"Weavers Words" Vol. 4 Iss. 22 Date Sent: July 10, 2000 Web Page: http://members.xoom.com/dgcollins/ Subscribers: 1434 David Collins 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 Phone: (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://members.xoom.com/dgcollins/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://members.xoom.com/dgcollins/) and entering your search criteria into the 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. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Make Auction Payments Thru PayPal Plus Get $5 - FAST, FREE & SECURE: https://secure.paypal.com/refer/pal=ka9zre%40yahoo.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Picture('s) Added To Web Page Since The Last Issue NONE %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: RE: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 21 Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2000 22:02:22 -0500 From: "Adamczak, Shirley" To: "'David Collins'" My swap basket is finished (except for the staining) and will be on the way to someone in the Deep South in a day or two. Can't wait for swap #10...This is so much fun! Shirley Adamczak on the shores of beautiful Lake Superior (Duluth, Minnesota) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Organizing patterns Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2000 22:16:25 -0500 From: "Peg Weston Brondyke" To: Shirley - I also organize my patterns in plastic protectors in 3-ring binders. I have one for patterns that I've already made, one for patterns that I'd like to make soon, and one large one for the rest. I go through them once in a while and weed out the ones that I know I'll never make (the ones I decide I don't like after I buy them) and donate them to the auction that our guild has at its meetings twice a year. I really like keeping the ones that I've made in a separate binder (although sometimes I look through them and can't remember having made them!). Peg in hot, humid Iowa %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Gourds Date: Sat, 08 Jul 2000 22:25:23 -0500 From: Chris Carstens To: davidc@iei.net Hi Fellow Weavers, Rowena - The holes in the gourds that we made with Marianne Barnes were drilled straight down into it from the top (an odd number of holes). You can only do this with the thicker-shelled gourds. She said if the gourd's shell is thin, then you can drill holes on the side and feed the spokes from the inside out (so that one piece of round reed goes through two holes, making two spokes, like Bert suggested). We used #4 smoked round reed for spokes and glued them in with wood glue. Then we triple-twined around the base and began making "hills and valleys" with things like seagrass, #0 or #1 round reed, cedar or birch bark (or whatever you have on hand), twine, different kinds of yarn, etc. Every once in a while we had to triple twine again to define the hills and valleys. We ended with triple twining again and stitched a Philodendron sheath around the top with waxed linen. Various embellishments can be added as well (beads, shells, bones, etc.) The shape of the basket was an undulating one. As I mentioned before, Marianne has photos of her gourds in the WW pictures section. REALLY COOL!!! I plan on sending a photo of my gourd basket I made with Marianne into WW as soon as I can. I'm heading up to Door County, Wisconsin tomorrow morning for about 4 or 5 days. Hope the weather is nice. I'll be on the lookout for interesting things to use in baskets! Lisa Carstens in SE Wisconsin %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: RR Basket Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2000 23:59:58 -0400 (EDT) From: mdcamcd@ix.netcom.com To: davidc@iei.net Just a note to brag on my first RR basket. I used all #2 and a 6 x 6 reed base. I shaped it into a '3 stacked ball' shape, then flared out the top and used a Gretchen-type border. It turned out really well. It was actually even, which surprised me! It's about 10 inches high and about 7 inches across at the rim. I stained it with Black Walnut Weavers Stain, which has a beautiful shine to it (First time I've tried that color). I put a houseplant and a plastic saucer in it and gave it to a girl at work. She not only liked it, she wants to learn how to make them!! Looks like I may have a new weaving buddy!! Now I wish I'd taken a photo of it before I gave it to her. Cass %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Checking in once more Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2000 08:43:32 -0400 From: "Gary Ulrich" To: "David Collins" References: 1 Dearest basket cases, I'm now at the point where I can once more navigate the stairs, and after having my old computer sputter to a screaming halt and refusing to do anything of value for me, I broke down and bought a new 'puter. Of course, all this is happening while my dear husband, Gary, is 'stuck' in Hawaii on the second week of a one-week trip. This weekend I visited a friend who lives