"Weavers Words" Vol. 6 Iss. 18 MADE IN AMERICA BY A PROUD AMERICAN!!! Date Sent: October 01, 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 Books, 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: re: Moses Basket Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 13:58:14 -0400 From: "Country Seat-Angie Wagner" To: bjmccabe@charter.net CC: "Weavers Words David Collins" Hi Judy, Please visit our secure on-line catalog via this link: https://secure.rnci.com/countryseat/multipledetail.asp?tempprimary=Books%2C+Magazines+%26+Patterns&tempsecondary=Books+%28Chart+Form%29&tempproduct=Basketry+Books+%2D+M to see the booklet called Moses Basket by Sills. The book includes 3 sizes. Hope this is what you are looking for. Angie The Country Seat, Inc. ctryseat@fast.net http://www.countryseat.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Dying Weavers Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 12:50:01 EDT From: EHBrandt101@aol.com To: ka9zre@yahoo.com Hello Weavers, I bought Synthrapol at our local Quilt shop hoping that it would stop the color running. It is slippery stuff. And bubbly! I put it in the dye water. Is this correct? I wanted the product that goes in the rinse water but this shop was out -- It is so bad when weaving to have the color running off dyed weavers into the natural weavers. This seems to happen when the weavers are probably too wet. Help! Do you use these products? Thanks, Nancy in Glen Arm, MD %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Moses Baskets Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 06:32:19 EDT From: Linhebert@aol.com To: ka9zre@yahoo.com To: Judy re: Moses Baskets and kit We sell the Beds and Bassinets Book by Kathie Ballard in a "Bassinet Special": Bassinet Pattern Book plus 5 pounds of reed (one each of: #2, #3, #4, #5 and 1/4" flat) to weave a variety of the projects in the pattern book. $39.25 value. Special price: $35.00 See detailed photos and descriptions on our "Kids Page" at the website. Linda Hebert V. I. Reed & Cane http://www.basketweaving.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: re: Music Boxes Weavers Words" V. 6 I. 17 Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 4:12 PM From: Kim Leppin To: davidc@iei.net The music boxes are made with all parts inside a plastic box. I have made quite a few of these and stained them all and they all still work. Also for the person asking about staining over color, I think it makes the color stand out more. Of course don't stain with a real dark stain like black walnut, I would use something like oak or you could overdye with Rit taupe. It gives it a nice light tan color. Fall is definitely here! It's cold outside! Kim in SE Wisconsin %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Nantucket Class Coming Up In November Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 19:05:51 -0400 From: "Baskets Of Joy" To: Undisclosed-Recipient Just a reminder to all those who are interested in classes that Sharon Owens will be teaching a Nantucket class here at Baskets Of Joy on November 9 & 10. There are still some seats available, so call or email us soon to sign up. Sharon brings a variety of mold sizes and shapes with her, and all levels of basket makers are invited. If you have never made a Nantucket basket before, we are happy to help you choose the right mold and size. Cost varies from $150 up depending on the basket you choose to make. There is some homework on Saturday night, and everyone adds rims and handles on the second day. Call or stop in to sign up. A deposit of $50 will hold your spot in class. We hope you will join us for this special class! 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: Answers And Updates Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 20:38:44 -0500 From: "Tony Stubblefield" To: "David Collins" Eve - about using Rit dye - First I have to quality that this is only my opinion and I am sure that you will get many others. First, while many basket makers use Rit dye, but I wouldn't recommend it. For me the colors just are light-fast enough and fade too quickly in time and bright light. Most people say they use this brand because it is cheaper, but if it doesn't work as well or last as long, then for me that isn't a bargain. I personally use the dyes specifically made for basketry or for wool, cotton or silk. These dyes are usually refereed to as "fiber reactive" meaning that they actually chemically bond to the material not just sit on the surface. I think this is why I don't have the bleeding of colors that so many people talk about. The brands I tend to use the most are Basket Tree, Comcraft and ACP. All are available for about $2.00 a box and should dye one to two pounds of reed depending on the intensity of the color you want. Also many people add salt and white vinegar to their Rit dye and rinse baths to make it more effective so when you factor those costs in it really isn't any cheaper. So my best advise it to give both kinds a try and see what works best for you and then decide. Joan - about John McGuire's classes - I am so envious of you. I just wish I could make it up for the classes. I have wanted to take one from John since I started weaving. You will have to let us know how the baskets turn out. Donna - about dying/staining a completed basket - I prefer to stain my baskets after they are woven if I want them darker in color. The stain will have and effect on the