New Crochet Hook Sets

Two new crochet hook sets were listed in our Etsy shop today.  Dave has crafted the set above to resemble Russian support spindles.  The set below features E-Z grip handles for using overhand.  Both sets come in sizes H (5mm), I (5.5mm), J (6mm) and K (6.5mm).  Additional photos can be found in our Etsy shop.

Juniper, Walnut and Poplar Carved Wood Spirit Nostepinde Yarn Ball Winder

This 11 inches long and 7/8 diameter "Wood Spirit" nostepinde has been lovingly crafted by Dave from a variety of woods. Juniper was used for the carved Wood Spirit, and walnut and poplar completes this yarn ball winder.

New Mini Support Spindle Travel Sets

These five colorful mini support spindle travel sets were listed in our Etsy.com shop today.  Each spindle set contains a mini ceramic spindle bowl.  A velvet pouch is provided to protect your ceramic spinning bowl.

Mini Moose Antler Tibetan Travel Set

Dave has crafted the 1 1/4 inch whorl of this stunning little support spindle from moose antler. He has chosen jatoba as the wood for the 8 1/4 inch shaft. The weight of this spindle is 0.9 ounces or 26 grams.  Accompanying this little beauty is a mini ceramic spinning bowl which has been decorated, with glaze, by hand. A velvet bag is included to store your bowl when it's not in use.  Additional photos can be seen in our Etsy shop.

Moose antlers are shed naturally, so no animals were injured to make this spindle.

Tiger Maple and Jatoba Pear Whorl Support Spindle

Tiger maple was the wood chosen by Dave for the gorgeous 1 1/2 inch pear style whorl of this support spindle. He has also adorned it with his signature pyrographic leaf motif. The 10 1/2 inch shaft was made from jatoba. The weight of this beautiful handspinning tool is 0.8 ounces or 23 grams.  Additional photos can be seen in our Etsy shop.

Mini Swiss Pear and Hard Maple Pear Style Whorl Support Spindle Travel Set

The 1 1/8 inch pear style whorl of this mini support spindle was crafted from Swiss pear, and the 8 1/4 inch shaft from hard maple. The whorl features Dave's signature pyrographed leaf motif. The weight of this beautiful spindle is 0.5 oz. (15 grams). Also included with this set is a mini hand glazed ceramic spinning bowl which travels securely in it's velvet pouch.  Additional photos can be seen at the listing for this handspinning tool in our Etsy shop.

Mini Silver Maple Phang Support Spindle Travel Set

The 8 1/4 inch mini phang support spindle included with this set was crafted from silver maple. It has been adorned with Dave's signature pyrographed leaf motif. This beautiful handspinning tool weights 0.8 ounces (22 grams). Also included with this set is a mini hand glazed ceramic spinning bowl that travels securely in it's velvet pouch.  Additional photos can be seen at the Etsy listing for this handspinning tool.

New Pear Whorl Tahkli Drop Spindles

It's been a couple of years since Dave made pear whorl Tahkli drop spindles.   Our previous Tahklis were designed to be used as either a support spindle or a drop spindle, but after several of our loyal patrons asked to have one that was exclusively a drop spindle, Dave was happy to oblige.  The woods used in the pear style whorls of these handspinning tools are spalted golden pheasant wood, Oregon myrtlewood, pau ferro, redheart and Pacific yew.  Additional photos can be seen of all these beautiful drop spindles in our Etsy shop.

Mini Moose Antler Tibetan Support Spindle Travel Set

Dave has crafted the 1 3/8 inch whorl of this stunning little support spindle from moose antler. He has chosen jatoba as the wood for the 8 1/4 inch shaft. The weight of this spindle is 0.8 ounces or 24 grams.  Accompanying this little beauty is a mini ceramic spinning bowl which has been decorated, with glaze, by hand. A velvet bag is included to store your bowl when it's not in use.  You can find more photos of this beautiful handspinning tool in our Etsy shop.

