"Weavers Words" Vol. 4 Iss. 27 Date Sent: July 18, 2000 Web Page: http://members.xoom.com/dgcollins/ Subscribers: 1438 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. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ATTENTION ONLINE AUCTION USERS 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 Denise Rounds'-----Winston Churchill Willow Gate Photo %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: A Willow Gate photo Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 23:11:31 +0000 From: Denise Rounds To: davidc@iei.net David, I went on vacation to England and while there we visited the castle that Winston Churchill was born and reared in. On the property that had an exhibit of various gates and one was woven of willow. I'm attaching a photo of that gate. It was so unique! Perhaps someone else will feel up to the challenge? Hugs, Denise Rounds Tulsa, OK %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket shops, supplies in Delaware Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 00:09:26 EDT From: Tonyfig1@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone, I will be visiting Delaware (Bethany Beach and Rehoboth) during the last week of July. I wondered if there were any basket shops (supplies, workshops, etc. in the area). Thanks for your help! Tony (from Medina, NY where it doesn't want to stop raining) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 26 Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 00:58:51 -0700 From: "Lisha Kimball" To: "David Collins" Hi all, Just read your notes on selling & displaying your baskets in shops I hate to do it...and won't do it any more! Keeping track of inventory is horrible!! Not no mention keeping track of the money due you each month I had an interesting experience many years ago. I had a shopkeeper that bounced my monthly check due to me... Lucky the shopkeeper's secretary was a student of mine and she let me know that the shop was not being run right... So I reached for my signed contract and grabbed some garbage bags and we headed up the coast to the shop. When I got there I started packing everything in the bags...Oh course the shop keeper was furious with me but my contract allowed me to pull out anytime!! She owned me $800.00 bucks for the month so I made her paid me right there!!Needless to say she went bankrupt that month and a lot of people still haven't gotten their moneys...I'm just glad that I had the guts to act fast and not spend a lot of time trying to decide what to do... The Basketmakers Shop Lisha Kimball Webster, NH...where it feels more like May this week with. Rain and more rain... %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: 436 dollar baskets Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 07:52:35 -0400 From: "Mary Hooper" To: "David Collins" Beth in hot south Texas: C'mon up to the North Carolina mountains. Here in Mitchell County we had to put the blanket on the bed last night. As to the $436. basket: Good show! If enough people see how much baskets can cost, maybe they won't complain about $50-$100 baskets and be more likely to buy them. This might help raise everybody's boat in the water. If I can find Country Home for June, I'll check it out. Maybe I'll finally get around to weaving my basket cart pattern. If I charge half the price, it'll be a bargain to the buyer, no? If anyone can get to Mitchell County in the mountains, there will be baskets offered in the annual Toe River Arts Council (TRAC) fund-raiser art auction at Mayland Community College the afternoon of August 13. Also glass from some internationally known stars of the art glass world, weavings, pottery, paintings, jewelry, and so forth. On the afternoon of the 12th you'll enjoy the mountain music and dancing at the apple barn of the Altapass Orchard on the Blue Ridge Parkway. C'mon over and cool off. Mary Hooper mjhooper@mitchell.main.nc.us %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap Basket Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 07:54:51 -0400 From: "Jocelyn Levan" To: Hi David, Just writing to warn someone in the Big Sky State to watch for that big brown truck this week! Lyn Levan in humid central PA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket classes/storage/computers Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 08:44:42 -0400 From: "Mary Hooper" To: "David Collins" Cindy: If you are teaching beginners, give them handouts. I draw a diagram of the anatomy of beginning a lasher and how the rim ends should be carved and put together. Also useful is a diagram of the bottom of a square basket base when it contains a 'D' handle. Since other people's work is copyrighted automatically, even without the copyright notice, I do my own drawings when making handouts. If you don't draw, it may seem like a big job, but if you can imagine it, you can draw it. It's even easier if you can see it. Take it slow and easy--or hire a talented friend to do it for you, maybe swap drawings for a basket. Have the friends sign a simple release giving you ownership of the drawings. (Not legal advice, of course, I'm not a lawyer). Handouts seem to make people feel they've really had their money's worth and contribute to the confidence factor. If they forget how to do a step later, they have something to refer to. Bert: Initially I had a heckova time finding the insert button. It's O and Ins on the number keypad. Another tip that I love: if you erase a whole line or chunk of anything, don't hit another key but go immediately to Edit on your top menu and hit Undo or use Control Z and the chunk will come back. That one has saved my bacon more times than I care to remember. If anyone has a tip for getting back the whole document that disappears--and I never know what key I've hit to do that, does anyone out there know????