Sunday

New Mini Top Whorl Drop Spindles


Dave has been busy in the studio for the past several days!  These beautiful mini top whorl drop spindles are the result of his hard work.  You can find all of these little beauties in our Etsy shop.

Wednesday

Lace Making Pattern Pricker Pin Vises



Dave has crafted these beautiful pattern prickers from wood and acrylic.  The ergonomic design fits comfortably in your hand, and the steel chuck allows you to easily remove or replace the needle.  The needle shown is included with your order.  Additional photos can be found in our Grizzly Mountain Arts Etsy shop.

Monday

4 Pin Exotic Hawaiian Golden Pheasant Wood French Spool Knitter with Loop Lifter


This beautiful French spool knitter was crafted by Dave from exotic Hawaiian golden pheasant wood. He has inset four brass pins into the top. The overall height of this spool knitter is 3 1/4 inches and the inner barrel measures 5/8 of an inch in diameter. The matching loop lifter was also crafted from Hawaiian golden pheasant wood and brass.

Travel Size Support Spinning Bowls


These four ceramic travel size support spinning bowls were listed in our Etsy shop today.  Each little bowl comes with a zippered pouch.

New Mini Russian Style Support Spindle and Bowl Travel Sets

Four new mini Russian style support spindle and bowl travel sets were listed in our Etsy shop today.  The woods used in these handspinning tools are cocobolo, pau ferro, cherry and birdseye maple.

Friday

Book of Kells Sacred Salmon Ceramic Bowl




It is believed that the Book of Kells was written at the end of the eighth century at the monastery of Iona.  Its purpose was to serve as an illuminated liturgical Gospel to be displayed on an altar, and as such, was beautifully illustrated with elaborate drawings.  On the Chi Rho page, animals representing the air (birds and moths), of the sea (fish and otters) and of the land, cats and mice, can be seen.  

To the Celts, the fish symbolized knowledge, wisdom, the gift of prophecy and inspiration.  The Salmon of Wisdom were keepers of all knowledge. Mythology tells us that this knowledge was attained by eating the nuts of the sacred hazel tree.

This beautiful dark chili pepper red ceramic bowl, that we created by hand, is perfect for so many things--rings, pins, votive candles or even as a small prep dish. This dish measures 3 1/4 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch tall. As with all of our ceramic pieces, the glaze is lead free.

Small Ceramic Prep Bowl Set



These sweet little earthenware clay prep bowls measure 3 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep. They are perfect for so many things like tapas bowls, sauces, nuts, candies or even small soaps and jewelry. I made these without the benefit of a wheel, so their slight irregularities make them truly one of a kind pieces. Lead free purple glaze was used to finish the bowls making them food safe.

Mini Russian Support Spindle Travel Sets



This is a new item for Grizzly Mountain Arts!  We are excited to introduce our "Mini Russian Support Spindle Travel Set".  The mini Russian spindle included with each set is the same size as our previous hair stick spindles but these are crafted from heavier woods.  The weight of each spindle can be varied by removing the two glass beaded rings.  Also included with each set is a mini ceramic spinning bowl that travels securely in it's zippered pouch.

Saturday

French Spool Knitters

Four new spool knitters were listed in our Etsy shop today.  The woods are birdseye maple, apricot, tiger maple and white ash.  Each spool knitter comes with a matching loop lifter.

The basic shape of most knitters is always a tube or spool shape with a hole in the center and different numbers of pins around the top to serve as a mini loom. While Dave has made a variety of different knitter shapes, he most commonly uses the basic shape that comes from a duck or goose call. Millions of duck hunters can’t be wrong! He has used these calls himself while hunting waterfowl and during his game warden days he checked hundreds of hunters with the calls hanging around their necks on lanyards. He doesn’t know when the basic shape of the duck call first came about but it has been round for over a hundred years and is the best design for hand holding.


When he was turning a few different game calls he noted how similar the shape was to the original “Knitting Nancy” spool knitters so he adapted the basic shape of the lower part of the game calls to be the primary shape of his spool knitters. Like duck calls, they can be carved, inlayed, burn etched or embellished in many different ways.