"Weavers Words" Vol. 3 Iss. 59 Date Sent: October 19, 1999 Web Page: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/ Subscribers: 1208 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, I would like to thank everyone whom e-mailed me wishing me a happy birthday. In one more year I turned the dreaded 30. I was shocked to recently receive the information for my 10-year high school reunion. UHG!!! Take Care, David %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Q&A Date: Sun, 17 Oct 1999 23:52:12 +0000 From: Tony Stubblefield or Dean Meredith To: David Collins/Weavers Words Traci -about handle steamers-If your dad is going to make you very large handles he is really going to need a long steamer. I make some small handles for up to 7" Nantucket's and use a stainless steel steam-table tray I got from a restaurant supply place. It fits over 2 burners on the stove and I just heat (near boiling) my handle blanks for about 2 hours. Nate's Nantucket http://www.basketshop.com/ sells a stainless steel tank with a lid and drain for steaming (again, actually boiling) handles and rims. I think it is about 4 feet long and you heat it on 3 or 4 hotplates. If you really want to "steam" your wood I have heard of using PVC pipe and connecting it to a boiler contraption which produces the steam. I think the water boiling method is a lot easier and that is how Nate's does all their handles (I know because I have helped them make handles before one summer). Evie - about staining basket with wool fabric-I would probably use a Water based stain like tea or coffee as they aren't overly dark and won't dramatically change the color of your wool strips (unless they are really light colored). I use cheap instant tea and mix about a 1/8-cup tea to 1 1/2 cups hot water. I just brush it on or sometimes spray it. If you use an oil based stain I think it will really make the fabric stiff and matted looking. If you have any scraps left over try out a few things first. Scott and Tracey - about CN vacation - I was in that general area this past summer on my way to NH and I stopped at H.H Perkins in Woodbridge, CT, the brothers who own the business are a total hoot. I also made a short day trip over to E. Freetown, MA to visit D.E.L.S. Manufacturing who specialize in Nantucket's and scrimshaw. It was a pretty drive and an owners were really nice and the shop was small, but packed with stuff. If you have a chance there are great Shaker communities/museums in MA, NH and NY which are really nice to visit. I taught another one of my Nantucket jewelry basket classes the other day at my Mom's shop in Mexico, MO and I had the bizzarest thing happen. One of my bottles of "super glue" wouldn't bond. Our rims just kept popping apart. At first I thought it was the rain/humidity that was causing it to take so long to dry, but my accelerator wasn't even having an effect. I ended up getting another bottle, that had the cap stuck, open and it worked fine. I ended up throwing the bad bottle away. Has anyone every had anything like that happen before? Thank goodness I had the other bottle. If you happened to watch Good Morning America this Saturday they did a feature on flea market shopping and they showed my Dad's booth at Brimfield, MA. They bought some architectural brackets from him that they later showed made into a wall shelf. I can't believe out of the literally 1000's of dealers at this huge market they showed my Dad. I was running around hooting and hollering trying to find the phone to call my parents to tell them to turn on the TV. They were camping and missed it, but Dad remembered when they were there filming. Well it is about time to start those Christmas presents. I think I know what I want to do for everybody I now just have to get them going. Take care, Tony Stubblefield St. Louis, MO http://www.tetranet.net/users/deanandtony/baskets.htm %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Gasconade Retreat Date: Sun, 17 Oct 1999 21:53:58 -0500 From: "Andre Farms" Organization: Microsoft Corporation To: "David Collins" I wanted to share with everyone what a wonderful workshop I went to at the Gasconade Retreat in Vienna, MO. Mary Stone from Oklahoma, taught us how to make a Cherokee Twill Basket. It was my first attempt at using flat reed and I got the basket finished and was also happy with the results. It was a big basket. The workshop was great and the Retreat setting was beautiful. Barbara and Mike Byrne did a great job of taking care of all of us and the local deer that came into view while we worked were not bad either. Thanks Barb and Mike for a great weekend. Ruth were fall has finally arrived-Missouri %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Any basketweavers near me? Date: Sun, 17 Oct 1999 21:25:27 PDT From: "shirley albright" To: davidc@iei.net Hello everyone! I recently moved to the Monterey Bay area of California and am looking for other weavers. If you are (or know of) weavers in this general area, please email me. I'd like to get a group or guild together. Thanks for all the info I'm picking up from Weavers' Words. I read somewhere that parts of kedzu are edible...are they weavable? Just curious. Shirley in chilly, shaky Marina %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: shops in Columbus, OH, area Date: Sun, 17 Oct 1999 23:15:12 -0700 From: ROY LEA To: David Collins S. Naess in Vermont: Here are a couple of URLs for places/basket things in the Dayton area, 76 miles from Columbus, according to my atlas. Eva has basket patterns and stoneware basket embellishments on her web site. Union Station Studio is located on the second floor of the Hotel Gallery at 107 East Main St in Tipp City, OH. Tipp City is located 10 miles North of Dayton on I-75. (Exit 68) Shop hours: Tues. - Thurs. 