"Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 55 Date Sent: October 05, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 1194 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. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 51 Date: Mon, 4 Oct 1999 22:10:37 -0500 From: Roberta R Comstock To: davidc@iei.net Well, Weavers, we're down to only 4 people who have not yet reported tome about sending out their swap baskets. That's 97% of the baskets shipped! I hope to have 100% reported by the time I get back from Tennessee next week. Since I expect to be exhausted by the time I get home, I won't begin checking on unreceived baskets until about Tuesday the 12th of October. I've gotten a number of messages from people who haven't received their baskets yet. Please be patient! If a basket was sent as late as the 4th (Which several were) by regular surface mail and it takes about seven days for it to reach its destination, it may not get their until Monday the 11th. As I said, all but 4 of the baskets have already been sent and should arrive in the next few days. If you folks want to make me really happy, you will all report to me this week that your baskets have gone out, and again when the incoming baskets are received, and I will hot have no further swap work to do when I get home other than sending my notes to the next coordinator. I have a record of who has not reported getting a basket. If you have not told me it arrived, I will be writing to you individually next week. You DON'T need to write me to tell me it hasn't come yet! If you sent your basket long enough ago that it should have been delivered by now, it is fine to contact the recipient to verify delivery. This should not be necessary if everybody follows the directions I gave at the beginning of this swap. I now return you to your regularly scheduled Weavers' Words: "Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 51 Mary Berrus - Congratulations on a successful first show! Lois - Pictures will be fine, I plan to take some myself! Linda - Regarding the flood or storm damaged baskets: Vinegar, being an acid, is not good for reed and other basketry materials of plant origin. Ammonia would be more effective and do less damage in the long run. The odor will dissipate if you set the baskets in an open place where air can circulate around them. Any moldy baskets that have already been treated with vinegar should be rinsed with an alkaline rinse such as baking soda in water to neutralize the residual acid from the vinegar. "Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 52 Billie - I'm glad to hear you're going to Arrowmont too! It just keeps getting better & better, & we're not even there yet! Whee! "Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 53 David - Thanks for your words of wisdom and diplomacy. Well said! Lois - My sympathy on the death of your dog. I didn't know a Yorkie could live so long. My last dog (a Pomeranian/fox terrier mix) died at11 & I was devastated. I know how you must feel after so many years of companionship. Bert Comstock, leaving Independence, MO the morning of Oct. 5th for the HGA Basketry Conference at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN! Yippee!!!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: (no subject) Date: Mon, 4 Oct 1999 23:19:53 EDT From: CHobbsNANA@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Very well said, David. Everyone has a right to opinion, and should not be criticized for it. And, furthermore, if it can't be said in an open forum, then it should not be said by way of personal messages. There is no sense upsetting each other by criticizing for expressing your own opinions. I appreciate what you do for us, David. You do a wonderful job. To Chrystal - I received the swap basket which Chrystal made for me. She made me a lovely antler basket, very well done. I shall cherish it. She also added a package of huckleberry tea bags-and I love tea. I was in her area last week (in Montana) and looked at that very tea. But, because of lack of suitcase space, did not buy it. Having seen the beautiful scenery in Montana, it seems to me that antler baskets pretty much should be native for the area. Thank-you. Clare %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Staining Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 00:07:11 -0500 From: "Kim" To: David, you are absolutely right!! When people "attack" others, they too, open themselves up to attacks. We can disagree without getting mean about it. I think it's natural to become defensive when attacked ... then everything snowballs. I happen to disagree with Tony's view on staining, however, I also believe that he has the right to hold that opinion, and voice it. I intentionally make all my baskets the same color of stain and I prefer it. In fact, I have a "recipe" I use now because when I used to just add 'this and that' ... when it was time for a new batch of stain, the new batch was either lighter or darker ... and the customers would say "why is this one darker?" People are generally indecisive, and when you give them too much choice, they can't make up their minds. I also don't like people to ask me "Well, can you make me this basket in THAT color?" (Referring to the stain) I use a lot of color and accessories in my baskets ... and I always have very nice eye catchers near the front of my booth, both on the table and atop the crates. (To catch eyes when people are crowded IN the booth and blocking the table view) I also pack my booth pretty full. I would prefer to space them nicely, however I have also found that if the customer can see everything you have as they walk by ... they keep walking. I like them to feel like they might miss something if they don't actually come in the booth. To say my booth "suffers" from the same color stain isn't correct. Sales tell me different. HOWEVER ... I am not criticizing Tony for thinking so ... he IS entitled to believe that. OK ... that being said ... my booth DID suffer this weekend, but not from stain. Our 30% chance of very light rain turned into an all day downpour. I've encountered rain at outdoor shows before, but nothing like this! My tubs were literally floating out from under my tables! I'd push it back in and it would float back out! Finally, I gave up with everyone else and started packing up. As I neared the end, I discovered a large blue tub was missing! I couldn't believe that some creep would stoop to stealing my tub in the pouring down rain! I was cold (it was 42?) wet, and now I was upset! The 2 booths beside me had long since been packed up and gone ... well, something caught my eye, and sure enough, it was my tub! The current had taken it and wedged it under a pick-up truck (who was also packing up!) I had to laugh then! I WAS correct in thinking there was a creep at the show though ... this man came up to me when I didn't have 1 dry hair on my head ... nor a dry piece of clothing and wanted to take my picture for the newspaper. ?? I told him to GO AWAY. Kim ... in Knob Noster, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Word Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 00:59:34 -0500 From: "Y. Cornelius" To: Hi everyone: I'm moving to Korea in January and was wondering if there are any basket weavers over there? Or does anyone know of someone there I could contact? I appreciate the help. Happy weaving from slightly cooler Texas. Yvonne %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: aloha Date: Mon, 04 Oct 1999 20:13:25 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha, Thanks so much to those of you who wrote regarding the loss of our dog. We had her for 16 years and she was definitely a part of the family. She traveled around the world with us and will be missed for a long time. Carolyn, I thought your comments on selling baskets at craft fairs vs. art fairs was a little harsh. Some of us prefer to make more functional baskets--not exotic-- and a lot of us sell at fairs. To say that we do "several items that are similar and are not too complex in design" and" its all beginner level baskets they can churn out in 2-4 hours" makes us sound like idiots. I live in a totally different culture than you are familiar with and finding a market for traditional American baskets is sometimes difficult because I*m competing against imports. I enjoy what I do--I don*t "churn" out baskets on a "beginner level". Why would you feel the need to give such a low opinion about your sister weavers? I hope you have a better day tomorrow. Rae--enjoyed your comments about students teaching--you are "flattered" if one of yours teaches. What if she teaches next door and cuts your price? Wow, I*m glad I*m going on vacation for the next 2 weeks...WW*s dark side is showing.....ouch. Aloha to my sister and brother weavers who love what they do, sell what they make, and feel good about it... Lois %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap basket Date: Tue, 05 Oct 1999 02:35:17 -0700 From: ROY LEA To: David Collins To: davidc@iei.net Hi all, I wanted to thank Diane Begeman for the cute basket that she gave me. It is a round bun basket, with yo yo's attached all the way around. Made with my favorite color, hunter green. It matches my kitchen great. Thanks again Diane!!!!!! I wanted to add my 2cents about staining. When I sold my baskets at the festival last week, I had them stained several different colors. I think that if you are selling them, you need a variety. And I mixed them all up under the tent, no 2 baskets that were sitting next 2 each other were the same color or the same basket. It looks a lot better than all the same color. I also had ones that just had a clear coat on them, which I don't like, but a lot of people did. Happy Weaving, Mary Berrus %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Need patter or idea of how to start. Date: Tue, 05 Oct 1999 08:51:01 -0400 From: dan hautzinger To: David Collins I need some help from this group, I did a Applefest here in Lebanon, and an mid age gentleman