"Weavers Words" Vol. 4 Iss. 88 Date Sent: April 04, 2001 Web Page: http://members.xoom.com/dgcollins/ Subscribers: 1579 David Collins 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 Phone: (317) 899-5747 davidc@iei.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE "BASKETRY TRAVEL COMPANION" TODAY: http://members.nbci.com/dgcollins/ordercompanion.html %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 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: 1.) 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. 2.) If you have recently subscribed, more than likely you will read messages about a basket swap in progress. Basket swaps are organized by other weavers approximately every 2-3 months. So if a swap is in progress when you subscribe, be patient and a new swap will begin before you know it. Every subscriber is eligible for each swap as long as you fulfill you obligation from the previous swap. 3.) If you are looking for basket shops across the country, there is an extensive list on Weaver's Words web page. The shops are listed alphabetically. If you know of a shop that isn't listed, send me the shop's information for addition. Include all of the following if applicable: Shop's Name; Web Page Address; E-Mail Address; Street Address; City, State, Zip Code; Phone Number. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 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: NONE %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 87 Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 23:43:03 -0500 From: "K A" To: davidc@iei.net To Lois and Joanne!! I just got through reading about your wonderful time at the Convention!! You girls sound like the people giving their thank you speeches at the Oscar Awards!! Too funny!! First conventions are the BEST and you're right everyone should go to at least one big one. You girls made my night with all the excitement in your writings. I'm so glad you had such a great time. Lois when I went to my first convention a few years back I had only been weaving for about 3 or 4 months and I took a Nantucket class and it too is my pride and joy. I still wonder how I had the guts to sign up for such a class with little to no experience. I hope your cold goes away real soon and you get all your packages in one piece!! Take care and enjoy the memories!! Kathie Anderson, Macomb, MI Where the Robins are back!! Now we just need to find out when "Spring" is coming back!!!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Need info Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 07:17:50 -0500 From: "Carol Lynne" To: davidc@iei.net This is for anyone, I am a 5 month vet at basketweaving. In other words, a real baby and have sooooo much to learn. I have, however, became nuttier than a fruitcake about baskets. Can someone tell me how to dye reed white. There seems to be no white dye. Paint? Reed painted before making basket? After? Dip? Spray?? I'm afraid that if I spray paint after the basket is make, it will look like the cheap-o things imported from you know where. I DO NOT want that. Any help will be much appreciated. Carol Tidwell sparkleplenty6@hotmail.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" V. 4 I. 87 Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 09:42:03 -0500 From: "Barbara France" To: Thanks for sending that to me. It was interesting. I was invited to eat dinner with an on-line group but I don't know if this is the same group. They are the officers of the group. They were a boring bunch and the buffet was awful, but hey, it was the experience! Now, you have to remember, WE you and I have been going to conventions for 16 years. If you remember how we felt for say the first 5 years, that is how this woman is feeling. It seemed to me, that since she came from Hawaii, this was her FIRST convention. So of course, the pattern room will be a wonderful experience. It was for us for how many years until we regained control of ourselves? Let me tell you, the pattern room was nothing special. The exhibit room was nice. They had an HUGE life size cradle on a stand, done Nantucket style. I think it won best in show. There was a lovely nested set of Nantucket's as well, (not Kathleen Myers). Kathleen didn't attend. This woman is STARVED for attention and since she came from Hawaii, she got a bit carried away at the size of the convention. Jodi Shebester and I chatted several times and she indicated there were 700 people there. I STILL DON'T SEE IT because they can only accommodate 500 people weaving at any given time. Now I don't pretend to think that everybody is weaving at every moment but I had been told that they held their convention to 