TIIB EASKETKIAKERS' ASS 0C I ATI CH

Chairman : Barbara Maynard Vice-Chairman: Tom Lewis Hon.Secretary: Joy Viall

Asst.Secretary: Jill Drury Hon.Treasurer: Vavi Brinkhurst :Cdi tor : Nancy Furlong ******************************

Committee: Norma Barwis, Valerie Hardy , Brenda Langley, Tina Leith, Venice Uanley, Fred Rogers, Ted Ti.:veen, Gwen ~Jhite.

NJ~WSLETTE R NO ·i. LIAY lfil

SUBSCRIPTIUNS

The Treasurer thanks all those members who have sent their subscriptions for 1977 and would like to remind those who have not yet done so, that they should send £2 for each Individual Member, or £5 for each firm to: -

Hrs. Vavi Brinkhurst, 134 Ribblesdale Road, Streatham S.W.16 6SR

Members who joined in the last quarter of 1976 will be deemed to have paid their subscriptions for this year.

r"IEMBERSHIP CARDS

Those member·s who have already paid their subscriptions for 1977, should find enclosed the new membership card of the As socia tion. Please sign it in the approp­riate space.

NEW ME1U3ERS

We extend a vrnlcome to the following new members who have joined the Association since the membership list was circulated with Newsletter No.3.

Mrs. Joan Buckle 1 Wychwood, New Road, Little Kingshi-li, Great Missenden, Bucks. (Inadvertently omitted from list)

llrs. Ruth Brandon, Even Keel, 410 Minster Rd, Minster, Isle of Sheppey Kent.

Mr. A. V. Craig-Jemkins (Stathern Textile Arts) Main Street, Stathern, Melton Mowbray, Leics.

Mr. David Drew, 123 High Street, Chard, Somerset. !Jr. Gerald A. Franks, 29 ·Chandos Avenue,

London w.20. Mr. G. Frost, 5 Pursers Farm, Basingstoke Rd,

Spenc ers Wood, Nr. Reading RG7 lAN. Mr. John Galloway, 36 Common Lane, Tyldesley, Lanes.

Mrs. Caroline A. Ingle, 30 Eghams Wood Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks.

~ ir . J.E. Ingram, 3 Henson Drive, Laughton, Essex.

Nrs. N. t:. Pilcher, 40 Highfield Close, Canterbury, Kent.

Mi ss Laura Richardson, Pool Foot, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9NE.

Mrs. Seaward, 14 Red House Drive, Sonning Common, Reading RG4 9NT.

Mrs. Pamela Utting, 8 Hillyfields, Laughton, Essex.

Mr· S. A. B, Vernon-Penrose, Angle Erid House, 81 Laurel Crescent, Rush Green, Romford, Essex. R117 ORU.

The Vforshipful Company of Basketmak'ers, Office of the Clerk, Battlebridge House 87/95 Tooley Street, London S.E.l 2RA. '

EXAMI NATION SUCCESS

Our congratulations to Mrs. Jenny Fisher of Cambridge, who has been awarded the City and Guilds Bronze Medal Award 1976/77 (First Prize Basketry).

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To Lynda Thompson, our congratulations on the birth of a son, Ansell, on 7th February 1977•

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ADDITIONS Tv BOOK LIST

'Straw Uosa.ics' by Lina Croucher (Dryad)

'The .A.rt of Heaving Corn Dollies' by 3tephen J. Reid (Luttervrnrth l)ress)

'Toys from the Tales of Beatrix Potter' ty Ilarg?..ret ~Iutchings. The baskets were designed by }>re ~Legg C.Iil1s and Jo on Limited)

WRush and LecJ.fcraft' by Germaine Brotherton (Bat.sf ord)

AREA COURSES IN }3_,';.SICSTRY

Je realise that in some parts of the country, studt>nts members are unable to receive good tuition. Any members who are in this situation should contact the Secretary, and the Association vlill endeavour to R.1~range for a suitable visiting teacher to give short courses of instruction, pravided sufficient students can be found to make it economically viable.

