"Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 27 Compiled By David Collins Owned By Weavers Everywhere Date Sent: July 8, 1997 Subscribers: 239 Back Issues: http://www.iei.net/~davidc/basketry.html @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hi, I'm updating my web site to include all of the latest issues. Sorry for the inconvenience. If you have any other questions, just write me a note. Happy Weaving, David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weavers vs Makers Date: Fri, 04 Jul 1997 11:11:00 -0700 From: "S. Rolf-Tooley" To: davidc@iei.net I've been thinking about the terms "basket weaver" and "basket maker". I think the technical distinctions of this may be lost on my neighbors who just know me as "the lady on our street who has everyone trained to save all bones, hooves, twisted sticks, leaves, vines, and road kill and who can't look at anything without assessing it's ability to be woven into a basket or tied onto a gourd." My neighbor's term for what I am probably isn't "weaver" or "maker" but "eccentric!" And that's O.K. with me, too. Everyone have a happy 4th of July holiday! @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Rit Dye Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 15:05:01 -0400 From: "Kim Renich" To: To answer Theresa's question about Rit Dye. I'm really not sure about using 2 boxes of Rit to get a rich color... it might work. I too wasn't satified with the powdered dye, so one day I decided to experiment. I almost always use the liquid dye now. It's a lot more expensive, but it gives such a rich color... unlike the powders. I use a dutch oven full of water to 1/2 bottle or so of the liquid. I don't have to leave my reed in so long... and the color is very nice... especially dark green. Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: summer conv. Date: Fri, 04 Jul 1997 15:05:55 -0400 From: mjorda10@ix.netcom.com To: David Collins Happy 4th of July! It's a cool (and lovely) 72 degrees in Mooresville, Indiana. You know, the kind of weather that gives you all sorts of energy. I've got three baskets waiting for me, but wanted to write in. Kristin: If you ever feel inclined to pursue the Ball State idea, please let me know. My daughter attended the Indiana Academy and will attend BSU for the next four years. In any case, we feel almost as much at home in Muncie as Mooresville, and, since I am a teacher, summers are really better for me. Just let me know! :) Theresa Williams: I have recently reorganized my dyed reed and got rid of a lot of colors. What did I keep? I kept the burgundy, dark green, navy, country blue, and rose. These colors seem to sell the best. I decided that I would only make up other colors with commission work, and then only enough for that project. I do not use the boxed RIT. The liquid seems so much easier to work with. One bottle, a Rubbermaid dishpan, a cup of salt, and the hottest water from the faucet are all I need. I just keep checking the color of the reed and pull it out when it looks a little darker than I want. (It dries to a lighter shade.) Those three baskets are still waiting for me! Have a super holiday! Weave On, Marie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: fairs and guilds Date: Fri, 04 Jul 1997 11:12:11 -1000 From: The Keener Clan To: davidc@iei.net Aloha and happy 4th! David, thanks for not becoming our censor. The last two "lists" were both "censored"--bits and words were cut out from time to time and I was sort of offended as I would never set out to hurt anyone. You are doing a most excellent job and we do appreciate you and the work you do on this list. Eileen, I do like your sense of humor, not to mention your beautiful patterns. To Billie- (my non basketweaving mom lives in Hampton)--I agree with everything you say regarding being proud of your weaving and selling for what it*s worth to you. You said it eloquently. Regarding fairs/shows--this might be one of those regional things. Everything resembling a craft fair/show is called a "fair" over here, regardless if the entry fee is $30 or $350. The only true country type fairs we have are sponsored on military installations. At these fairs, you will find tole and quilts and wooden items and baskets--and some local stuff (ribbon leis, Maui soaps, etc.) but the majority of the stuff is country. The other fairs (and there are LOTS!) feature mostly local items (t-shirts, jewelry, clothes, and --gasp--imports) and very little of what we could call handmade items. This type of stuff sells well at local fairs and the country items do not. Most of us have found that doing those types of fairs isn*t worth our time. When you have your lovely baskets in one booth and the booth next to yours is selling silver jewelry and eel skin wallets and coconut bras with grass skirts, well, your baskets aren*t going anywhere. This is why basket competition is tough at military fairs--unless you*re lucky enough to be in a consignment shop, this is the only outlet to show and sell that we have. A question for you, Billie (and anyone else who wants to chime in)--a sister guild member moved to