Weavin' Wicker Woman™

Today is my FIVE year Blogoversary!

2009-07-11T12:13:00.003-05:00

Wow, today is my FIVE year blogoversary! Who would ever have thought way back in July of 2004, that I'd still be blogging about the things I love; chair caning, basket weaving and wicker repair????

Although I sometimes have a hard time coming up with topics and there have been long lapses between posts, it's been a blast and I hope the things I've posted about have helped and entertained my readers.

Best wishes to you all, because without my devoted readers there wouldn't be such an important reason to write... other than to hear myself think!

Cathryn

WEDNESDAY WICKER WISDOM -- SeatWeavers' Guild Gathering!

2009-07-08T14:14:00.004-05:00

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

New Computer Wiz

2009-07-06T23:58:00.004-05:00

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!

MONDAY MENTION--Musgrove Willows

2009-07-06T13:46:00.005-05:00

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!

90 year old chair caner going strong!

2009-07-03T10:55:00.003-05:00

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.

Our 36th Wedding Anniversary!

2009-06-23T13:02:00.004-05:00

Today is our 36th wedding anniversary! And in many ways it seems like just yesterday and in others it seems like forever that we've been together.

John (I call him "Pete," and he calls me "Tootsie") has put up with all my basketweaving and chair caning "stuff" underfoot for at least 34 of those years, and I've endured his hunting and fishing seasons and working on mechanical things.

We are total opposites in just about everything except for our love of life, moral values and love and appreciation of our families, now including two very special grandchildren!

Take a look at what the nice write-up about our special occasion Don Simonson did for us on his website. http://cookmn.com/MN-06.23.1973,John&CathrynPeters.htm

Don does this for all the residents of and around Cook, Minnesota. He covers birthdays, anniversaries, deaths, births and everything going on in and around this little northern Minnesota city on the Iron Range. Thank you, Don.

Isn't our wedding picture great? Look at those two babes in the woods, me 100 lbs. lighter and him with dark hair and no beard! We got married on a very hot June day at the grand Victorian house that all the Peters kids grew up in, located on a big corner lot Lake City, Minnesota.

Our wedding was a laid-back affair, with only my sister-in-law Amy as my bridesmaid, John's best friend David Boss as his best man. I even made my own dress and little scarf! Family and close friends attended with maybe 100 or so total.

My mother-in-law pulled no punches decorating the house with lovely bouquets of flowers from her rose garden and from some of the neighbor's gardens, too. Chairs were assembled in the living room and dining room for the guests.

I entered from upstairs, down the grand staircase to stand with the rest of the wedding party in front of the big picture window. As I said, it was a very hot day and we could hardly wait to be pronounced man and wife so we could go outside where it was cooler! Standing there in the living room in front of the window with the sun beating down on us, I thought we would all pass out.

After the ceremony, we all filed out to the huge wrap around porch for the reception line and the cutting of the cake. Then a bit later hubby and all the guys roasted a pig and we all had lunch and took pictures on the front lawn! What a great day that was for us and all the days since then have been just as wonderful. We are so blessed to have found each other.

MONDAY MENTION -- Chair Caning in the News!

2009-06-22T07:27:00.002-05:00

This morning I ran across another interesting blog, John Gladden, a Freelance Writer and his post about a part-time chair caning business in Sullivan Township, Ohio called "Her, A Caner."

Becky Tomko is the owner and chair caning maven that John had written an article about in The Medina Gazzette a week or so ago. The post on his blog was a reprint of that article, and had a few more pictures than appeared in the newspaper article.

Congratulations Becky for making the news about your chair caning business! So nice to hear that there are more people taking up this nearly lost art of chair caning, so the craft will continue for generations to come!

And thanks to freelance writer John Gladden and The Medina Gazzette for writing about chair caning and promoting it to the nation and the world! http://johngladden.blogspot.com/2009/06/her-caner.html

Becky, John and everyone! Here's an invitation to join our chair caning guild, The SeatWeavers' Guild and attend the 2nd Annual Gathering in Nelsonville, Ohio on the grounds of Hocking College at Robbins Crossing on July 31 - August 2, 2009.