out in the country, her husband is building a barn for their future horses, and there were a ton of beautiful curled wood shavings lying around on the floor. Has anyone fussed with these shavings and made anything with them? I couldn't resist, and scooped up a garbage bag full of them to bring home and play with. I'm planning on making a trip up to Baskets of Joy in August after my in-laws go back to Minnesota, and I finish paying off this computer. I'm looking forward to going there all by myself and spending a grown up afternoon with no kids demanding my attentions. I know that it's going to be simply blissful, and I find myself longing for that time. Bert, I've never woven with waxed linen, and actually have been a little afraid of that. I have kind of cludgy hands, and have this feeling that I would end up with something that resembled a ball of knotted waxed tooth floss. Tuesday I am having some friends come over that have kids my children's age, and we are hoping the weather warms up enough so that our kids can swim and we can sit at the picnic table along one side and watch the kids swim and we can weave. In the meantime, I'm swallowed up by a ton of laundry and some cleaning to do. Gary says that he leaves Hawaii today and gets to Boston tomorrow afternoon, but then he said that to me last week, and ended up calling the next day saying he had to stay another week. At least the military has taught me to be flexible. Even if I'm kicking myself because I could've gone with...::sigh:: Katy Ulrich in southern Maine, right on the ME/NH border. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2000 09:12:59 -0400 From: "Dave and Kay" To: Hello everyone, I would like to know if anyone knows of any basket shops in the area of the upper part of lower Michigan. I will be traveling from Florida to Michigan for my class reunion and staying a month or so in Rogers City, Michigan from August 3rd. to September 10th. In all the years I have been going back home, I have never seen or heard of any. If anyone has any information, I appreciate it. Thanks, Kay in sunny and hot Florida. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits and Pieces-new address Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2000 10:36:20 -0400 From: "John W. Dorris" To: "Weavers Words" David and everyone, We have a new address jdorris@pinn.net Thanks, Billie Dorris %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 21 Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2000 10:43:17 EDT From: StarlaK@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Shirley in Duluth I have 3 binders right now. I have mine sorted alphabetically. I have several "free" patters I've printed off the Internet. I've file those according to author if one is listed or by web address if one is not listed. I have certain authors that I keep going back to, I like the way they write the patterns with diagrams, etc. I also have an accordion file folder for my thin basket books, the thicker one's get a place on the shelf next to the binders. I use to just throw them into the binder, but am so glad I took a few hours to sort through them. My friend Melissa motivated me because her patterns were so organized in alphabetical order. Scrap reed. For the 1/4" dyed reed, if they are still long enough, I can use several different colors and make a small cat head. These make great welcome gifts for new neighbors, great teacher's gifts. Also, I had great success selling ornament size baskets, miniatures of market, round and square baskets, whatever my little head could make up. Made these out of scrap reed. A friend of mine who had made only a couple of baskets with me was able to make several and sell them also. Usually I didn't apply rim's, tucked spokes and cut the back ones into picket fence shape. Also twined and tucked on others. Also with the colored reed I use it in my soap holder baskets---weaving them in at an angle (randing?). Several of the smaller pieces of 5/8 and 3/4 can be saved and used in a wood base (pie, purse or other small to medium baskets). Darla in Virginia %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Thanks Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2000 11:49:30 -0400 From: "Mary Hooper" To: "David Collins" Thanks Bert Comstock for listing ISBN numbers on the books you suggested on green woodworking. Patterns saving: I use transparent plastic pages to hold patterns so I can take them out of the 3-ring and use them without getting them watermarked. The photos stay nicer too. I've just found among the prunings a good dogwood branch. I bent it to use in a basket. Now, can anyone tell me how to keep the lichen from falling off while I weave? I plan to weave around it, but it seems as if it will get knocked off as I work. I have sprayed it with polyurethane so far. Any suggestions will be welcome. Mary Hooper, from the mountains of western NC where the temperature is rising, but the breeze isn't bad... mjhooper@mitchell.main.nc.us %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 21 Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 14:45:50 -0400 From: Susan Laswell To: David Collins References: 1 Dear Faye, I think it would be cool for your daughter to participate in the regular swap. Does age really matter? How do we know how old any of our cyber swappers are? Is quality the real issue here? We said beginning weavers were welcome. What is the purpose of the swap? Are we trying to compete with each other, or to enjoy, appreciate, encourage, celebrate, delight in each other? Susan %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Organizing patterns Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 19:59:48 -0400 From: gatsby@larck.net To: davidc@iei.net Shirley, I too put my patterns in 3 ring binders. However, I don't put them in any order. This way, I get to look at all of them when I want to weave. It helps remind me of what I have so I don't have any duplicates. I have numbered the books and written down the patterns I want to make. Then, I go to the numbered notebook and find the picture when I get time to weave. Don't remember who asked, but to organize my reed, I use the cheap hair elastics, not even the ones with the balls. I think they are made by "goodie". Then don't break like old rubber bands will. Dot in cool Maine %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2000 21:34:03 -0400 From: "Joy Moody" To: Hello Everybody, I haven't written in so long, you've probably forgotten who I am! Yesterday was the Maine Indian Basketmakers show in Bar Harbor, Maine & it was fabulous. Many fine baskets, many by elders (very collectible - the baskets, not the elders), & the prices are going up, as well they should for the quality. Thanks, Wicker Woman for the info. about arts activities in your state. Maine has an active arts community too. I was recently honored to be juried into the Arts Commission as a Fiber Artist. There were also....oh, I don't know how many... pairs of apprentices & Master Basketmakers from various tribes who were awarded monies to pursue teaching/learning & the preservation of Indian basketry tradition. Too bad my German ancestry does not make me eligible! There were actually many German prisoners of War who were kept on or near the Passamaquody reservation & intermarried with women of that tribe. I just finished showing two of my "Big Baskets" at a New York interior decorating show. The largest was 44" wide; the other about 34" wide. The show was quite successful; an entire modern home filled with decorating ideas! This Summer feels very strange with unusual weather, but I am working in the Barn Studio & weaving for a shop in Bar Harbor, taking internet orders, and custom designing for several special events. I have two 32" hoops just aching to be recycled into some woven fantasy! They were going to be a huge melon basket, but now I think wall hangings in mixed media. Well, time to read the latest issue of WW. I figured if I didn't write now & put it off again, it wouldn't happen. Hello to everyone I "used to know" from way back when on this list; and hello to all the new comers. Feel free to visit all the baskets throughout my website - not only my own, but those in the Explore Maine & Beyond sections (including those at historical villages I've visited), and in the Culture Connection (world wide basketry plus other stuff). Joy Moody Sign of the Crow http://www.signofthecrow.com Hampden, Maine - where it still doesn't quite feel like summer, but the day lilies are in bloom, & the blue berries are ripening ahead of schedule. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 16 Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 21:36:01 -0500 From: Roberta Comstock To: David Collins "Weavers Words" Vol. 4 Iss. 16 Dianne G. - I'm with you on the entirely-woven basket train. I do sometimes use specialized parts, but I feel there's more of 'me' in a basket when I weave the base or make the frame (of a rib basket) myself. Angelique - When I travel, I try to take some pocket-sized projects with me. My latest is needle-looping waxed linen frames onto polished stones. They make nice pendants and great basket ornaments. Sometimes I pack up little kits for miniature baskets. They usually don't take many tools and don't require a lot of soaking of the materials. If possible, I like to collect some odds and ends of natural materials when I travel. A bandana tied at the corners makes a good sample collecting pouch. The size limit that imposes also prevents me from overloading my luggage for the return trip. Bert Comstock Lauderdale Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 17 Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 21:36:49 -0500 From: Roberta Comstock To: David Collins "Weavers Words" Vol. 4 Iss. 17 Barb Byrne - You can use the dryed nuts/hulls for making hickory stain. It just takes a lot more dry material than fresh and you won't get as much color from it. So you