The Return of "Grasshopper"

I try to keep my blog posts strictly business, but my frequent readers will remember a previous post where I vented my frustrations about Dave's "copycat". Well, he's baaaaack!

For weeks, Dave pondered.....drew plans on graph paper.....thought some more, all in preparation of what he considers to be one of his best works, the Moby Dick Tatting Shuttle and Harpoon Picot Hook set. There had been several other attempts at recreating some of Dave's other popular shuttles by this Ebay seller before, so when he was ready to list Moby on Ebay, he added a statement of copyright. Can you believe, that this Ebay seller has copied not only the whale and harpoon picot hook idea, but also the copyright statement!

This seller contacted Dave on several occasions very early on in his copying career, subtlety asking questions about this or that and Dave being the nice guy he is, was more than friendly in his replies. Even now when I try and convince him to go through the proper channels to report this flagrant artistic disrespect through the VeRo process, he declined to do so. I recently discovered that this person has even started a new blog all about his tatting shuttles!

I assume, that since Grasshopper has obviously studied everything Dave has done, that he reads this blog. If he does, I have a little advice......karma is a bitch!

Ancient Ivory Spirit Pendant

A wizened old spirit face was carved on this pendant by Dave from a beautiful piece of ancient ivory. The pendant measures nearly 3 inches in length and 1/2" in width. Very old African trade copper and four carved bone beads accent this piece . The cord is a wonderful faux suede material that doesn't "shed" on your clothes like real suede does and is very easy to tie so your pendant can compliment any neckline.

Ancient walrus and mammoth tusks are dug out of the permafrost or bone mounds by Alaskan and Siberian natives annually during the summer thaw and sold to subsidize their family or village income. No wildlife has been harmed to produce our art.

"Fresh" ivory and elephant ivory will never be used in any of the artwork created by Grizzly Mountain Arts.

You can find this wise old spirit in our Etsy.com shop. Please click the link below if you would like to view this item.

Ancient Ivory Spirit Carving at Etsy.com

Latest Additions to the Cache

Thanks to all of our wonderful patrons, we've had to add more fossil ivory and beads to our "Grizzly Mountain Cache" Etsy shop!

One of the fossil ivory items added, is a beautiful ingot of mammoth ivory. Dave shaped and finished this piece so it can be worn as is, or it is ready for you to try your hand at scrimshaw. Other fossil ivory lots recently added, are eleven lots of fossil shards that would be ideal for wire wrappers or carvers.

When I make my tribally inspired jewelry, I tend to use the more imperfect looking supplies as I feel that in their imperfection, they are perfect. The newly added Terra Cotta blue beads are a fine example of this. When you look through our galleries of sold items on our website, you can quickly identify what I (Jo) make, and what Dave makes, as his work is precise and polished and mine is....not so much :)

If you'd like to take a look at our newest Cache items, please click the link below.

Grizzly Mountain Cache--Primitive Supplies and Other Unusual Findings

Basket Embellishments Added to the Cache

We've just added a new item to our "Grizzly Mountain Cache" Etsy shop--handmade ceramic basket embellishments!

All of our ceramic centerpieces were made by Jo. We use them in our basketry for lid centerpieces and bottoms of plates and bowls.

If you would like to see our new items, please click the link below. We hope to be adding more basket embellishments in the future.

Handmade Ceramic Basket Embellishments--Grizzly Mountain Cache

New Primitive Supply--Snake Vertebrae

If you are looking for a primitive, tribal supply you will love these snake vertebrae! They average in length about 9-10mm and are a rich natural brown color. These would make striking accent pieces when combined with turquoise or other organic supplies.

Snake vertebrae are used for divination throughout Africa and in other VooDoo rituals, as they are believed to be the bones of African ancestors. They are also used as elements of the ritual paraphernalia of the jhankri and bijuwa, shamans in central Nepal. Snake vertebrae is also commonly use in the Native American culture in the preparation of medicine bundles.

These snake vertebrae are currently for sale in our "Grizzly Mountain Cache" supply shop at Etsy.com. Please click the link below if you would like to view this item.

10 Snake Vertebrae on Etsy.com

New Items!

We've added some new items to our Etsy shops!

In our "Grizzly Mountain Arts" shop, we've added some new cameo needle minders and a couple of carved fossil ivory pendants.

Our "Grizzly Mountain Cache" supply shop is now home for some stunning fossil ivory focal beads that were turned by Dave on the lathe.

If you would like to view our new items, please click on either of the Etsy minis to the left and right of this post, or click one of the links below.

Grizzly Mountain Arts New Items

Grizzly Mountain Cache New Items

Faux Tortoise Shell Tatting Shuttle and Picot Hook

These tatting tools have the vintage look of tortoise shell. Dave made this 2 ½ inch side tatting shuttle and accessory picot hook from imitation acrylic tortoise shell and bone. The picot hook is 4 inches long and has a ringed end so you can hang it from a chain, cord or ribbon.

This set is currently up for auction on Ebay.com. If you would like to view this auction, please click the link below.
Faux Tortoise Shell Tatting Shuttle and Picot Hook on Ebay.com

Czech Style Beading Shuttle

This Czech style beading shuttle was carved from Ebony wood and is a commissioned piece. Mammoth ivory and gold leaf etching adds elegance to the design.

