Great Basin Basketmakers May 2020 Page 1

Newsletter May 2020

Volume 34 Number 5

Edited by

Karen Olson

www.greatbasinbasketmakers.org

GBB Update

We have cancelled and rescheduled our May 12-15, 2020 Retreat to next year 2021, due to COVID-19. We have a new date of May 18-21, 2021 for our Retreat at Zephyr Point Conference Center at Lake Tahoe. Jo Campbell-Amsler has agreed to join us as our guest instructor. Here’s hoping the coronavirus will have subsided by then. Unfortunately, we are not planning on any GBB meetings or events during the month of May. We are hoping to resume meetings and classes during the month of June. More information about the June events will be published in next month’s newsletter. As you can see in the photo below—Sue Ann Monteleone has been very busy gather-ing and splitting willow. Good Job!!!!!!!!

Next Month’s Newsletter Editor:

Karen Olson kvolson@charter.net

Please submit articles for June newsletter by May 12

Great Basin Basketmakers May 2020 Page 2

A quote from "Basket of Blessings" by Mary Lee Fulkerson. "What do you love so much that in the doing of it you find a kind of grace in the world?

You are blessed"

Now that spring ‘s sunny weather has returned we can move outside to explore gardens, hikes, and enjoy the splendor of nature. The rains and snows have refreshed the earth again. Time to pull weeds and clean up gardens for flowers and vegetables. Time to hike, or walk and to enjoy what nature is revealing.

In the past several weeks our life has been changed in ways we probably never thought would happen. We may have read fictional books or seen movies about a pandemic, but now we are adjusting to this reality. I hope you have had some quiet time to reflect and have had some positive experiences.

I do miss our meeting and creating together. Although we are more isolated there are ways, old and new ones, that we can connect with friends and family. So we will certainly look for-ward when we can be together again. There will be a time we can share our adventures and creations while at home. May it be a time to keep minds and hands busy in this time of anxiety for family and friends. May this time awaken our creativity for the activities we love. May we use our energy to take a risk and create something unusual.

I miss you and our time together and look forward when we can be together again. I hope you, your families, and friends are well. Take care of yourselves .

All the best and be safe,

Betty

The GBB Facebook page is a platform for members and interested folks to share their love of basketry

by sharing photos of their projects. It is also to share upcoming events including workshops, classes, meetings, and exhibits that would

be of interest to GBB members and the public. It is meant to be an encouraging, supportive, positive and safe place for all to use and enjoy.

Please submit photos, news, events, etc. to GBBFBpage@gmail.com -Margo Duarte

The GBB Website Be sure to check our website greatbasinbasketmakers.org for information regarding our organization.

Information will be posted as it comes in. Check back regularly for updates about our

retreat, classes and programs.

Great Basin Basketmakers May 2020 Page 3

Double Wall Beauty June 18, 2020

Sparks Masonic Center 9:30-3:00 PM

Instructor: Peggy Camp

Students will learn how to create this beautiful double wall basket. This sturdy basket is made of seagrass and 1/4” reed with a flat oval rim. This basket is an eye catcher for sure. Please bring a small tub for soaking, scissors, packing tool, spray bottle, tape measure, pencil, spoke weights, apron, and an old towel. Don’t forget your lunch. Be ready for a fun new basket with a twist. Class Fee: $30 member/$40 non-member Materials Fee: $15 For more info and to sign-up contact Peggy Camp at Peggycamp55@gmail.com or 530-588-4722.

Coming in October

We are excited to announce that Karen Tembreull is coming to Reno to teach October 9-11, 2020. She lives in L’Anse, Michigan and owns Barks & Roots Basketry. Karen harvests and prepares all of the materials for each basket she teaches. A preview below of the baskets which she teaches in her classes. We will be taking sign-ups over the summer and have more information about each class, the cost and which projects will be offered. She is only here three days so only three classes—these are the four most popular baskets. If you have questions contact Lorrie Moore.

Great Basin Basketmakers May 2020 Page 4

Handling and Cleaning Baskets

Freshly-made baskets can be very strong and sturdy, but older baskets can become dry and brittle and

must be handled with care. Here are some guidelines.

Handling :

Wash hands before handling baskets. Your hands transfer oils and dirt to the basket. You may want to

wear nitrile gloves if you think the basket may have been treated with chemicals.

Do not lift baskets by their rim or a fragile handle. Use two hands, place a hand under the basket.

Cleaning :

Do NOT wash an old basket.

Brush dust off gently with a very soft bristle brush.

Brush only in one direction, not back and forth. Do not scrub at the fibers.

Use great care if vacuuming. Cover the hose with fine netting or nylon stocking – this will prevent beads,

feathers or decorative elements from being lost in the dust bag.

Canned air should only be used with care also. It can be too abrasive, can blow away decoration, and can

cause you eye irritations.

Damp sponging can be done carefully on stained areas. Use a clean fine sponge, makeup sponges work

well. Do not wet before dusting, you will just make mud and a worse problem.

Do not wet dyed baskets.

Use of soaps, detergents or solvents should probably only be done by a trained conservator.

I have successfully tried dabbing peroxide on mildewed dark spots, but I would only suggest it on a basket

you made recently.

Future Care and Storage

Do not display baskets in bright light. Not only do they fade, light has other degrading effects on the fi-

bers. LED lights have the least heat and UV.

Do not store in damp, humid areas, or storage units where condensation may form.