blue dyed reed though. In general I prefer the way the stain softens the whole look of the basket, including the dyed parts. Probably the only way to darken the finished basket with the littlest change to the dyed parts is to use a fairly light stain. This can be achieved by diluting the stain with mineral spirits. I like Minwax brand and have used it for years with very good results, I also use very strong tea to color my baskets as well. Start out light and you can always add a second coat if you want the basket darker. I think you will like the look of the stained dyed reed once it is done. Update - You may remember that back at the end of July I discovered a basket guild website was using some of the basket images from my homepage. I asked you, my fellow WW members, for your advice and I got a pretty unanimous response on what I should do. So, taking your advise, I contacted the guild's president and webmaster with a very nice note saying how I was pleasantly surprised to see my graphics on their site, but didn't remember giving permission for them to be used. I also told them that since the basket images had been resized and manipulated, causing the quality to be severely degraded, I was including improved images files from my original scans. I asked them to either use the "clean" images that I had provided or to remove the ones they were currently using as they reflected poorly upon my work and my collection. After a couple of days I did get a nice note from the current webmaster who was very apologetic and promised to replace the images with the new ones I had provided and would provide a link to my site. This was 2 months ago and the website looks just the same. If you would like to see the website of the Land of Lincoln Basketweavers Association http://www.llbwa.com/index.html you will see what I am referring too. Also here are the original images used from my site that were used: http://www.jaskets.com/yakim.html http://www.jaskets.com/nest2.html and http://www.jaskets.com/9_oval.html I guess I will give them another month and will contact them again to see if they have any plans to update their site. If not I will have to ask them to complete remove my basket images. On a lighter note I just got back, well actually it was a couple of weeks ago, from a great trip to NC to weave with a couple of my weavin' buddies. Originally I had planned the trip to take a class, but that fell through so I just decided to go anyway and just work on some of the many kits and supplies I have around (I am sure many of you know what I am talking about). It was so nice to get away from the phone and all the rushing around for a while. I ended up completing 5 baskets so I am very happy. Also the company was great and the food was as delicious. I am planning another trip down there in December to take a class with JoAnn Kelly Catsos so am looking forward to that, I guess it will be an early Christmas present to myself. Take Care And Happy Weaving, Tony Stubblefield St. Louis, MO http://www.jaskets.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: [weaverswords] "Weavers Words" V. 6 I. 17 Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 11:34:29 -0700 From: "Sandy Atkinson" To: weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com Dear WW, Eve in PA and Donna P: Sandy Atkinson has written up directions for using Rit dyes AND for staining your baskets - also we carry the whole line of RIT dyes. Send a SASE (large) and she will send you a copy OR for our catalog, send 3 first class stamps along with your address label and we will include a copy of our catalog. The stamps help with the postage on sending each catalog. Don't forget to ask for the free copy of the dye sheet and the stain sheet. Joyce Jones for: Atkinson's Country House 2775 Riniel Road Lennon, Michigan 48449 Customer Service: 810-621-4947 Orders Only: 1-800-832-3071 Fax: 810-621-3058 Email: sandy@sandyatkinson.com Web Site: www.sandyatkinson.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: [weaverswords] "Weavers Words" V. 6 I. 17 Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 09:26:53 EDT From: KZANEBSKT@aol.com To: weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com Dear Eve: I dye lots of reed with Rit Dye, I can get various colors from one color by the amount of dye that I add to the water. I start out small and keep testing it until I come up with what I want. It is also fun to mix colors. Start out with small amount and test with scrap reed. The more you dye you will find that there is no end to the colors and combinations that you can come up with. I use a large stock pot. Bring the water to a boil and add dye. When I get the color I want I put the reed in and let it set for about five minutes. Depending on the depth of color that you want. I lift it out and let it dry. When I soak my reed to use I wipe off the excess water. This keeps my reed from fading by rinsing too much. If you keep your reed pliable but have the excess water off it will work just fine. You may want to change your water often and wash your hands if you are using several different colors at one time. Karen's Baskets Karen Zane 521 N Buckingham CT Anderson, IN 46013 Home 765 622 9812 Cell 765 620 3823 www.karensbaskets.