Country Seat Courier - Basket Newsletter, Basketry & Chair Seat Weaving Information, basketweaving news, basketmaking specials

Basketry Information: Classes,
Teachers, FAQ, etc.

The Country Seat Courier
July 2008	Volume 12 , Issue 7

Reed price increases are now in effect. All Select Quality Flat Reeds are now $5.95 per one pound coil. All Select Quality Flat Oval Reeds are now $5.75 per one pound coil. Please see the list below for other changes.

Please note: Summer Monday Hours are Noon - 7 PM, April 1st - October 31st.

July Specials

Click here to see the Specials.
2008 Special Hours & Vacation Dates

(In addition to normal Holidays)

Please plan your orders and visits to our store around these dates. We always ship orders out in the order they are received when we return. Thank you for understanding!

CLOSED Friday, July 4th & Saturday, July 5th

CLOSED Saturday, August 2nd - Saturday, August 9th (8 days)

CLOSED Monday, September 1st - Labor Day

CLOSED Wednesday, October 29th - Saturday, November 1st (4 days)

CLOSED Thursday, November 27th - Thanksgiving

CLOSED Thursday, December 25th - Christmas

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New Items

Pattern - Wanamakers Gift Basket on a Rectangle Wooden Base - $3.00 by Wagner 4" H x 6" x 15-1/2" top - This practical & useful basket uses a 5" x 14" rectangle slotted base. The 6" x 8" Round-top Swing "D" handles fit around the base & are woven into the basket making a sturdy & strong basket. Natural & dyed flat reed. Currently in use at Wanamakers General Store. All Weaving Levels.
New 3mm (1/8") Flat Oval Reed - $3.75 1/2 pound coils New size of flat oval. Very thin and flexible. Great for lashing, curling, accents and miniature baskets.
Oblong (racetrack) Slotted Oak Oval Bases 5" x 8" $4.03 each $43.56 dozen See Venie Hinson's pattern - Plaid Nelly (5" x 8") in the June newsletter.
6" x 10 $5.13 each $55.44 dozen

Basket Classes

See the Classes page for full information.

Angie Wagner - Saturday, July 12th - 4 Ornaments Class
Angie Wagner - Sautrday, July 19th - Marbling on fabrice and basketry materials
Angie Wagner - Saturday, August 16th - Wanamakers Gift Basket
Maggie Silva, Nantuckets - October 2 - 4th (date reservation now available)
Vladimir Yarish, Russian Birch Bark - October or November 2008
See the Classes page for more information, class times, prices, registration and color photos.

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New Prices

Please update catalog #30
p. 5       #1 - #10 Round Reed in one pound coils - NOW $5.50 each
p. 5       #12 Round Reed in one pound bundles - NOW $5.85 each
p. 5       All sizes of Smoked Round Reed in one pound coils - NOW $7.10 each
p. 6       All sizes of Select Quality Flat Reed in one pound coils - NOW $5.95 each
p. 6       All sizes of Flat Oval Reed in one pound coils - NOW $5.75 each
p. 6       All sizes of Smoked Flat Reed in one pound coils - NOW $6.60 each
p. 6       All sizes of Smoked Flat Oval Reed in one pound coils - NOW $6.85 each
p. 6       All sizes of Second Color Flat Reed (3/8" - 1") in one pound coils - NOW $4.80 each
p. 21      Spoke Weights - NOW $7.35 each
p. 26      Chair Seat Weaving for Antique Chairs - NOW $7.95
p. 26      Ideas for the Experienced Caner #1 & #2 - NOW $5.00 EACH
p. 34      Natural Dyes & Home Dying - NOW $8.95

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Items Sold Out

cross off in catalog #30

p. 4          #10-1/2 Spline - 50 ft. bundles
p. 8          ACP Cold Water Powder Dyes
                  #250 Walnut Brown
                  #251 Sumac Grey
                  #253 Indigo Blue
p. 26         Large Apple Basket Tree #502
p. 26         Cane Seats for Chairs
                Rush Seats for Chairs
p. 29         Cherokee Hearts - Fowler
                Christmas Card Pouch - Richards
                Christmas Tree - Otto
p. 30         Double Wall Geranium - Gugni
p. 32         Indian Pottery - Sudduth
p. 36         4 Rod Wale Roll - Springer
p. 33         Jillie's Bird House - Morton

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PA Basketry Conventions

Central PA Basket Weaving Odyssey

September 19, 20 & 21, 2008 NEW LOCATION! Quality Inn & Suites, Chambersburg PA Visit basketry.homestead.com/ Odyssey2008.html for complete registration and class information. 8 great instructors!

Wanamaker's General Store
has re-opened under new management with everything from groceries, bulk foods, homemade deli sandwiches to live bait & hunting licenses. Enjoy freshly brewed coffee while you browse locally made crafts & handmade wooden toys.
Hours are: 7-7 weekdays & Saturday 8-6.
Only 15 minutes away, on Route 143, it's worth the trip to visit this historic country general store. Visit www.wanamakersgeneralstore.com/ Special Closeout SALE
#5 Round Reed Premium $6.00 per 1 pound coil
all additional discounts DO apply
- limited to stock on hand - no longer available - no backorders -

Distressed Reed

Limited Quantities

Reed may not be up to normal standards. Usually extra trimming is all that's needed. This is a good choice for scout and church groups on a fixed budget.