came scampering up to my booth, very excited, He said he heard me say I will do special orders. All he wants is a basket like he had in the 40's or 50's at his parents, it was a round basket with a drawstring pouch connected to it, over the top, and in it was a fabric bun holder with compartments. His was in red gingham with white ric rack on it. If I could only make him one he would be beyond happy, (I sew too so the fabric part isn't a turn off) Well I have heard from other people, he has excitedly told people at his office the only thing he wants for Christmas is the bun basket (so he can relive his memories at this Christmas dinner with his family), his wife met mean said I have made him so happy that I would even try to make something he has wanted for years and she has searched.......The list goes on, but my question is help, does anyone know of such a thing, have a picture, a pattern, size anything??? I have already bought 2 yards of redgingham, if I make this and he is happy I am going to make one for myself for my own memories......Needless to say I am happy for the challenge, hope you can give me some help. By the way the festival was outstanding, great food, great people and the best part great sales. The best show I have ever done. And not one thing sold, but a variety of things. Really works into my style, I make what I feel like making, sometimes one, sometimes 2 that is why I don't keep a duplicate inventory, I love making different. The next Y class was a bit hectic, 12 students 4 new ones, never before made a basket, 1 was a sister to the 11-year-old, she is 12, at first I thought what have I gotten myself into, and then decided to just go with the flow. Wonderful experience. The 14-year-old did her own thing with the design, added twinning, used a pink I can get no one to use, more pink, twinning etc., needless to say her basket was beautiful, looked like Victorian lace, awesome, I have to make one like it. The other kids did wonderfully well, and I had a great time. Was a bit tired and it was a bigger class than I had anticipated, but I wouldn't change a thing. I love this job. Next we are going to make pumpkin baskets, then bucket baskets with snowmen on them and a Door basket. So we are busy. Thanks for and help on the bun basket, Gretchen Where things have cooled down, the cats are frisky and the dog is wild, and the referral for the adoption still hasn't come. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Copying Pictures Date: Tue, 05 Oct 1999 08:29:31 -0500 From: Sarah Hartman Organization: Fuchs Lubricants Co. To: davidc@iei.net Noticed in the last issues some questions regarding ethics and weaving and web sites. As long as a web site is copyrighted it is subject to the same copyright laws as a pattern, book, or any other publication. If the site is not copyrighted the lines are less clear, but if it can be proven that a person took something from that site to be used for commercial gain, they can be prosecuted just as if the site had been copyrighted. In other words, don't do it! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Seminar West, NC Date: Tue, 05 Oct 1999 09:43:44 -0400 From: Fran Steidel To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone, Just returned from Seminar West in Hickory. The members up there do a fantastic job. We had great lodging, food, classes and friendship. Saw old friends and made new ones. Now I am looking forward to Seminar East in a few weeks. I would like to thank Leigh from NC. Months ago she asked about my wax linen kits for my egg baskets and I responded to her privately. Meanwhile, several others from our WW family emailed me and I was able to sell a few kits. The best part is that Angie from Country Seat contacted me and I'm thrilled to say that they are now carrying my kits. So in a few days you can see them on their on-line catalog. If this offends anyone because I'm tooting my own horn, I'm sorry, but this is what I love about WW - finding out what's available to us. Fran from Eastern NC where there are hundreds of people still not able to get into their homes. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Swap Date: Tue, 05 Oct 1999 09:05:41 -0500 From: Debbie Czerwionka To: David Collins Dear WW Readers and of Course David: I have found some friends - basketweavers all! This is a wonderful forum and I truly appreciate all you do David. Thank you. I am intrigued by the basket swaps. Are they whatever basket you like to weave and send it. Is there a theme? Are there naturals only swaps? Sorry for all the questions, I'm a fairly new weaver and am worried about entering a swap. I would hate to disappoint someone who might get my basket - to me, getting a basket from someone seems like such a great thing - seeing what other people make and create is a gift alone. I know in this forum I will get many people to respond - that is what I would like! Thanks everyone - you are friends one and all. Debbie Czerwionka In the Windy City - Chi Town %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 54 Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 11:01:15 -0400 From: "Donna L." To: "David Collins" Suzi - There is a relief fund for Craftsmen - CERF (Craftsmen Emergency Relief Fund). Tried as hard as I could, but I cannot find any info on it this AM. I thought I had posted something to WW's this past spring, but I cannot bring anything up in the search. Probably if you check with some of the craft publications web sites, like Crafts Report or Sunshine Artists you can find out more information. Donna L. ctryseat@fast.net http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 54 Date: Tue, 05 Oct 1999 08:01:39 -0700 From: Naomi Paquette To: David Collins References: 1 Hi David and all you wonderful weavers out there, I haven't been on for awhile but I'm weaving and reading just being quite. I'm glad I missed whatever went on in the last few issues and even though I haven't read them it is easy to see that something went awry and David addressed it and it is over. This is good. I want to thank Bert for the swap as usual it was wonderful to receive a beautiful basket from someone who made it especially for you. My swap partner was Heather Nicholson from Michigan she made me a wonderful Snowman basket, it is the cutest thing. He stands pretty tall (didn't measure him) he has a plaid ribbon around him with bells on the ends. He is hard to describe, He looks just like a snowman. He has become part of the family and sits in my sunroom so everyone can see him. I hope no one wants me to make one for them because he is one of a kind. Thanks Heather I love him. Naomi Happy weaving to all. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap Basket Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 08:57:15 -0700 From: "Perry S. Brown" To: "Weaver's Words" Hi! Hope everyone is doing great. I wanted to drop a short note to Allison Britton in Mesa, AZ. Thank you so much for the lovely candle baskets you sent. They were perfect as I have a weakness for candles. You gave me a great Christmas idea. Look forward to the next swap! Happy Weaving, Natalie Brown Greenwood, SC %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Received Date: Tue, 05 Oct 1999 09:36:39 PDT From: "linda nelson" To: herthab@att.net I just received my swap basket from Pam Mullis, from Puerto Rico. What made it even better was that Pam and her husband are in the Navy and about to retire, and I just retired from the Navy. It was a beautiful birdhouse basket. Now my only problem is trying to keep it. My Father and some friends are trying to claim as theirs. Thank You Linda %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Upcoming trip Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 13:37:23 -0500 From: "Clinton County Emg. Manage. Agc." To: "David Collins" Hi everyone. Well, I got my son married off and moved off to Vail, Co. with his new bride. Just found out about a special being offered by Amtrak and will probably take a trip out there the end of November. Are there any weavers in that area? I was really disappointed on our trip to northern Minnesota, didn't find a basket shop anywhere in Fargo, ND! Bummer! Oh well, I did find a chocolate shop and a quilt shop, my next two favorite things to do! Looking forward to the next basket swap. Thanks to everyone for all the great info on this site, and to David for all his work. Sandi from steamer@cis.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: swap basket! Date: Tue, 05 Oct 1999 14:54:28 -0500 From: cjc619 To: davidc@iei.net This is just a note to let everyone know that I received a lovely basket today from Juanita Carreon! I missed the mailman yesterday when he came with it, so I picked it up this morning at the post office and it was in a BIG box. I could hardly stand the suspense driving home with it, but I made it home and tore into the box. It is a door basket with a 12 x 16-inch D handle. It has5 birdhouses painted on it by Juanita and they look like they are hanging in some branches that are actually grapevines wrapped around the basket that then lead up around the handle. The colors in it are navy and hunter green, and the birdhouses have those 2 colors as well as rust, light blue, ivory, tan, etc. all of which compliment the colors on the outside of my house! It also has a beautifully done braided rim. I plan to use this basket as my spring door basket! Thank you so much Juanita!! Thank you also Bert for coordinating this swap!! It was a lot of fun!! Lisa Carstens in Hartland, WI %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 16:45:53 -0400 From: "Joy Moody" To: Hi Everyone! I've been following WW throughout the summer but very busy with old Victorian house projects. I did take time though to enter one basket in a fair that took a blue ribbon. My second kick was a woman who stopped by my studio, plucked a feather basket off the overhead hook, & was so excited she was virtually dancing around my barn. What a stitch. It really made me happy to see someone so excited