Great Basin Basketmakers February 2015 Page 1

Newsletter February 2015

Volume 29 Number 2

Edited by

Sandy Zoerner

www.greatbasinbasketmakers.org

Thursday, February 5, 2015 Meeting

1st Congregational Church, Sunnyside Dr., Reno at 11:00 am.

Program—Woven Hearts Presented by Molly Gardner

Materials Kit: $1.00

Just in time for Valentine’s Day! Learn how to make

woven hearts and cute folded paper heart baskets. We

will be using paper for this project and all materials will

be supplied. Your kit will include several different pat-

terns and enough of the prepared paper to make more

hearts. These hearts are also great for other occasions,

like Christmas, Easter or Graduation. Fill them with candy or other small things.

Supplies needed: Please bring small, sharp scissors, a glue stick or paper paste, 8 micro-

clips or alligator clips and a ruler (a small metal one is good) and a pencil.

If you were not at the January meeting and didn’t sign up, please email Molly at mol-

lygbb@yahoo.com, so that enough materials can be prepared. This will be a fun and easy

class! Call Molly at 673-1628 if you have questions.

Table of Contents February Classes Page 2

2015 Annual Retreat Page 3

Jan. photos & board minutes Page 4

Pres.message & meeting minutes Page 5

20 yrs in GBB & March Updates Page 6

Other items of interest

& treasurer’s report Pages 6 & 7

Welcome New members:

Nettie Fox, Pollock Pines, CA

Christine Ogura, Honolulu , HI

Great Basin Basketmakers February 2015 Page 2

Stake & Strand Willow Basket with Finger Handle Thursday, February 19, 9:30 to 4:00

Instructor: Betty Hulse

First Congregational Church on Sunnyside Dr, Reno, NV

Workshop Fee: $25.00 members - $30.00 non-members

Material Fee: $12.00 for willow

Supplies to bring: Large old towel, large awl, basket clippers, a few clothespins, a rock, old iron, or other weight, a hammer for packing, a sharp knife, and ruler.

We will make a round willow base. Then stake-up, upset, learn

a wale weave, and use French randing for the basket. The Fin-

ger handles completes the basket before the border. You will

have a choice of trac border or a three rod border. For more

information contact Betty at 775-747-5794 or

betty.hulse5@yahoo.com

Bias Plaited Map Basket Saturday, February 28, 2015, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm

Sunvilla Estates Community Room Instructor: Karen Olson

This is a great basket to make using maps from a trip as

a memento or making a basket for a friend returning from a

trip—the possibilities are endless. So dig out those out of date

road maps or a sentimental map and come join us for a fun day

of cutting and weaving.

We are revisiting the bias plaited basket using old road

maps. It’s time to think outside the basket—what happens when

you weave a basket with 6 spokes by 10 spokes (rather than the

traditional 8 by 8.)

Materials and supplies needed: Old road maps (at least

22” x 46”, if smaller than use two maps), cutting mat, straight edge ruler (I like the clear plastic

quilting rulers), rotary cutter or exacto knife, scissors, copper alligator clips or clothespins, and

an awl. I will have embellishments such as decorative brads, buttons, beads, wire, waxed linen,

etc. Class fees are $25 for members, $30 non-members, plus $5 material fee.

For more information contact Karen at kvolson@charter.net or 775-852-5401.

Great Basin Basketmakers February 2015 Page 3

Annual Retreat May 12-15 at Zephyr Point Conference Center Sign up has begun for our annual basketmakers retreat. We will be meeting at the Zephyr Point Conference center right on the shores of Lake Tahoe. The views are stunning, food is great and as always, the group knows how to have fun. There will be a raffle, a silent auction, games and morn-ing stretch exercise classes. We will begin on Tuesday, May 12th with an embellishment fair. Wednesday's classes will be instructed by Kaylee Mayne and Cat Wahrenbrock. Thursday's classes are taught by Betty Hulse and Bonnie Kennedy. Two full day classes, double occupancy room for three nights and food are all included for $250.00. Materials fees are to be paid to each instruc-tor.

