FROM PETE: Raffia fence not Raffia...they're woven

[BrianB]

Hey everybody,

I've been talking to Pete Oehmen about different parts I need to repro the Fair Set I've been working on, and he asked me to share this with you and collect your thoughts. This specifically relates to the raffia type/woven fences...

From Pete:

The raffia fences are another project that I'm half done with! I need more time in a day. So here is my research so far.

1. It is in no way Raffia! It is not a crepe paper. It is a vegetable matter and I believe it's the leafs off the rice plant. I have duplicated the produce using the long leafs of a certain winter wheat stalk. I used dyes to exact the color of the fences that need to be replaced. But I have many experimental bundles sitting around so I can watch the color aging process.

2. These fences are not sewn the ARE woven. If you take one apart you'll see that the smaller fences are "two over and one under" Larger fences are "3 over and 2 under". No material has been punctured, just wrapped.

3. I have research looms and haven't found one yet that would work perfect for this project so I am building a custom loom for this job. The first one is going to be time consuming until I learn how to build a better one. I need to see some old hand looms in action. The loom I making will do 3 rows of fences at a time.

[Howard]

Will be following this topic with great interest...I'm 100% sure Pete will figure it out...

Howard