Heading to Aiken, SC

Just a quick note between McMinnville, TN and Aiken, SC.  We are heading back to the SPCA in Aiken for an August workshop and will see my Mom.  We are (at least I am) also hoping to get some South Carolina BBQ Hash.  Side note - If you have never had SC BBQ Hash, you owe it to yourself to give it a try.....similar to Brunswick Stew, but.....different.....and way better!!  I may be biased, having grown up in SC, but....oh heck, just try it next time you are in SC or eastern GA, and let me know what you think.

Joni, Denise and Mary returned from McMinnville, TN on Saturday evening, Denise and Joni sanded and bent staves for Aiken, and we moved Lindsey and here family out of her old apartment, before moving then into her NEW HOUSE!! Yay!!  A nice safe home in a cool neighborhood with a big fenced-in back yard. We are really happy for them. 

There is also one new "basket" to show you in this blog.  We had been asked by one or our good friends/students to make a "piggy bank" basket a while ago.  While she made what we consider to be the ''standard'' piggy bank, it got me thinking and we decided to try something a little more special.  We were shooting for a more realistic, but cute, "Piggy Bank", but one woven as a nantucket basket.  The picture below is just the prototype and is slightly rough looking, but should give you an idea.  Once we get the final method and beta-Piggy woven and completed, it should be available to make in a future workshop (probably late 2017 or 2018).

Midweek Update - Also in Aiken this week, we are starting to implement our new goal of limiting the number of people in each class to a maximum of 12 per day.  We have found over time that when we are unlimited, Joni works herself to a frazzle, and even I get tired when I nail 35 or more rims in a weekend, along with all the other slip-on rims, handles, odds and ends, etc for a large group.  The bottom line is that we think you guys who are students in the classes will have a more enjoyable experience with more attention, and the ability to complete all of your projects.  If the faces in the pictures below are any indication we might be on the right track!

That's all for now.  Remember, its a Beautiful Day, don't let it slip away.  Although I must admit, I am looking forward to slipping into some Cooler Beautiful Fall Weather!

Take Care.....Dave