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: RE: [weaverswords] "Weavers Words" V. 6 I. 17 Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 15:51:26 -0500 From: "Adamczak, Shirley" To: "'weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com'" Reply to Eve Fulton re: dying reed: I use an enamel kettle that probably holds 3 gallons. I use 2 gallons of water and 1 package of dry Rit dye. Bring water almost to a boil (takes about 20 minutes on my stove) then stir in the dye using a wooden spoon or paint stick. You must not use an aluminum pot because it reacts with the dye. Use about 1/3 of a pound of reed that you have rubber banded together on one end. Soak it in hot water for a few minutes, then immerse in the dye pushing it under the dye with your stick/spoon. I time it for about 3 minutes, then take it out and put in a large sink of cold water with some white vinegar in it. Let it sit in cold water for about 5 minutes and re-rinse if it is still bleeding a lot. Then drain cold water from sink and put dyed reed on lots of layers of newspaper. I like to take it outside, weather permitting, and hang it on the chain-link fence to dry. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and keep dye off of floors and countertops. If I get dye where it doesn't belong I use Comet Cleanser Gel and squirt it on immediately and wipe it off with a paper towel. You can also use a mixture of bleach and water in a spray bottle but be careful not to get the bleach products on your dyed reed. I save the dye in gallon apple juice bottles and sprinkle a little more powder in it after it has been reheated to brighten up the color to use again. Shirley Adamczak In beautiful Duluth Minnesota where fall has arrived but the sun is still shining. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: [weaverswords] "Weavers Words" V. 6 I. 17 Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 22:01:13 EDT From: Basketkse9@aol.com To: weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com Eve, I have been using rit dye and use one package per pound of reed. Make sure that your reed is loose in the dye bath, has plenty of room for even color. I use very hot tap water and add about a cup of vinegar. To make sure that the reed has soaked up all the pigment, I let the reed soak for at least an hour. After I drain the water, I then soak it again in cold water with about a 1/2 cup of salt for about 10 minutes. This does not mean that the color will not run some when wet, so wipe excess water off all your reed. I hope this helps, I am sure that others have suggestions also. Karen %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Rit Dye Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 06:13:24 -0700 From: "Shirley Shipley" To: weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com To Eve, On dying with Rit, I have been using Rit for awhile and have good results with these tips from a book by BJ Crawford and from Jean Cadmus May, a teacher I had a class with. One box of Rit per pound of reed. Soak reed for one hour then rinse well. Meanwhile, boil some water, (enough so that reed will not be scrunched when put in container.) Mix Rit with some hot water in another container to dissolve completely. Remove water from heat source, add some salt, add dissolved Rit, stir well, add reed, stir occasionally until desired shade is achieved. Remove reed from dyepot and let dry completely. After dried, rinse well in luke warm water that has some vinegar added to it, let dry again. (Proportions of salt and vinegar are just "some"... around a cup). This has worked very well for me, I'm sure other weavers have great tips too. Have fun adding color to your baskets! Shirley Shipley %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: "Thanks Again And Again", And "This And That" Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2002 12:49 PM From: Patricia Yunkes To: David Collins Dear David, I have been enjoying your newsletter again after several years absence. Thank you for sending it to me. One of your recent newsletters had an appeal for a primitive booth. I had just made a decision not to do any more primitive or costume shows, and to sell my booth. So I e-mailed the person, and was able to sell my booth. Thank you for providing the means for me to do so. Thanks also for posting the information on my newsletter and web site. I had almost 200 hits in a couple of days. For Donna: If you want to darken a basket, but not the colored reed, use masking tape to block off the area you do not wish to stain, and use Weaver's Stain (a spray developed for basket makers) to darken the area you want. It comes in several colors and is available from many basket suppliers. I like oak for a little color, deep walnut for really dark coloring. For Eve: I love Rit Dye and consider it to be one of the safest dyes to use. There are lots of methods of dying with Rit, and one calls for leaving your reed in the dye over night, but I dislike soaking my reed so long. What I do, is mix a box or bottle of dye with about a half gallon of water (I use wide mouthed gallon bottles to store my dye in). I heat this in a wide mouthed pan (actually a hog feeding pan bought in a hardware store in a rural area). Heated dye is absorbed by the reed much faster than cold dye. I then put my basket or reed into the dye. If I am doing reed, I coil it, and immerse it in the dye. If it is a basket, I turn it frequently, or pour dye over it with a cup until I get the color I want. Then, I rinse twice, in vinegar water, and cold water. You can get information on mixing dyes to get special colors, etc. from Rit Dye at RIT Consumer Affairs, 1437, West Morris St., P.O. Box 21070, Indianapolis, IN 46221. They now have tips for Dye Staining for Wood and Wicker, so their dye is not just for cloth anymore. Patricia Yunkes PATRICIA BASKETS Visit my web page at www.patriciabaskets.