"Weavers Words" Vol. 6 Iss. 09 MADE IN AMERICA BY A PROUD AMERICAN!!! Date Sent: July 04, 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 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 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/ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% MAKE A DONATION TO WEAVER'S WORDS!!! https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=ka9zre%40yahoo.com&item_name=Weaver%27s+Words+Donations %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% PLEASE SHOP AT WEAVER'S WORDS BOOKSTORE!!! A GREAT source for CD's, VHS's, DVD's, Video Games, Electronics and much more. PLEASE BOOKMARK THIS PAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/art/weaverswords/basket.html %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: For Weavers Word Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2002 10:21 PM From: To: Hi, I will be teaching 2 basketry workshops in Maui at the end of July, and was wondering if anyone could tell me some basketry related sites that I should visit. Thanks, Donna Eugene, OR %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Chair Seat Weaving Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2002 2:31 PM From: Ellen Dewkett To: ; Hi, Sandy, The way I keep my reed in place to get started is to use a twist tie or something similar to hold the reed in place on the underside of the seat rung while I wrap the seat. I also put one on the other side after I have wrapped the whole seat. If my piece of reed isn't long enough to go the whole way, I overlap pieces on the underside and hold them in place with clothespins. When you start weaving the over and under pattern going the other way, the loose ends will get woven in as you go and you can remove the twist ties and clothespins. I hope this makes sense and will help you. I'm sure other people do it in different ways, but this works for me. Ellen Port Orange, FL %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Milk Paint Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2002 4:26 PM From: Richard To: davidc@iei.net Aloha from very breezy Honolulu, Re: the milk paint. I used some old Tulip Milk Paint that I found at a large warehouse office supply/junk store and it worked great. Just mixed it with water in a glass jar and brushed it on. I have some other milk paint--Old Fashioned Milk Paint--that I tried but wasn*t happy with the results. I thought this paint would go on smoothly but it leaves "debris" where the spokes and weavers connect...and I didn*t like that. So I strain it and brush it on and it looks fine--even with some debris here and there. (Even the Tulip, after straining, left bits and pieces...) Go on line and search for this paint (I lost the site when I changed computers) or check your local hardware store. It gives your basket a very primitive look--really different. Oh, and I see Tulip Milk Paint come up every now and then on ebay. You can also mix your own (again check in a search engine). Wow--my hubby announced last week that as a "surprise" (and believe me, it really was one!) that we are going to Australia next year in celebration of our 30th anniversary! He travels so much with his job that he doesn*t want to leave home more than he has to--so this was a shocker. I*ve already started packing :-). Joanne, the reason you weren*t "invited" to Bert*s class is it was open to the guild members. Since it was held at my house, we were lucky to fit all the guild members. I had a waiting list of non-guild members who wanted to attend. If you will remember, you dropped out of the guild in September (and nearly cost us our meeting place) so there was no reason for you to be included. You did get a kit, if I*m not mistaken, as you told another guild member to get one for you. No one cares that you invite mainland weavers for a vacation and have them teach a class to only those you "invite", but I*m not sure WW is the place to tell the rest of the Oahu weavers what they "missed". Thanks for the word on Tintex. I haven*t used it yet. Maybe I should save it as a "back-up". RIT is oh-so expensive here. Lois %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaving A Splint Seat From Reed Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2002 12:34:34 -0400 From: "Country Seat-Angie Wagner" To: sandysue101@hotmail.com CC: "Weavers Words David Collins" Hi Sandy, First of all, we would recommend weaving a splint seat with reed that is no wider that 5/8". The larger sizes are usually thicker and much harder to work with. The original seat may have had wider bark, but it was most likely prepared and woven all in a short time period and the bark would have been thinner that the reed. Most bark (after processing) feels like leather, so would be much more flexible that reed, even at the same thickness. Carpet tacks work well to tack your starting piece to the side rail, they have a thin shank and large head. I have also used masking tape to hold the first piece of reed to the side rail of a bench, esp. if the rail was very thin. Remember that if you use the masking tape you can not pull too hard on the first wrap or you will pull the reed away from the rail. When you need to join a new piece of reed, try gluing the two ends and then staple them together (2-4 staples). Make sure to staple so that the flat side of the staple is facing out. After the seat is finished and dry, you can remove any visible staples. Remember to plan so that the ends of the old & new reed will fall under a previous row. This will also help to secure the joints. Good luck, Angie angearth@fast.net The Country Seat, Inc. 1013 Old Philly Pike Kempton, PA 19529-9321 USA 610-756-6124 fax 610-756-0088 ctryseat@fast.net http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: FLAG 2002 Basket Kit! Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 1:20 PM From: Baskets Of Joy To: Undisclosed-Recipient FLAG 2002 BASKET KIT This new kit is available at the extra-special price of $12.95 only until the Fourth of July! Kit includes all materials: natural and dyed reed, bushel handle, and special star circle ash strip. Basket is 3" x 7" and 6" tall (plus handle on back of basket). Makes a wonderful Independence Day statement for your home, camp, or office. Order yours today! To order your kit right now, click here and let us know how many kits you'd like. Be sure to include your name, address and telephone number; we will use the payment information we have on file for you to process the order. If you need to let us know payment, please go to www.basketsofjoy.com to order securely. Remember, this offer is only good through July 4, 2002, so remind your basket making friends, too! www.basketsofjoy.com BASKETS OF JOY 81 Old Bath Road Brunswick, ME 04011 customer service 207-725-5899 orders 800-377-6097 fax 207-725-6004 basketsofjoy@basketsofjoy.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2002 20:08:32 -0400 From: "Juanita Kenner" To: ka9zre@yahoo.com Hello all, Hope everyone is having a nice summer. I have a question about what is the best thing to use for securing a scrimshaw piece to the purse lid. I finally finished my Nantucket purse and this being my first purse I want to make sure the finishing touches are on to stay and neatly done. What type glue works best? The baskets from the last swap were great and what a great idea to put them in an album for everyone to see. I'm busy getting ready for the Hartford County Farm Fair the end of July, which is the main place I sell baskets I've made all year. Hopefully after that I will have time to get in the next swap. Many swaps ago I participated and I still use and admire the basket I received. Take care and find a cool spot to weave! Juanita from hot humid Baltimore Md. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Old Basket Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 6:17 PM From: tom thompson To: davidc@iei.net I picked up an old picnic basket the other day and searched for info about the company but couldn't find anything. Does anyone know about the Redman Baskets of Peru, Indiana? I would love to hear the history of this basket. I did find that there seems to be a group of Native American Indians that remained in the area when others were pushed to the reservations many years ago. Did this group have anything to do with the company? Thanks for any info anyone can share. Pam Thompson %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: (no subject) Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 9:07 PM From: To: Sassy Katie in Florida, please describe a "Dog Days Crazy Quilt Beanpot Basket", or tell us where we can see a picture of one! Diana in Va. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Past Posting For Weavers Needed Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2002 23:25:39 EDT From: SharonKlusmann@aol.com To: weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com Hi To All: Several months ago I posted a possible need for a large number of weavers and had a wonderful response. I want to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to fill out my questionnaire and have quite a file fill of them. Unfortunately, I FINALLY heard from the company a couple days ago about the possible large increase in volume and they did not secure the order they were hoping for. They put many, many hours working for the new business, but sometimes, that's the way it goes. I am currently working on weaving a number of patent pending prototype basket designs for a company in Cincinnati and it would be long shot for me to receive the manufacturing end of the business, but if it would happen, I am planning to keep my file and make connections in the future. I hope you all read this notice because I am sorry to say that I do not have the time to individually Email each one of you. Thanks for this great forum David - it has been a real blessing. In Him Who Is Our Cornerstone, Sharon Klusmann, Cornerstone Baskets www.SharonKlusmann.