From Sheri's Studio . . . .  

Greetings of the New Year! Winter is in full swing here in Western Michigan, but Spring will be right around the corner. I hope this issue gets you in the mood!

Thank you for your concern about my Dad. Knowing you care is greatly appreciated! Dad is done with all treatments for prostate cancer and reports from the Doctor are good!

My "Springtime Vase" uses a glass vase as a mold while weaving and a container when finished. I wove with space dyed spokes here, but select your favorite color and weave this vase, which looks good standing alone or filled with your favorite cut flowers as the glass remains inside.

"Flopsy" is my fun Bunny Design. Add "floppy" woven ears, accented with a dyed bowtie. Cover with white spray paint; add ears, whiskers, button eyes and nose to shape this adorable face. The perfect addition to welcome Spring.

I met Dianne Kennedy at the 2003 IBA Convention. I knew I had to feature her talented work with two appearing in this Issue. The first is "Emma Lou" with its woven filled bottom using a Williamsburg handle. Dyed overlays and color rows form a plaid effect. Braided fabric rim filler is used and then topped with a "Whimsee" lid – where Diane creates folk art designs consisting of a quilted pattern with cotton fabrics stretched over a wooden lid with a wooden knob in the center.

"Heart to Heart" by Dianne Kennedy uses a heart God’s Eye especially designed for this basket. The wooden frame will be glued together with spokes inserted into drilled openings. This will take the guesswork out of this egg basket technique while weaving with the space dyed reed.

I designed my "Bunny in a Basket" using a wooden fretwork piece cut by Linda Fabian of Fabian’s Woodcrafts. I started with a 6" Bunny in a Basket design or select a plain 6" round or from many other fretwork styles. Woven in round reed, caning, and then triple weaving this "bowl" with spaced dyed. I chose to weave over top a Sterilite container as a mold to keep a uniform shape.

With requests for wax linen besides using as lashing, I am featuring Judy K. Wilson, who has designed a special tray called "Sequoyah" for this Issue of Just Patterns. Vending by her at the AMB Convention, I was able to appreciate all the time and talent of her wax linen pieces. Check out her Website www.judykwilson.com; enjoy many other unique pieces and see all her other woven creations including coiling projects. Plus feel free to print out clear instructions on weaving with wax linen.

So this New Year, try out a few of new weaving techniques using different materials. Remember to experiment, create, and weave! Happy Weaving! 

Just as this Issue was about to go to press, my Grandmother passed away. Wanting to spend more time with her and help out my Mother as much as possible, I realized that you will receive your copy later than usual and I appreciate your understanding during these circumstances! Thank you!