Wednesday

New Matchbox Wooden Tatting Picot Gauge Sets


Dave has crafted these more affordable sets of wooden tatting picot gauges from dowels. The gauges measure 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8 inches in length. He has hand sanded each piece to a smooth finish, then hand polished each one with Renaissance wax. This set all fits into a sweet little decoupaged matchbox.  These three sets are currently for sale in our Etsy shop.


Friday

Beautiful Akha Spindles


The Akha style spindle is a new spindle for Grizzly Mountain Arts.  This type of spindle originated with the Akha people, an indigenous hill tribe that live in small villages at high altitudes in the mountains of Thailand, Burma, Laos, China, and Yunnan Province in China.


Dave has crafted the whorls of his Akha spindles from beautiful Spectra-Ply to reflect the bright, colorful textiles created by the Akha people.  He has used birch for the shafts, and brass was used to make the hooks.  Please click on each photo to go to our Etsy shop for more views of each spindle.

We're on Big Cartel!

We think we have found the perfect selling venue for our fossil ivory items! We had originally planned on selling directly from our blog, but having to have separate PayPal payments for each item just wasn't what we wanted for our customers. Enter Big Cartel! Jo had originally used the Grizzly Mountain Arts Big Cartel store for her earthenware jewelry, but it’s been sitting empty filling with cobwebs for some time now.
PayPal is still the payment method, but you can purchase multiple items and only have to check out once, and we've even added a direct link to our store on our Facebook page. Just look for the shopping cart with the word “Store” below it.
In the future, any other fiber art tools such as a spindle with fossil ivory inlay will also be sold at this store.  If you'd like to check it out now, simply click on the "GMA on Big Cartel" tab above.


Handi-Wind Two Tatting Shuttle Set


 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 cherry shuttle is 2 5/8 inches long, and the mahogany shuttle is 2 3/4 inches in length. The handle was crafted from a beautiful swirled acrylic.

Carved Bone Combination WPI Gauge and Diz


Dave has carved this beautiful combination WPI gauge and diz from bone. He has carved his signature rose and leaf motif on one corner, and polished this fiber art tool to have a wonderfully smooth and high gloss finish.

The overall dimensions of this tool are 2 3/4 inches in length and 1 1/4 inches in width. The holes measure 1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 inch.

New Akha Style Drop Spindles



These Akha drop spindles are a new spindle style for Grizzly Mountain Arts.  The Akha on the top is a rosewood, maple and birch spindle, and the bottom spindle is a mini version that was crafted from padauk, maple and birch.  These spindles were sold in our Etsy shop.

Sunday

Russian Tibetan Hybrid Support Spindle




Dave has created this Russian/Tibetan support spindle hybrid with speed and efficiency in mind. You get a fast, perfectly balanced spin that Russian style spindles are known for, plus you have the convenience of a Tibetan whorl to aid in building your cop.

The 10 3/4 inches long shaft of this Russian/Tibetan hybrid support spindle was crafted from hard maple, and the 1 1/2 inch whorl was crafted from pau amarillo.

The weight of this spindle is 1.1 ounce (32 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.

Double Ended Size G 4mm and Size H 5mm Buffalo Bone and Imitation Tortoise Shell Crochet Hook



Buffalo bone and imitation tortoise shell are the materials used by Dave to craft this gorgeous double ended crochet hook. The hook sizes are G/4mm and H/5mm, and the length of this hook is 7 inches.  Additional photos can been seen in our Etsy shop.

Tuesday

Mini Tiger Maple French Style Support Spindle Travel Set


It's been a while since we've had any new mini travel sets in our Etsy shop!  This beautiful little set was crafted from tiger maple and features Dave's signature pyrographed leaf motif and hard Dymondwood tip.  Also included with this set is one of our handmade ceramic travel size spinning bowls.  The weight of this fiber art tool is 0.5 ounces (15 grams).

New Handi-Wind Tatting Shuttles


Four new Handi-Wind tatting shuttles are now for sale in our Etsy shop.  Dave crafted these newest shuttles from paduak, claro walnut, tiger maple and basswood.  He crafted the handles from maple burl and rosewood.


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.





Tuesday

New Tatting Picot Gauge Sets


Beautiful redwood burl was used to craft the brass and wood case for the tatting picot gauge set above. Dave crafted the set below from buckeye burl and brass.  Please visit our Etsy shop to see additional photos of these and other fiber art tools.


Brass Picot Gauge Set with Case©


Wednesday

Mini Dimpled Ceramic and Wood Spindle Bowls


Nine new mini dimpled ceramic and wood support spinning bowls were listed for sale in our Etsy shop today.  The woods used were maple, Oregon myrtlewood, mahogany and walnut.  The sparkly blue bowl in the center was crafted from cast resin.  It also has a dimpled ceramic insert.

New Ceramic Druid's Egg Pendants


We have just added some new ceramic Druid's Egg pendants in our Etsy shop.  These unique Celtic pendants are a larger version of our previous Druid's Egg pendants.  Please visit the "Celtic Jewelry" section of our shop to see our selection.

The Druid's Egg Pendant ©

Saturday

The Raven's Egg Support Spindle


Dave has named this beautiful 1.0 ounce (27 gram) egg whorl support spindle "The Raven's Egg".  He has scrimshawed the alternative ivory egg whorl with two depictions of a raven.  The 10" shaft was crafted from ebony.

Dave spends hours painstakingly etching with a needle on each egg, so the prices will vary depending on how much scrimshaw is on each egg. 

The egg whorl of this support spindle was crafted 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, then turns the egg shape whorl together with the wooden shaft for balance.



