Getting involved doesn't need to stop at the toy drive. This is the time of year when we need to discuss whether any of the current board members are interested in participating again next year, and it's an opportunity for any member to participate as an officer of the Guild. I decided to become more involved in the Guild leadership because I was excited about the organization, the programs and workshops it could offer, and the sense of friendship that existed among the members. I wanted to contribute what I could to continue that momentum and direction.
However, the success of this organization is larger than any one person or a board of directors, and it cannot survive solely on the participation of these few individuals The position of Workshop Director will be open for the 2002 calendar year. Our workshops have consistently been of high quality and they are one of the Guild's best assets. The position of Publicity Chairperson will also be open for next year. We have benefited immensely this past year from the visibility our Guild has received. Please contact me or any board member if you are interested in participating in either of these capacities. Our past policy continues: if we can't staff these positions we will not offer these services. Our search for a new librarian continues without much success. It pains me to see our extensive library closed at the regular meetings, I know many of us have used it as a valuable source of information. However recent history showed us that the library quickly falls into a state of disarray when it is not regularly tended. Again, if you have any candidates for this position please have them contact me for an interview.
Basket weaving, using natural materials, is one of the oldest crafts. Some have suggested basket weaving predated pottery making, because early finds have shown that pottery was shaped over handmade baskets to hold the shape. Mrs. Henry talked about the types of natural materials that are used for making baskets. The materials are wide ranging from birch bark, elm bark, willow, iris leaves, cattail leaves, lily leaves, porcupine quills, sweet grass, cedar, hides of animals and honeysuckle. And of course wood. Some materials are used with their natural color, and some are dyed. She talked about dying some material by putting it in a bucket with rusty nails. Her most interesting ³find² was a dead porcupine. She said only a true basket weaver would screech to a halt to pick up a dead porcupine on the side of the road. But her porcupine quill basket was beautiful.
Mrs. Henry has learned to gather the wood she uses in basket weaving. The common types of wood used are Ash in the north and White Oak in the south. The heartwood of a tree produces darker colors for basket weaving, the sapwood produces light wood.
Mrs. Henry has learned to gather the wood she uses in basket weaving. The common types of wood used are Ash in the north and White Oak in the south. The heartwood of a tree produces darker colors for basket weaving, the sapwood produces light wood.
They chop the tree down just above the flare from the root system and go about 10 feet up the tree. Using wedges and mallets they cut the wood smaller and smaller until it is small enough to roll into coils. They work with green wood. When the wood is down to a small strips 1/4 inch thick by 1 inch wide, it is rolled into coils and placed in a bucket to dry into the coiled shape. Then when they are ready to use the wood, they get the wood wet again and use a knife to split it apart even further. Finally it is scraped until it has a smooth shiny surface. Light wood is finished with linseed oil. She does not finish oak or willow.
Mrs. Henry had many baskets to show the group, each one different and beautiful in its own way. She said there are many styles of basket. One style she showed us was called the Nantucket style. It had a wooden bottom with staves made of oak, and it was then woven with fine cane. Another small basket, made with sweet grass, had a very wonderful odor when smelled. She said it kept the odor a long time. Some baskets were shaped freehand, and some were shaped over a mold.
I wish to thank Mrs. Henry for the program. I was surprised that a basket weaver needed to learn so many woodworking techniques to produce their craft. I went away with a much healthier respect for the art of basket weaving.
Wednesday, October 3, 2001
Event: Membership Meeting
Program: Chippendale Furniture
Time: 6:15 - 9:29 pm
Presenter: Glen Adamson
Location: Washington Park Senior Center
4420 W. Vliet St., MilwaukeeSaturday, October 27, 2001
Event: Hands-on Workshop: Turned Christmas Ornaments
Presenter: Liz Rohde
Time: 9 am - 5 pm
Location: Liz's Shop
Fee: $25
Comments: Members only. Intermediate lathe skills required.
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28th
Event: Hands-on Workshop: Table Top Veneering and Inlay
Presenter: Bill Hull of Blanchard, Oklahoma
Location: Scott Stanwyck's Shop
Time: 9 am - 4 pm
Fee: $250
Comments: Members only. Intermediate skill level
Friday, 9, 2001 (Note day change.)