All membership forms, Gathering registration forms and more can be found at our website, http://www.SeatWeaversGuild.org and visit the Seatweaving, Chair Caning & Wicker Repair Forum, too for great conversation, help and tips on chair caning at http://yourwebapps.com/Indices/220033.html

MONDAY MENTION -- Rustic Furnituremakers

2009-06-15T19:43:00.004-05:00

Have you ever wondered how they make rustic furniture? Well, now you can try your hand at a Nature Camp for Adults at Shake Rag Alley!

Experience the Art of Rustic Furniture & Creating with Natural Materials for either one day or four! Join Daniel Mack and the crew at the 8th Annual Woodlanders Gathering in Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point, WI on July 10-13 and take one of the 60 workshops!

They offer workshops on building a trellis, lamps, chairs, tables, birdhouses and you can even try your hand at carving a bird, stools or toys. And discussions and slideshows on the business of rustic furniture making and good old camaraderie with novices and seasoned rustic furniture making professionals.

Vanity Names on Facebook

2009-06-14T15:16:00.005-05:00

Well, those of you on Facebook, did you get in on all the fuss and hype about the vanity names on Facebook being available at midnight last Friday? It's been all over Twitter and people are still talking about it days later. Whew!

I snagged my personal name for mine! Find Me on Facebook here! http://facebook.com/cathrynpeters

WEDNESDAY WICKER WISDOM

2009-06-10T12:35:00.010-05:00

Out buying antique wicker furniture? Looking for the good quality antique wicker piece like the rocker on the left? Not sure how to tell antique wicker from a reproduction?

Here are a few simple tips to help you know what to look in antique wicker and what to watch out for:

1.) Lift the piece up. Is it heavy or lightweight? Generally speaking antique wicker with its hardwood steam-bent frames will be heavier than the reproduction rattan pole framework. Even the rockers on the antique furniture are made of hardwood, but the reproductions are made using large dimension curved rattan poles.

2.) In most instances, antique wicker seats were not made in the circular basketweave design. So if you see a round seat that looks like the bottom of a round basket, you can be reasonably sure that it's a reproduction, like this one to the left.

3.)Workmanship is by and large, better on the antique wicker than the reproduction; curlicues are all perfectly shaped and uniform without creases or bumps; all the surfaces of the woven reed are smooth to the touch, not hairy and rough.

4.) Under-seat braces are usually made of hardwood dowels in the antique wicker, whereas on the reproductions they are frequently made with twisted wide binding cane and have a thin plywood sheet (or even stiff cardboard) under the seat between the seat and the twisted cane braces.

Visit WickerWoman.com for the free How-to article on "How-to Care for Antique Wicker Furniture"

Happy Antique Wicker Hunting!

Chair Caning Experts added to Repair Directory

2009-06-08T22:14:00.006-05:00

Busy, busy, busy added three more chair caning experts to the Seatweaving section of the Furniture Repair Directory on WickerWoman.com!

Do you have cane chairs or rush chairs that need TLC with rewoven seats? Find an expert listed in your state in a city near you to repair your family heirlooms.

We now have a total of 79 seatweaving-chair caning experts listed in 28 States and Canada!

If you live in Washington, contact ThistleDown Studios in Blaine.

If you live in Maine, contact Walnut Hill Antique Chair Restoration in North Yarmouth.

And if you live in California, contact Citizen Cane in Huntington Beach!

MONDAY MENTION--A Hand-Woven Life

2009-06-06T11:17:00.009-05:00

Hey, for all you basketmakers out there, here's an excellent Basket Weave Cork Bulletin Board Tutorial from a favorite blog I'm following. I just discovered this basket weave bulletin board tutorial a few days ago on A Hand-Woven Life and can't wait to make my own!

Care to Follow this great blog, too? Then just click on the Google Friends Connect box on the right sidebar of Juliana's blog at A Hand-Woven Life.

Helping Grandma "Gather Willow"

2009-06-05T20:24:00.002-05:00

Here's our little Lily at 13 months, out gathering "willow" with Grandma! She's already helped with the basketweaving when younger and now she's "gathering," too. We start 'em out young up here in Northern Minnesota, don't we?

Wicker Article in West Virginia Newspaper

2009-06-04T09:56:00.003-05:00

Reporter Jean McClelland writes about antiques for The Herald-Dispatch in West Virginia and wrote this article, "As relaxing reminder, wicker speaks of summertimes past," which appeared in the paper on May 31, 2009.

