Hi everyone!
Welcome to the second installment of our new feature, CATalog of the week. This week's theme is: basketweaving and caning supplies. If you would like to make your own mini baskets and other handwoven items (or already do) this CATalog is for you. While not strictly "miniature" per se, you'll find caning and basketweaving supplies of all shapes, colors, textures and sizes. Willie the cat gives this CATalog a three paws rating,
meaning: tablefood! If you can, don't pass it up.
The CATalog itself is free, but the best part is that for $2.00 you can request a sample card of 31 colors of 4-ply IRISH WAXED LINEN THREAD, plus three additional samples in the various weights also available--2-ply, 3-ply, and 7-ply (Willie especially loves to play with the samples). Just looking at this card and feeling the samples makes me inspired to try mini baskets. For beginners such as myself you'll find Irish Waxed Linen Miniature Basket Kits on page 6, including everything you need to get started. Or, if you're experienced, you'll find miniature basket patterns ranging in price from $3.00-$5.00.
Other extraordinary finds in this CATalog include: jute, raffia, corn husks, horsehair, handspun yarn, mizuhiki, wheat, hemp twine, reeds, grapevine, leather--even loose seagrass. Now is the time to REALLY get creative, folks! Want feathers? Beads? Moss? Driftwood? Royalwood's got it. You'll find tools including mini awls, basket cutters, micro cutters, micro tweezers, and mini clips. But by far the most interesting this I found were these: "fairie string, " $5.49 for 200 yards, and "fairie dust," 99¢ for 2oz. Intriguing, to say the least.
Royalwood Ltd.'s addrss is 517 Woodville Road, Mansfield, OH 44907. Once again, the catalog is free, but if I were you I'd send $2.00 to get the Irish Waxed Linen Thread Sample Card. If you weave with this stuff, no "stiffening" is required, I would think. I'm no expert in this area but among other things, miniature garden furniture comes to mind...