Short Bone Crochet Hooks

Dave hand made these little crochet hooks from bone. Each crochet hook has a colorful celluloid insert. These small hooks are ideal for those with small hands or those that hold a hook with a overhand palm grip.

The sizes are as follows:

Green and Yellow Hook Size: US size E 3.5 mm

Red Hook Size: US size F 3.75 mm

Dark Amber Hook Size: US size G 4.00 mm

Cobalt Blue Hook Size: US size H 5.00 mm

These beautiful little hooks are up for auction on Ebay.com. If you would like to view these items, please click the link below.

Short Bone Crochet Hooks Listing on Ebay.com

Mahogany and Carved Deer Antler Lace Bobbin

Our newest bobbin is a long 4 ¾ inch Continental style lace bobbin. Dave uses this mahogany wood sparingly since it is from an old ships timber he found washed up on the Oregon coast while beach combing. The insert is carved deer antler. It is drilled for a spangle and has been initialed and dated by Dave. This bobbin is up for auction on Ebay.com. If you would like to view this auction, please click the link below.

We use shed antlers which naturally fall off the animal each year after the breeding season. They grow back during spring and summer and are fully developed again by the fall breeding season. After that, they are shed and the process repeated again for the next years growth.
Mahogany and Carved Antler Lace Bobbin on Ebay.com

Scrimshaw on Ivory Lace Picot Gauge/Ruler

Another neat little lace tool for your collection! Dave made this little ruler out of ancient mammoth ivory with little Rosewood finger grips.

The measuring increments for picots are 1/16 inch by 2 inches. The width is ¼ inch so you can use it has a ¼ inch picot gauge. The back is scrimshawed with an oak leaf and acorn motif. Dave also carved an oak leaf fob out of fossil ivory and Jo has beaded the fob with garnets. This piece has been initialed and dated by Dave.

This lace picot gauge/ruler is currently up for auction on Ebay.com. If you would like to view more photos of this item, please click the link below.

Scrimshaw on Ivory Lace Picot Gauge/Ruler on Ebay.com

Hand Painted Porcelain Magnetic Needle Minder

Being a scrimshaw artist, it is probably obvious that Dave likes to work in miniatures. He hand crafted this unique porcelain OOAK 2 piece magnet needle holder and hand painted a lighthouse by moonlight scene on it with porcelaine paint. To firmly bond the paint, the disc is oven baked at 300 degrees. The back piece also has a rare earth magnet inset into a turned Rosewood finger grip for pulling the two pieces apart.

Rare earth magnets are about 8 to 10 times stronger than regular craft type magnets. Keep this needle holder away from your computer, credit cards and pacemakers.

This needle minder is currently up for auction on Ebay.com. If you would like to view more photos of this item, please click the link below.

Hand Painted Porcelain Magnetic Needle Minder at Ebay.com

Hand Carved Bone Swordfish Flat Tatting Shuttle

Dave has carved this unique swordfish flat tatting shuttle from bone. This shuttle measures nearly 4 inches in length and about 1 inch at it's widest point.

This is an original design and therefore copyright protected.

This tatting shuttle is currently for sale in our Etsy.com shop. Please click the link below if you would like to view this item.

Hand Carved Bone Swordfish Flat Tatting Shuttle at Etsy.com

Lil Rascal Handy Winder Tatting Shuttle

Dave's hands are large and when he makes these petite 2 ¼ inch shuttles he has trouble holding on to them so he started calling them his “Lil Rascals”. He thought that some tatters who like the small shuttles may have the same problem while loading them with thread so he has added a handy screw-in finger holder to help you load the shuttle. He wishes he could take credit for inventing this but alas, it is based on a design by a German shuttle maker. He also wishes he could say these are easy to make, but as you might guess, they take a bit of engineering so he can't predict how often he will be putting them up for auction.

This petite shuttle is made from Birdseye Maple and the eye patterns stand out very clearly. You will note that the shuttle does not have the usual thread hole in the post. This is because the screw receiver had to be inset into the shuttle post to receive the threaded handle. Dave turned the handle from joined East Indian Rosewood, Birdeye Maple and colorful celluloid accent rings.

This Lil Rascal Handy Winder Tatting Shuttle is currently up for auction on Ebay.com. Please click the link below if you would like to view this auction


Lil Rascal Handy Winder Tatting Shuttle on Ebay.com

Ebony and Celluloid Lace Bobbin

Dave turned this 4 inch lace making bobbin from ebony wood. The stunning contrasting material is vivid blue celluloid. The end has been drilled for a spangle.

This bobbin is up for auction on Ebay. If you would like to view this auction, please click the link below.

Ebony and Celluloid Lace Bobbin Auction on Ebay.com

Sharp Bone Needlepoint Laying Tool

Dave turned this 5 ½ inch laying tool out of bone and dyed box elder wood. It is also accented with bone beads.

This laying tool is currently up for auction on Ebay.com. Please click the link below if you would like to view this auction.


Sharp Bone Needlepoint Laying Tool on Ebay.com