::JYECIAJ.,~~JIBQUEST F9R TUI TI ON

One of our me~bers requires tuition in canefurrlitu:r'e makirf.'.· .Any offers?

******~~·********~ '*

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

16th May 1977 -28th T11ay.

22nd r;Iay 1977. * (Sunday)

llth July 1977 - * 16th July.

26th July 1977 - -x-3oth July. (lOam - lpm &

2pm - 4prn)

Liberty, Regent Street, London. There will be continuous demonstrations during shop hours by British craftsmen, . including a basketmaker.

Basketmakers' Garden Party at the home of our Chairman Mrs • Barbara fv1aynard , Saxon House, Ickletont Cambridge­shire (near Safrron Walden, Essex) Tele: Gt.Chesterford 239. From 2pm. Admission 50p each, payable at Party. Please bring a piece of basketry with you to exhibit.

Woodrow High House1

Nr. Amersham, Bucks. A course in Rushwork and Rush seating.

Museum of English Rural JJife, VJhiteknights Parkt (The University of Reading) The Museum authorities are making a special display of baskets in their new c?allery. This will be a splendid opportu~ity · to view the collecti'on whioh -is not normaliy_avai1able to the publiO. Plea~e ·support this exciting event. .Stewards . are required.

* see pages 19 and 20 for r eturnable slips.

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SOLUTION ~2J CROss :.10RD PUZZLE '\\- 1 I ~ 0 , • - ----

6 • 11 G E~ · '.I:l .IG- '}\; Kl~U\·." y,.;U 11

0ur Vic o ::f ha:L .. rmo.n Tom Lewis

l was born i n 1926 into a very olose-kni t community a t Somerstown in London , not far from Euston Station. A{t ended Redmond Street School which is now a Comprehensive called Sir Jiiliam Collins, where they were very keen on sports. Boxing was my favourite sporto I left school at the age of 12 years, and worked in a factory, and in the printing traq e. \/hen just under 15 years of age I-joined the Home Guard (the rifle was bigger than me!) and later on went into the Army.

After the \1ar I became a professional driver; then worked in catering on race courses all over the o Olmtry, and nov1 I work on the Jarehouse side of printing.

On October 12th 1970, practically over­night g,nd with out any vmrning, I lost my sight. This was a shock, but fortunat ely I went to Torquay for rehabilita tion, e..nd found this very useful, giving me the confidence to c~rry on an wotive l ife .

At that time , B2"sketry was something that I never ever wanted to do, as it is associated as a blind man's 01"aft, o,nd imagined that v1ould mean sitting in a dar k corner not talking to anyone, and it didn't appeal to me.

However , working in Fleet Street, y ou can only be actually working when there are editions to produce, and that meant' a great deal of time on one's b.ands. In Fleet Street is t~e Central London Institute, and I joined ~1?-e doodvJOrk class. I' ve still got all my ~ingers, so I r eckon I got on alright!

Then it was suggested that I join the Basketry class, and rather reluctantly on my part, the Tutor Ur. Fred Rogers started me on making baskets. Mr. Rogers works mainly a t the Blind Workshops, so knew all about the difficul­ties of the blind.

To my surprise I really found it fascinating, it was the complete opposite to what I had imagined, and thoroughly enjoyed the lessons. But unfortunately, the class was only for 2 hours per week. .

Some time later, Mr. Rogers said to Lie "You wovld make a good teacher of Basketry" so I laughed and said 11 0 .K., what does one do to become a teacher?" and he explained that to be a competent teacll:rone has to go into the wh ole aspects of Basketry.

First, I had to find a College that teaches Basketry to this standard, VIhich was not easy, particularly if one is sensorily disabled. Eventually, I located a course which was held at the London College of Furniture, v1here the Tutor was r.·Irs. Barbara Maynard.

I must say that this was a turning point in my life. I shall never forget Barbara's words to me ·"There are six vireeks to go before the end of this term, and we· will find ways to overcome the problems you might find on this course". And that was what happened, enabling me to join the course.

She instilled in me such confidenc e that even after the first year, I wanted to take the City and Guilds examination, but she said "No", and I now realise tha t this was right, because I went on to t ake the examination

the next year and nas very pleased to pass wi t h Credit ..

