Bringing this back to the top. We've made a lot of progress last month, but had setbacks too.
Took a gamble and spent $400 on splint. All of it fit in a USPS large flat rate box. Very disheartening. What was in there looks to be machine processed, aka sanded not split and shaved. End result is a product with grain runoffs as well as too much stiffness. We're still looking for a reasonable supplier.
On the other hand, if we can make good baskets with marginal material (and we are), using the good stuff will be easier later on.
More pics to come!