3/16" Oval Core
(hairy & some brittle pieces) $4.50
regularly $6.35 each

This is the only size currently available. Please disregard all previous lists

Natural Walnut Stain

Bring your baskets - the stain is free for everyone and is available year round (except during the coldest part of winter).

NEW Open Weave Days

Friday, August 22nd
from 10:00 - 4:00
Tuition = no charge
Materials cost = ??? You decide
Bring your latest project & your friends & make yourself at home in our classroom. Bring that basket pattern that has you stumped, bring your questions & that 1/2 completed project.
Do you have questions about seat weaving? Bring your chair & we will help you get started (or finished)!
This is not a formal class so we will need to attend to other business matters throughout the day.
You are responsible to bring or purchase all materials & tools. We provide the help & answers.
Come weave with us!

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Weavings

We have a new section on our website, a page devoted to your work. The page is up, now we need you to fill it!
http://www.countryseat.com/weavings.htm

Send us pictures (via e-mail is best - small file size please) and we'll post them along with the title, description or short paragraph of your choice. Please be sure to send pictures no more than 500 pixels. Our dial up service can't handle large files.

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What's that Tool?

The Basket Shear
The Original (Gardencut) Basket Shear, solid red soft flex handles with incredibly sharp, carbon-steel blades. Made in Japan. 2" blades, 8" overall length. They will cut the thickest reed, harvest naturals or trim the thinnest hairs. Great for general household use ~ Bonsai, cutting flowers, trimming shrubs, small branches, etc. Stays sharp and lasts for years. Easy to re-sharpen. Try the original red handled Basket Shears - don't fall for a cheap imitation!
$10.50 each
Use with the Scissors guard to protect the sharp scissors tip and yourself!

Shaping a Basket
Visit our FAQ page for a great article written by Judy Olney - a master at the art of hand shaping baskets and author of patterns such as Denty Baskets.

NEW Tool
Add to catalog #30

Making Chair Seats from Cane, Rush and Other Natural Materials - $5.95 by Ruth Comstock Republication of four Cornell Bulletins on Chair Seating, includes hand caning, rush, splint, Hong Kong grass (rope & twine seating). 44 Pages
Chinese Scissors Back by popular demand ~ new supplier found. Excellent for trimming reed & cane. For both right & left handed use. Black in color, 4" long with a 1-1/8" blade. $3.00 each $32.40 dozen
Micro EZ Lasher $5.50 each $59.40 dozen Works like a needle! Place over one end of your lashing material. Push the EZ Lasher in-between the last row of weaving and the rim. Micro is sized for lashing with cane or taper the end of the lasher to fit. The EZ Lasher is available in 3 sizes: Regular, Mini & Micro.

NEW Patterns
Add to catalog #30

by Wagner
$3.00 each

Corner Baskets, High & Low on a Triangle Wooden Base Natural & dyed flat reed baskets woven on a 6" x 6" x 8" Slotted Oak Triangle base. Two sizes: High: 6" x 6" x 8" base, 7-1/2" high, 6" x 6" x 8" top opening. Low: 6" x 6" x 8" base, 5-1/2" high, 6" x 6" x 8" top opening. 2 pages. For intermediate skill levels (experience with slotted bases needed).
2 Beginner Twills on a Wooden Base - 6" x 6" square base x 6" high x 9" x 9" top opening. Natural & dyed flat reed, with Hamburg cane, twill baskets woven on 6" Square Oak Slotted bases, lashed with waxed linen to match the dyed reed. The basket on the left is a continuous weave twill while the basket on the right is a start/stop twill. For all skill levels.
Diamond Twill on a Wooden Base 6" x 6" square base x 6" high x 9" x 9" top opening. Natural & dyed flat reed, with Hamburg cane, basket woven on 6" Square Oak Slotted base in a diamond twill, lashed with waxed linen to match the dyed reed. Chart pattern included. For all skill levels.
Pattern - Shopping Basket (Low) on a Rectangle Wooden Base - $3.00 by Wagner 5" H x 10" x 16" top - This practical & useful basket uses a 9" x 13" rectangle slotted base. The 10" x 9" Flat-top Swing "D" handles fit around the base & are woven into the basket making a sturdy & strong shopping basket. All natural flat reed. Currently in use at Wanamakers General Store. All Weaving Levels.
Tea Packet Basket Perfectly sized to hold individually wrapped tea bags. 3" x 3" square slotted oak base x 2-5/8" high x 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" top opening. Natural & dyed flat reed basket woven on 3" Square Oak Slotted base with a #55m Mini Teapot Wire shape. For all levels.

Willow Toad Hall

Set against a mountain backdrop at the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden, a two-story domed structure woven out of willow branches rises beyond a wildflower meadow. In 2005 Patrick Dougherty spent three weeks creating a two story domed 'house', complete with a tower & maze of pathways. Dougherty used willows to twist & weave a structure that is continually described as 'magical' & inspires the imagination of adults & children alike.