Ft. Monroe and says that the craft fairs in your area charge admission. Is that now the norm on the mainland? We have a few that do (one gives door prize tickets with your admission), but the majority don*t. Does the admission go straight to the promoter? (and stay there?). Just curious about this. aloha nui loa, Lois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Smoking and dyeing Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 18:05:24 -0400 From: olneyjw@juno.com (Judith W Olney) To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Oh, for Pete's sake, that thing about smoking was just one of Eileen's signature lines--it wasn't meant to offend anyone. And if anyone were to be offended on the subject of smoking it would be me...and a few others with whom I have "bonded" in some rather peculiar places (generally quite uncomfortable). She always has a "comment" at the end of her email these days. It is now "Computers are not intelligent. They only think they are." Is that better? I am glad you reacted to it tho, Kim, because it made me go back and find that issue which I had missed reading even tho Juno said I had. Teresa: There are 3 elements to consider in dyeing: time, heat, and dye. You can increase one and decrease the others; decrease one and increase the others, etc. etc. So: you can get those luscious deep colors with one (or less) packages of dye if you increase the time your stuff is in the dyebath and/or increase the time it is exposed to heat (more heat doesn't mean turning up the heat when it refers to dyeing...just means more exposure to heat--yes, that does mean that time and heat are related). You can also add more dye and do things the way you're doing them now. Personally, I would rather increase the time and heat than increase the dye because the colors you are talking about are ones that usually run badly. If you use less dye and more heat and time, you can get the same deep color, but more of it has penetrated the reed so the odds against running are better right off. Moreover, the more dye you actually get into the reed, the longer it will stay so fading becomes less of a problem, too. I usually cook deep colors at least an hour--with frequent removing and repositioning of the reed to prevent "tie-dyeing". Sometimes I forget near the end and leave the reed in the dye way too long. Have only had one situation where I felt the really dark color was so awful I couldn't use it and that was with ash (bleached it out and re-dyed paying more attention and it came out the way it should have). To minimize running/bleeding: Put a nice handful of salt and a couple of glugs of vinegar in the dye bath. Dry the reed BEFORE you rinse it. When it rinses pretty well, pack it into a plastic tub, weight it down (I use old 2 Liter Coke bottles filled with water--always have plenty of those lying around), pour a goodly amount of vinegar over the reed, and cover with your hottest tap water. Let this sit overnight, then dry the reed. At this point you should have maybe some smudging where the dyed reed touches natural, but there will be NO bleeding. You can even minimize the smudging by wiping the reed between soaking and using. If you are using reed that was dyed this way some time ago, it won't even smudge. I know this sounds like a lot of work, but getting smudges off a basket--or trying to cover them up with stain takes time too. Now: I know some of you are going to say that this process will ruin the reed. I promise you: the only reed it will ruin is reed that was pretty bad in the first place. I missed some round reed in the black dye pot (and also missed emptying the dye pot) when I left for Michigan last fall). That reed sat there all winter--freezing and melting--and the dye even got moldy on top, but when I dumped the dye in April to start dyeing black for Indiana the reed tumbled out in perfect condition. It was even dyed all the way through! Just to make sure it was really okay, I used it. Yep! Perfect condition...and it didn't even smudge! I am not, however, even beginning to consider taking up "over winter" dyeing! Billie: I'm with you about educating the public, but until we get to EVERYONE I think we'd best either not admit to having anything to do with baskets or develop pretty thick skins. After all these years I do have a pretty thick skin, and just love to see the looks on those stuffed shirt businessmen I sit by on the plane when I tell them I am a basketmaker! One dressed-for-success businesswoman once told me she thought that was the dumbest occupation she'd ever heard of--and she had just been telling me how she worked for Hanes and had just been in Sweden selling socks! I thought that was a pretty dumb thing to do, myself! Hope all of you have had a glorious fourth--we're off to Boston to see the fireworks! JOlney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 26 " Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 23:33:51 +0000 From: Pamela Woodbury To: davidc@iei.net Hi Friends, Seems like I have been having a lot to say lately, but I guess everything has been of interest to me. In our area