We will require a $50.00 deposit at time of sign up along with roommate requests. Sign up at our Feb 5th meeting or mail to Nancy Strickland at: GBB, PO 11844, Reno, NV 89510-1844. Any questions or special requests can be directed to nancstrick@gmail.com. Looking forward to another GBB Retreat.

WEDNESDAY CLASSES

Kaylee Mayne will teach a rectangular flat and round reed spaced dye market basket on Wednesday, May 13. Approximate size is 10 x 15 inches with a sturdy handle. She will have a choice of colors that she will prepare for you before the class. Material fees will run $40.00. The basket can be made by all skill levels and requires the usual tools, soaking basin, spray bottle, clothes pins, spoke weight and towel.

A Waxed Linen Bottle Basket will be taught by Cat Wahren-brock on Wednesday, May 13. This is a way cool project - you're going to love it. I’ll bring waxed linen in many colors, bottles, beads and instruction for a host of different weaving patterns and color combinations for this waxed linen basket woven over a mini bottle. Material cost - $10.00

THURSDAY CLASSES

Betty Hulse will be teaching on Thursday, May 14. She will teach a beautiful spiraled willow tray. There will be three different colors of willow spiraled into a circular tray with finger holds. Naturally beautiful. The class will be appropriate for all levels of ability. Bring your soaking tub, towel, pruners, awl and clothes pins. Betty will supply lots of different colors of willow and fine in-struction. Material fees are $25.00. Bonnie Kennedy will be teaching a pine needle coiling project on Thursday, May 14. Full project de-scription with material fees will be provided during our next meeting, in next month’s newsletter or posted to the website prior to that.

Great Basin Basketmakers February 2015 Page 4

January 7, 2015 GBB Board meeting minutes

Location: Washoe Valley Jailhouse Present: Sandy Zoerner, Pam Wilcox, Trisha Work, Nancy Strickland, Bonnie Kennedy, Susan Lester, Julia Richardson (note taker) Meeting called to order at 1100 hours November board minutes approved. Pam motioned, Trish second Budget discussion – Bonnie Kennedy presented a proposed 2015 budget. The board discussed the line items and changes made as appropriate. Highlights, the three largest expenses, in order, are

GBB Retreat Class/workshop room rental Monthly meeting room rental

Scholarships and Monthly Speaker expenses are the next two highest expenses We are currently taking about $1,000/year from the GBB savings account to meet expenses. At this rate the sav-ings account will be depleted in 5 years. The board will continue to address this issue and make GBB membership aware of this situation to arrive at solutions. Bonnie procured a debit card for the checking account to facilitate payments. May materials sale, remind sellers that 10% of their proceeds go to GBB! Trisha will pursue publishing Nadine’s book. Sales of this book may bring in revenue. Other topics: GBB received a thank-you from the Veterans Guest House.

Notes submitted by Julia Richardson

Rosemary, Julia, Bonnie, Peggy, Nancy, Speedy

(the mascot), Diane & Cat showing off their pine

needle sewing kits during Bonnie’s January class. Linda Havens during January Show & Tell

Bonnie & Betty showing their travelogue during the January meeting

Susan during January

Show & Tell

Great Basin Basketmakers February 2015 Page 5

Message from the President

We are off to a new year of meetings, classes and of course the retreat is just around the corner. We had

a great first meeting even though we had a lot of discussion about our unhealthy budget. It is all but sure that

there will be some changes next year to help the bottom line, but rest assured you will be included in any discus-

sions on what we may need to do. Bonnie will be giving a detailed treasurer's report at an upcoming meeting so

all can see where we are spending most of our money. Okay, enough on that.

If you didn't make it to the January meeting you missed what I thought was a very good program. Bon-

nie and Betty gave us a presentation about their world travels that involved basket weaving. I love to travel and

know that a trip like theirs would be something wonderful to experience. It made me think that when other mem-

bers travel to retreats, conferences or workshop it might me nice if you write a short newsletter article about your

participation. I’m sure fellow members would enjoy reading about it.