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: John Campbell Folk School, And Weaving With Blackberry Canes Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 11:19 PM From: maryeileen49 To: Just wanted to let the lucky winner of the class at the John C. Campbell Folk School how much fun you're going to have. I've taught a couple of classes a year there since the late 1980s, and it is a great place. The location is gorgeous, in the Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina--about an hour's drive from the town of Cherokee in the Qualla Reservation of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The town of Cherokee is home to the tribal museum, which includes wonderful basketry displays. Across the street from the museum is the Qualla Co-op, where there are hundreds of baskets for sale from juried Cherokee artists. They range in price from about $5 to over $1000 for double weave river cane twill baskets. The Folk School is lots of fun in part because there are so many things going on. There will be a dozen or so classes in a variety of crafts, including some related to basketry such as dyeing, chair seat weaving, and surface design, and others such as blacksmithing, banjo playing, and quilting. The mix of classes sometimes leads to wonderful shared experiences. There will be scheduled times to visit local craft studios and talk to working artists, and formal and informal visit to the other Folk School studios. Don't miss the Friday night concert at the Citgo Gas Station, just down the hill from the Folk School. Local musicians gather there about 9pm to play guitars, banjos, fiddles, dulcimers, and more. You can buy hand-dipped ice cream, or canned possum meat if you're really hungry. It won't really be camping. The rooms are like plain but clean and comfortable motel rooms, and the food is wonderful--much better than summer camp grub. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Contact me if you need more info (marybrandenburg@bellsouth.net). About blackberry canes: you can weave with any of the brambles, including blackberries, raspberries, and black caps. The problem is the thorns. When I was a kid on the farm, we'd take a large kettle out in the field with us to gather the canes. We'd cut long, straight canes with no branches and coil them up in the kettle, one at a time as we cut them. Wear gloves! And use tongs or pliers to handle the canes. When we had enough in the kettle, we'd boil the canes several hours to loosen the bark, and then pull each cane through a split stick to strip off the bark and the thorns with it. The result is a beautiful, white, flexible weaver. We used them only for special baskets for gifts or for the house, because the material is so labor intensive. I haven't made one for two or three years, but promise you'll love weaving with the prepared canes. Mary Brandenburg %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Milk Paint Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 8:00 AM From: Nancy Brandt To: Weavers words Hello Weavers, Here's a site for Milk Paint www.oldcenturycolors.com Nancy in Glen Arm, MD %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: White Reed, Milk Paint And Shipping Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2002 21:34:54 -0500 From: "Tony Stubblefield" To: "David Collins" Beth - about white reed - I do believe there is "bleached" reed available, but I have only seen it is pretty wide widths, like 1", and only from a few distributors. Also, I don't believe there is any safe way to "bleach" reed as probably any chemical strong enough to do so would pretty much trash the material. My suggestion would be to visit your local basket supply shop and just look through the bundles until you find the whitest bunches, also you may need to look at the more expensive, highest quality, reed as I think it is usually lighter and more consistent in color. You may be able to have some of the smaller mail order suppliers pull you the lightest materials they have if you don't have a local shop. As with all natural materials you are going to have natural variations in the color. Even if your basket is white today, if it is not kept out of the sunlight, even indirect sun, it will turn yellow or golden in a few years. This is just a natural aging process of the material, the same would happen with oak or ash. Oh, don't forget that it is time to renew your guild memberships. I always forget to do this and I just sent in my Missouri, North Carolina, and Indiana memberships (I'm not a member of Michigan so don't know when theirs is). I think one of them was actually due the first of June, but all were either June or July. You may want to make a photocopy of your check and membership form and mark your calendar as to when the first newsletter should arrive as it often seems to take forever for the checks to be cashed and sometimes, especially with my local guild, I have had the checks never be cashed and my membership dropped. Since the guild newsletters are often quarterly you may not even realize your membership has dropped until halfway through the year. Everyone - about milk paint - As far as I know traditional milk paint was actually made with milk or buttermilk. You can purchase dry/powdered milk paint from places like wood working or furniture stores, like Woodcrafters, and mix it yourself (I can't remember if you add water or milk). Milk paint has a different appearances from contemporary latex or