10-5, Fri & Sat 10-7, Closed Sun & Mon. (937) 667-5823 (Hours are EST) e-mail Julie has patterns and wooden basket bases on her web site. Woven Designs can be contacted by: e-mail: JULIE KLEINRATH Snail mail: 396 Highland Terrace, Kettering Ohio, 45429 or phone : 937 296 0246 I've always been very pleased with the items and service I've received from both of these individuals. I'm not aware of anything right in Columbus, so I thought I'd send this info about the neighboring city. Since you will be there for 2 weeks, maybe you'll have time to check them out. Hope it helps. Enjoy your travels. Diane in AZ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 58 Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 07:31:17 -0500 From: rnardin@tetranet.net To: David Collins To Dumb Bunny LOL stands for Laughing out Loud. Finally, something I can answer. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: LOL Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 09:46:43 -0400 From: "Mary Hooper" To: "David Collins" Thanks to all who sent their interpretation of LOL. Watch out gals and guys, and judge by the context whether it means Laugh/ing Out Loud, Lot/s of Love, or Lot of Luck. Had some extra (!) time and checked out David's Amazon.com book site and the number of basket books is surprising. For those who have not seen it, please do. Now, if I could just find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow (LOL) I'd buy all the basket books on the list...... Cheerio, Mary Hooper, in cloudy but autumn colorful and drop-dead gorgeous western North Carolina. mjhooper@mitchell.main.nc.us %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Columbus, OH, again Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 08:21:34 -0700 From: ROY LEA To: David Collins S. Naess in Vermont, on the way to Ohio: I thought to myself that there was somewhere else in the Columbus area that you might want to think about, and then I remembered - Royalwood is in Mansfield. 66 miles northeast according to my atlas. Have fun. Have you done a yellow page search of Mansfield? Might turn up something of interest. Royalwood Ltd., web address 517 Woodville Rd. Mansfield, OH 44907 (419) 526-1630 (800) 526-1630 Email: Wish I was traveling with you! I have a sister in Marietta. Diane in AZ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: wool & "D" handles Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 11:24:13 -0400 From: "Angie Wagner" To: "David" Hi all! Evie - test spray a scrap of the wool first before you spray your basket. You never know how something will react. Carolyn - Not sure what you mean by "double "D" handles, but we carry towel bar handles with just a bar on the bottom, brass hooks or Shaker pegs. Please see our on-line catalog for the pictures, sizes and prices for all 3 styles - http://www.countryseat.com/shophome.htm. Angie in PA where Fall is really here. The Country Seat http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: Russian Birch Bark at Country Seat Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 11:43:40 EDT From: LindaClift@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net I attended the Saturday class at Country Seat with Valdimir and I can vouch for the quality of the instruction and material in this class. Also, Donna and Angie were wonderful hosts to all the students. It was an enjoyable day. If you get a chance to try a bark basket, do it. Linda Clifton In Central Pa where fall is arriving %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: aloha! Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 08:43:54 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha!! I am back from what was a wonderful trip to the mainland (except for the flying part which I really don*t like). The National Girl Scout Convention was great. Being a prior military spouse and having been with several councils, I ran into people I haven*t seen in ages. Our keynote speakers were Rebecca Lobo, Tipper Gore and Leslie Stahl, all former Girl Scouts--it was a wonderful time. However one of my favorite memories will always be the short time I spent with Bert Comstock. She is just the neatest lady! She brought along her baskets she made at Arrowmont (and I*m sure I spelled that wrong and will be corrected) and they are beautiful, esp. the one she made at Leon N*s class. It made me realize all the more how much we are missing in Hawaii. She gave me one of her Beachcombers Baskets with a lot of local natural pieces woven in (what better to remind me of this wonderful trip) and when I carried it through the hotel lobby, I was stopped by several people wanting to know where I*d bought it! I carried it home on the plane, not trusting it to my luggage--and now it hangs in my kitchen. Bert is one fine woman and I consider it a honor to have met her. And now it is time to get back to the real world--laundry, cleaning, unpacking and 2 craft fairs (I*m still a working basketmaker helping her kids through college) this weekend. I*m happy to be home! aloha nui loa, Lois %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: weaving wool Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 17:32:44 -0400 From: Roman Monastyrski To: David Collins If weaving wool into a basket - stain with a water base stain and blot the wooly places. They will darken somewhat - become more subdued, but the color won't be lost. I use Marlene Meyers yarn and this works well with my homemade walnut stain. As always it would be prudent to test a bit before immersing an entire basket and have unhappy results. Strips of wool may look different than spun yarn. I would be tempted to go with a lighter, more dilute color. Also, the amount of oil left in the fabric may be more or less than the wool. I have also gone to loom weavers and begged samples of what they are using. I've been able to get 2 oz. pieces of all sorts of critters fur. and used it successfully in small amounts in rib baskets that were overdyed with the homemade stain. Let us know the results - I'd be interested in how the strips work. Kristin in chilly Midland %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: ideas Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 19:41:38 +0100 From: Sandy Atkinson Organization: Atkinson's Country House To: David Collins Hi Weavers, Regarding staining with any liquid stain, this is what I do. I bought a tub, actually a plastic kitty litter basin, it's just the right size, depth and width, and use an old paintbrush. I find brushing on the liquid stain works the very best. With the basket in the basin I brush on and let the stain run between the weavers and spokes, with the excess dripping into the basin. When finished, pour the run off back into the stain jar, bottle, whatever. Works great! To Carolyn: we carry the double D handles in different sizes. Also carry the towel bar handles. To Evie: I would not stain the basket with the wool in it, thinking it might ruin the wool. Try some stain on a scrap piece of wool and see what happens. If you want to make another basket with wool, how about using smoked reed, or predyed reed, or even prestained reed? Happy Weaving, see you at AMB. Sandy Atkinson Atkinson's County House At Asplin Farms www.sandyatkinson.