Speaking of traveling, I will be gone most of February. I'm off to New Zealand and unfortunately basket weaving

is not on the list of activities. I will be leaving a couple of days after the February meeting and will be back just

after the March meeting so I may not see some of you until April. I'm hoping we get lots of snow here February

2015, to help the drought conditions, and that it is all melted by March 5.

Susan

Jan 8, 2015 GBB general meeting minutes at the Sunnyside Church submitted by Julia Richardson

Meeting called to order by Susan Lester at 1110 hours Prior meeting minutes stand as written Treasures report by Bonnie Kennedy: The board reviewed the proposed 2015 budget. Based no income and expenses we will be $1,000 short by the end of 2015. This will erode our savings. At this rate the GBB savings account will be spent in five and ½ years. The majority of our costs are 1) $1000/yr. to the retreat, 2) approximately $800/ yr. for class/workshop room rental; and 3) approximately $700/yr. for monthly meeting room rental. Changes will need to occur in order for our organization to be solvent. Membership report by Karen Olson: still collecting renewals Meetings report: February meeting will be valentine hearts by Molly. March program is nametags, BYO materials. December party, Molly will check on clubhouse availability for December 10th, the SECOND Thursday. The club-house is not available Dec 3, the first Thursday. Monthly classes report by Susan: February Karen Olson and Betty Hulse are teaching classes. Retreat Report by Nancy: Retreat sign-up sheet will be available at February meeting; $50 deposit will secure attendance. Three instructors have been recruited, Cat displayed ideas for her waxed linen class; Betty will teach a spiral willow tray; Kaylee will teach a market basket. Still need one more instructor! Ideas, or better yet, volun-teers, contact Nancy. Exhibits/shows report: Heritage bank will display baskets. Large baskets will work best. Bring your work to the February meeting. Special Projects/Events: nothing to report Publicity report nothing to report Library Report by Pam: please check out books! Equally important, remember to return them! Announcements: National Wheat Weavers April 8-12. Website: http://www.nawwstraw.org/ Misti Washington Gourd and basket guild weekend May 2-3 in San Diego; guild website: http://baskets-

gourds.com/ event website with registration links: http://sdbgarden.org/misti.htm

Karen updated us on our new website. It should be up and running when you receive this newsletter. Reminder that the Basket of Blessings is available for $10. Number in attendance: 30

Adjournment time: 1220 hours

Great Basin Basketmakers February 2015 Page 6

My Twenty Plus Years in Great Basin Basketmakers

By Billie Walker (Reprinted from a 2012 newsletter)

As I think back on how I became a basket maker I realize I’ve forgotten a lot of the details. I’m writing what I can remember. If any of you remember more, or remember it differently, please write it down and send it to the newsletter editor. I used to tell my friends that I was going to take up basket making and weaving when I retired, in June 1987. My friend Nancy Diehl called and said she saw an article in the newspaper written by Mary Lee Fulkerson about a six week course in baskets that she was teaching in Reno. I called and signed up. During each class she had a short slide show, then taught us how to weave a simple basket. I never finished mine in class, but worked on it during the week and had it done by the next class. Mary Lee said she was getting a group of interested people to meet each month to make baskets and whoever was interested could join. She named the group Great Basin Basketmakers. I think two class members joined the group. We met at McKinley School by the Truckee river. When I joined we had twelve founding members and an occasional drop-in. The school charged us $12.00 to use the room so each person contributed $1.00. If we had less than twelve people come, we would put in more money. If we had more folks, we saved the extra money. Kathy Ralston was elected Treasurer. Some say she kept the money in an envelope under her mattress and was always worried someone would break into her home and steal it. We weren’t organized enough to have meetings so we had no officers. We just sat around and made baskets. Mary Lee usually taught us, but if anyone had a basket they had made, they would teach everyone “how to do it”. In 1987 there weren’t many “how to” books or places to buy supplies. Dora Taylor and Jeanie McClard were probably the most experienced and taught lots of classes. Once they bought a bunch of gourds and experimented with them. They had a class outside on the lawn at McKinley. We had a hose and towels and scrubbed the gourds, used drywall saws to cut them open and scraped the seeds and pulp out with grapefruit spoons. One by one, new people joined the group. Most were beginners. Mary Lee got books, experimented and then gave work-