acrylic paints in that it is very dry and flat looking when applied. It is very thick and gritty so you will often see it on old baskets applied very heavily. To simulate the look of an old basket I have applied the paint to the outside and handle of a basket then sanded it down to the raw basket in spots where more wear would naturally occur, i.e. handle, bottom and rim. I have then stained the basket to darken the whole thing. I have then even "polished" the handle and rims to get that hand rubbed look. You can use acrylic craft paint or interior latex paint, but it doesn't sand quite as easily as milk paint as it is more rubbery and not as dry. The end result should almost be "sloppy" and primitive looking even though you may have to take a while to get the results you are looking for. Lisha - about shipping - I always take anything I am shipping directly to UPS or FedEx. Stores like Mail Boxes, Etc. are only providing a "convenient" service and are still shipping at the same rates you are going to get from UPS, but they have to charge a handling fee to cover their overhead costs. If you already have the boxes and packing material yourself then you should just go straight to source. I know you are in a small town so may not have access to a UPS shipping center, but often times hardware stores will be designated drop off points and I don't believe they charge any kind of extra fee. That is at least the way it was in my small hometown. You can probably call UPS to find out who in your area offers this. Beth - about material cutting system - Thanks for the ideas, sounds very efficient and convenient. Isn't it amazing how something so simple you never think about yourself? Well, I guess that is about it for me. Hope everyone is having a nice summer so far. I have gotten to take a couple of small vacation trips an it has been really relaxing. I don't have anything big planned for this year so hopefully I will get some weaving done instead. Take care And Happy Weaving, Tony Stubblefield St. Louis, MO http://www.jaskets.com/ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: John C. Campbell Folk School Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2002 10:12:40 -0400 From: "Mary Hooper" To: Hi David And Everyone, I'm a newcomer to this group and wanted to say Hi to all! David, thank you for the hard work you put into making all this happen. I've been spending a lot of time researching a poem (with the help of a lot of friends) trying to find out if it's a copyrighted piece. I received this poem as a gift from a very dear friend (who is no longer with us). When asked if she wrote this poem for me, she would never take the credit - but that's the way she was. This is what she said... I traveled down the valley; across the covered bridge, To a Basketmaker's cabin, On top of Rocky Ridge. There I met a friend of mine, To watch her ply her trade. I learned about the tools she used, On the baskets she had made. "This one here's the froe" she said, and handed it to me, "It ain't a thing of beauty, You can surely see" She took a mallet off the bench; it had been a root to start, She showed me how she used the two To split the wood apart. Then there was her shaving horse; A vice to hold things tight. A double handled drawing knife, She used to hew things right. There was an axe and splitting maul, her wedges and her knife. She proudly showed me all the tools, That helped to shape her life. I envy her this ancient craft, On which she so depends. But there is satisfaction there... WE ARE THE BEST OF FRIENDS! I would like to include this "special" poem in my current book. What do you think? Should I give her credit? Say author unknown? Does anyone recognize this poem from anywhere? I'm leaning toward the idea that she wrote this poem for me. After weeks and weeks of searching... nothing! Mind you... I live in the valley; she lived on top of Rocky Ridge. In this area of PA we have several covered bridges. At the time, I was hand splitting wood and hand carving handles using all of these tools. Although, I never said the froe wasn't pretty - I still like my froe! And to this day, I still use my shave horse on a daily basis - although I usually call it a schnitzelbunk (after all - I am PA Dutch) and the drawknife is my favorite tool. Baskets ARE my life! And have been my full time occupation for over 20 years. Any Ideas? Thanks For Your Help, Deb South Central Pennsylvania %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: New Look! Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2002 22:23:39 -0400 From: "Jacqueline Carlson" To: "Weavers Words" Summer Meadow Basketry has a new look!! Sheri Lewis, Silverline Design, has designed a wonderful new site for us, complete with a shopping cart for your convenience. We are introducing a new Online Wholesale Club. Shop online and receive special wholesale pricing! Simply create an online account with us, purchase a minimum of $50.00, excluding shipping and handling and receive our wholesale prices. The $50 minimum can be your initial order or a total of separate orders. If your initial order is less than $50, our online wholesale program will keep track of your purchase totals and when you reach the $50 minimum, the wholesale prices will apply. Each time thereafter, when you sign in and shop online with us, you will receive our special online wholesale pricing! Our new site has photos of nearly all items, easy to navigate, and two free patterns. One of the free patterns is changed quarterly. Our free pattern for this quarter is Little Pottery Basket by Ruth Andre of Wild Pony Baskets. The Little Pottery basket is a wonderful beginner basket woven with paper rope and paper covered wire using basic basketry techniques. Paper rope and paper covered wire in many colors is presently in our catalog at a reduced price. If you haven't visited us in a while, stop by! Jackie Summer Meadow Basketry www.summermeadow.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Better Late Than Never Date: Mon, 1 Jul 2002 15:17:48 -0700 From: "Mary Zeh Kuhr" To: "David Collins" Hi Everyone, I am pleased to announce that, following a long period of "This page is not available," the North Carolina Basketmakers' Association website is up and running again. There was a change in webmasters, plus a HUGE number of problems with our friends, the tech companies. Now I know why so many of them are in trouble! Can you say, "Customer Service?" You will find membership and convention/seminar information at the site, as well as photos of some of our gorgeous and/or handsome members. Check it out and let us know what you'd like to see there. My thanks to Anette Meier, Andria D'Errico, Miss Jimmie, and Alma Lambert for their assistance. Now, if I could only remember how I DID it, I might be able to make some revisions in the future! Mary Zeh Kuhr Raleigh, NC %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: [weaverswords] "Weavers Words" V. 6 I. 04 Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2002 20:54:47 -0500 From: "Roberta Comstock" To: weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com "Weavers Words" Vol. 6 Iss. 04 Judy Mullins - Welcome back! Mary Carty - On your trip to Wisconsin, (if you haven't gone yet) try to schedule a stop at East Troy Basketry in East Troy - about 35 miles southwest of Milwaukee. Tony - Isn't the MBG convention going to be in August in 2003? Maybe you can make it to that one. Bert C. Lauderdale Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: [weaverswords] "Weavers Words" V. 6 I. 05 Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2002 20:58:34 -0500 From: "Roberta Comstock" To: weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com "Weavers Words" Vol. 6 Iss. 05 Joyce Hopson - The question of whether to sharpen ribs with a pencil sharpener may have to do with the basket material being used. If you are working with round reed, it may tend to split from the twisting. Some woods may sharpen okay that way. I don't much care for the angle made by pencil sharpeners. I prefer to shape each rib by hand with a sharp knife. Karen M. - Thanks for the Woodlanders information. I hop it's not a one-time event. Maybe I can go next year. I didn't go to the MBG convention in St. Louis this year. Hope you helped use up my share of the fun! Daniel - Thanks for posting your recent ash experience. What a delight! Cathryn - Am thinking of you a lot these days as my mother-in law has recently purchased an antique chair with a cane seat. She knew it would have to be replaced, but didn't know how to tell whether a pre-woven seat would work. It won't. So now I have a seat to weave. I'm looking forward to it. Time to dig out my class notes from the footstool I did with you in KC a while back. Don't have to dig for the stool - it's right in front of my recliner. Good luck with the big move! Bert Comstock Lauderdale Independence, MO %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Aloha Again Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 3:57 AM From: Richard To: davidc@iei.net Just wanted to drop a line to let you other waxed linen addicts out there know that the August 2002 copy of BEAD AND BUTTON has a great little waxed linen basket pattern complete with pictured instructions. I was thumbing though the magazine this evening and was overjoyed to find it! I*m packing for a week in Maui and have tossed some waxed linen and beads in my bag in case I get some down time to try this sweet little bag/basket... Check pages 70-72... Lois %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaving Round Baskets Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 18:49:02 -1000 From: "Jim & Marty" To: ka9zre@yahoo.com Can anyone give me any reference books, articles, etc. to help me when weaving round bottom/ round reed baskets? I am having great difficulty getting the round reed tight enough and even enough so as to allow the sides of my basket to weave nicely. I'm sure with all the expertise out there; someone knows some tricks or good references. I read WW all the time and appreciate the information and tips. (As well as David and the time he puts into this forum!) Happy 4th Everyone! Marty Tayon %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 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