- Basket Bits Magazine is a quarterly publication catering to the basket maker. Each issue contains a feature artist, articles on the basketmaking and gourd community, guild and convention info, patterns, and advertisers.
- Basket Bits began in 1989 by a man named Jim Rutherford in Loundonville, OH. In 2000, the magazine was sold to cousins, Sandy Bulgrin and Lori Patzke. Basket Bits is a family operated publication.
Sandy Bulgrin President/Editor
As co-owner of Basket Bits, Sandy's responsibilities are unlimited. However,
her primary duty is to contact current contributors and advertisers, recruit
new businesses and customers, and establish cover artists and article
writers for upcoming issues. Once all of the information, articles and
advertisements are complied, she organizes the information and delivers
it to the Graphic Artist who in turn produces an original design.
Lori Patzke Secretary/Treasurer
Lori, co-owner of Basket Bits Magazine also has a number of responsibilities. She primarily manages the financial aspects of this publication. This includes, gathering and inputting subscriber checks, invoicing advertisers and other standing orders, and financing printing, mailing and other expenses. In addition, she also takes charge of various secretarial issues.
Jessica, Sandy's oldest daughter, attended the University of Wisconsin – Parkside and received her degree in Art with a concentration in Graphic Design. Her duty is to input all of the compiled information, advertisements, and articles into the computer to form an original layout. She then uses her creativity to adjust and modify the layout to produce a pleasing but professional issue. Once this is complete, a proof is made for review.
Betty, Lori's mother, possesses a natural talent in the arts. Once a featured artist has been chosen for an issue, we ask that they send a piece of their work, either basket or gourd. Betty then studies the object and chooses the best angle for her drawings and begins to sketch. Once a drawing is complete, the original is given to Jessica who scans the picture onto the cover of each issue.
Parents of Sandy, now retired, prepare each magazine for shipping. Wallace drives approximately forty-five minutes to the printer to pick up the finished magazines. Him and his wife then place an address label, and seal on each magazine and sort them into piles to be delivered to the post office.
Please contact us if you have any comments, feedback or inquiries.
We would love to hear from you!
Basket Bits Magazine, P.O. Box 827, Sturtevant, WI 53177-0827
Telephone: (262) 835-4041
E-mail: basketbitsmag@aol.com
Web Address: www.basketbits.com
