Monday

New Alternative Ivory Druid's Egg Bead Whorl Support Spindles


Dave's newest alternative ivory Druid's Egg bead whorl spindles feature shafts that he crafted from Brazilian ebony, ebony and bloodwood.  Additional photos of these unique handspinning tools can be seen in our Grizzly Mountain Arts Etsy shop


Tuesday

Handi-Wind Tatting Shuttles


Dave has specially designed this "Handi-Wind" tatting shuttle with a screw-in finger hold that aides in loading the shuttle without slipping out of your hand. It is particularly useful for tatters with arthritis and those who just have "all thumbs". To help keep track of the handle, Dave has added an eye and jump ring so it can be worn around the neck with a cord or ribbon.  The woods used for these first shuttles are cherry/tulipwood, basswood/walnut, walnut and birdseye maple/thuya burl.

We would like to thank Diane of the Lace-lovin Librarian Blog, for being an awesome beta tester of our first version of our new "Handi-Wind" shuttle.



Monday

Hand Carved Alternative Ivory Druid's Egg Support Spindles


The beautiful whorls of these Druid's Egg support spindles were hand carved by Dave from an alternative ivory composite material created by him using a formula of resin, calcium carbonate (powdered limestone) and recycled mammoth ivory dust that he collects from his carvings and sawing of mammoth ivory. He casts the alternative ivory material into turning blanks, turns the egg shape whorl together with the wooden shaft, then hand carves the spirals into the Druid's Egg.  The shaft on the left was crafted from Brazilian ebony, and the right from cocobolo.

Spalted Maple and Walnut Lightweight Top Whorl Drop Spindle


Dave has crafted the 2 1/2 inch diameter notched whorl of this top whorl drop spindle from spalted maple, and the 10 1/2 inch shaft from walnut. A brass hook has been added to the top.  The weight of this beautiful handspinning tool is 0.8 ounces (23 grams).

When constructing his spindles, Dave mounts the spindle whorl blank on the shaft, and then turns and shapes the whorl and shaft together to achieve a well balanced spindle.