"Weavers Words" Vol. 5 Iss. 54 MADE IN AMERICA BY A PROUD AMERICAN!!! Date Sent: April 22, 2002 Back Issues: http://www.angelfire.com/art/weaverswords/ David Collins 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 Phone: (317) 899-5747 davidc@iei.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% PLEASE DO YOUR PART AND DONATE TO SOME REAL HEROES!!! New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund PO Box 65858 Washington D.C. 20035-5858 http://daily.iaff.org/fund.htm New York State Fraternal Order of Police 911 Police Plaza World Trade Centers Fund Hicksville, NY 11801 http://www.nysfop.org/WTCdisaster/Fund.html ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO SUPPORT YOU LOCAL FIRE & POLICE DEPARTMENTS!!! %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ATTENTION NEW SUBSCRIBERS: 1.) Back issues of Weaver's Words can be found at: http://www.angelfire.com/art/weaverswords/ 2.) If you are new to Weaver's Words, 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.) You can order a copy of the "Basketry Travel Companion", your guide to basket shops, galleries, exhibits and much more across the United States and world wide, by sending me $15.00 via PayPal (a free service) at: http://www.paypal.com/ (Send Payment To ka9zre@yahoo.com) OR Via money order / check at: David Collins 408 North Devon Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% BEFORE POSTING VIRUS WARNINGS TO WEAVER'S WORDS!!! Check The Following Link To Assure The Virus Isn't A Hoax: http://urbanlegends.about.com/ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Nantucket Classes Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 10:33:07 EDT From: DMMONTE1@aol.com To: ka9zre@yahoo.com Hello Everyone, Just thought I better clear up a misunderstanding regarding one of my Nantucket classes. Tony - I offer the students in my classes the "choice" of 80 different molds, but pre-registration is required. When a student calls the shop they are given the list of molds to choose from. I then receive their choice and take it from there as to preparation of materials. I teach so many classes that I "usually" have all my handles, bases, knobs, etc. in stock. I like to have their choices several weeks before the class but I am flexible about cut off dates, I've even accepted students up to one day before I head out on the road. I do my best to accommodate everyone so that no one who really would like to be in one of my classes gets left out. My classes are stress-free and fun for my students and "myself", so traveling with all my molds and materials isn't an option. I totally agree with you that doing that would be enough to do anybody in! Thanks, Donele Monte Somerset, MA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Stuff Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 21:48:35 -0500 From: "Tony Stubblefield" To: "David Collins" Shari - about teaching classes - I am sure you are going to get dozen responses and a dozen different answers. I will give you may theory on teaching basket classes, but you will have to figure out what works for you and your student base. I prefer to teach a smaller class as I like to give my students lots of one-on-one attention, therefore my classes probably a little more expensive than others. I usually limit my classes to 6-8 students with a minimum of 4. I will go up to 10 on some classes, but it has to be a basket that requires less individual demonstration and help. I usually end up charging about what I would sell the finished basket for as a rule of thumb. I base the price on material, material preparation if any, class length and difficulty/complexity of teaching. Another formula I use is cost of materials plus $25.00. I figure for my time I need to make a minimum of $100 (at 4 students) for a full Saturday's time. This brings us to time allotment. I figure it is going to take about twice as long in the class as it takes me to make the basket by myself. Since most baskets of any size or complexity take at least 3 hours to complete I usually schedule the classes for 6 to 8 hours with a half hour lunch. Try to gauge the class pace so that you will be at a good breaking point at lunchtime. If the baskets need to dry, this is a good time. I much prefer to teach a class in one full day instead of splitting it into 2 evenings. I think that takes longer anyway as you have to stop in the middle and clean up and you have another start to get people settled and going again. Also, I don't like to give up 2 evenings. I teach all my classes through a local woman who has a home studio where she teaches classes through the week. She does all the advertising, handling of money and cleanup and I just pay her a small percentage (10%) of the class fee. This is more than fair for all the work she does and I just have to come in and teach the class and leave (I do provide all my own materials and tools). Since you are new to this, a set up like I describe would probably work best as the shop will already have an established student base and class structure. Oh, one more thing. I only teach classes that I have made the basket a number of times on my own and in the size of the class model. You need to be very familiar with all the tricky spots of the basket and can easily see an error without a lot of study. If you are in doubt, just start with a small class size and a relatively easy basket or get a small group of your friends together and do a dry run of the class. Cindy - about waxed linen baskets described on WW - I think most