most shows are called arts & crafts shows, art shows, craft shows and some of them folk art shows. I find I sell better at the art shows, but prefer the others as far as what I like to buy. I have just started doing a couple of folk art and feel that my art or craft seems to fit in with this medium rather nicely. I guess the folk art shows are mostly antique reproductions, not the cutesy things many of us buy for our yards and homes. I am hot cutting down the cutesy just pointing out the the folk/art seems to be a little more rustic looking. For Theresa: I find that dark green and wine seem to still be selling the best. I never use two boxes of dye to get the darker colors just leave it in the dye solution longer and I do boil my dye with the reed in it. Not a roaring boil I guess maybe you'd call it a simmer. I always have very dark colors as I stain with minwax and find that the pastels lose there color with staining. Lois: We always weave a basket at guild and I belong to two guilds and used to belong to three. Not everybody will ever participate. You will have the doers and the followers. It is this way in everything you do in life. I have been the President of one of my guilds for more than 8 years and was the sec/tres for 2 years before that. Most of our guild members are advanced, but for the weavers who are not advanced we help them if they need help, but we are not there to teach how to weave. We have had people come before thinking it would be a cheap way to learn how to weave. You need to know most of the basics as we are not going to show how to lay out bases, twine, all beginner things, but will help with difficult twills, borders, etc. I think if we didn't weave at every guild meeting we would lose members and eventually have no guild. I have found most people including me, come for the social part, but without weaving we probably wouldn't come. I have also found out that too difficult of a basket does not work at guilds. We only see each other once a month and have lots to chat about and a difficult basket usually goes home very unfinished. We have several convention level teachers who belong to our guild and in fact I will be sharing my Cathead Sampler next month, but not teaching it. They may purchase the patterns from me at a discounted price and I will help when help is needed, but we do not abuse our members by requiring they TEACH for free. When we have an instructor, we pay them and expect them to TEACH. Pam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Weavers Words" Vol. 1 Iss. 26 " Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 08:35:04 +0900 From: "SMS Vic & Darleena Jones, Okinawa, Japan" To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 Dear Weaving Buddies, I was not offended by the smoking/ pool joke because I did not take it personally. This is an internet thing and the members don't know if the next guy smokes or not so it isn't directed at anyone in particular. In bad taste or not? We all have our own taste and humor. I just naturally assumed that the joke person had a different humor than I do. To Lois in Honolulu: As a member of many clubs on base I can imagine the problems that come up when dealing with all the different people. Since the attendance is low for the "swap" meetings and high for instruction meetings, I would adjust your bylaws or policies to allow for swapping of meeting time. Those who attend and support the guild during the business and swap meetings would be allowed the instructional meetings for free and those that only come for what they can learn will be allowed to pay for the instruction. Maybe on a percentage of meetings attended for percentage of class fee paid type thing. I don't think that the teaching weaver should get paid if they belong to your guild. If I were part of a guild I would be happy to offer a class of my favorite basket or my special basket once a year. The funds could be put into a fund to pay for a visiting instructor or door prizes at your social meeting. I also think that you need a few more members on your planning committee. One VP making waves while the Pres is away can be very trying on the patience unless you have a bigger committee for backup. To Theresa Williams: I don't use two pkgs of Rit and I get the deep rich colors. I use a big stock pot on top of my stove and I bring the water to a full bowl, add the Rit dye carefully so the steam doesn't carry it around, stir and bring back to a boil. Then I turn it off and add my reed. I keeping checking for color depth and when it is finished (3 - 10 minutes) I carefully pull it out and put it into a paperbag to bring it outside or to my sink where I let it cool a bit before rinsing. I think the boiling twice really activates the color better, at least better than when I didn't boil twice. The hunter green, mauve, cardinal, navy blue, denim blue, and royal blue works well. I must sign off now. The Troop has a service project at a Japanese orphanage this morning and I'm behind on my schedule. Let's all keep our humor about us and happy weaving. Darleena Okinawa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: oops!! Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 09:08:19 +0900 From: "SMS Vic & Darleena Jones, Okinawa, Japan" To: davidc@iei.net References: 1 I forgot a few things in my last posting. Theresa Williams: The hunter green comes from Rit dye Dark Green and the burgundy comes from the color Wine. Kristin: How would I go about getting a copy of the "Hubie" article? That would be a great history thing when I teach the Scouts basketry. Sometimes I ramble on and it would be nice to have some history to ramble on about. I'm not sure how to get Martha Wetherbee's news. Could you help me out? Lois: Thanks for the info on ValP. We were stationed at Eglin for 5 years so I know just where you are talking about. Hopefully, my friends will be able to check it out and enjoy weaving as much as we do. Feel free to give my e-mail to your student and I'll help her get settled any way that I can. If nothing else, I can recommend a hairdresser. Don't you hate trying to find one at each place we move to? "Priorities" she says with a giggle. ttfn Darleena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: "Underwater basket weaving Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 22:42:55 -0400 (EDT) From: MSWF@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi, I first heard the term underwater basket weaving when I was in college (58-62-Indiana State) as a reference to easy classes that football players and other athletes would take just to get credits and remain eligible to play. That may not be the origin but it is my first memory of the term. Since starting to make baskets, I have thought it ironic that people who coined the term did not understand the complexity of some weaving and the history of the craft. Hope this helps, Mary Fulton, Portland, OR. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weavers Words Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 01:42:38 -0400 From: Richard Calvert Organization: Calvert's Wholesale, Inc. To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone, I haven't meant to be lurking, just have been super busy. As always, I enjoy and look forward to postings from everyone. What I have enjoyed most about being a part of the "basket world", as I call it, is the sense of caring, sharing and a strong sense of camaraderie(spelling?). David has been wonderful by allowing us to share through Weavers Words--let's not blow it! We're so lucky to be able to talk with each other from all over the world. It seems so many have become so sensitive to questions and comments lately. Maybe it's the heat, or just the stresses from daily life.We're all human, so let's just chalk it up to that and get back on track. Just want to say that I appreciate all of you, because we have the common bond of loving baskets. I don't care if you make them for hobby or income, whether you weave with reed or ash, pound from the log , or buy it in nice , neat bundles, I'm happy to know you, either way. I don't care if you smoke or not either. I haven't had any complaints yet about blowing smoke while I email( now I'm going to hear it from Joy and Sandra!). So......I think I'll start a new question of the week to keep us rolling.Okay, when you make a spoke bottom, what does everyone use when the instructions say mount to your base with a t-pin? Maybe this is a silly question, but I'm curious to hear what you all have to say. I've seen mention of using cork, but do you just stick a t- pin up through the bottom? I purchased a board that's on a revolving disc from Country Seat. It works well except I like to do some spoke bottoms with D handles--a la Judy Richmond's patterns. ( Judy are you out there?) I have had my husband hammer a nail up through the bottom of this revolving board I got,and then through the D handle, but I'm always afraid the handle is going to split. Is this getting complicated or what? If you don't like that question, how about when you're finishing a tote and you have to "sew" the ends of the shaker tape together under a splint that has obviously already been woven over? Sometimes I know you can pull the tape over , sew it then slide it under, but today I did the Adirondack Gathering basket which is like a tote. When you pull the tape under you miter the corner and pull it through to meet in the middle. The ends must then meet under the center spoke and be sewn. I ended up pushing the ends one on top of the other under that center spoke and sewed the edges that met on either side of the spoke--quite a pain, although now that it's done, it looks fine and is sturdy. Any hints about this would be appreciated. When I was doing this today, all I could think of was if this was one of my first baskets,I probably would give up right here. Having taught myself completely from books and patterns, I get upset when the directions seem impossible.Well, I have rambled enough, hope I haven't bored you all to death. Oh, one more thing--We all have to give Sandra Kervin a big round of applause(don't get mad Sandra). Sandra went into a shop yesterday to show the shop owner a sampling of her baskets, 76 