NEW Items

2 NEW patterns by Wagner ~ $3.00 each

Business Card Basket with Wooden Base & Wire Shape 2" x 3" base x 2-1/4" high x 3" x 4" top, natural and dyed flat reed. Uses a 2" x 3" rectangle slotted wooden base and mini wire shape of your choice. Suitable for all weaving skill levels. 2 pages
Random Gourd Pattern - $3.00 by Wagner Learn how to do random weave around the top opening of a gourd. Cleaning, preparation & treatment of the gourd is also included. 3 pages

Basket Bits #61 - $5.00
The articles are: Meet Julie Kleinrath; A Tisket, A Tasket, Missouri Has The Baskets; Book Review: Weaving History, A Basket Heritage Project by Marsha MacDowell & Kathleen Myers; Excerpt from Spirit Voice, a fictional story of Native American life in the south by Laura Lee Zanger; SDS Basketry by Sherry Sayles; & For Ever Green Basket pattern by Julie Kleinrath. Also: Letter from the Editor, Mailbox, Up Coming Events, Sievers School of Fiber Arts 2008 schedule, The Huckster & Guild Listings.

MORE NEW ITEMS

Oval Tissue Box Basket Natural & dyed flat reed woven on the 4" X 7" Slotted Oak Oval Bag Base (hole in the center of the base). Basket is woven like normal, after lashing, the basket is flipped upside-down to cover the new Kleenex oval tissue boxes. 4" x 7" base x 6" high x 5-1/2" x 8" top (bottom) opening. Suitable for all weaving levels. 2 pages.
#2-1/2 Round Reed ~ $5.00 approximately 900 feet per 1 pound coil
Basket Bits #59 ~ $5.00 Articles are: Meet Barbara McCormick (sweetgrass baskets); The Hobo & the Willow Basket, as told by Eugene Van Eimeren Jr.; Book Review: American Indian Baskets I, by Lori Patzke; I'm Walking for a Cure, by Brenda Traffis, Baskets Gone Wild! At Houston Center For Contemporary Craft, Congratulations Flo, Ariel's Doll Basket pattern by Sandy Bulgrin & Doris Koenig, Baskets of Yarn, LLC. (shop review), knitted Cloud Hat pattern by Judy Dudkiewicz, Signature Needle Arts (knitting needles) by Cathryn Bothe, along with Letter from the Editor, Mailbox, Up Coming Events, John C. Campbell Folk School and Sievers School of Fiber Arts 2007 schedule, The Huckster & Guild Listings.
Arrows Market Collection ~ $4.00 by Hawkins 8" square x 6" high (plus handle) natural & dyed flat or flat oval reed with round reed for twining. Twill pattern with arrow design woven in middle (charts included). Uses a round U handle with 8" spread. Instructions for 3 other sizes (rectangle and square) included. Intermediate to advanced weaving skill level suggested. 4 pages
3/4 Pound Blocks - Pure - Yellow Beeswax ~ $7.50 each Harvested & produced from local bees! Great for making candles, sealing & protecting gourds, waxing threads and so much more - smells great!
Slotted Oak Triangle Base $4.25 each $45.96 dozen 6" x 6" x 8" Fits nicely into corners for extra storage on the kitchen counter or other tight spaces.

New Website Page

Check out the latest informative page on our website - Events Page. Find great local events (basket and non-basket related) as well as national weaving events throughout the country .

It's a Bear made from Pine Needles!

Richard Carpenter is the creator of these fantastic, almost life-size pine needle bears. He creates a form in the shape of the bear or cub and then weaves pine needles through the form. Richard is also a button carver which led him to carve the nose, claws and eyes for each bear. The bears are very life-like and the pine needles create realistic looking fur.

To see more of Richard's work, visit:
Mountain Magic Website

Fiber Rush

The quality of rush changes often over time. Years ago rush could be dipped & re-dipped into hot water with no problem. Right now, the fiber rush often shreds when it gets wet. I still weave the seat with wet rush. It just takes more care & time (& sometimes extra material). Wrap 15-20 times around your hand-to-elbow. DIP the rush quickly into warm/hot water, blot with a towel & begin your seat. Or you may want to try & weave loosely for several rounds & then sponge the rush just at the corners or give it a misting of water. It's extremely difficult to get a good-looking seat when the rush is worked completely dry.
The trick right now is to wet it just enough to weave good corners, but not enough to make it shred & rip.

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The Country Seat, Inc.
Basketweaving & Chair Seating Supplies
1013 Old Philly Pike
Kempton, Pennsylvania 19529-9321 USA
Phone: 610-756-6124
e-mail: weaving@countryseat.com
Fax: 610-756-0088
web site: www.countryseat.com

Free catalog upon request. Please e-mail us at weaving@countryseat.com with "catalog" in the subject line and your name and postal address in the body of the e-mail. Catalog #30 is the current print catalog, please keep the Country Seat Courier newsletters as they contain all of our new products and any changes to the print catalog. New products are added to the on-line catalog as they arrive. If you have placed an order, a catalog and newsletters will be sent with the order.

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