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Doublewoven Baskets Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 09:36:48 -0400 From: "Jacqueline Carlson" To: "Weavers Words" Diagonal twill doublewoven baskets are some of the oldest forms of basketry originating in the southeast. The twilling technique dates back to prehistoric times and is considered one of the oldest and most difficult weaving technique. I have written a book with detailed instructions and step-by-step illustrations on weaving the Cherokee Doublewoven Basket. The title of the book is Flowing Water. Designs woven in baskets were not named, but belonged to families or clans and passed down from mother to daughter. In the early 1900's names were given to these designs. Flowing Water is the name given to the design woven in the baskets in my book. Flowing Water will be available in January 2003 or perhaps a little sooner. If you are interested in more information on this book check out the new page on our site http://www.summermeadow.com/flowingwater.htm Jackie www.summermeadow.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Re: [weaverswords] "Weavers Words" V. 6 I. 17 Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 12:53:05 -0500 (CDT) From: "Russell / K.L. Mitchell" To: weaverswords-owner@yahoogroups.com To Eve, in PA, check out Baskets, Etc. Address: http://www.bright.net/~basketc/ for info on dyeing reed and also go to www.inahandbasket.com Linda Boyle Gibson's site for info on dyeing reed. Follow the "newsletter/tips" link and click on "weaving tips". There is some very helpful information on both sites. Good luck with your dyeing adventure. As always, David, thanks for your hard work! Happy Weaving, Karen L. Mitchell http://community.webtv.net/catslapbaskets/doc %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Weaver's Words Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 19:44:56 EDT From: AKelly8230@aol.com To: ka9zre@yahoo.com Does anyone know where I can get a wooden basket tree? It seems like I've seen them but I can't seem to find any in my catalogs. Anne %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Cradle Website Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 6:54 PM From: Barb & Mike Byrne To: davidc@iei.net Hi All, I want to take this opportunity to let you all know that I have recently created a website to market the baby and doll cradles that I weave. Please understand that I am not soliciting you to purchase one of my cradles. What I am asking is for you to view my site and if you have a site of your own that you would like to link to mine, please let me know and I will be happy to add you to my Related Links page. In turn, I would appreciate a reciprocal link on your site. I have been told by many in the "web business" that the best way to be seen and to come up high on searches is to have other sites linked to yours. I don't understand the technical end of that, but it seems that many search engines are "spiders" that do monthly "crawls" through the internet and the more times they "find" you when doing a crawl, the higher up on the lists you go. So linking to multiple other sites would be good for all of us who are trying to market our products. The URL to my site is www.heirloom-cradles.com. And while you are there, if you see any problems, I would appreciate the feedback. I have been working on the design and creation of this site for a couple of months now, but all of the "bugs" may not be worked out, as I am unable to test the site in all of the browsers that exist out there. Thanks for your help! I hope to be "linking" to lots of you! Barb in Vienna, MO www.heirloom-cradles.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Wicker Woman's Address And Phone Number Change! Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2002 10:24:38 EDT From: Wickrwoman@aol.com To: ka9zre@yahoo.com Well, as most of you know already, I sold my building, closed my wicker restoration and seat weaving business in Zumbro Falls, Minnesota in June, and by August had relocated to northeastern Minnesota, near Cook. We are out in the country, although the gravel road in front of our place is called a "highway." I am no longer running a shop, and will not be doing any more wicker restoration and seat weaving for hire, but will continue to teach, lecture and write about the field and create, market, and teach my deer antler basketry. We are basically camping out in an 8 ft. x 40 ft. mobile home with no running water or sewer facilities, until we can get something built. Hopefully, this week hubby will be able to begin building our garage with living quarters above, and get the water and sewer in before winter. Then in the spring, he can start on the house and my new workshop. After returning from a very enjoyable first time teaching engagement for the Wolf River Basketry Guild's workshop in Shawano, WI, I realized that all my contact information needs to be changed on all my patterns. The only information on them that is still current, is my email at Wickrwoman@aol.com (that's wicker without the "e") or cathryn@wickerwoman.com, and the website URL www.wickerwoman.com. The