about a basket! Guess I missed the last hoopla, we do periodically go round & round. I like it most when the WW focus is primarily basketry. To Jill: Pirating photographs is a violation of artist's copyright. If I found someone snatching photos off my web site, they'd be hearing from my lawyer. It's not a matter of ethics, but law. Johanna: Interesting thoughts on pricing. If we think about it, there are a number of choices. One way would be to price according to your local market......but what is that market? Everyone in the town/area/county? Not very targeted! There may well be numerous "markets" within a local area. Another way to price is to define your market by developing a profile of who you want to sell to with demographics etc. and more narrowly focusing on that group in all your efforts to reach them (not just fairs but choice of advertising vehicles etc.). We may even consider CREATING a nitch market.......often a lot of hard work, but often more rewarding than weaving for the "cheap set". Joy Moody Sign of the Crow http://www.signofthecrow.com In Hampden, Maine where it's more like Winter than Fall!!!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Thanks for all the swap work, Bert! Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 14:39:46 -0700 From: "Pamela Zimmerman" To: "David Collins" Bert Comstock - no criticism intended - you did a really great job of handling the swap, I really appreciated the clear, precise instructions, and admit that some of these things I had never done before (in my whole 1 previous swap!) I also appreciate your willingness to keep track of who followed through and who didn't, and the administrative tasks you undertook in coordinating the list of future swap wranglers. You continue to impress me with both your seemingly bottomless knowledge of basketry lore and natural materials usage, and your ability to get all these things done. I just wanted to make sure I got to hear about all the wonderful baskets, and I am so glad that everyone has been telling about them! Donna L - Thanks, for the note about bird feathers. If you are selling any item with bird feathers on it, you need to check out the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which is a federal law protecting ALL migratory birds - THAT is MOST of them, folks. This includes every state, not just one or two. Simple possession of bird artifacts (eggs, feathers, nests) is punishable by federal law. When you begin selling them, it gets even more complicated and costly (from a law enforcement standpoint.) The best bet when using feathers - DON'T, unless you know exactly what they are, and that they are from DOMESTIC fowl, or have been cleared by your local wildlife enforcement officials as from unprotected species. This could be involved. If you are interested, check out these sites. http://toltecs.lab.r1.fws.gov/lab/cargo/mbta.htm http://www.lab.fws.gov/lab/cargo/mbta.htm http://www.fws.gov/r4eao/wildlife/migbrd.html If you don't give a hoot, it's your tail. Linda Becken - Any chance that we will be seeing that swap basket? I would love to. Pamela Zimmerman zbakerz@coastalnet.com http://www.homestead.com/lizardskinsnpineneedles/index.html Come to the Pine Needle Group: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Trail/9114/index.html %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 17:53:50 -0400 From: "Baskets Of Joy" To: www.basketsofjoy.com celebrates AUTUMN! Visit our web site to print out our newest FREE Pattern! The Miller Pottery Pouch features beautiful Maine-made pottery and baby seagrass for accents; it makes a great Fall project! Perfect for classes, too. Several Pottery choices are available--just visit our Made in Maine section of our online catalog to see the beautiful pieces Maine artists have created for us! New Patterns, Handles and Wood Accessories are featured on our web site, too--visit the New Items section for color photos. Be sure to email us basketsofjoy@basketsofjoy.com if we can help you shop for your basket making supplies. Or, give us a call at 1-800-377-6097 (Monday-Friday, 10-5 and Saturdays, 10-4). You can even fax us at207-725-6004 (24 hours a day!). We look forward to hearing from you! Happy Autumn! If you would like to be removed from our mailing list, please reply and type in "remove from list." If you know someone else who'd like to be on our list, forward this message to them and have them reply "add to list." Thank You from Baskets of Joy. BASKETS OF JOY 81 Old Bath Road Brunswick, ME 04011 207-725-5899 800-377-6097 basketsofjoy@basketsofjoy.com www.basketsofjoy.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Web ethics Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 18:34:28 -0500 From: "Sarah S. Watts" To: "David Collins" Wow, I found that web ethics subject so intriguing that I did a little of my own research on the subject. My conclusion was that copying pictures from a web site and then posting them on your own without permission from the author isn't so much an ethical matter as a legal one. It's just plain illegal to copy another person's photograph. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, copyright law applies to photographs, and the "author" of that photograph owns the exclusive right to reproduce it as soon as he/she has taken the picture. Under no circumstances it is acceptable to copy in any format another person's words, diagrams, or pictures without their explicit permission. I don't think that it's about ethics at all - just obey the law which is meant to protect people's creative works. I don't actually have a personal stake in this discussion, but I found it fascinating, so here is my 2 cents for you to take or leave. I'm very thankful to those weavers out there who have gone through the effort to share information with struggling newbies like me. I can't imagine taking more from them than what they already freely offer. Check it out for yourself at http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/ Hoping not to become a target because of this opinion, Sarah Watts %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 20:03:06 EDT From: AKelly8230@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net I have enjoyed reading your compilations for a week or two. I am a relative novice and am way out of my league, but I would enjoy learning from all the experts who contribute. I took a basket weaving class a year and a half ago while on vacation at Chaytauqua Institution in New York State. I then wove a few baskets before taking another class this past summer. Since then I have been a weaving fool. I love to try new techniques and patterns. I have tried using color but this is where I could use some help. I used Rit dye and was happy enough with the colors, but they bleed a lot. I have tried rinsing with vinegar but it still bleeds. Are "basketry dyes" better, which ones? Are they very harmful to human, drains, etc? I am intrigued by the basket swap and would like to participate in the next one although I am a bit intimidated when I see the quality of the extraordinary baskets. Thanks for your help. Anne %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WW/Clarification Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 20:57:59 -0400 From: "mkoch" To: Hi everyone, Let me clarify my last post. When I said wrap the Xmas tree in burlap, I meant the wooden base. You can also add in a little polyfil to fill it out. If you cut a piece of burlap approx. 14" x 14", wrap it around the wooden base and tie off the burlap with a piece of jute. Then set the tree down into the drum basket. Then you can finish off with torn homespun on the branches. Sorry for the confusion. Happy Weaving, Dollie Koch %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 20:49:18 -0500 From: "purrx3@stlnet.com" To: "david collins weavers words" Hi all! The school year is in full swing and I can finally see the end of the IEPs and schedule changes. Hopefully, I can now just do my 'regular' job of teaching guidance classes (9 different ones a week) and seeing about 20 students each week on an on-going basis for counseling. Such a pipe dream! There are always disasters that must be attended to, teachers who gripe about their co-workers, students, administrators, etc. Ah, well, if I didn't love counseling I wouldn't do it, so I shouldn't complain . . . Except that it cuts into my weaving time! Mary B, congratulations on your first craft show success! Wow! Way to go! Tony, Juanita was right, you'll be able to get great pine needles in NC. I remember collecting them on the way to FL and VA on vacation when I was a kid. We always took our dog and when Mom and Dad were walking her, my sister and I collected pine needles and pinecones. Our hands would get terribly sticky from the sap, but I think that's more on the cones than on the needles. (Anyone know how to remove that sticky sap from the cones? I love to use them for Christmas decorations?) Tony, I'll be taking one of your classes through Carol Matteson later this fall. If you collect more pine needles than you need (hint, hint) I'd be happy to take them off your hands and would also be happy to pay for your time and trouble. Linda, for Bonnie who is trying to rescue her baskets damaged by Floyd. I've never tried to salvage baskets or much else that's been flooded, but my parents' basement flooded several years ago. Now this was flood damage from a river and sewage was mixed in it too (sorry to be graphic), so I don't know if this applies to Floyd, but it probably unfortunately does. At any rate, Bonnie will have to not only stop her baskets from molding and mildewing, but also prevent them harboring what could be some really deadly germs. What do the federal disaster relief people recommend for cleaning? I know they gave Mom and Dad special cleaning solutions and also that they're probably too strong to use on baskets, but she should ask them as well as us. What about checking with museums that do restoration? %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.