--I've love to hear about it. Lisa: I'll match my basement storage chamber of horrors against yours any day. Every time we put up another shelf the materials fill it up and I still have bags and boxes on the floor. At least I can see what's in the boxes. I use the tri-pack Food Lion bottled water boxes. Cut off the tops and a couple or three coils fits in nicely. They line up well and fit into the car trunk nicely. My handles are in a sterilite laundry hamper with lots of ventilation holes in front and back. It's tall instead of wide and that saves floor space. Time to get back to weaving, while the air is cool.... Happy Weaving, y'all, Mary Hooper mjhooper@mitchell.main.nc.us %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Publication Subscriptions Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 08:51:15 EDT From: Wickrwoman@aol.com To: rskateh@ligtel.com, davidc@iei.net Shirley, I subscribe to a great deal of basketry and craft related publications and have for years. My favorites are The Crafts Report, http://www.craftsreport.com/, Basket Bits, Black Creek Country News, Sunshine Artists, http://www.sunshineartist.com/magazine/toc.htm, Handweaver's Guild of America, http://www.weavespindye.org, Fiber Arts, and American Crafts. There are lots more and I'm sorry I couldn't list all the URL's for the ones I listed, but maybe others can help you out here? The Wicker Woman/Cathryn Peters %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Need weavers!! Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 10:21:56 EDT From: SharonKlusmann@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi All: Just to let those of you know that have E-mailed and talked with me about this order for 500 basket I had - IT LEFT MY HOUSE LAST MONDAY - YEAH!!!! I just got back from visiting a friend in MI with my sister for the weekend for a little R&R and went to two wonderful art fairs - Wyandotte and Plymouth. My feet are swore and my wallet is light! Of course I love to visit the basket booths and found Judy at the Plymouth show. I was floored to see two of my patterns woven beautifully in her booth. Introduced myself and had a nice talk - was a thrill for both of us. Anyway, it looks as if this initial order for 500 baskets is going to turn into at least 2 more orders of 500 in the next few months. It is a marketing idea to sell Ultra Shield's fabric protector's warranty to customers who purchase a piece of furniture at furniture stores throughout the U.S. The thank you gift for buying the warranty for the piece of furniture you purchase is my wooden base Sunflower napkin basket with square wooden swing handle. The lacer cut sunflowers are featured on the front and leaves and stem woven. The basket is filled with a generous supply of Ultra Shields products and a scented candle. The appeal is to the female shopper! The next order will be coming soon, and if there are any basket weavers out there who live in my area (Tallmadge, OH, a suburb of Akron, about an hour south of Cleveland) who would like to make a little cash, please contact me. The basket takes me 35 minutes to weave, but haven't found my current list of weavers to be able to do it too much under an hour. If anyone is interested, please e-mail me. After reading the last WW (only one of a list of them I was able to read) I noticed the subject of this potato masher basket has gone around again. I was never able to find anyone who had a pattern, so if any of you have woven this type of basket before, my question is: Is the base of the basket woven on top of the bottom of the masher in between the masher's handles and the sides incorporate the masher handle? If I have the picture in my head right, please let me know. If that's the case, I can swing it without a pattern. Also, I haven't had a chance to send my swap basket out yet, but will do so this week. I have changed the name of my business from Baskets By Sharon to Cornerstone Baskets. Long story, but very happy with new name - hopefully you Christians will get the connection! Until next time. . . Sharon Klusmann Cornerstone Baskets www.SharonKlusmann.