March 5th Meeting Program Change

We will be making name tags of your own design. Please bring your own supplies and a good imagination and

make a name tag of your own choosing. If you are not sure what to do it's okay. Just bring various supplies and

there should be plenty of people who will be happy to give you a suggestion or idea. We didn't want to cancel the

program because we have so many new members that don't have a name tag. Now will be your chance to make

something to wear to meetings and avoid the .25 fee. It will a fun time to relax and socialize as you make your

Save the Date:

Thursday, March 19 Burden Basket Necklace by Karen Rosselli 1st Congregational Church, Reno Saturday, March 28 Dragonfly by Judy Magiera Washoe Valley Jailhouse

OF INTEREST:

Check out the Reed Sale @ The Bead Store, 2188 E. William St, Carson City; phone 775-883-8111; Many Sizes $10.50 lb, Round & Flat—natural.

Great Basin Basketmakers February 2015 Page 7

Great Basin Basketmakers Membership Application/Renewal Annual Membership Dues: $25yr, $45/2 yrs., $65/3 yrs. ($10 additional per yr. for family member-ship) 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

Next Month’s Newsletter Editor is: Kristy Dial

Kristy.dial@yahoo.com

Please submit articles for March

newsletter by February 12.

2015 GBB Officers and Board Members:

President…………… Susan Lester 338-7910 Vice-President……… Bonnie Kennedy Secretary…………… Julia Richardson Treasurer…………… Bonnie Kennedy Board Chair …..…… Sandy Zoerner 786-2165 Board………………… Nancy Strickland Board………………… Pam Wilcox Board ………...……… Trisha Work Board………………… Julia Richardson Membership………… Karen Olson 852-5401

National Assoc. of Wheat

Weavers

NAWW Convention 2015

APRIL 8-12

Nugget Hotel in Reno, NV

"Stake Your Claim On

Wheat"

For more info go to: www.nawwstraw.org

Treasures Report as of January 15, 2015

Total Cash

includes checking & saving $ 9,946.02

Income from dues $ 150.00

Miscellaneous Income $ 133.50

Expenses to Date - $ 750.00

New Balance $ 9,468.52

Save the Date

Misti Washington’s

Biennial Conference

"Weekend in the Garden" May 2 & 3, 2015

Class list is now available on their

website: www.baskets-gourds.com/

Biennial_Conference.html

Check out the website :

redrockweaversguild.homestead.com

Cornelia developed this website for the group she

started in Springdale, Utah

Great Basin Basketmakers February 2015 Page 8

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 Post Office Box 11844

Reno, Nevada 89510-1844

Great Basin Basketmakers Established January 1987

Meet the first Thursday of each month at the First Congregational Church of Reno, United Church of Christ at 627 Sunnyside Dr., Reno. Open business meeting at 11:00 AM. All are welcome. Bring a sack lunch. Show & Tell/Lunch 12-1 PM. Program starts at 1:00 PM Membership dues for Great Basin Basketmakers are $25/yr., $45/2 yrs., $65/3 yrs. $10 extra per household member per yr. Dues are to be paid annually in January. Membership includes monthly newsletter, access to large library and reduced workshop rates. Please direct address, email changes, membership dues, and requests for membership to PO Box 11844, Reno, NV 89510-1844 Questions regarding workshops, events, etc. may be directed to GBB president, Susan Lester at fordtraveler@gmail.com or check our website at: www.greatbasinbasketmakers.org Information to be exchanged among GBB members may be directed to: gbbreno@gmail.com

Please share your event…Have your event listed for free

on the Reno Gazette-Journal Events Calendar—Go to:

https://rgj.wufoo.com/forms/submit-an-event/