of the baskets that people refer to here on WW are twined or woven like a wicker or round reed basket. As far as I know there aren't any kits or books that teach knotted baskets as like the ones I have on my web site http://www.jaskets.com/contemporary.html Anne - about bending oak handles - If the wood is split from a log with the grain and is still green you should be able to easily bend it into shape either over a jig or just by hand and either tape or tie it to shape, i.e. into a U-shape for an inserted handle. If you are working with wood cut from a piece of lumber you will definitely have to boil or steam it and cross your fingers as you bend it. Since you are probably bending across the grain it will either bend nicely for your or snap right in two. You will probably need a jig also to shape the handle over and either clamp it or wedge it around. John McGuire's books describe carving and shaping handles from green wood. I learned to steam and bend cut handle blanks from apprenticeships with Martha Wetherbee. While I am getting better, you still have a lot of failure, especially with cherry. Green wood is definitely going to be the most forgiving to work with. Hope everyone is having a nice spring. It has finally warmed up here and in St. Louis and I have the windows all open. Happy Weaving, Tony Stubblefield St. Louis, MO http://www.jaskets.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Introduction Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 07:27:00 -1000 From: "Lisa Seng" To: ka9zre@yahoo.com Hi! Just wanted to come out of the closet and introduce myself. My name is Lisa Seng and I live in Honolulu, Hawaii. I've been a longtime, off and on lurker on this forum. I've been weaving off and on since '97. I have recently gotten heavily back into weaving after not having done any for two years. Not that I don't love it or swore off of it. I have many hobbies but little time. Love all my hobbies, but my favorite is shopping for them all! I have done some teaching of classes, but with little free time I find it detracts from my doing my own weaving which I do mainly for myself and gifts for friends and family. Although I love to weave and love my other crafts, I don't think I could make enough money selling or teaching to make a go of it. Maybe someday! Recently my interests in weaving lean heavily towards twill patterns. I love the interplay of color and design! I wanted to comment on scarfing rims. I am a stickler for a beautifully scarfed rim. I like my rim overlaps to be barely noticeable. I use just an exacto knife, after soaking, thin the rounded side that will go underneath. Then I match them together to determine where I want the other side to end, thin the flat side of that, cut with basket scissors to a point. Then cut off the point, soften the edges with a sanding block. Position the rim so my lasher will hold it down well and lash. The result is a overlap, that with a little practice will be barely noticeable! I have used a Stanley shaver in the past, but found the blade rusts to quickly and it isn't as manageable. Before I would plunk down big bucks on the Scarf and Shave thing, I, personally would have to have tried it out. Not that I wouldn't spend the money, but can't see doing it if there is a cheaper way. Right now if I had that kind of spare pocket change, I would be spending it on a turkey fryer, so I can do my reed dying outdoors. My last dye batch left my recently painted kitchen walls stained with navy blue spots! I also want to comment about deepening the notches on bushel basket handles to achieve tighter rims around the handle. I also like my rims tight and have tried doing that. Granted, I had tried it with the handles I've made myself out of half round, but the principle is still the same. If you deepen the notch too much the handle is weakened at that point and may break or be floppy. You don't want that! I also have a question. I am interested in weaving Lisa Nortz' fishing creel pattern for my brothers who love to fish. I've looked thru most of my catalogs and the websites to see if I could find the lid for sale, but have not found it. I don't have the pattern yet so I don't know if a source is listed or the dimensions so I may cut it myself. Would appreciate if someone who has the pattern or a source would email me with some advice. Lastly, a big, warm, overdue thank you to David for all of your hard work! Aloha, Lisa %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basket Design Request Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 2:32 PM From: Susan Slaven To: 4/12/02 I recently received a request to design a basket from the Alltrista Consumer Products Company in Muncie, IN. They are looking for someone to design a basket, which will hold a plastic ice tea tapper jar. The gentleman said it should have handles on the side, which will be foldable in order to insert/remove the tapper for cleaning. I asked for clarification on this, and he said the basket should go up to the lid, with handles extending from the top that fold similar to a purse. I guess my mind is fried, cause I can't think of a way to make the basket clear up to the lid (fitted) and still make it removable for cleaning. If any of you can think of a way, please contact the gentleman below. They are looking for a design as soon as possible. Ryan Grace Market Research Analyst-Alltrista (765) 281-5060 rgrace@alltrista.com Thanks, Susan Slaven Muncie, IN %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Gretchen