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: (No subject) Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 10:30:37 EDT From: AuntPattie@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Dear David & Weavers, A lady came into my store on Saturday with a Nantucket Purse that needs repair. The lid is attached to the base with leather that is looped and (apparently) tucked into the rim & is held in with the rim lashing. The leather strap has been worn through. I don't know if the leather can be repaired without replacing it or, if it has to be replaced, if that can be done without removing the entire rim. She received the purse as a gift about 10 or 12 years ago and uses it regularly. She would like to continue using it as well as preserve it's value. I have made Nantucket's but I don't feel that I know enough to advise her. It appears to me to be a very well made purse and I would hate to see her do the wrong thing with it. If you would rather not answer here, please feel free to E-mail me privately. She would be open to sending it off to be repaired if she were assured that she was sending it to a reputable person. On another note, I have a lot of open reed at the store (it's also where I teach) and I made a "Reed Tree" to hold it. I took a cedar 4"x 4" x 8' (Lighter that Pressure Treated - keeps it from being too top heavy) & drilled a series of 3/4" holes about 18" apart from side to side & staggered holes from front to back between those. This was my tree trunk. I secured this to the center of a 1" x 12" x 24" with screws & angle brackets (roots?). Then, for the branches, I inserted 3/4" x 4' dowels through the holes (2 feet on each side of the tree). I designed & made the first one in a couple of hours with the help of one of my 8 year old nephews. My 16-year-old nephew made two more for me & they really have helped keep the place neater. You don't have to insert dowels in both directions if you don't have the floor space. I only have the long dowels inserted sideways & some 1' ones poking out the front. Hope this helps someone. As for keeping patterns straight, I have 2 notebooks in the sales area for patterns that I have for sale. They are in whatever order that they were in when I bought them from a friend who closed her shop. Then I have a notebook of patterns that I have made & want to teach in class, a notebook of patterns that I haven't made but think that I might want to teach in class, a notebook of patterns that I want to make but not teach, a notebook of patterns that I made up & taught, a notebook of the extra patterns that I had to copy again when I couldn't find the original patterns I had made up for class, some loose patterns over there under the Cats' basket that I haven't figured out yet where to put them, some more loose patterns in with stuff to be filed and well you get the idea. I am the worst. Whenever I try to get them organized, I start looking at them, change the color in my head, read techniques that I'm not familiar with, decide who I would make them for or where I would put them in my house. Then it's time to go to bed & try again tomorrow. Pattie Bagley in Marietta, Ga, trying to wade through all those patterns. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Bits and Pieces Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 11:11:30 -0400 From: "John W. Dorris" To: "Weavers Words" "Ask and ye shall receive"-that certainly applies to this group. Thanks for all the emails on what I was doing wrong with the computer-you're right, problem solved. That is til the next one comes along. Thankfully I'm better at baskets than computers. I agree with Joy about the way to find time to weave is to make it a priority. I have always been a big reader and people always wanted to know how I had time. I had time because reading was very important to me so it came before many other things. I was never much of a TV watcher and housework was low on the list of priorities so reading came first. Now weaving has become the same. At some point in your life what YOU want to do comes first and I am just lucky enough to be at that stage. I know those with big families have more to do than they can handle many times but you'd be surprised how much a difference having a bit of time for yourself will help. Those dirty clothes aren't going anywhere, they'll still be there after you finish the basket and you'll feel much better as you're folding those clothes if you've "treated" yourself first. I used to relish those times after everyone else was in bed when I could indulge myself doing just what I wanted. Enough of that for now. This weekend as I was cutting spokes for Nantucket's I decided what my "philosophy" on how many spokes you need. Put in as many as you think will fit and then take two (at least) out. Cutting and tapering spokes is not among my favorite things so when I'm in the mood I try to get several baskets set up. Tapering spokes creates the biggest mess when weaving Nantucket's so I try to get it all out of the way at once. I cut the spokes, taper them and then insert them into the base under a rubber band. If I have time I try to weave the first couple of rows to hold the spokes in place. If you have everything ready to weave you can take advantage of those bits of free time that may pop up unexpectedly without having to do a lot of prep work. Don't know if anything I have said today makes sense. I did my exercises in the pool this morn at 8:30 instead of late afternoon as usual hoping it would give me more energy throughout the day but am not sure it's turning out that way. Enough for now. Billie in sunny Va. Beach %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Dye Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 12:57:49 -0400 From: gatsby@larck.net To: davidc@iei.net I save my Rit dye in plastic milk