8. I am very much involved with a Day Centre

for the visually handicapped in London, which we call IN-TOUCH ISLINGTON. We are fortunate that we have a house which we have renovated, and fitted out with all the equipment necessary to teach the blind person to live in a sighted world. I am one of the Voluntary Teachers there of Basketr_y and Typing.

This is a self-help gro~p and when a person has acquired a new skili, then they in turn pass this knowledge on to other members of the group. We try to prove at IN-TOUCH ISLINGTON, that the only difference between our members and the general public is that the eyes of our members don't work so welli

..

I also teach sighted students at Evening classes for the Inner London Education Authority.

As a Founder Member of the. Basketmakers' Association, I believe it is vitally important to educate the· public into appreciating well­mad e, long-lasting British basketry, rather than buying the cheaper, inferior and short­l ived foreign imports ..

Teachers of Basketry who joim the Association can learn new skills,and also enhance their own profession by getting away from the "afternoon tea-tray making sessions" which use bases and plastic materials, which I don't like. Instead they can· show students how to make good quality work using natural materials and sound traditional techniques in an up-to-date way. This may be more difficult at first

1 but it gives more scope

for design and choice of material, and will certainly give a greater sense of achievement to students, who will then have baskets which will last: lon~: enough to hand down to their

children!

SPECIAL REQUESTS

We continually receive requests from Craft shops for any good quality British basketry - especially original designs.

9.

At present we have requests from Bucks., Central London, Devon, Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Vie urge members who wish to sell v.rork to get busy designing and making - the demand is there, it is up to you to supply!

Please get in touch immediately vlith the Secretary, and help to promote the cause of "British Baskets are best".

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A · request has been received from Vlales for small· cane ·baskets and mats ·suitable as bases for dried floral arrangements. Ari.y.one. interested? ·

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CONSERVATION

If any of our members are interested and qualified to carry out conservation work in basketry and cane or rush seating, and would like their namesto be placed on an index for such work, please fill in and return the slip at the end of this Newsletter.

******************* I MPORTANT 1J OTICE TO ALL MEMBERS VJH O ARE TEACHERS OF BASKETRY

If you wish your classes which are due to commence in September to be adver tised in the next issue of the Newsletter, plea se .fill in the s l ip at t he end of current i s su e , and return as soon as possible, but no later than the end of . June.

10 ..

Question

!'ON THE PLANK 11

Fred Rogers

What should one look for when buying bolts of willow?

Answer : In order to judge the quality of the willow, loQk at the butts and if these are nice and sleek, and the rods are long, with clean tops i.e., without any twiggy or whiskered bits, scabs or damage, and free of blemishes - these are good rods. A full length rod which tapers gradually and with a very clean tqp is what you should look for.

Question: Which variety should one choose?

Answer : Black Mole is reckoned to be the best variety ever produced in Somerset. Champion which matures earlier than Black Mole, is coarser and useful for stakes as they are straighter rods. Newkind is an alternative. Question: What sizes should one buy?

Answer : Anyone starting on their own in small domestic work would need 3ft, 4ft, and 5ft sizes. For a Basketmaker working in a small way, I would definitely recommend them to sit down and sort the bundles of willow so thatth.By, hme the big 5ft f or stakes middle 5ft for bottoms and upsetts, and 5ft small for weavers.

Preparation

Onc e the rods are sorteq, sufficient should be put to soak for the next day's work. In normal weather conditions it is possible to keep the rods damp for about two to three days. When the buff. willows were boiled, plant products were brought out to the surface, and in hot weather they tend to go sweaty or greasy. The way to get rid of thisis to soak

. I

11.

them for about an hour in cold water. It pays to delay starting work until this has been done, as you will never make a satisfactory basket with gr easy material.

Conclusion

To start to make a successful basket one should use the right material, properly prepared.

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Editor• s Note: · If any members have specific questions to put to Mr. Rogers, please send them to the Editor:-

Mrs. Nancy Furlong, 53 Spearpoint Gardens, Newbury Park, Ilford, Essex. IG2 7SZ.

They can then be included in future issues.