of them to be exact. The shop owner said "I'll take them all" . Way to go Sandra!!! Sandra is also the skilled "artisan" who made the beautiful Great Island Floor basket for that shop in Bar Harbor that was noted on the last Weavers Words. Do I sense fame and fortune among us? Keep on weavin' Sandra! Keep cool everyone!! Kathi Calvert KMC Baskets & Folkart Tinton Falls, New Jersey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Delivery Question Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 08:47:47 -0400 (EDT) From: DKallner@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Dear David, I'm so glad you're doing Weaver's Words and look forward to each issue! I do have a question. In the past week or so, I've missed two of the issues. I just got Volume 26. I didn't receive Volume 25. I got Volume 24 but not Volume 23. Before that, everything came with no problems. I'll pick up the issues I missed off the web site, but wondered what other mail I might not be getting. Would you have a recommendation about what I should do? Back on the topic of weaving, I finished a willow/antler wall basket this week for a commission. My customer wanted it for a gift for someone who does a lot of hunting and fishing and rides horses, so I made a simple embellishment for the front with a piece of old bridle, a brass shell casing, a willow blade spinner and some brass sinker weights. It turned out well, but of course I finished it about an hour before the customer arrived to pick it up. I thought about taking a picture of it, but didn't have a chance. I've been bad about not getting photos, probably because I can't think of a good enough reason to make that a priority (the choice was take the pictures or print out the invoice and get lunch -- what would you do?). Anyway, I'm just wondering whether other people take pictures of special baskets, and what you do with the pictures. Thanks! Donna Kallner White Lake, Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Re: being offended Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 10:17:03 -0400 (EDT) From: Basketmoll@aol.com To: davidc@iei.net Dear David, Thank you for deciding not to edit comments from contributors. I missed the "smoking" comment, so don't know how it exactly offended people, but my thoughts are that if you have lived on the planet for a while, there are simply going to be things that offend you. Get over it! OR better yet, hide in a cave someplace so that there will be absolutely no chance of being offended. No chance of savoring this wonderful, diverse world either, but safe from being offended! BTW, I used to smoke like a fiend, but no longer smoke at all. Thank you for doing a great job! Molly ( basketmoll@aol.com) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: John Campbell Folk School Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 10:34:40 -0700 From: "Grace and Forrest Davis" To: "Weaver's Words" Hi Everybody, Sure is great to have this forum! Thank you David for your thoughtful efforts. Your decision to not edit postings is a tough one at times, but it sure makes a difference in the quality of the conversation we enjoy here. I might not agree with everything I read, but I've been challenged lately to reexamine some of my concepts and ideas. . . and that's great. Thank you all! Now I'm looking for some candid thoughts on the John C. Campbell Folks School. We found the school on the net and requested a catalogue. Now that we have it, we've got some questions. The Folk School is in Brasstown, NC and offers week-long classes complete with lodging and meals. The atmosphere and resources look as good as anything a catalogue can present (it actually makes you want to run away and join the school), but we'd love to hear from anyone who has attended. I am particularly interested in Billie Ruth Sudduth's "Put a Little Fibonacci in Your Baskets!" from 18-24 January. According to the text, students can fly into Atlanta, the School will shuttle them to Brasstown, and off you go into one full week of weaving--in this case, from Appalachian to Shaker, to plaiting and twill. Doesn't this sound great? Tuition is $295.00; 6 x nights lodging plus meals is $212.00 (dorm) to $285.00 (shared room with bath). And of course, there's round trip air transportation. I'd hate to make a commitment and later discover hidden costs or some other distraction. . . Any experience or advice out there? Anyone been to the School? Has anyone taken classes from Billie Ruth? Anyone want to join me? Thanks everyone. . . Grace -- Grace and Forrest Davis 118 Mills Circle Ft Huachuca, Arizona 85613 (520) 417-9325 lamar@c2i2.