jugs or soda bottles. Then I freeze it. I haven't had any trouble reusing it. I do shake it first a little, then heat it up again. It works fine. What I don't use, I pour back into the bottle and freeze again. There are 2 problems with this - you have to plan ahead to dye and you have to have room to freeze all of the bottles. I also dye in my kitchen. I do put newspapers up to cover the wallpaper. I clean the counters and the porcelain sink with the cleaner for porcelain dishes. I do try to get as little as possible on things. I have used the gas grill before to keep things heated up. I can mess that up without feeling guilty. I found trees to be the best place to hang my reed to let it dry. The trees don't care and it looks a little like Christmas when I do many different colors. Dot in cool, sweatshirt weather Maine %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 24 Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 13:12:02 EDT From: BODBASK@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Just a quick post to say thank you to Brenda B. Beale for the darling wall basket that she sent to me for my swap! It has a woven tree on the outside and a ceramic chickadee (the state bird she tells me) attached. I also got as a "bonus" real maple syrup from Maine and some delicious (already eaten) chip dip and a wonderful recipe book compiled of recipes from her school district. Thank you so much for the time and thoughts that you took in making this darling basket and for the gifts that you included! Swap partner in the state that made Dorothy famous: it's on its way today!! I had to find a box big enough for it, but it is finally on its way! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Art Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 14:25:07 EDT From: NanoAnd@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hello everyone, I just purchased a picture that I thought was neat and wondered if anyone has ever heard of this artist. The picture depicts the process of making a white oak egg basket with drawings of tree, log, tools and basket in pencil sketch. It is signed Miles Gordon West and dated 1985. It looks to be a print of the original and has an informational paragraph of print on the top 1/2 of the picture. It looks to me like it may have been a poster made for a museum exhibit or basket display. It is Titled American Heritage and there is also printed in the lower left corner "Designed by Leroy Alvey 1985." Any ideas as to where it was originally used? Has anyone heard of this Artist/Illustrator before? I haven't had much luck searching the Internet. So I thought I'd throw this one out and see if anyone might be able to help me find out more about my new piece of Basket Art. Thanks for your brainpower. Nan Anderson, South Haven, Michigan (NanoAnd@aol.com) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 26 Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 15:03:05 -0400 (EDT) From: viroberts@webtv.net (Vivian Roberts) To: davidc@iei.net (David Collins) I received my beautiful basket from Carol Miller from Hudson, MT. today. It is an acorn basket with a gourd base and handle woven of walnut stained #2 and #3 round reed. There are no words to describe how pretty it is. It is so beautifully woven, very neat and even!!!! Makes me ashamed of the basket that I sent to my partner. Oh, well, think I will go practice my weaving!! THANKS CAROL!!!! Vivian Roberts Trenton, Georgia %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap Basket Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 19:55:47 -0400 From: "Barbara C. Nelson" To: davidc@iei.net Someone in the far northwest...be on the look-out for your postman to deliver your swap basket...it was mailed this morning and should arrive in 2-3 days! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: THE BASKET is here! Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 16:17:57 PST From: urp012@ohmy.connect.more.net To: davidc@iei.net I got it! I received a wonderful planter basket from Mary Hooper. The colors are just perfect - hunter green and navy. It is mainly twining with a wonderful border at the top that I must try to do. She included a cute little watering can to use for the plant that I am putting in the planter. She used white oak acorn dye to stain it with and I just love it! Thanks so much Mary! My basket is going out to someone in the eastern states tomorrow. Just finishing up the boxing of it tonight. Thanks again Mary!! - Sandy Brown %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 26 Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 20:24:09 EDT From: CBasketbear@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net I am doing a big show in Oct, and I was wondering if anyone that does shows can give me any ideas on how they set up there baskets. I want to have a lot of baskets displayed. So if any one can tell me about their displays I would be so grateful. Thanks. Tim Hall: I am glad to hear that someone else uses their house key to open the swap basket box. I get my mail at the post office and I can't get out of the PO fast enough, I usually open it up on top of my car. I am glad I am not alone on being so excited. And as far as swaps go for kids, I would not mind