******************** HEDGEROW BASKETRY

We have to thank the poet Alexander Pope for the long pliable lime green rods of Weeping Willow, which some of us use in Hedgerow Basketry. In the early part of the 18th Century ha had a piece planted in his gar den a t Twickenham . This rod came from a basket woven in Turkey , which was sent as a container for figs to Lady Suf folk. In turn, a piece from this Weeping Vlillow was taken to America and planted there9

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12. TA:KING PART IN CRAFT N'.iARKETS

Stella Richards is a seasoned campaigner of Craft Markets

1 and generously passes on to

us a few points to consider when taking pa.rt in such events.

"Firstly, I· consider r ·am doing the organisers a favour by turning up, after · all they will have charged either for your pitch or at the very least 1Q5d of your take, and this is 10% of your gross figure not just of your profit. A lot of hard work is involved in making any profit. It does not follow that the more you pay for table- space, the better it will be.

Usually the organisers will provide nothing other than what you hav~ paid for as stated in the pamphlet, so . be :sure to find out:- ·

(1) Whether tables are provided, and how many you can have.

(2) l.Rke sure that chairs are available, otherwise take your own, which however vdll use up valuable space in your car~

(3) If table covers are not supplied, take sufficient material to cover the whole table right down the front and sides. This is fo.r security, as well as looking better. Although 99.9% of .viewers are honest, there is always the .1%. So keep all your excess luggage neatly packed under your stall. 'If you stand still long enough with your mouth• ppen, someone will pinch your teeth' • ·

(4) Consider carefully the colour of your table covers , this will depend on what

- art icles you are displaying. I find deep blu e su i t s mos t things, but not black. The material must be crease ­resisting; Crimplene is ideal but pl · not pat-terned. ' ain

(5) The opportunity to hire a back screen may present itself. This is a personal decision, depending mostly on how you envisage decorating your stall. Most of these screens are usually fixed to the wall or back of the booth and are not meant as security pieces.

(6) Take some large polythene sheets. In the past we have had to climb onto the stalls to es cape flo ods.

(7) You will need a full tool kit, with hammer, nails , selotape, pins, drawing pins, blu­t aok, black marking pens, price tags, First Aid ki t pati ence and ego!

(8 ) Find ouf exact directions to venue and ent r ances .

(9 ) Try to get i nto y our space with plenty of time to ' set-up ' as once the exhibition is open i t is al mos t i mposs ible to do so, and wi ll also get you excluded fr om next year' s event . ·

( l O)Is I nsur ance cov er provided by the organi sers, or must you see t o that?

(11 )rry to make su r e t hat you are not next to someone of the same craft.

(12)Have your naine and addr ess clearly displayed Big exhibitions will provi de this for you at a charge. Make sure you have s ome written information about your wor k clearly shown, as people generally will stand and read. .

(13)rhe most import~nt item of all is to make a pleasing, colourful, and tasteful display.

(14 )Have each article priced clearly but ~ · =

discreetly. Check with the managment first, as some do not allow price tags. In that event, have a clearly written poster.

14· (15)Don •t price too cheaply; prices can

always be lowered or even haggled over. It may be the most fantastic bar~ain on earth, but the opinion .is - 'If it doesn ' t cost much it can't be worth having'. Alternatively, if you price too high the cry of 'Coo, you can buy that cheaper in Woolworths' will be heard. It is often only other exhibitors who buy from you , as they know the worth of good handmade articles.

(16)If a sold article can be left in situ, mark with a big red spot and state clearly on the pric e list 'I.terns marked with a red spot have been sol d' . This is psych­ological warfare - •OOh something has been sold therefore it must be good '.

(17 ):;oncentrate on making some small items saleable to children. Most out-of-town parents either have lower-paid jobs, or living at a slower pace of life they do plenty of craft work themselves, and this applies especially to toys.

(18)If you have an article that has been designed by yourself, make lots of them so as to make a killing; otherwise the moment the article is shown you will have lost the idea, and will later find copies being made and sold wherever you go .

(19)If small articles are shown, then pin them down, or string them together. Rarely attempt to 'man' a stall on your own.