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: guild problems Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 16:40:18 -0500 From: monast@iquest.net To: davidc@iei.net A friend and I started a guild after waiting for someone else to do it. (Of course no one else came forward) We are using a 3/4 format. Weaving off patterns for three months and the fourth month is open to decide on the next quarters schedule- and catch up time. But we ran into the the problem of What about the people who join for the bargain of getting patterns. We have decided to adopt a pattern booklet or book. That way everyone pays for their own. Has the instructions with them at all times. This lets my friend and I off the hook, as we mainly spent our time teaching. That's not to say that I wouldn't welcome anyone dropping over at anytime for a little help. One of our meetings in the fall will be like you described. We have 8 categories of rimming and handle braiding. Eight people will be at different stations. People will bring oval hoops or a done basket that needs hair pinning or matchstick border. It also seems like the vp is working quickly while the Pres. is away. Whether a guild is loosely organized or not, it is inappropriate for one or two members to alter the status quo without all paid members at the very least being informed. The vp may be using your guild as a platform for making herself a little moola Best of luck to you and let your heart lead. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Introduction Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 21:34:57 -0400 From: martyhln@juno.com To: davidc@iei.net Hi David and World Basketmakers, I have been weaving baskets for 8 years. My name is Marty Holihan I'm from the Flint Michigan area. I am a survivor of cancer twice. I like to do difficult baskets, they make me concentrate on them, gives me a reason to get up. We were hit by the storm on July 2,power was out for better than 2 days. Half of a large tree now lays across my front porch. A huge oak and about a dozen more went down the oak was the sadist to loose it was between 6 to 7 feet across. Isn't life great never a dull moment around here.Thank God my husband or I was not hurt. David I would like to thank you for all the patience you have had with me. Cheri Branca & Lois Kenner no one ever did give you the information on where to get a pattern for the Tulip Dandled if you or anyone you know is a member of AMB in September 1995 Sharon Wright had a pattern she designed for that handle. good luck to you both. Ann Morum after I trim my baskets of colored reed I use crayola pencils I have a set of 24 different colors most of the time I can find one close enough to match, and no one can tell, do the coloring while the reed is still wet.Enough for now, but glad to be part of this great group hi to all. Regards, Marty Holihan dholihan@genesee.freenet.org martyhln@juno.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Weavers Words Date: Sun, 06 Jul 1997 08:42:31 -0500 From: Linda Marshall Organization: High Plains To: davidc@iei.net Hi everyone, Actually, I thought the thing about smoking was supposed to be a joke! As all jokes, it had an element of bad taste, esp. if you happen to be in the pool. Ha ha. Sorry, I can't help myself, I thought it was funny. You may flame me, but do it privately. Yet, as my mother always said "Many a truth is said in jest" and it is unfortunate that we cannot totally control the movement the movement of either air or water. I think that we are all capable of saying things that can be taken the wrong way or that offend someone every time we open our mouths. I felt that this group was more mature than to collapse into this behavior, although I have to admit, a good catfight is a neat thing to watch - from a distance. But catfights don't last long, and I hope we can all get over this!!!!! And go back to what we have in common. As someone said (I don't know who) "We must hang together or we shall most assuredly hang separately". 'Nuf said on that topic. Theresa - I have a list that I've been compiling about popular colors: yellow, country blue, pink, mauve, maroon pink, moss green, navy, and brown. These are colors that other people have told me are popular. Since I haven't sold many baskets lately, I don't have first hand data. I have gotten nice rich colors from Rit, but only do about a quarter of a coil at a time, and only the first reed that I dip comes out that way. Andrea and Lois - I moved across country several times, but 'down the block' once. I agree, it is easier to go far away. You have to get it done all at once. I still don't have most of the pictures unpacked. We had a fun tornado the other day. It ripped the roof off the chick's building, so we had find a place to put them that was safe 'til we got it fixed. Luckily we only lost 2 from it. One of the people I shared feathers with sent me a gourd with a feather on it. It's beautiful. Thanks again, Brenda! So, weave happy thoughts, not discord, OK? Linda so. ohio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: From The NorEsta on Popular Colors/Guild Guidelines Date: Sun, 06 Jul 1997 11:36:37 -0400 From: Esther Grigsby <"egrigsby@accn.org"@accn.org> To: davidc@iei.net Hello all. In the July 4 digest, I read two questions that I would like to offer some input on, if I may. Someone asked about popular colors to make baskets with. As I am in that line of business, I would suggest, from my own experience in Michigan, that the best colors are still #1 Hunter Green, #2 Wine or a dark red such as Cranberry or Burgundy, and #3 Navy Blue. #4 & #5 still requested are Country Blue and Mauve. As for dyeing, I use mostly Rit dye - especially if I'm going to do a whole pound of reed at one time. I only use one box and use very very hot water, and let the color get quite a bit darker than I think it should look when dry, as it will seem lighter by the time it dries. Also, I rinse with white vinegar, many times over & over, to prevent smudging. Now, to answer the person who wants to save her Guild. You are to be commended for your sincere concern and desire to help your guild. As all guilds are different, all I can share with you is what our own guild - Woven Together In Kalamazoo, MI does. We have 50 members. Some participate a lot, some a little, and that is O.K. as long as everyone contributes something sometime, great or small. In the fall, we bring baskets we would like to teach, and those baskets are voted on, one for each month's meeting Jan - Nov. (Dec. is a Christmas Party). Ours is a night guild, so we do try to keep the baskets fairly simple. Once in a while we designate two months in a row to complete one basket, if it is a more involved project. Then also, we have a coordinator for Outside Workshops. So far these workshops have brought to our guild wonderful teachers such as Richard Gilliand, Cass Schorsch, & Kathleen Myers. We are also doing a Community Service project now, making Plant Baskets to be donated to an adult re-hab center in our area. We are also looking into the specifics of doing a demonstration for the Nature Center. Also, we will be participating in the Market Place at the AMB convention in October. Last year we put together goodie bag treats for the AMB convention and hope to do that again this year also. This past Spring we sponsored the AMB Spring Event. This coming August we will be selling baskets and demonstrating at the Michigan Fiber Festival. Each month in Guild we raffle off a basket or basket-related item for 50$ (or 3 for a dollar) per ticket. Whoever wins the raffle brings the prize for the following month's meeting. This has been a great fund raiser and lots of fun for everyone. Well, I digressed a bit as to your original concern. I like to make simple functional baskets in guild, and more complicated projects at home where I can concentrate and spend more uninterrupted time on them. (Like late at night or 5 am - the only time most of us can find "uninterrupted!) Our local basket club (this is only a club - not a guild) the River Valley Basketmakers' Club, just ordered kits to make a Black Ash bracelet. We each paid for our own kit, but we will weave them together at our meeting. I like the idea of doing kits when time is limited. Well, I hope that I have given you some ideas. Good luck w/ your guild! Sincerely, Cris at The NorEsta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Many thank you's... Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 12:47:22 -0400 From: "Denise Smallidge" To: To darleena Jones: I teach classes in the lakeland area and will be going into Dade City this coming fall. Would love to visit your moms community! let me know which one she is in. I would love to have that guild up and running by the time you get to Lakeland too. I know there are some wonderful teachers and weavers in the South Florida area, Eileen La Porte, Andrea in Palm Island just to name a couple. Would love to have you in this area too Darleena, let me know when ya get here. Many thanks to Cheri Branca, Eileen La Porte, Joy Moody, Linda Gibson, Lora Khoury, Lisha Kimball and Sandra Kervin for pointing me in the direction of that Great Island Floor Basket!! Many thanks indeed to Sandra as it was HER basket i was referring to!! She does very beautiful work. You can tell she takes pride in her skills as a basketmaker. You all would agree with me if you could see her baskets. To Joy Moody: I wish i could have made it to your shop as i was through Hampden a couple of times on vacation. Maybe next vacation..... I have a question for everyone: Is there a basket sitting in a corner somewhere or a closet half finished? Does anyone have a basket or two like this that has just given them so much trouble that they just tossed to the side until a better day? I would really like to hear about them. I know i am not the ONLY one with "the basket from hell".......(not to offend anyone out there) I think I have gone on enough with my ramblings. Many thanks again for "instant" info..... Denise Lakeland,FL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: God's Eye Date: Mon, 07 Jul 97 02:48:46 GMT From: oldcrows@uninet.net To: davidc@iei.net (Weavers Words) Hello to everyone, The weather has finally cooled off a little here in Maine. Went strawberry picking at 5a.m. today. Was busy making strawberry syrup,strawberry jam,and strawberry pies. Yum! Should the God's Eye on a ribbed basket be tight or loose? I don't think that it really matters. It all depends on how we were taught or how we are used to weaving. I personally make my God's eye tight. If I make it loose the ribs seem to always be popping out. Favorite patterns? Mine is the "Seminole Patchwork Basket". I think it's such a beautiful basket. You use several different techniques when weaving this basket. I do have many others that are favorites but this one is #1. Sandra, Maine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: Smoking.... Date: Mon, 7 Jul 1997 22:03:34 -0400 From: "Denise Smallidge" To: Dear David, You know, when I subscribed to this digest, I was anxious to read about basketweaving, learn some more new things, make new friends and just share the social part of it. To listen to other folks experiences, learn from them and share ideas. What I read in Digest 26 really disturbs me. Not the comment about the smoking....which does hold alot of truth in it. I was a smoker for more than 24 years and quit 17 months ago. Even if I was still smoking, I would NOT have taken something like that as a personal attack on ME as an individual just because I smoked. I hate to see the comments that were made by some folks about that. Lets not turn the next 6 issues into a battle ground of arguments over smoking when this list is designed for sharing Basketmaking ideas....please. If you have a disagreement with a comment, why not go to your mailbox and email your remarks to the individual if you feel you have been insulted on a PERSONAL level. Why air the hostility for everyone else to see? I must say, when I read some of the responses to Eileen's comment, I said to myself, "Oh no, here we go again." I think if those individuals who took Eileen's remark to heart would have gone to her privately, they would have found out that it wasn't personal attack on smokers or any one individual. So lets be basketmakers and share ideas and not turn David's wonderful list into another battle field. Denise Lakeland,FL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Subject: reflections of a basket maker that participates in craft fairs Date: Tue, 08 Jul 97 18:47:07 GMT From: carolynm@tez.net To: davidc@iei.net (David Collins (digest)) Hi basket makers, Hope everyone will be patient and take absolutely no offense. I have been giving a lot of thought about basket making, I don't care how you go about it when the basket is finished you have made a basket. I really don't care for weaving per say. I took a class weaving dried herbs in a wall hanging and I was the worst, just didn't appeal to me. I participate in local craft shows and fairs. I consider my work as good as any at the art shows I have attended. Lots of time fretwork bases are added and this only adds to the cost. They are beautiful, the basketmaker didn't make this. It is art that is purchased and used to enhance the basic basket. I joined a basket guild in hopes that additional techniques would be taught or discussed and found this not to be the case. I realize everyone has their own needs or desires. Mine would be to further my knowledge of basket making. I do have the ability to read and understand instructions, of course it is more fun when others are around working with you. I lost two of my favorite shows for the summer. I find it hard to believe the Crepe Myrtle festival in Edenton will not be held because the lady that handled it last year move. This was a delightful show with lots of participation and pleasant accommodations for crafter and participants. The weather put a blanket on Rogation Day craft show. I feel the need to excel in my next show. This is not a good way to feel but I guess it is human. I'm going to the Watermelon Festival in Murfreesboro, NC. I would appreciate hearing from anyone that might be participating or visiting. We only have the family car and cannot carry set ups to properly show off our baskets. People have to look through the baskets that don't get front spaces. I don't think they mind. we enjoy talking to customers and let them know baskets are made to be handled and used. Useful items can still be attractive, when surrounded by beauty we all feel better. I use natural nut stains most of the time. I have a delightful dark pecan stain, also use walnut and acorns. Any baskets that would be used around water get minwaxed. I use one part stain and three parts odorless paint thinner. I'm looking for a nice burgundy color. My wine colored dyes have been looking purple. Any suggestions? My husband is now making baskets. He would only help me with the shows at first but is now totally hooked. He likes to take ideas and see what he can do . I always work a pattern first and then I change the rest. I am ordering patterns by different people, just to expand my knowledge. Love this list and feel so thankful to David for his work and concern in taking over this task. I feel maybe some of the smaller basket makers like myself aren't participating because they feel we aren't as important. We are!!!Lets hear from everyone. Looking forward to upcoming shows and hope to meet fellow basket makers. Happy weaving. Carolyn S. Megginson 1404 Longstreet Lane Suffolk, Va. 23437 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If for any you would ever like to cancel your subscription, simply send me a message with "unsubscribe" as your subject.