been skipping over comments about naturals (no offense to anyone, now.) because I am new enough to basketry that I still find reed (and black ash) challenging enough. I don't have time to read everything. I also skip much of the "fussing". Maybe some others could too? Thanks to David for all the work this involves. Thanks to all of you who write and let all the rest of us enjoy your comments, opinions and wisdom. And thanks Pam for a gorgeous, mind changing basket!! Marsha in the cool and windy U.P. of Michigan %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Amb convention door prizes. Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 21:13:47 EDT From: GARJOSBASK@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everyone: So that everyone at Michigan's AMB''s "Weaving into the Future" convention being held in November gets a door prize, we are asking for help. We need several more door prizes. They can be finished baskets, patterns, books, supplies, or even gift certificates. It isn't necessary to send large quantities of the same item. Every donation is greatly appreciated. Please send your door prizes to: Joanne Shilling 9302 Atlas Drive Davison, MI 48423 Or Susan Godfrey 4290 N. Genesee Rd. Flint, MI 48506 Thanks again for anything that you can donate. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Calendars Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 22:06:40 EDT From: Karitamus@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Maybe one of my fellow weavers can help. A few years ago (actually, 95 and 96) I was able to buy calendars with pictures of BEAUTIFUL BASKETS, but haven't been able to find them since. These were call Folk Art Baskets Calendars and were published by Chapters Publishers & Booksellers in Shelburne, Vermont. Anyone know where I can find a nice basket calendar? I just love them -- so inspirational! Thanks for any help! Karita %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.