if they were in our swap but I do feel that they might be happier if they swapped among themselves, and they might make a new friend out of it, as sometimes I do, Claudia Hopkins from Chepachet Rhode Island %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket swap Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 21:37:42 +0100 From: "Jesse and Judy Lindall" To: Hi David, Just wanted again to thank Carol MacNeil for the beautiful basket I received upon arriving home on Sat. It is called a "Herringbone Cake Taker" by Anne Rohlf. Carol also sent me the pattern and some Gardner's hand cream. I could hardly wait to open the BIG box by my door and see what I got. Carol does very beautiful work and I am very happy to own one of her creations. Thanks again Carol. Judy Lindall %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Stuff Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 19:54:41 -0500 From: Tony Stubblefield To: David Collins/Weavers Words Billie - about problems with typing an email - Email programs while sophisticated are also kind of "dumb" when it comes to graphics and formatting text. What I would probably do in a situation like you were having with Bold type is to change the section back to "plain" style, make the edit and then apply the bold style again. Sometimes I will have trouble selecting a single letter or getting cursor in the right spot with italicized type. I don't know if that will help, but give it a try. -- I have now read all the posts concerning the "insert" key. I don't have that key on my Mac so I don't know if that will solve your problem or not, but it sounds like others have experienced your problem before. Good luck. Linda - about oak splints - GH Productions in KY sells oak splints, but I have never ordered them so I can't comment on the quality. Their web address is http://www.basketmakerscatalog.com I am sure they could guide you in how much you would need to make a small basket. I am heading up to Ann Arbor, MI for the big Art Fair this Wednesday. I have always heard such great things about this event. I have done a few searches on the net and even though there will be hundreds of artist it doesn't look like there will be more than a few basket makers. Hopefully there will be more there. I will have to let you know what I find. Take care and happy weaving, Tony Stubblefield St. Louis http://www.JASkets.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 21:16:33 -0400 From: "Joy Moody" To: Thanks David for announcing about the SEARCH featuring being turned off! I was using the same one on my website & they didn't tell me it's defunct either. Do let us know if you find another! Lynda: Have you considered dying the whole deck? Linda: You can find oak from time to time on eBay. I've seen 2 recent listings. Joanne: There's a Purple Leaf Plum by Basketry Dye; also, let me check what brand I bought of leather dye. It's pretty expensive - about $5 for 4 oz. but I don't think you have to use much when you wipe it on (haven't actually tried it yet). Kay J: I keep my dye in an old refrigerator in the basement. That frig. runs quite cold, sometimes even freezes the milk bottle I keep it in, but it keep a LONGgggg time. Occasionally, the color seems to have lost its zest, but that varies a lot on which color. Re: Going into shops - whether at a distance or not- I do not put my work into a shop without a contract that protect my interests. You have to ask for the terms you want! I have an agreement about my baskets not being placed on the floor & not having anything else displayed inside of them. The storeowners also cover my baskets on their insurance. There a good book that covers such things - as I recall it's called The Law for Artists & Craftsmen. It covers a lot of things we should all think about, but maybe never do. Joy Moodyr Sign of the Crow http://www.signofthecrow.com Hampden, Maine %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: RE: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 26 Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 21:56:20 -0500 From: "Adamczak, Shirley" To: "'David Collins'" The U.S. mail will be delivering a swap basket to someone in Georgia in about three days. Be on the lookout. Shirley Adamczak In Hermantown, MN where the weatherman says it may get down to 42 degrees tonight. We had summer this year; it was on a Friday! Seriously, it was 85 yesterday. Good old Lake Superior keeps us going from one extreme to the other! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Shaving pony Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 23:47:10 -0400 From: Chris & Melissa Kile To: davidc@iei.net Where could I find information on ordering a shaving pony? I'm sure someone mentioned it in a post when the discussion was abundant about it, but of course, I failed to write it down. I LOVED the story about the husband who rented a storefront for his wife's basket stuff. I told my DH. He just chuckled. I think I'll start spreading my stuff all over the family room! Thanks for info on the shaving pony! You can email me directly or post here. Melissa Kile in Riner VA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Nantucket baskets Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 06:20:22 EDT From: Deesbasket@cs.