500. But what do I know? How do I know the 500 number? They have an HUGE room where there are 36 groups of tables set-up for 12 people. That's 432. There are also two rooms that hold 12 each, that's an additional 24 so that adds up to 456. I just don't see the 700. My roommates were clean and presentable and they weren't kleptomaniacs, HOWEVER, one was a neurotic mess and the other was a master sgt in the Marines who didn't SHUT-UP. In fact, neither of them SHUT-UP. The master sgt (Cindy) would ask a question and you'd start your answer, she would immediately interrupt and go off on some tangent or other talking non-stop. The neurotic (Pam) was so concerned about leaving her children that she obsessed over them. Either she called them or they called her each day. She has a 5 and a 10 year old. I was the one who kept getting her messages either by answering the phone or by getting the voice mail. One night she called home and she talked to them like they were little idiots. Cindy and I chatted about that the next day. Pam related that her 5 year old said, "Mommy, I cried and cried because I waited and waited for you and you didn't come home." I asked her, "didn't you tell him you were going to be gone?" She said that he forgets. She then proceeded to say that he was autistic and he didn't remember anything. I don't know what type of idiot her husband is but he called one day to leave the message, "there's a little boy who misses his mommy, have Pam call home." Why couldn't he just say, "mommy is gone for a day or two and will return soon"? Apparently, she has NEVER been away from the kids. It was quite interesting. She obsessed about money, yet she was there and it is not a cheap function. Oh yeah, the master sgt had her husband drive her up, a 2-hour drive. I asked why and she said, "because he loves to be with me." What an EGO! He them came back on Sunday to pick her up. But I got a kick out of her Maine accent. She kept calling me BAH' BRA. I am really glad that I took Jim Rutherford's class and that I went to NC. He is not going to go to Michigan again. They don't give him enough classes to make it worth his while so he is stopping his attendance. He got three classes here, his lunchbox, the 2 pie, and his potbelly. He forgot handles for the 2 pie for 3 people so he asked if he could send me handles. I said that was fine. Sharon McElroy drove my basket home, I have to call her and arrange to pick it up. It turned out quite nice. He cannot get walnut anymore and we had to use small pieces and once it is gone, there won't be anymore because his mill won't cut walnut anymore. So it was a good thing that I went to NC. This will probably be my last year there because Kim will start school in September and she seems to feel that she won't have the money or the time to attend. My other class was a Nantucket 9" tray. It is really a round short basket. The lady was nice, Donna Rose. She is retirement age (probably late 60s.) She has an interesting way to do rims. She doesn't glue them. She feels that she doesn't get them either tight enough or too tight. So she puts the rims going in the same direction, off sets them, one after the other and starts lashing to the right of them, that way, if they move, they move over themselves and there are no bulges. It seems to work. She doesn't do the under piece but I did. It's okay, I didn't do a fantastic job of weaving and there are some small spaces, but it looks presentable. I took that one on the plane with me in my carry-on bag. The plane rides were uneventful except that on the way home I sat next to Diane Stanton. I didn't know who she was but she was wearing an AMB sweatshirt (from the year she did the convention basket) and I said something like, "by your shirt, I can assume that you were at the NC convention?" We then chatted for a bit and she remembered that I had run for President. She goes home to Boston and NW routes her through Detroit. Seems sort of dumb to me. She was probably still on the road when I was in bed. She seems nice enough. So, I guess I have become jaded after 16 years of conventions. I think it'll be difficult to find things for the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th years, if I last that long. I have also become spoiled with my roommate. I expect everybody to be like her and they just aren't. (Except that my usual roommate calls ME neurotic!) I still do not see anybody using their little clam shell purse (except for me) and Kathleen taught it for 2 years at NC. It surprises me. Perhaps nobody finished theirs. Is that probable? The guild group is going up to Kathleen's tomorrow to do the clamshell purse. They didn't have a full compliment (I don't know how many that was) but they are still going anyway. Well, gotta get some work done. Carol isn't feeling well and I think she wants me to cover for her in rounds today. I have to psych myself up for it. In addition, it is Trish's 30th birthday (our new secretary) so I have to prepare for our little celebration. Tough day. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Wire handle wall basket Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 13:54:48 -0500 From: "Angie Wagner-Country Seat" Organization: The Country Seat To: "- Weavers Words David Collins" Hi all! For Laurie Burns & Dianne Gleixner - the book with the wall baskets w/ wire handles is The Basketmak'r #1 by Deb Blair. Hope it helps, Angie The Country Seat http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Suddenly Winter? Date: 30 Mar 2001 19:00:45 -0000 From: "J. Choate Basketry List" To: List Member Suddenly Winter? After the conclusion of the Alaska Bush Basketry Retreat I was sure that the days of dogs were over for the season. Balmy 50 degree weather and freezing rain had put the kibosh on any plans of traveling with the dogs. But when you least expect it Alaska changes your mind. Ten inches of snow later we're ready to hook a team up again. A last hurrah for us as we make ready to hit the "other" trail next week. The summer tour begins early this year and finds us in Colorado, Arizona, California and Nevada. Usually April would find us perched in a snow pack seated in a lawn chair getting a reflection tan. But this year while it breaks up in Alaska we'll be basking in the real sun below. What is it "really" like to be in Alaska? If you'd like a glimpse of the "Midnight Sun" then the ABBR -"Fish-On!" is calling your name. Are you ready for a trip on the sled runners? Then it's the ABBR - "Iditarod" in March that hails you. The Anchorage Daily News recently published an article about the Alaska Bush Basketry Retreat interviewing this years participants. If you'd like the inside scoop by those that attended let me know and I'll send it your way. As participant Nadine Harper from Saylorsburg, PA put it "Alaska is a dream that came true". It's not to early to reserve your space for the ABBR in 2002. Space is limited and the list for those that have heard Alaska's call to them has already begun. If your interested in attending give me a hoot and we'll make sure that your adventure to Alaska is one to remember. Until we meet on the trail... Jill Choate Talkeetna, Alaska %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: How to start weaving Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 14:12:38 -0500 From: "Angie Wagner-Country Seat" Organization: The Country Seat To: "- Weavers Words David Collins" Hi Elizabeth, Kits and books are great ways to learn basketry techniques. Most all kit directions are written with for the beginner weaver and are clear and easy to understand. You also might want to check our Teachers page - http://www.countryseat.com/teachers.htm to see if there are any other teachers listed for your area. Some great books are (it does depend on what type of baskets you are interested in): The Basket Book by Lyn Siler (general); Wicker Basketry by Flo Hoppe (round reed); Baskets from Nature's Bounty by Jensen (natural materials); Baskets, Baskets, Baskets by Rohkohl (general); Basketry the Nantucket Tradition by McGuire (Nantucket's); Art of Basketry by Lonning (round reed); Basket Beginnings by Kabel (general), etc. That should get you started :). Tools can be basic or complex depending on the type of basket you want to weave. To get started: good strong scissors with a sharp point to trim the hairs from the finished basket (ex: basket shear), a yard stick/tape measure, flat tipped awl (for creating space under the rim while lashing (ex: weaverite tool letter B), - or you might want to try a Lash Buddies (they look like a little shoe horn) clamps (at least 6 - for holding the corners of flat reed baskets as you get started and for holding the rim while lashing, ex: 1/2" and 1" rubber tipped clamps), a packing tool (for pushing down the rows after the basket has dried before lashing on the rim, ex: weaverite tool letter H). There are a lot more tools that you'll pick up over time, but these are the basics. The most commonly used sizes of reed are 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" & 5/8", but I wouldn't recommend buying materials until you know what you want to weave. A kit will contain all of the materials that you need to complete the basket. A book or pattern will tell you what materials you need. Visit our secure on-line catalog to see all of our supplies. Angie The Country Seat