Moose antlers are shed naturally, so no moose were injured to make this spindle.

New Spindles on Etsy.com

We took a road trip to visit family this month, so it's been a while since new handspinning tools were listed for sale in our Etsy shop.  As you can see in the photos, Dave has been busy in his studio.  The four drop spindles above were crafted from colorwood and birch.  They are all a nice weight for plying.

These six bottom whorl spindles are Dave's newest modified Andean/Peruvian reproduction drop spindles.  The original Andean spindle reproductions were basic no frills drop spindles with a shaped top to accommodate a half hitch and spinning was more or less off one side. They were intended to be a primitive design. Some customers had problems using the spindle with only the shaped end and wanted a better way to hold the yarn. A brass hook could have been added, but that really moves it away from being an Andean and more of a common bottom whorl suspended spindle. 

In lieu of a hook, Dave has hand carved a T Notch (aka notch and slot) at the top of the shaft. Now your half hitch is held securely, and you can also spin in center line with the shaft.

Last, but certainly not least, are the four new mini Tibetan support spindle travel sets seen below.The woods used to craft the whorls are redheart, bubinga, chechen and cocobolo.

Ebony and Fossil Mammoth Ivory Mini Phang Support Spindle

This 8 inch mini phang support spindle  was crafted from ebony. It has been inlayed with fossil mammoth ivory. This beautiful handspinning tool weights 1.6 ounces (44 grams).

**What is fossil ivory?**

Fossil ivory is ancient ivory whose composition has changed from ivory to mineral. Care should be taken to distinguish fossil ivory from recent ivory which has yellowed or discolored. Fossil ivory (including walrus, mammoth and mastodon) and other archaeological and paleontological materials are regulated by an array of Federal and State laws. These items may not be collected on any Federal or
State lands. Fossil ivory may be collected on private lands with the permission of the land owner, and is not regulated under the Marine Mammals Protection Act. Fossil ivory does not have to be tagged or registered. Anyone may sell fossil ivory without first handcrafting it.

**Where do we get our fossil ivory?**

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. We buy our ancient walrus ivory shards from ivory buyers that travel to the St. Lawrence Island area to buy from the ivory co-ops.

**Learn more about fossil ivory**

If you would like to learn more about fossil ivory, please visit the link below:
http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/qa_sub_harvest.htm


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

New Embroidery Stilettos

Two new embroidery stilettos, or laying tools, were listed in our Etsy shop today.  The woods used are purpleheart and leopardwood.

Golden Oregon Myrtlewood Burl Top Whorl Drop Spindles

Gorgeous doesn't begin to describe the golden Oregon myrtlewood burl that Dave used for these new top whorl drop spindles!  Each has a rich golden color and amazing grain patterns.  The shafts used for these beautiful handspinning tools are jatoba, ebony and purpleheart.  Additional photos can be seen in our Etsy shop.

Brass Picot Gauge Set with Oregon Myrtlewood Burl Case

This unique set of brass picot gauges is a Grizzly Mountain Arts original design! The entire set telescopes inside each other and then slides neatly into the Oregon myrtlewood burl gauge case. The four size increments are: 1/4, 3/16, 1/8 and 1/16. Also included is a 2 inch brass ruler.

Brass Picot Gauge Set with Oregon Myrtlewood Burl Case©

New Bone Laying Tools with Wood Cases

Three new bone laying tools, or stilettos, have been listed in our Etsy shop today.  The woods Dave chose for the cases are Oregon myrtlewood burl, stunning tiger maple (an incredible amount of chatoyancy) and a beautiful joined wood.  Additional photos of each set can be found by clicking the links above.

Bone Embroidery Laying Tool with Cocobolo Case

Dave has crafted this beautiful 4 1/4" embroidery laying tool, or stiletto, from bone. He chose a gorgeous piece of cocobolo to craft the 5" long case.