Borders Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 9:44:42 -0400 From: "JandTHamm" To: ka9zre@yahoo.com I love doing Gretchen's and they are quite difficult to get used to. When you start a Gretchen you have 3 pieces of reed in your hand. Take a clothespin and place it between the first and middle pieces of R/reed. Take the first piece and go over two and down, then place a clothespin between what was the middle and last pieces of reed and now pick up your third piece. Weave the first (was middle) over two and down. Continue weaving the rest of the border to the last two pieces. Take the one farthest from the clothespin go over one and down into the same hole that the clothespin makes and take that clothespin out. Take the last piece of reed and insert it over and into the hole that the second clothespin makes and then take out the clothespin. Pull your border tight. This can be done with each row and is a good way to make the ending very visual. Make sure you do not use too many pieces of round reed. This can make it difficult to get a good tight border. Happy Weaving, --- Theressa Hamm --- hammplus3@earthlink.net --- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Willow For Weaving Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2002 10:00 AM From: Roberta Zeiser To: I was wondering what kind of willow is used in basket making. Could one use the branches from a pussy willow bush? Roberta %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: WVBA Convention Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 1:12 PM From: To: The deadline will soon be upon us for submitting West Virginia Basketmakers Assoc. teacher applications for Convention 2002. Anyone wishing to submit needs to contact Delores Stutler at: jodeweaver@aol.com. She will be happy to send an application out to you. The deadline for submitting is May 25, 2002. The baskets will be juried on June 1, 2002. You must be a member of the association to submit to teach. The Convention will be in Weirton, WV this year at the Holiday Inn, November 22-24, 2002. If you have any further questions you may contact me at: SLTARAWOOD@aol.com Thank-You, Sandra Lyons Coordinator %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: FW: Newsletter Is Out Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 3:56 AM From: Patricia Baskets To: The April newsletter is now posted on my web page. Just go to www.patriciabaskets.com and click on newsletter at the bottom of the home page. The free pattern-technique this time is using s-curls and curly-q's as a side embellishment. It can be found on the basket pattern page. Happy Weaving. Patricia Yunkes PATRICIA BASKETS Visit my web page at www.patriciabaskets.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: [weaverswords] "Weavers Words" V. 5 I. 53 Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 12:06:23 EDT From: PBWEAVE@aol.com To: weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com The Oklahoma Native American Basketweavers association requests 1) Native American written basket patterns 2) Native American style basket patterns. If interested, please send me the following information about the pattern(s): weaving skill level, photo, author's name, good description, price and tribe, if known, of the basket and the pattern writer. As secretary, I will keep the patterns and will not allow reproduction. Patterns will be kept in a binder so members will know what is available for purchase. Membership to our organization is $15. Our goal is education of Native American basketry of tribes relocated to Oklahoma. We hold workshops, basket weaving gatherings, network, demonstrate at tribal festivals and more. Many of our members are also members of the Basketweavers Guild of Oklahoma and we consider them strong supporters. For more information, go to my website below. Peggy Brennan Edmond, OK http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/basketry %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Nantucket Question Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 7:50 AM From: Dianne Walbeck To: Weaver's Words I am interested in learning how to weave a Nantucket basket. I have looked at a few kits and have found one for a round 6" that interested me. Before I jump into the basket with both feet I would like to know if there is any helpful tidbits out there that may make starting this particular basket helpful. Also, on another note, are weaving stands pretty standard in size? I understand they have larger and smaller sizes depending on the size of the mold but are all the large sizes pretty standard as well as the smaller sizes? Dianne Walbeck Okinawa Japan WWW.diswoventreasures.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Coil Size Control For Bee Skeps Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 21:44:14 -0000 From: "maryeileen49" To: weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com I read in a recent posting suggestions for controlling the size of the coil for bee skeps, and wanted to let you know my method. My family are dairy farmers in PA, though I live in Florida now, and we had all the supplies handy at home. I've made lots of skeps and other kinds of rye straw coailed baskets. The first thing is to get the straw. Rye is best, because it is the longest, but it must be gathered in the fall, at the end of the growing season. Cut it yourself, because you don't want baled straw that is crushed and broken. You could use a scythe if you want to be really traditional, but scissors will