Avoid smoky, sooty areas, or kitchen areas where there may be greasy fumes.

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I found this site useful -

https://www.wickerwoman.com/articles/basket-care

For further advice consult a museum or look up conservators.

For minor cleaning projects and basket identification you can also contact –

Sue Ann Monteleone

775-721-1817

samonte@charter.net

Great Basin Basketmakers May 2020 Page 5

SUE ANN

HAS BEEN

VERY BUSY.

FINISHING

A SAMPLER

BURDEN

BASKET

BEAUTIFUL WILLOW

STARTING TO BUD OUT

IF ANY OF YOU HAVE PICTURES OF CURRENT PROJECTS PLEASE SEND THEM TO SUSAN LESTER OR MARGO DUARTE FOR THE WEBSITE GALLERY AND FACEBOOK—WE COULD ALL USE SOME JOY RIGHT

Great Basin Basketmakers May 2020 Page 6

2016

May and June Northwest Library May Sierra View Library August and September Spanish Springs October Promenade by the River December and January South Valley Library

All dates and locations are subject to change as more information becomes available. Thanks to all for their contributions and keep on weaving!!!

Nancy Strickland

Exhibits 2020

Hope everyone is staying well. Our exhibit in the Carson City Library was cut short due to COVID-19 and I think the May exhibits will be delayed at best. If anyone wants their baskets back please contact me at 775-745-7228 otherwise they will be safe at my house until we open the next show. The tentative schedule is as follows:

This is what the Carson City Library exhibit looked like before it was disassembled, due to the library closures.

Great Basin Basketmakers May 2020 Page 7

Arnies Arts N Crafts Located Houghton Lake, MI www.basketpatterns.com 800-563-2356 Reed, cane, tools, patterns, gourd patterns & tools, books and many wooden bases.

Consolidated Thread Mills Located Fall River, MA www.consolidatedthreadmills.com 508-672-0032 Good source artificial sinew, waxed linen and craft cords. Call for pricing.

Royalwood Ltd Located Mansfield, OH www.royalwoodltd.com 800-526-1630 Books, patterns, weaving materials, reed, waxed linen, caning supplies, shaker tape, Spend $100.00 or more and qualify for wholesale prices.

The Caning Shop 926 Gilman St, Berkeley, CA 94710 www.caning.com 800-544-3373 Your source for caning, basketry and gourd crafting supplies, tools, and books.

V. I. Reed and Cane, Inc Located in Omaha NE www.basketweaving.com 800-852-0025 Reed, tools, caning, books and kits. Good quality of reed.

Great Basin Basketmakers Membership Application/Renewal Annual Membership Dues: Electronic newsletter recipients: Individual: $25/year ($10 additional/year for family membership) Hard Copy newsletter recipients: Individual: $35/year ($10 additional/year for family membership)

Date _____________________________________ Amount: $__________ New _____ Renewal _____

Name __________________________________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________________________________ City ____________________________________________ State __________Zip _____________________ Telephone (______)_____________________Email ____________________________________________

Send this completed form and check payable to Great Basin Basketmakers and mail to: Great Basin Basketmakers * P. O. Box 11844 * Reno, NV 89510-1844

2020 Officers and Committee Members

President: Betty Hulse Board Chair: Trisha Work

Vice President : Margo Duarte Board At Large: Paula Pennington

Guild Secretary: Mary Hickman Board At Large: Pam Wilcox

Treasurer: Karen Olson Board At Large: Margo Duarte

Membership: Janice Johnson Board At Large: Lorrie Moore

Committees: Classes: Bonnie Kennedy, Ann Taylor; Library: Pam Wilcox; Special Workshops: Lorrie

Moore; Exhibits & Shows: Nancy Strickland; Grants: Betty Hulse, Susan Lester, Karen Olson; Raffle:

Sandy Zoerner; Website: Susan Lester; Newsletter Editors: Sue Ann Monteleone, Karen Olson.

If you are able to volunteer your service to help out GBB in any way, please contact Betty Hulse at

775-747-5794 or email to betty.hulse5@yahoo.com

Great Basin Basketmakers May 2020 Page 8

Great Basin Basketmakers Post Office Box 11844

Reno, Nevada 89510-1844

Our Mission Statement

The main focus of the Great Basin Basketmakers is to make baskets, to learn everything possible about

the tradition and techniques of basketry and

to pass this knowledge along

to others.

Great Basin Basketmakers Established January 1987

Meetings the first Thursday of each month at Sparks Masonic Center

located at 2425 Pyramid Way, Sparks, NV. Open business meeting at

11:00 AM. All are welcome. Bring a sack lunch. Show & Tell/Lunch

12 PM. Program starts at 12:30 PM.

Membership dues for Great Basin Basketmakers are $25 per yr, $10

extra per yr. for family membership (living at the same address), $10

extra for a mailed newsletter. Membership includes monthly newslet-

ter, access to large library and reduced workshop rates. Dues are to

be paid annually in January.

Please direct address, email changes, membership dues, and requests

for membership to: GBB, PO Box 11844, Reno, NV 89510.

Questions regarding workshops, events, etc. may be directed to GBB

president, Betty Hulse at betty.hulse5@yahoo.com or check our web-

site at: www.greatbasinbasketmakers.org.

Information to be exchanged among GBB members may be directed

to: gbbreno@gmail.com.

If you would like to submit to GBBs Facebook page please send to

GBBFBpage@gmail.com