address, toll free phone number and the other business phone from Zumbro Falls, are no longer valid. Throughout the next few months, I will be working on making those changes and several others regarding the patterns. Please take note of the new address and phone number in my signature file below and make the necessary changes on your patterns, websites or address books. I'm now only 70 miles south of International Falls on the Canadian border and winter is fast approaching! We had 20 degrees already one night, but then it bounced back up to 45 for a low. Wheee! Visit my website: www.wickerwoman.com Wicker Restoration and Seat Weaving Expert and Consultant, Basketmaker, Instructor, Pattern Author, and Writer (New address and phone as of August 2002) The Wicker Woman/Cathryn Peters 1250 Highway 25 Angora, MN, USA 55703 Phone: (218) 666-6189 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 00:36:09 -0500 From: "Mary Beebe" To: ka9zre@yahoo.com Hope someone can help me. Have been trying to reach Union Station Studio (stoneware pottery embellishments for baskets) for at least a couple of weeks. Have called nearly every day at different times. Sent an email and asked for a response. Checked and they still have a web site. Even checked online for their home phone number and called there at night. Need to order some of their pottery embellishments. Does anyone know what happened to them? Really need several ceramic moose. Does anyone know of another source? I would appreciate any information. Thanks, Mary Ellen Wisconsin mebeebe@lakefield.net %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Subject: Reply to..."Weavers Words" V. 6 I. 17 Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 3:32 PM From: Darlene or Gordon Pearce To: davidc@iei.net "Mary Ellen Beebe"...thank you for sharing your interesting vacation...some day I hope to get to Maine and see these exhibits for myself...what did everyone else do with their summer...would love to hear your tall tales... "Karen Booth"...thanks for your info on mesh wrapped cotton cording...I had not thought to look in the local upholstery shops here in Okinawa...I have several basket patterns that are made with this cording and wrapped or crocheted with strips of fabric like you were making a rag rug...as I am a fabric-holic as well as a basket-holic...it is sometimes fun to combine the two and come up with some interesting and fun baskets...plus a good way to use fabric scraps... "Dédé"...what are Rose-e-baskets...would love to join you for the Northwest Native American Basketweavers Assoc. gathering...sounds like a wonderful way to spend a couple of days.. "Eve Fulton"...rit dye...I mix one box to one gallon of water...use an enamel pot...I prefer my enamel dish pan...allows for a lot of movement of the reed for good color coverage...use chopsticks to control the reed and stir...I add nothing else...it takes a couple of minutes to have a dark rich color...if you save and re-heat the dye a couple of times...it does take maybe a minute longer as the color isn't as strong...rit coloring fades...so starting with a very dark color is a good thing...I did discover that colors like dark plum get to dark and need two gallons of water...but all the reds...greens..blues...browns..are beautiful with one gallon...I don't rinse...just hang to dry...before you start weaving your basket...take the amount of color you well need...soak it in warm water...put it in a plastic bag and let it mellow until you use it...it will absorb all the water and be very soft...will bleed very little if you do not weave it over really wet stakes...I save my dye in plastic water containers...inside a big Rubbermaid container that sits on the bottom self of my storage unit...if you write the color on the lid...you just need to pull out the container and grab the color that you want...if you make a special color say 1 part dye to 3 parts water...write 1-3 on the lid...also on the pattern...that way you can remake it next year... :) Hope this helps some...everyone has different ways...so well be interesting to see how many different views we get... "John Hill"...thanks for the info on the reed and cane trainer...is this basically for Nantucket baskets...hope I'm not the only one wondering what part of the basket is made with this trained piece of reed or cane...are you using it for rim filler... "Donna D. Piombino"...stain will change the color of your antique blue...am not sure if that is a light or dark blue...light blue would require a very light stain...use light walnut weavers stain or Danish oil...to darken the plain reed prior to weaving I would use walnut hull powder...tea or coffee (all of these mix with water)...dip it...let it mellow...weave with plastic gloves...unless you want brown hands... "Judy"...the Moses basket pattern that I have is titled "Moses Basket" by Rosa Sills...I got my copy from Country Seat...don't know if it's still in print or not... "Nancy"...you should be ok spraying weavers stain on your basket with a music box...there wouldn't be that much spray getting in between the two bases...several years ago we made them and sprayed(not dipped)the walnut hull/water mixture on the baskets and my music box still plays today... Beautiful fall weather here in Okinawa, Japan... Let us hear from all of you...Darlene %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 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