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Entries from July 8th, 2009

WEDNESDAY WICKER WISDOM — SeatWeavers' Guild Gathering!

July 8th, 2009 · Comments Off · Weavin' Wicker Woman Blog

For any of you chair caners that might be sitting on the fence trying to decide whether or not to attend the 2nd Annual SeatWeavers’ Guild Gathering in Nelsonville, Ohio on July 31-August 2, 2009, let me tell you it’s nothing to miss!

We have a great line-up of chair caning demonstrators that will be showcasing the intricate weaves of the Star of David, Blind Caning, English Patterns, Daisy Chain, Spiderweb, Mexican Rush, Wicker Daisy and more.
If you’ve ever had questions about these weaves, or wondered how to do them, now is your chance to see how the pros do it. Have fun–Watch, learn and participate!

There will be tents and canopies set up on the grounds of Hocking College at Robbins Crossing so you can watch the demonstrations and pass from one to another easily. As well as the annual members meeting and dinner. Be sure to bring any tools, tips and hints that you’d like to share with others. Dress appropriately for an outdoors summer event. Bring the sunscreen and the umbrellas, be prepared for whatever!

This event is open to guild members only, so be sure to send in your membership application and registration for the Gathering ASAP! You don’t want to miss another historic event of the first official chair caning guild in America — The SeatWeavers’ Guild.

PDF member application and Gathering registration forms are available at http://www.SeatWeaversGuild.org

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New Computer Wiz

July 7th, 2009 · Comments Off · Weavin' Wicker Woman Blog


My daughter Maggie just sent me these two pictures of my darling 13 month old granddaughter, Lily. Maggie said, “Mother you have created a monster… We cannot get her off! She is climbing on the chairs by herself.”

I guess while I stayed with them last year and was the Granny Nanny, I spent waaay too much time on the computer! Darling Lily is following in grandma’s footsteps regarding the computer, that’s for sure! Monkey see as monkey do!

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Silver Creek Basket Guild added to Links page

July 6th, 2009 · Comments Off · What's New

Silver Creek Basket Guild of Ripon, Wisconsin (65 miles North of Milwaukee and 70 miles Northeast of Madison), has just been added to the Resource Links section under Basket Guilds here on WickerWoman.com

The guild currently has 24 members and meets the First Thursday from September to June at 6:30pm in Ripon, Wisconsin. They have a spring and fall workshop and meet once during the summer for an UFO night.

Take a look at what they have to offer all you basketmakers in and around Ripon, WI today! http://silvercreekbasketguild.blogspot.com/

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MONDAY MENTION–Musgrove Willows

July 6th, 2009 · Comments Off · Weavin' Wicker Woman Blog


I am so delighted and excited to have found the blog for Musgrove Willows and I know you will love reading it too!

When I was over in England in 2006 on a Fellowship Grant to study willow basketmaking and rush chair seat weaving, Olivia Elton Barratt took me all over to visit the willow growers and basketmakers.

One of the highlights of our trip was to visit with Ellen Musgrove and her husband Michael on their farm located in the area of the Somerset levels in Westonzoyland, a southern willow growing area of the United Kingdom. It certainly was a fascinating experience, and I’m so happy to have met them both.

I was fortunate to buy some weaving tools and books about cultured basket willow growing also and had hoped to do some here in northern Minnesota, but I think the weather is too harsh for the basketmaking willows.

Michael and Ellen took time out of their busy schedule to show me around, explaining how the willows are grown, harvested, sorted and bundled for sale. And also how the willows are left out in the sun to bleach for the “white” willow market.

I took many pictures, including several depicting the process of making “buff” willow; boiling the willow with the skin or bark on, which darkens the color of the willow, and then showed me how the bark is removed. Hopefully, I will be able to post them here, maybe in a series of some sort.

Back in 2006, I don’t believe Ellen was holding willow coffin weaving classes on the farm, but according to the recent blog posts, it’s a very popular class there at Musgrove’s now! What a wonderful place, hope to go back sometime soon. Until then… Happy Weaving, Musgrove’s!

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Steam Away Chair Spline

July 5th, 2009 · 2 Comments · What's New

Mindy King, Vice President of The SeatWeavers’ Guild, made an excellent video tutorial on Removing Chair Cane Spline with the use of a Steamer. It’s published to YouTube, so take a look! Remove Chair Cane Spline with a Steamer

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Woodlanders Gathering at Shake Rag Alley, Mineral Point, WI

July 4th, 2009 · Comments Off · What's New

Still Time To Sign Up!
RUSTIC FURNITURE, GARDEN ART & NATURE BASED WORKSHOPS
at the 8th Annual
Woodlanders Gathering at Shake Rag Alley
Mineral Point, WI
Classes open to all…adults, 14 and up, beginners or advanced!
July 10-13, Friday – Monday

Openings are still available.  Come for 1 day or all 4
Create rustic  chairs, tables, lamps, frames, wall hooks, bookends, trellises, garden benches, brooms, wattle fences,woodcarving, gourd drums, nature dyes, birdhouses, birdbaths, leaf castings, enjoy fossil expeditions, wild edible & medicinal plant  walk, willow harvesting, campfires, miniature boat races, s’mores and more!

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90 year old chair caner going strong!

July 3rd, 2009 · Comments Off · Weavin' Wicker Woman Blog


Last month, I traveled to Oklahoma City, OK and visited with one of the chair caning experts listed on my Furniture Repair Directory/Seatweaving section. Imogene Reddick is 90 years old and will be turning 91 on her birthday in August, can you believe it?

She’s still going strong and is as bright and chipper as can be. Imogene does all her work in her kitchen (as many of us do), and is versatile in every aspect of chair caning there is. Spline cane, hand cane, blind cane, medallions; she does it all. She’s also taught several family members how to cane and they are all now in the business with her.

What a pleasure it was to finally meet such a gracious, vibrant craftswoman that has been a long-time advertiser on my Furniture Repair Directory for many years. Check out the Reddick Family Chair Caning ad in the Oklahoma section of the Furniture Repair Directory/Chair Caning-Seatweaving section.

 

Thank you Imogene, it’s been a pleasure knowing you all these years and to have finally met you in person. May you have many more years to come doing this craft of chair caning that you love so much.
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