Thanks to Loxie Nance from West Virginia, who called to tell me that WickerWoman.com was mentioned in the local Sunday newspaper, in the article about wicker furniture which steered readers to my website for how-to care for wicker.

Thanks for the mention in your article on wicker Jean, that was very nice of you!

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/life/x90205752/No-Headline

WEDNESDAY WICKER WISDOM -- "Adventures in Advanced Chair Caning Patterns"

2009-06-03T10:19:00.007-05:00

Both the Star of David chair caning pattern on the left and the Spiderweb chair caning pattern on the right, will be in the line-up of hole-to-hole chair caning techniques demonstrated at the upcoming July 31 - August 2, 2009 2nd Annual Gathering of The SeatWeavers' Guild in Nelsonville, Ohio.

If you are interested in chair caning and want to learn more about the more difficult weaves, then join our guild and attend the 2nd Annual Gathering with the theme, "Adventures in Advanced Caning Patterns" next month! There will be demonstrators in the shelter and under canopies outside at Robbins Crossing on the grounds of Hocking College.

For more information about the guild and the Gathering, visit our chair caning guild website at: http://www.SeatWeaversGuild.org

MONDAY MENTION--Online Basketmakers

2009-06-01T09:41:00.005-05:00

I was working on my domain website, WickerWoman.com, a few days ago and realized that for some odd reason, one of the most important navigation buttons was missing from the left sidebar! Hard to tell how long it's been out of order, but it's now been restored.

That navigation button was for "Useful Links" where I have separate pages devoted to the likes of: Antiques & Collectibles, Basket Workshops, Woodworkers, Rustic Furniture and BASKETMAKERS

Please peruse this page of my website to see some websites of fantastic basketmakers of all kinds; traditional, contemporary, Native American, pine needle, willow and more that I recommend. Happy Weaving!

Master Woodworker Sam Maloof Dies

2009-05-30T15:12:00.004-05:00

Famed Master woodworker Sam Maloof died last week on Thursday, May 21 at the age of 93. I watched him on a PBS special Craft In America, and was blown away by his calm demeanor, and very unassuming nature.

The furniture he designed and crafted was superb and was regarded as the best in the world by many. We all morn the passing of one of America's finest craftsmen and teachers, Sam Maloof.

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-sam-maloof23-2009may23,0,3907018.story

Domain Names For Sale!

2009-05-30T14:50:00.003-05:00

I've decided to part with the AntiqueWickerRepair and GardenWicker domain names and have listed them FOR SALE through GoDaddy.com Auctions. Great potential for development!

AntiqueWickerRepair.com

AntiqueWickerRepair.biz

AntiqueWickerRepair.info

AntiqueWickerRepair.us

GardenWicker.com

WEDNESDAY WICKER WISDOM--Lloyd Loom

2009-05-28T11:46:00.007-05:00

I just discovered one of the most interesting YouTube videos I have ever come across! It is about the modern-day manufacturing process of Lloyd Loom wicker furniture called, "The making of Lloyd Loom by Vincent Sheppard."

Most antique wicker furniture lovers, collectors, and repair experts know that the Lloyd Loom process of manufacturing antique wicker furniture actually started here in the United States in 1917 with the invention of the Lloyd Loom.

But in case you don't already know about this type of wicker furniture, I've written an article on the wicker topic to help you out, "What is Paper Fibre Rush and Paper Wicker?"

In the following Lloyd Loom YouTube video we get to see how the paper fibre strands are currently made, then how the strands are woven on the loom to create the wicker fabric "sheets" and finally applied to the aluminum frameworks by the craftsmen and then painted.

Here's a very fascinating, inside look at a wicker manufacturing process that has intrigued me for years and I'm sure you'll be happy to watch it also. The video was made in Hungary and the narration is in Dutch with no English translation, but the video is so good that it's not a problem to follow along and do your own translation! Enjoy!

MONDAY MENTION -- Red Twig Brown Twig Blog

2009-05-26T08:05:00.005-05:00

Shari MacLeod from Nova Scotia, Canada, blogger of Red Twig Brown Twig is our MONDAY MENTION, although it's a day late because of the Memorial Day observance here in the United States.

I simply love viewing other blogs and connecting to them through Google Friend Connect and Networked Blogs programs, especially when the blogs are also connected to Facebook and Twitter accounts so we can see everything they are up to!