CREATURE COMFORTS (20)Take warm woollies, rainwear and comfortable

shoes, as it can get very cold and tiring. (2l)Find out from organisers if food or drink

is available, otherwise take plenty as it helps to relieve any boredom if business is slow. This takes time to prepare before set ting out, and also takes up car space.

15. (22) L~ake sure toilets are a:ITailable. \le

once had to trek through a churchyard, and everyone knew each time that vrn weren't going to read the headstones!

T;'JiJ CA UTI Jl'TAfil TAL"SS

A certain lady was invited to exhibit her crafts at a country fete - her work i s exquisite. The venue was miles out i n the country and turned out to be on the farming land of a large house. Her pitch was in a cowshed which had just been mvept. lJo tables , no chairs, nothing was provided.

The disgruntled former occupc:mts of the shed stood and surveyed the scene fro m a short way off.

Eventually a table vms found, but most of the pictures included in the exhibits had t o be propped agains t the walls. The exhib­itors s old very litt l e , and ended up covered in black fly. This was during the hot ueather of last year. Pers anally, I would not hD.ve stayed!

At one 'd o' my s on rm,s pushed into a lake and was saved sol el y by being ast1:1matic, the cold shock took his breath awayand he floated immobile to the top, .if he had struggled he v;ould hc::we caught in the weeds . Fortuna-rel.y, someone jumped in and rescued him.

You will meet the most astonishing peo ple, - some dumb, some daft

1 some dears, and all

will fill you with delight. 'uJatoh them, study them, and you will find out v:ha,t and how to exhibit, leai~ning a little more of the game ea ch time a

Arm THE BEST OF LUCK! It

.,

16. S GrvIB CRAFT MARKET ORGANI SJi ~ RS

Please writ e direct to the Organisers f or more inf orrria ti on •

Mrs. Patr:i.cia Beswick, Thele, G1;'o .Amwell, Herts SG12 9RTJ'

Organises three 3-<lay Craft Markets • (1) East of Engl a~ nd,

Northantso (2) Southern Counties,

· Surrey. (3) Eastern Connties,

Bishops Stort ford. ************************************************** Dartmoor Craft \ivorkshops.

46, Fore Street, Bu ckfast le ig h~

Mainly for Craf-Cvrorkers living in the . :~ou th

;,'lest of Engla.nd • s .Devon TQll uAA.

:,i:cs . Phyllis Sears, The Rural Cr aft s .Ass ociati on, Hei ghts Cottage, Br:o:ok Road, Wormley, Godalning, Surrey.

Sale and promotion of Crafts a.t ma jor exhibitions i.n the United Kingdom ..

******************************************k*******

Saskia Thomas, 'Tara: 3 Seymour Villas, Bridgetown. Tele: Totnes 862319 ~

Hood Fair e ~ l 1 ·~r. . n..:.c· 'lr+' ast le ·~ ,,, 1 DU .t:~..t. ._.:: .. t._.,J .• •

(24 th - 26th June)

I.Trs . Helen Blades, Tracti on Engine l~ a lly

2 Laburnum Villas, for th e Stamf ord and Cliff Road, Stamford District Spastics Sooy. Lines. Tel e : Stamford 52870. · * ; .· -X- - X-* ****-?:-"************ * -~ * * ** ****·*- *~·-l!- **** iH H ~ < 1~* **** .

Ti-r •. ~~ . Ayres, .Albury }'i cl d Drq : Joiety. Ros e Cottage , Patmore Heath, Albu:t'Y• Tel. e: 562 (Day 01-251- 1616; V/arG. Herts. ** * * ~ '******** * ***** *~ ********** *~· • ** ~~~- ·****

"DID YOU KNOW" G. Uusgrave

In Somerset we used to call lengths of withies by various names:

17.

2ft and 3ft unpeeled rods were called 'Horses Heads' they sold for 8d bundle, and were used for -very cheap shopping baskets for bazaars. 'u'Jhen they were peeled they were called 'Tack' or 'Milk'.

4ft 5ft 6ft 7ft Sft

Anything

Short Small Long Small Threepenny Middle borough Great

longer we called Skeekers.

