New African Krobo Beads

We've just added some new African Krobo beads to our Grizzly Mountain Cache supply shop on Etsy.com!

What are African Krobo Beads?

Krobo powder glass beads are made in vertical molds fashioned out of a special, locally dug clay. Most molds have a number of depressions, designed to hold one bead each, and each of these depressions, in turn, has a small central depression to hold the stem of a cassava leaf. The mold is filled with finely ground glass that can be built up in layers in order to form sequences and patterns of different shapes and colors. The technique could be described as being somewhat similar to creating a sand "painting" or to filling a bottle with different-colored sands and is called the "vertical-mold dry powder glass technique". When cassava leaf stems are used, these will burn away during firing and leave the bead perforation. Certain powder glass bead variants, however, receive their perforations after firing, by piercing the still hot and pliable glass with a hand-made, pointed metal tool. Firing takes place in clay kilns until the glass fuses.

Ebony and Ruby Celluloid Lace Bobbin

Dave turned this 4 inch lace bobbin from ebony wood with a ruby red and black swirl celluloid insert. It is drilled for a spangle.

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

Ebony and Ruby Celluloid Lace Bobbin on Ebay

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.