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone, Anyone know where I could learn to make Nantucket baskets in the Kansas City, Missouri area? I have been making baskets about 2 years now and would like to get into some other styles and more advanced baskets. Any info would be appreciated thanks. Dee %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Indian Museum Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 07:29:21 -0400 From: "Jayna Glemby" To: "David Collins" It's really wonderful the way we share information. This past weekend I toured the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner, New Hampshire that had been mentioned several issues back. Carol Moff was kind enough to give me directions and suggested a wonderful restaurant (the Foothills) to have lunch in. Three of my basket making buddies came along and we had a wonderful day. When we arrived in Warner there was a Farmer's Market and we bought home made herb breads. At the museum we expected to see baskets, and after we toured the first few rooms (it's a guided tour) we were delighted with the baskets we saw, but had no idea that there would be more, and more, and more. What an extensive collection they have! Some of the antique baskets still had deep vibrant green stains. So many baskets were utilitarian and they also had a collection of fancy baskets made for trade. These had tiny curls, or woven designs and some from the southwest were so tiny my fingers hurt just looking at them. I couldn't imagine making anything so tiny and delicate with my clumsy fingers. One basket made for trade was shaped like a teapot. Imagine the mathematical genius needed to design and chart some of these baskets! Of course the museum had other items: tools, canoes, beadwork, clothing, etc. Our guide was excellent and indulged our many questions. If you go there, the last tour is at 4pm. The museum is located off route 89 in Warner, N.H. The phone # is (603) 456-2600. Nate's Nantucket's is near there, but we didn't have time to go. We left Central Massachusetts at 10am and arrived home at 7:30pm. This was my first all day outing since being sick and was I ever pooped. Came home, took my insulin, had a slice of the herb bread and a piece of fruit and was in bed by 8pm! But what a day, it was such a grand outing. Jayna in central Massachusetts %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap basket! Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 07:51:20 -0400 From: "Sarah Stoddard Watts" To: "David Collins" My swap basket is going out from Savannah this morning to a lovely lady in Maine. I hope she likes it! Sarah Watts %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Harvesting Cattails Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 09:16:16 EDT From: Wickrwoman@aol.com To: epbensum@mail.paulbunyan.net, davidc@iei.net Eve, I have been harvesting cattail leaves for years to use in my rush seat weaving and also in my basketry. The best time to cut them is usually in August or September when the leaf tips just begin to turn brown. Cut the leaves at the base, close to the water level, gathering and stacking them all in the same direction, butt ends down. Dry them for two to three weeks in an attic or garage or covered porch of some kind that is relatively hot. The leaves need to have air circulate around them and need to be turned every day so that they don't mildew and will dry evenly. I found that a few old door screens laid on sawhorses works quite well to lay them out on. If you or your husband is handy with wood and you intend on drying a lot of cattails, make up a large screen framework, like a large patio door size to lay the leaves on, that would work well. After the leaves have been thoroughly dried, tie a bunch loosely, wrap with corrugated cardboard (the sheet kind, not the boxes) and stack in a dry area. If these leaves get the least bit wet, they will mold and mildew rapidly. If conditions are ideal, they will last for years. To use the cattails for weaving chair seats or in basketry, they need to "mellow" overnight. This is a simple process of putting some on a large plastic sheet (shower curtain works well), sprinkle well with water, and wrap entire works up in a regular bed sheet. Make sure the tips and butt ends are covered in the plastic and close off the ends. Let the whole works sit overnight, when you open the package, each leaf should feel real soft, like a chamois cloth. Expel all the air out of each leaf before weaving with it, by taking the dull side of a butter knife and running it along the length of the leaf. Or, if you have an old wringer washer, run some leaves through the wringer part to expel the air. It will make a "popping" noise as you do this. I have woven baskets with cattail leaves by making a loosely wrapped rope of two or three leaves, but you could experiment around with however many you want to achieve the look you want. Maybe one leaf alone would be what you want. After I weave each row though, I compress it and pack it up against the others as well as I can, so it's a tight weave. Use your own judgment and have fun! I made one cattail leaf/red dogwood wall hanging basket many years ago that I just love. Will try to dig up the picture