And whenever I visit a blog that has a "Slideshow" posted, I am intrigued enough to watch the entire show! Which brings us to our featured blog post today on MONDAY MENTION.

I clicked on several blog links on other people's list of favorites and stumbled upon the Red Twig Brown Twig blog. While watching Shari's slideshow, I discovered much to my delight, that she is also a basketmaker and a chair seat weaver, among her many talents!

Take a look at this post about the Shaker tape footstools she made to see what I mean, then visit the rest of her wonderful blog. Thanks Shari for being my MONDAY MENTION blog!

MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE

2009-05-26T07:30:00.006-05:00

I hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day holiday here in the US and took the time to reflect on and honor the men and women who died protecting our great country. Do you know the proper meaning, reason and traditions as to why we celebrate this day? US Memorial Day History

From the very beginning in 1868 when known as "Decoration Day" to honor those that died during the Civil War, to the present "Memorial Day" honoring all service men and women who died in all of our wars; this day is a special day of honor and recognition for those that "gave their all" so we could be free. Thank you!

Won't you help to "Restore The Traditional Day Of Observance For Memorial Day" by signing the petition as I did? Sign the Petition to Restore Original Memorial Day Lest we forget what the day signifies, not just a 3-day holiday and beginning of summer vacation!

National Basketry Organization

2009-05-23T18:02:00.004-05:00

I just received the National Basketry Organization's newsletter for Summer 2009. Whee! Ran right back from the mailbox to read it immediately!

I've been a member of the NBO ever since the first organizational meeting in 1999 at Arrowmont Arts & Crafts School in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and now here they are, celebrating a ten year anniversary! Congrats to everyone that made it happen, especially President Michael Davis who has held that position since the group's inception.

To celebrate this 10-year anniversary event, there's a Biennial Convention, "Traditions & Innovations V" going on in Portland, Oregon on July 28 - August 2, 2009 at the Portland State University.

Exciting lineup of teachers, wonderful and challenging basket classes, (traditional, including Native American, and contemporary), with a wide variety of weaving materials and techniques that you don't find at most regular basket conventions.

Sorry to say, I won't be attending this year as our 2nd Annual Gathering of The SeatWeaver's Guild, of which I am the President, is taking place that very same weekend in Nelsonville, Ohio.

Please consider becoming a member of the NBO to help promote and sustain this great organization, dedicated to the traditional basketmaker as well as contemporary basketmakers, supporters and suppliers.

Read all about the Biennial and more at the website: www.NationalBasketry.org

"Good Morning World!"

2009-05-23T17:55:00.001-05:00

Isn't this just about the best way to wake up and greet the day? Spent some time last week down with the grandkids again and in this shot, Lily was helping me with the chair caning.

MONDAY MENTION--The SeatWeavers' Guild

2009-05-18T10:42:00.003-05:00

Today's Mention is about The SeatWeavers' Guild, a relatively new chair caning guild that began on the Seatweaving, Chair Caning Forum and was organized at the Founder's Meeting in the summer of 2007 in Nelsonville, Ohio.

Last year we held our first annual workshop and meeting again in Nelsonville, OH at Robbins Crossing, a recreation of a 1800s village; a perfect setting for our old-time craft of chair caning.

Here is a video I just created and put on YouTube.com under the keywords "chair caning" from some of the pictures taken during that meeting:

Two Basketmakers Receive 2009 NEA Award

2009-05-15T08:44:00.004-05:00

Willow basketmaker LeRoy Graber from Freeman, South Dakota and Tlingit Basketmaker, Teri Rofkar from Sitka, Alaska are on the list of the 2009 National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Fellowship Receipients.

Graber and Rofkar are two of the 11 NEA awards, the nation's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts, which include a one-time award of $25,000 each. Other winners are from six other states and Puerto Rico.

LeRoy Graber is an expert willow basket maker, a skill he learned from his grandfather Jacob Graber, a German-Russian who immigrated to the Dakota Territory from the Ukraine in 1874.

Teri Rofkar, whose Tlingit name is Chas' Koowu Tla'a, was born into the Raven Clan, who grew up around traditional weavings of her grandmother. Later she learned basketweaving techniques from the elders of her community and today is known world-wide as a teacher and researcher and as a weaver of the once-lost art form of the Raven's Tail Robe.

Congratulations to these two fine representatives of the basketmaking community for receiving such a prestigious award to continue their good work!