Green wi thies which vrere half dried off, and could be used vli thout soaking, we called Half Clung. Thes e were used in Cornwall to make crates for packing Cauliflowers 21,nd Potatoes.

Neither the crates nor the terms are used nowadays.

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A 'Fascine' is a small bµndle of rough willow sticks bounq toge~hel;' with the tops turned inwards, 6ft _ long x $'' diameter. They were made and ·supplied to Government Departments ·

· to. be la.id down on d~mp groupd ci-~ a : ;foundation where they were _ going to mak~ an aerodrome.

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18.

Ve've always been bedevilled by foreign competition in this old Basketmaking trade, withies too. Nobody would do anything for us, that's -why so many people have gone out of the trade because they fou nd they couldn't earn enough money, and they have gone i.nto other j o bs ~

On one particular occasion , a l ady brought a chair into the workshop of a friend of mine. She said 'I bought this chair for ny bedroom last week

1 and the seat has gone out' e Of

course, it was a foreigner. Uy fr::_ end said 'i,Jell the r eason for that is, you 1·v·e been sitting in it', and she said 'But that's v1hat I bought it for'. Hy friend re1;lied 'Hot this one, but I can make you a cha.ii" that you can sit in' • Ee ·;;as unable to :repair the foreigner, and ended up making a new oiair .f o:::." her using Somerset ~ithies.

Another friend of CTine, in Sh8rborne, told me the story th0,t at one tine t.hey had a ter:rific qu~nt ity of foreign ahcpping b~skPts in one of the sto1"es there. ?e ):·le we-re riueueing up to buy them they ~ere 20 °heap.

:./ell, '7ithin a vrnek they ··E.:rc~ l2_Ueueir;.g up at his woJ'.'kshop, becB.us e the hc,ndJ ns had a]J_ pulled out. j.iy friend was o ha:rg:i.ng more for putt ing the handles back in, t11an the b0,skcts cost in the first place.

I think he was quite sorry wrien the SU])ly ra::1 out, as he r1as doing very \'1 ell out of this. Jf course, when we make shopping ba8kets we fasten the handles in so they ~on•t pull out~

RETURNABLE SLIP SHEET

To the Secretary: Lirs. Joy Viall, Biert on House, Dean ·,'/a;y, Chalfant St. Giles, Bucks.

19.

Thanks to all those members nho returned completed forms regarding Self-employed Craftsmen.

Please return this sheet immeciately, deleting those sections which do not apply to you.

f:zy 1,!e,,me is •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

tiy i\..d dress is . ................. • ...............•

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

I shall/shall not attend the Garden Party on Sunday 22nd T.ay, 1977 bringing guests.

• • • • • • • •

Please send further details of the Rush course at Woodrow High House, llth to 16th July 1977• (Enclosed is a stamped addressed envelope for reply).

I do / do not like the new format of NE\°/SLETTER.

I wish my name to be added to the index of members prepared to carry out Conservation ·work.

I'.f;y speciality is ••••••••••••••• o .......... • •• • ••

• • • • • • • o • • e • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

20.

RETURNABLE . SLIP SHEET continued

I shall/shall not be attending the Exhibition a t the I.1useum of English Rural Life

1 Rea ding,

~ nd I am able/unable to offer assistance with Stewarding on

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

(Committ ee members 1Nill be in at tendance during the Exhibition).

I wish my classes in BASKETRY which are due to commence in September 1977, to be advertised in the next issue of the Newsletter (August) as follows:-

Date of C ornmence­ment.

Day and time. lo cation.

Enrol­ment

Subject. Dates.

l'TAlIE 01"' TUTOR (Block capitals please)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 0 • • 0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 0 • • • • •

NOTE: As you may not yet know full details of your forthcoming courses, please make a copy of the information that vie require and send it in a letter as soon as possible . ·

PLEASE DO r.;OT DEIAY IN RETURNING T'.tlIS FOill:I AS ·.m ~TEED TO KI~O V J AJ3uUT THE OTHER IT12HS (jlJ ThIS SHEET .i:'1.S suon AS P0SS IBLE .