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 58 Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 21:17:51 -0400 (EDT) From: baweaver6@webtv.net (j ladew) To: davidc@iei.net (David Collins) For anyone out there: Got any suggestions besides Amazon books where I might find 2 books: Basic Baskets, 1975 and Useful Baskets, 1977, published by Haughton Miffin & Co., Boston. Both are out of print and have to do with the basket maker Mara Carey. I have put my feelers out to Amazon, but just wondering if there might be somewhere else to try. Many thanks - Jennie from Northern Cool VA who is on her way to the NC East Seminar hoping that part of NC is still in tact. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 55 Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 00:12:39 -0500 From: tblack@iquest.net To: David Collins Lois re: critical comments - No offense was intended, so I'm sorry you took any. I don't have a low opinion of any weaver. Obviously you have mastered many skills to be able to weave beautifully enough and also efficiently enough to make weaving stock for shows a money making venture. That's far more ambitious than I, and I believe I said that before. I didn't intend to slight anyone, as I'm sure you are capable of weaving whatever you wish. I guess my point was not that you couldn't weave anything at any level of difficulty, just that in my humble opinion it doesn't make economic sense to slave over patterns requiring intense amounts of weaving time because the average buyer won't pay enough for it for you to earn very much for your time and effort. And not that it has any bearing, but no- I've not had a very good days lately. To those who recall I mentioned my mother's fight with leukemia before and she passed away a week ago Saturday. This is not a call for sympathy, but I know there are those who know me and have asked after her, so this saves me repeating difficult news several times. Carolyn Black, Greenwood, IN %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 58 Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 00:29:51 -0500 From: tblack@iquest.net To: David Collins I thought this was probably an appropriate forum to pass along this message to. Please respond directly to Christine at her e-mail below if interested or can pass along an appropriate name. >>>Dear Carolyn, I am a former CCAC textile student now writing freelance for a publication centering on the art of scale miniatures. I am hoping to find an artist or artists who specialize in making small-scale baskets from ANY materials - 1"to the foot scale or smaller is preferred. The article will feature at least three basket makers, of which there are several already known in the miniatures circle (like Indiana's own Kathy Babcock), but I am looking for new artisans - people not known to the miniatures world. Would you happen to know if any of your members' work might fit this size limitation and be interested in being showcased in a national magazine? There would be an opportunity for individuals to contact the artisans to purchase items if the artisan desires. Please have them contact me and the address below. Thank you for your time. Christine Paul Christine Paul Print Coordinator Rockwell Software christine.paul@software.rockwell.com 414-328-2170<<< %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 23:18:57 PDT From: "Kay Janke" To: davidc@iei.net Hi all WW members: For those of you going to convention--if you are interested in meeting each other, we need to set up a couple different times to meet. There is time to think about this, but if you have a time that you are available, please send an e-mail to me so we can try for a time that most might be available. Last I looked there were over 1200 members. What a bunch of weavers & we are so very fortunate to have someone as capable & as willing as David to keep us all together. David you are one of a kind and WE DO APPRECIATE the time & effort you put into all of Weavers Words. Words seem so inadequate to thank you for all that this forum has become. But again I thank you and look forward to every issue. As I have said before, YOU ARE A PEACH! Kay Janke in Michigan --where the heat (outside) has been lowered and we are in for some cooler weather. The colors are beautiful now on the trees. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 3 I. 57 Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 12:04:58 -0500 From: Judy Briscoe Organization: @Home Network To: David Collins References: 1 To Traci in Southern Indiana I made my own wood steamers from aluminum gutter from Home Depot. You can make it any length you want by cutting and installing end caps that you buy with the gutter. They are sealed with liquid aluminum or steel. As long as it always has water in it, it won't leak. I have used an old gas barbecue with cutouts on the sides for heat. The shorter you make the steamer the easier it is to heat. The wood is "boiled" not "steamed". The most difficult part of the whole process is selecting the wood for straight grain. If you can find "quarter sawn" you will have a better chance of success. You can see the things I make at http://judysbaskets.bigstep.com in the Nantucket section. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.