and post it to my "Baskets" PhotoPoint album soon. Hope this helps you, from one Minnesota basketweaver to another! Teaching my "Smoked Reed Antler Grapevine" basket at the Southern Minnesota Basket Workshop in Faribault on Friday, July 28, hope to see you all there! The Wicker Woman/Cathryn Peters/Zumbro Falls, MN %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap Basket Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 13:56:49 -0400 From: "Jocelyn Levan" To: Hello weavers and David, I just received my swap basket from Juanita Carreon of Havelock, N.C. It is beautiful! Called a Patriot Bowl, the wooden base is painted red, white, and blue. The spokes that meet the blue part of the base are also blue, and the rest of the spokes are red (the round reed rim filler corresponds with the color of the spokes!) It is finished with a raffia bow and painted tin stars "floating" in the raffia via wire. Juanita did a wonderful job! I have participated in all nine WW swaps, and have never been disappointed with the basket(s) I received. I just hope others have been pleased with the ones I have sent. On another note, I will be traveling to Salt Lake City and San Francisco the first full week in August. Does anyone have any suggestions of basket shops, classes, displays, etc. that would be worth a visit in either city? Thank you in advance for any helpful suggestions! Lyn Levan in hot and sunny central PA jdlevan@freewwweb.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Swap! Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 17:00:17 -0500 From: Wanda Baker To: "Collins, David" First and foremost I want to take the time to thank David for all his hard work, keeping up all together and up to date on things. And Second I want to thank Faye Stuckey for hosting this current Swap. Last but not least I want to let some person west of the Big Apple know that a brown truck should be heading your way tomorrow, so be on the lookout for a large box. Wanda Baker from warm and sunny Indianapolis, IN %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Splint baskets Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 18:10:23 -0400 From: Angelique Raptakis To: "Weavers Words (E-mail)" Hello, Recently I had someone telling me that the Indians did not produce splint baskets, that there is no archeological evidence in the northeast prior to European contact. Then I saw the same thing posted on the naturals list. my hobby is 18th century living history as a creek woman (southerner),so any documentation for or against splint baskets is of value to me. I saw a picture of an Iroquois pack basket in a book once, I think it was called Iroquois Arts and Crafts. But I don't think that they dated it. It was made from 2" wide ash splints as the spokes, if I can remember correctly. One more question. I think I am a little confused about what a double walled basket is. Can someone point me in the direction of instructions or descriptions of this type of weave/basket? Thanks, Angelique Raptakis in rainy Silver Spring, MD %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Swap Basket Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 18:57:19 -0500 From: "Cynthia G. Robbins" To: "David Collins" Just a note to tell everyone I received my Swap Basket from Karen D'Angelo of Wichita, KS. It is a beautiful Cherokee double wall basket. It's difficult to describe but here goes. It's a round basket made of round reed, about 4 inches tall. The second, outer wall comes down from the top (forgive my description, but sort of like rolling a sock top down). This wall is banded with dyed round reed in muted red, green, gold, and brown. I know you can't tell from my description, but it is a beautiful basket. I am soooo happy Karen was my Swap Partner. Now that my family has a scanner, I'll get a picture to David so all of you can appreciate it too. I've asked Karen if the pattern is available, I'd love to challenge myself and my basket class buddies. Cindy in AL where it's still Hot and Humid %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Kid's swap Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 19:45:42 -0500 From: Chris Carstens To: davidc@iei.net Hi Everyone, I just wanted to let you know that I would be willing to coordinate a first time WW kid's basket swap. I will wait to see if anyone objects or if anyone has any good ideas concerning rules for such a swap. In about 1 or 2 weeks then, I will go ahead and post rules and begin a sign-up! If there are at least 10 kids who sign up, I think the swap will go O.K. Let me know what you think. My daughter is really interested in this. Thanks! Lisa Carstens in Wisconsin %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Rack Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 21:37:07 EDT From: Lewiscarolv@gateway.net To: davidc@iei.net Dear David and basket lovers, Faith Mountain Co has a new late summer 2000 catalog just out with a nice standing basket rack for $69.95. www.faithmountain.com or e-mail cheri@faithmountain.com. Carol Votaw In beautiful South Carolina where the high today was 91 and the humidity was just about as high. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any reason you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.