Tuesday

Mini French Cove and Groove Support Spindle and Bowl Set

This beautiful 8 1/2 inch French style support spindle was crafted by Dave from figured Oregon myrtlewood. This spindle features a cove and groove pattern along the shaft, and a groove and slot style tip for holding the yarn twist. The Dymondwood tip is a deep, emerald green. The weight of this spindle is 0.5 ounces (15 grams).

Our mini support spinning bowls combine the efficiency of a ceramic surface with the stability of a beautiful wooden base. The dimpled ceramic insert measures 1 3/8 inches in diameter, and the gorgeous figured Oregon myrtlewood base is 2 1/4 inches in diameter and 7/8 inch in height. The ceramic spinning bowl inserts were glazed by hand and kiln fired. Cork has been added to the bottom of this bowl to keep the wood from scratching other hard surfaces.

Sunday

Mini Dimpled Ceramic and Wood Support Spindle Bowls


Five new mini support spinning bowls were listed in our Etsy shop today.  These adorable little spindle bowls feature a dimpled earthenware ceramic insert.  The woods used in these bowls are hard maple, figured Oregon myrtlewood and African mahogany.

Thursday

Tatting Picot Gauge Sets


Three new tatting picot gauge sets were listed for sale in our Etsy shop today.  These unique sets of brass picot gauges are a Grizzly Mountain Arts original design. The entire set telescopes inside each other and then slides neatly into the Oregon myrtlewood gauge case. The four size increments are: 1/4, 3/16, 1/8 and 1/16. Also included is a 2 inch brass ruler.  Thuya burl, Oregon myrtlewood and ambrosia maple are the woods used above.  If you'd like to see additional photos of these beautiful tatting tools, please visit our Etsy shop.

Brass Picot Gauge Set with Wooden Case©

Tuesday

Mini Scrimshawed Alternative Ivory Egg Whorl Support Spindle Travel Set


These little beauties are perfect for lace weight and other fine, lightweight fibers. 

The egg whorl of this mini support spindle was crafted 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, then turns the egg shape whorl together with the wooden shaft for balance. Dave has adorned this egg whorl with a scrimshawed floral pattern.  The 8 1/4 inch shaft from bloodwood. The weight of this beautiful spindle is 0.7 oz. (20 grams).

Also included with this set is a mini ceramic spinning bowl that travels securely in it's zippered pouch.




Thursday

New Alternative Ivory Druid's Egg Support Spindles


Four beautiful alternative ivory Druid's Egg support spindles were recently added to our Etsy shop.  Dave chose cocobolo, ebony, Brazilian ebony and bloodwood for the shafts of each unique handspinning tool.  If you'd like to view additional photos of each spindle, please click the link for the woods highlighted above.



Saturday

New Crochet Hook Set with Stand


If you are a serious collector of handmade fiber art tools, then this gorgeous crochet hook set and stand is for you!

Dave has crafted the elegant crochet hook stand, which measures 7 inches in height with an approximate 3 inch diameter base, from silver maple. The hooks, which are crafted from birch and exotic woods, measure about 6 inches in length. The exotic finials are cocobolo, redheart, purpleheart, Pacific yew and maple burl. The size of each hook has been burn etched into the wood.  Additional photos of these fiber art tools can be seen in our Etsy shop.

Hook sizes: 

-- G7-4.5mm
-- H-5.00mm
-- I-5.50mm
-- J-6.00mm
-- K-6.50mm





Friday

New Spindles


Three new spindles were listed in our Etsy shop today.  The handspinning tool above was crafted from Swiss pear and cocobolo.  Our Victorian lace weight top whorl spindle features checkering around the whorl and a Victorian era leaf motif.  Also listed today were two French style cove and groove support spindles. Please click the links to view additional photos of these tools.


Paduak and Dymondwood



Wednesday

Heirloom Mini Support Spindle and Ceramic Spinning Bowl Set


Dave has combined his years of experience as a scrimshaw artist, ivory carver and spindle maker to create this one-of-a-kind heirloom mini support spindle

This 9 inch spindle features a 1.5 inch diameter rosewood whorl with a relief carved leaf motif and two miniature ancient mammoth ivory roses also hand carved by Dave and inset into the whorl. This mammoth ivory is at least 10,000 years old, the approximate time at which mammoth became extinct. The shaft is turned from hard maple with a very hard rosewood tip. 

The spindle has been sealed and has a hand rubbed finish using Renaissance wax. This wax is a micro-crystalline polish made of refined waxes blended to a formula used by the British Museum and restoration specialist internationally to revive and protect museum quality pieces.

Accompanying this little beauty is a mini ceramic spinning bowl which has been decorated with glaze by hand. A faux suede bag is included to store your bowl when it's not in use.




Monday

Oregon Myrtlewood Burl, Hard Maple and Box Elder Tibetan Support Spindle


This beautiful support spindle weights 1.2 ounces (33 grams). The hard maple shaft measures about 11 inches in length, and the whorl which was crafted from Oregon myrtlewood burl, measures about 2 inches in diameter. The voids of the burl have been filled with brass. The tip has been crafted from dyed and stabilized box elder.

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.  Additional photos of this handspinning tool can be found in our Etsy shop.



Saturday

New Top Whorl Drop Spindles


Four new top whorl drop spindles were listed in our Etsy shop today.  The woods used on the three featured above are from left to right, apricot/walnut, birdseye maple/cherry and holly/cherry.  The DIY spindle pictured below was crafted from poplar and birch.


New Lap Support Spinning Bowls


Four new lap support spindle bowls were listed in our Etsy shop today.  The lighter wood bowls were crafted from silver maple, and the other bowls are African mahogany.  All of these spinning bowls feature our dimpled ceramic inserts.