don't really have to wait for the new crop if you are eager to try some. Then when the new crop is ready, you'll be able to compare the results. Bert Comstock Lauderdale Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 21 Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 00:07:22 EDT From: Baksue@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net I went to a wonderful art fair in Madison, WI over the weekend. The baskets in one booth were woven of palm leaf "stems" that came from Florida. They made a very interesting material to look at. Does anyone know where I might be able to get some of this material? I have organized my reed by using 3M removable adhesive hooks on the wall and hanging labeled plastic grocery bags with various sizes, colors and types of reed. It is easy to find each item with the labels in plain view. Thanks, Sue Bakken %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Magazine article Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 07:10:23 EDT From: Lewiscarolv@gateway.net To: davidc@iei.net Hi David and Weavers, Thought everyone would like to check out the very interesting article in the August issue of Country Living on Jonathan Kline an ash basketmaker from NY. He was also a recent guest on the Martha Stewart show. Carol Votaw South Carolina %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 09:06:28 -0400 From: "Joy Moody" To: Back again! I wanted to comment on the "addicted to patterns" chatter. I have three 3" ring binders that I keep patterns in. Many I have woven; many I have not. I use them as much for visual inspiration as anything. I've found that having lots of basketry examples, posters, books, & patterns in my studio continually inspire me toward new works. I have the pattern book divided into rough sections, which helps me to locate a type of basket I may have in mind: round, square, oblong, totes, oval Shaker, Victorian etc. I also keep 3 ring binders of pictures of baskets from all over the world; also divided into categories (I've gotten many of these off eBay). Those include many Native American tribes, Shaker, Nantucket, and African etc. I think it's less helpful to consider ourselves addicted (having treated truly addicted individuals, it's a much tougher thing than we imagine); the artist in us can continually build motivation & expand creative weaving ideas with many forms of inspiration in our work areas. Organization: I am very lucky to have a great in-house studio, as well as a barn studio, which I use in the summer. I recently took shelves out of the house studio closet (I have big cabinets, drawers & a sink already, as the studio used to be a kitchen when this was once a 2 family house). I put Shaker pegs all over the 4 walls of the closet, in 3 rows & they now organize all the reed by size and type (flat or round). I NEVER put reed in plastic, as I often wind up with some extra pieces that have been soaked, and even one or two will mildew the whole lot, unless it's totally dry before you put it away. This Summer, coming soon, I'm taking three different classes with Mic Mac and Passamaquody basketmakers and really looking forward to it. If anyone comes to Maine, be sure to pick up the business envelop sized "Maine Guide to Crafts & Culture", available in many locations - & chuck full of Maine artists. Joy Moody Sign of the Crow http://www.signofthecrow.com/basketgalleryintro.html Hampden, Maine %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap #9 Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 09:48:35 -0500 From: Dianne Gleixner To: "'David Collins'" To: David Collins Roberta, Thanks for the info. I was just fixing to write the group to see about if the spokes should be odd or even. Thanks for answering that. Also thanks for letting me know of an email group for Willow and Natural Basketry. I didn't know there was a group. I will see if anyone contacts me on this or maybe I will do some searching for how to subscribe. I just love reading all the emails on basketry.... I think I say this every time I write but I enjoy when it comes around so I can read all the postings. I guess I am kind of like a sponge...I soak up everything.... Thanks, Rowena %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Storing those odds'n'ends of reed Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 13:57:30 PDT From: "Kay Janke" Reply-To: abuse@msn.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi: I use the 64 oz. CLEAR plastic containers that juice comes in to store the shorter pieces of reed. You cut off the top of the container, depending on how wide you want it, at the first -hump- or the next. Then you mark each container w/size. I use one for each size, takes more room but then you don't have to sort thru, except for the length. If you use a lot of the same size shorter pcs. you can cut them to length when you have several and then store them in the container, marked with the length. I keep these in a plastic tub that is shorter then the plastic bottle, and you can easily see the reed that you have. It sure beats trying to sort it out from the longer pieces. When you have short reed, just drop it into the container for the right size. When you need some, it is readily available. Containers I use are any brand-Meijer, Welch- grape juice and other juices for instance come in them and all are see-thru. Works great. Happy weaving & storing. Kay Janke In Michigan where Lake Michigan has been getting rained on all day, now 5 PM and the sun is out with beautiful cotton ball clouds all over the sky. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Old baskets, drilled bases, natural materials Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 17:59:54 -0400 From: "Angie Wagner-Country Seat" To: "David" Hi all! Diana in IN - hate to say it, but the antique shop owner has probably fooled a lot of people. I've seen baskets at garage sales marked with high prices, the tag says oak and it's clearly (to me) reed. I've noticed baskets at antique shops where I would bet my life that the basket was woven recently and rubbed in dirt to give an aged look. Only someone who knows baskets or is a basket weaver would know the difference. It's a shame that people are hoodwinked everyday. I wish those people who are willing to pay such high prices for "old" baskets would stop by my booth and pay that much for something brand new! :) Joan - my favorite books for using natural materials are "Baskets from Nature's Bounty" and "Natural Baskets". Can't decide which I like better. Carolyn Corbett in DE - we carry drilled wooden bases, which have several thin layers of wood laminated together. They are drilled for #4 round reed. Back from a relaxing vacation at the shore (ready for more!) Angie The Country Seat, PA http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: NBO, Guilds, Classes Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 18:10:00 -0400 From: "Angie Wagner-Country Seat" To: "David" Hi all, To everyone interested in the National Basketry Organization - please remember and bookmark our page devoted to the NBO www.countryseat.com/nbo.htm. They will have their own website, but until it's up and running we have information posted on our site. The mission statement (the NBO is open to all weavers and nonweavers interested in furthering the art of basketry), contact information, sections of the past newsletter, a survey for NBO's information, etc. NBO is looking for people who would like to donate money, time, talents or become pre-members to help support the Organization and pay for the cost of the newsletter. The legal work is being done right now and as soon as it is finished the membership forms will be sent out. We will post a copy along will the rest of NBO's information. This is the start of something great and I hope that all weavers will support NBO and help further the art of basketry. To all Guilds in the US and International Areas, please send us information that we can post to bring you new members. Our Guild Page is found at www.countryseat.com/guilds.htm if you'd like to see what others have listed. We don't like to post information unless we know it's correct and current, so tell us about yourselves. This goes for teachers also! We still have space available in our beginner willow classes with Bonnie Gale. They will be held the last weekend in July. Angie The Country Seat, PA http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 21 Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 18:55:25 EDT From: "bonnie hauser" To: davidc@iei.net Hi, There are some near baskets in the movie "The Patriot". There was a huge bushel basket that they used to pick corn in at the very beginning. Hot and humid in South Bend, Indiana Bonnie Hauser %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weavers Words V41.17 Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 21:50:13 EDT From: Mkbskts@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Jayna - your idea for a pattern swap sounds great! Except how do we make sure we don't get one we already have??? It obviously can't be a blind swap like the basket swap is... I only have 1 or 2 duplicates, but I'd be willing to trade if someone can find a way to do it.... Now that I'm working FT again, I don't have nearly enough time to weave, or respond to WW's, so mostly I've been lurking lately. Have to finish my swap basket and send it on it's way... And do one for my boss's daughter's BD the end of July! How did I get into that one?? Oh well, I like the patterns well enough. Now if it would just stop raining so I could weave outside (oops, this much rain = too many mosquitoes to weave outside. I forgot!)... Oh well, I guess it's back to the basement workroom... Barb, in wet, humid, warm Brookfield WI where the mosquitoes have decided I taste REALLY REALLY GOOD... %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any reason you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.