http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket classes Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2001 17:41:12 -0500 From: Ruth Emberg To: Melodie Brooks Ruth Emberg Basket Classes Basket classes remaining in Spring 2001 Schedule: Tuesday April 3, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at KV-YMCA in W. Vandergrift TOOL/TOTE BASKET Phone YMCA 724-568-2080 Pay $9:00 tuition to the YMCA, & pay $11.00 materials fee at calcite. Saturday April 28, 9:00 am to noon at AKV Historical Society Heritage Museum in Tarentum. KEY/MAIL BASKET Phone Museum 724-224-7666. Pay $9:00 tuition to the Historical Society, & pay $11.00 materials fee at calcite. Saturday May 5 from 9:00 am to 4:00 p.m. at AKV Historical Society Heritage Museum in Tarentum. Bring a bag lunch. STAIR STEP BASKET Phone Museum 724-224-7666. Pay $18:00 tuition to the Historical Society, & pay $25.00 materials fee at calcite. SUMMER SCHEDULE WILL BE READY IN MAY. ****** NEW ***** You may schedule a class for one or two persons for any basket you choose, to be taught in my home studio in Washington Twp. Phone, write or e-mail to make arrangements. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: TBG Meeting and DST Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2001 06:45:55 -0400 From: "Meredith Macdonald" To: davidc@iei.net Hi Members!!! Don't forget the "Show and Tell"/"Fire Sale"/Sampler Basket meeting today and the change in time because of Daylight Savings Time. We will start at 2 p.m. See you there!! Meredith %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Kristen's Tulip Basket Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2001 09:43:34 -0500 From: "Anthony Robbins" To: "David Collins" Please Help! Does anyone have a source for the base and wooden tulips needed to make Carol Matteson's Kristen's Tulip Basket? I've been in touch with Carol, and she has graciously offered to send me a base, but I'm having no luck finding the 6 wooden tulips (about 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" high, with a hole in the center to slide down the spoke). I've been to Hobby Lobby, Michael's and several independent craft shops with no luck. I know I've seen them somewhere, just not lately. Has anyone else made the basket? Does anyone carry the tulips in your store? I would appreciate any help available. Thank You, Cindy in AL, where the sun is shining and it is BEAUTIFUL outside (inside, it's a mess) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Wedding Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 00:00:31 -0500 From: "Barb Johnson" To: "David Collins" Looking for a simple pattern for wedding centerpieces. The baskets will be placed on the dinner tables, so not to high. I want to do a floral arrangement in the basket. The wedding is in May. Any suggestions - thanks - ~Barb Johnson, WI %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Casket Basket on Ebay Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 13:10:09 -0500 From: Dianne Gleixner To: "Weavers Words (E-mail)" Hi everyone, I hope this message gets out in time. If anyone is interested, there is a casket basket for sale on ebay. Item #1420414535. If you've never been to ebay, just enter the item number in the search box and it'll take you right to the item. Buyer pays for shipping from TN, but the bidding hadn't yet started. It'll be interesting to see what this sells for. Auction ends on April 8. Happy weaving! Dianne Gleixner, south east WI where we're having a little bit of rain, a little bit of snow, a lot of clouds, a little bit of sunshine, and temps in the 30s and 40s. It's SPRING! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Old question Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 15:56:09 -0500 From: Nancy Brandt To: Weaver's words Hello Everyone, It has been ages since I wrote to you. But the problem of dyed weavers "running" has come around again. One friend said she thinks it is caused by my well water. Some rinse and rinse; some say to dry after dying and rinse later. Please send me some of your wisdom. This is such a problem and causes some baskets to sell cheaper than they should. Nancy, Glen Arm, Md. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Posting for Weavers Word Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 10:15:55 EDT From: DMMONTE1@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi, I just wanted to let everyone know about some Nantucket Lightship Basket classes that I'll be teaching this spring and summer. The first one will be April 17th and April 24th at Del's In East Freetown, MA. Their phone numbers are 508-763-5555 and 800-957-3357. The basket that I will teach is an all oak 6" Oval Open Nantucket Basket. It has an oak base plate, staves, rims and handle with cane carriage superfine weaver and ivory dome knobs and washers. If you'd like more info please give them a call as pre-registration is required. The second class will be at Quiltessentials in Auburn, Maine, June 9th & 10th. At this class you can choose from my 60 molds. Quiltessentials' owner, Betsy Dorr has a list of all the different shapes & sizes. Come to Maine for a fun weekend of Nantucket weaving! We always have such a great time. If you'd like more info call Quiltessentials at 207-784-4486. My third class will be at the Fletcher Farm School in Ludlow, Vt., June 30th and July 1st. At this class my students will weave a Nantucket Lightship Fishing Creel Purse, just in time to be used during the summer season! This should be a great class at a great location! Call the school at 802-228-8770 for more info. I'd love to meet some of my fellow weavers from Weavers Word. I'm sure we'd have a wonderful, fun time doing what we all love to do. Thanks and have a great spring, Donele Monte Somerset, MA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: NCBA Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 15:37:50 -0700 From: "Mary Zeh Kuhr" To: "David Collins" Kudos to the silver fox, Denise Carlson, her "brain," Kay Harriger, volunteer coordinator Louise Riggs, and the countless other wonderful women and men who pulled off another splendid NCBA convention. If the measure of a good convention is the level of exhaustion at the end of it, this one gets a Triple A rating. Taking three classes (from Famous Flo, Karen Wheeler, and Eric Taylor -- all great teachers) and teaching two was more than my rickety sixty-year-old body (and hands) could stand, but it sure was fun. Also fun was meeting the Hula girls, Joanne and Lois, seeing the always effervescent Ella Mae, her pal Carol, the Georgia contingent and so many others, and trying to outwit the crazy boys in the NCBA Store. I am sure that Judith Wyatt and Elizabeth Clark will do an equally fine job next year but I'm also convinced that NO ONE will ever do a better job at the microphone than Denise did. She's not only silver-haired; she's silver-tongued! Thanks to everyone for your hard work and great results. Mary ZK in Raleigh where it's raining AGAIN!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Great Teachers Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 07:11:08 -0500 From: "East Troy Basketry" To: "David Collins" Thanks to all of you who recommended that I contact Cathryn Peters, "The Wickerwoman" to teach at East Troy Basketry Company. She taught antler baskets and footstools here this past week and proved to be not only a fabulous teacher but a wonderful person. She is a wealth of information on caning, weaving, wicker restoration and so much more. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a teacher. Marlene Meyers will be coming from Hudson, WI on May 7, 8 & 9 between teaching engagements at Basketfest in Waukesha, WI and the Indiana Basketmakers Convention. She will teach two of her exquisite creations, which incorporate birch bark and yarn (two of the same baskets she will be teaching at IBA.) There are still a few openings in each of her classes. Check out our website www.easttroybasketry.com for pictures of the baskets she is teaching. John McGuire will be teaching here Aug 4-9. Check the above website for pictures. I'm looking for teachers for this fall and next year. Any suggestions? Anyone out there who would like to come to Southeastern Wisconsin to teach? Please call toll-free or email me. Eileen Mirsberger 1-888-424-9866 Email: basket@wcf.net East Troy Basketry Company 2082 Church St. East Troy, WI 53120 www.easttroybasketry.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Item for WWs Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 01:35:57 -0400 (EDT) From: baweaver6@webtv.net (j ladew) To: davidc@iei.net Hi All - Does anyone out there know of any basket shops or basket makers or basket related events/museums, etc., in the area of RYE, ENGLAND? Many thanks if you do - Jennie Ladew, VA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Income Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 17:00:28 -0700 (PDT) From: Rahil Hasan To: davidc@iei.net I am interested in starting up a basket business and was wondering if any one could share with me how much they make one average per craft show, their average basket price. What methods do you use to sell your baskets, etc. Thanks, Beth %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% If for any reason you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.