work, too, and are okay for small amounts. Ask permission; farmers don't like trespassers. It's also important to remove the grain, to keep critters from chewing on the skep (this happened to me--once!). Once the rye is cut and dried, it can be stored indefinitely. I've always used a cow's horn to size the coil. The best source is a meat processing facility, where cattle are butchered, but maybe a veterinarian could find one for you. Cows' horns are wide at the base and narrow (and rounded, not sharp) at the tip. They are hollow, so when you saw off the tip, you get a funnel-like shape. Where you saw it controls the size of the opening. Then you feed the rye straw into the wide end, and coil out of the narrow end. My horn shapes a coil about an inch in diameter. If you're going to use the skep outside for bees, consider coiling with material that will stand up to rain, dew, etc. I'd use nylon string, the kind I use for tying brooms. It's not as pretty as something more traditional (we used ash splints when I was a kid) but it holds up to the weather. And don't forget the internal wooden crosses for the bees to form their hives around. Beekeepers use the skep for only one season, so that bee mites don't infect next year's hive, so my family made new skeps each year and burned the old ones. That's probably why there are no old skeps around in antique shops. Mary Brandenburg %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Basketry Book For Sale Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2002 11:12 PM From: MaryJeanne Hemesath To: davidc@iei.net TO ALL WW READERS: I have ordered a basket book from H.H. Perkins called, "ADDICTED TRHOUGH THE YEAR" by Elizabeth Wheeler Clark for $17.00. After it arrived I noticed that I already had the book, so was wondering if any basket weaver would be interested in buying the book for 17.00. I will pay for the postage. It has 128 pages in paperback form. If anyone is interested please email me privately. I really don't need two books alike. H.H. Perkins do not take returnable books. It's a good book, a lot of ideas. Hi from West St. Paul, Minnesota where they say we are going to get 3-4 inches of snow Sunday (4/21). I think that this weather is crazy, but that is Minnesota, we get everything! MaryJeanne mjbasket@usfamily.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: July Weave In Dayton, OH Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2002 9:20 AM From: Karen Douglass To: davidc@iei.net Hi David! As you know from the listings, the Heritage Basket Guild is sponsoring a Weave in Dayton, Ohio on July 13, 2002. I am in charge of getting items for the goodie bag and for the raffle. I'd like to ask if you would kindly donate a couple of your books for our raffle! We bring Weaver's Word up at nearly every meeting and I think these would be a great item for our auction! You may send any item to: Karen Douglass 305 W. Siebenthaler Ave. Dayton, OH 45405 I greatly appreciate your consideration! Karen %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Wisconsin Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 19:09:14 -0400 From: To: weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com Hi everyone, I wanted to thank everyone who helped out with ideas about the fish trap. I successfully copied one. Not sure how to put it in a pattern yet. The program with the local public TV station went well. I wanted to ask if anyone who lives in Wisconsin would be interested in me coming to do a workshop. My husband and I are planning on a trip. We will be in that state between July31st - Aug. 6th. Rich is a bike ride. He just purchased a Recumbent. There is a rally in Stevens Point WI. If anyone would be interested in an Antler class to please let me know. Some of you already know me on the list. But for anyone who doesn't you can check out my work at pinelandsfolk.com. My husband and also teach Mt. & Hammered Dulcimer. Dulcimers & Baskets a match made in heaven. (I guess I need to add bikes) IN PEACE njweaver2 Mary Carty We also have a site at pineylenape@com There are a lot of pictures there with me teaching. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Listing http://www.indianabasketmakers.com Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 5:40 AM From: To: Dear Sir or Madam, Please can you advise who I should contact to ask permission to include http://www.indianabasketmakers.com in the Only-Yellow-Pages online directory. There is no charge, but we do need their permission. Thanking you in anticipation, Sophie LaCoste Assistant Content Editor %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: New To Group Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 20:51:56 -0000 From: "g_tjolley" To: weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com Hi, I'm new to this group, and I'm not sure how it works. With the other groups I get daily digests, but I haven't received anything yet from this group. Is it necessary to go to the website to read the messages? I have been making baskets for about four years, and I seem to be developing a specialty in watercolor paper baskets. I'm eager to make contact with other basket makers and hope to hear from you. Gail Jolley in NC %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% That's All For Now Folks. To Post A Message Use: davidc@iei.net or ka9zre@yahoo.com To Subscribe Use: weaverswords-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To Unsubscribe Use: weaverswords-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com