Event: Membership Meeting
Program: Designing for Success
Presenter: Marc Adams of Franklin, IN
Time: 6:15 - 9:29 pm
Location: Washington Park Senior Center
4420 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee
First Time Visitors Welcome.Saturday, 10, 2001
Event: Workshop/Seminar
Topic: Choosing Joinery and Adhesives (2 half-day sessions)
Presenter: Marc Adams
Fee: Members, $25; Non-members, $50
Time: 9 am - 4 pm
Location: Washington Park Senior Center
4420 W Vliet St., MilwaukeeSaturday, 17, 2001
Event: Hands-on Workshop
Topic: Woven Wood Christmas Decorations
Presenter: Leila Crandall-Frink
Time: 9 am - 3 pm
Fee: $20, Members only
Location: WoodCraft
Bill Hull of Blanchard, Oklahoma, will guide participants in building a small table featuring a veneered top, cross banding and string inlay. Participants will learn how to cut, layout, and seam veneer and use a vacuum bag press system. Materials will be provided. Participants will have to complete the assembly of the table in their own shops.
Enrollment is limited to 10 members at a cost of $250 each. Please sign-up at the October 3rd meeting or forward your check to Dick Yezek no later than October 15th.
In the second half he will draw upon his vast industry experience in his discussion of the world of adhesives. He will delve into the various types of adhesives of today's market, their strength and weakness. This will be held at the Washington Park Senior Center and will carry a fee of $25 for members and $50 for non-members.
The fee is $20 and will be held at WoodCraft.
TThe October 3rd raffle prize is a $50 gift certificate donated by the Woodworker's Depot. Located in Green Bay, the Woodworker's Depot offers a wide variety of quality woodworking products and services to meet your woodworking needs. The knowledgable staff is available 8:30 - 6:00 Monday through Friday and 9:00 - 4:00 Saturday to help you select your next woodworking tool from their large showroom. The Woodworkers Depot is located at 3001 Ramada Way, Green Bay, WI 54304, (920) 336-6900, (800) 891-900, www.woodworkersdepot.com.
The doll beds that have been made up to this point are 12² wide x 20² long. On that basis, dolls and teddy bears should not exceed 20 inches in length. Some times some real nice dolls and bears can be found at St. Vicent or Goodwill, and even occasionally at rummage sales.
As usual, we need toys for girls such as Rocking Chairs, Puzzle Chairs, Sparky the Riding Horse on 4 Wheels, and Doll Cradles. Kids also like Games, Puzzles, Truck, etc. If you need any plans, please contact Liz Rohde or Ron Hinderman. Liz and Klaus Zunker are having toy making workshops and would like to have your assistance. Please give them a call if you can help. One does not have to stay all day! Come when you can; leave when you must. Itıs for a good cause.
The Guild also challenges each of us to make some toys by ourselves or get together with other Guild members some weekend or evening and turn out some of these wooden gems. You can have a good time in fellowship and develop a sense of camaraderie with fellow Guild members.
If youıre not into toy design and/or construction, please consider tasks such as sanding or finishing.
If you have any questions, please contact Ron Hinderman, Liz Rohde or Klaus Zunker.
If you are interested and would like to try your hand at making teddy bears, sock dolls and dolls, then mark October 13th on your calendar. Gale Yun, will be hosting a workshop to make these soft, non-wooden toys. The workshop will be from 10:00 AM until???. Please contact Gale.
It has been observed for the past 400 years or so, that 20% of the people do 80% of the work. (This means that it takes 80% of the people do the remaining 20% of the work.)
The Guild has prospered for many years because we have operated under the 20 / 80 Principle. Even though this type of arrangement does not equitably distribute the workload of the Guild, it nonetheless provides a critical mass of volunteers needed to get the jobs done.
Therein lies the problem for the Guild. We do not have a 20% participation and therefore lack critical mass for the type of Guild to which we have become accustomed. We are very close to a 10 / 90 ratio! True, we have many dedicated and skilled volunteers - but we do not have a critical mass of volunteers necessary to get the job done. If you look around, you'll see that many of the active volunteers wear several hats. We have a long list of volunteers from the sign-up sheets distributed last year. But these are just names - not bodies. When a member agrees to head a committee of members, but ends up as a committee-of-one, this results in burn-out.