Time Squared

Since discovering Steampunk style design, I've been quietly trying to figure out how to make it "Grizzly" style. Some of my pieces are the usual vintage Bakelite buttons and watch parts, but I'm trying to incorporate more organic materials to give it a tribal feel.

The "Time Squared" piece featured above, was created with carved bone, African trade copper and vintage watch movements. I know there are some hard core watch collectors that cringe at the cannibalism that's required, but rest assured, all of the watches I use are unrepairable.

I've created a "Steampunk Grizzly Style" section in our Etsy.com shop and will be adding to it slowly in the future.

Handmade American Cherry Wood Cameo Lucet

Dave hand crafted this cord making lucet out of American Cherry and inlayed it with a "Girl with Bird" vintage inspired resin cameo. It is 2 inches wide by 4 inches long.

Dating back to the Viking era, this little hand tool was used for braiding cord that was then used in a variety of fabrics and garments.

This lucet has been initialed and dated by Dave and is currently up for auction on Ebay.

Grizzly Balms and Lotion Bars!

Our "Paw-Chew-Lee" solid perfume and our solid moisturizing lotion bars are always popular items at our art and craft shows. I just made up a new batch of each and just listed them in our Etsy shop.

Both our solid perfume and solid moisturizing lotion bar contain only all natural ingredients and NO alcohol. If you travel, you know what a hassle it is to have to put all of your liquid items in that little quart size bag to get through security. Our gender neutral products come in a handy little tin that you can drop in your pocket or purse.

Rare Blue Mammoth Ivory Nalbinding Needle

Dave hand carved this nalbinding knitting needle out of rare ancient BLUE woolly mammoth ivory from Siberia Russia. The ivory is at least 10,000 years old. Blue mammoth ivory gets its color from elements in the soil and ice where it has beed buried for thousands of years. Blue mammoth ivory is the most prized in jewelry making and for making expensive knife handles and pistol grips. It is 2 3/4 inches long and comes with a velour pouch. It is initialed by Dave, the maker.

This blue mammoth ivory nalbinding needle is currently up for auction on Ebay.

Carved Antler with Silver Inlay Nalbinding Needle

Dave hand carved this nalbinding knitting needle out of deer antler and inlayed it with sterling silver. It is 3 inches long and comes with a velour pouch. It is initialed by Dave, the maker. Perfect for SCA Ren-Faire artists!

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.

This item contains a part of a native wildlife species and would require a special export license and shipping through a designated customs port. It is not cost effective to sell and ship this item outside the US.

This nalbinding needle is currently up for auction on Ebay!

Adorn Your Frig!

I don't know what your frig looks like, but mine is covered with family photos and works of art done by my niece. I've always loved refrigerator magnets even before I had "objets d art" to display.

Earthenware Frig magnets are a new item for our Etsy shop, so if you love to adorn your refrigerator, go check ours out!

I Wonder Why They Call It.....

.......Tombstone pass? I certainly wouldn't want to be crossing the Cascade Mountains in a covered wagon in May! We traveled over this pass today on our way home from Yachats, Oregon which is on the coast. As you can see, the warm spring weather has yet to reach the higher elevations. The clouds were hanging low among the pines and the smell was divine.

David Stanbrough, Viet Nam War Veteran

David Stanbrough, United States Navy 1964-1968

In honor of his service to our country, I wanted all of our blog readers to know of Dave's significant contribution in chronicling one of the worst disasters in US Naval history.

Dave served on board the U.S.S Forrestal from 1966 to 1968. On July 29, 1967 his GQ station was on the flight deck as motion picture cameraman when tragedy struck. A missile was accidentally fired from a nearby plane striking the fuel tanks of Lt. Commander John McCain's A-4 Skyhawk. A series of horrendous explosions ensued causing a raging inferno that lasted 24 hours. 134 men lost their lives and hundreds more were injured. This accident on board the USS Forrestal was the worst non-combat related accident in the history of the US Navy.

Dave was featured in an episode of the "Caught on Film" series on the History Channel, where he shared his memories of having captured such a historic event on film. Many of his still photographs can be found on our website devoted to the USS Forrestal tragedy.

To all the veterans of wars past and present, we thank you for the sacrifice you and your families have made for our country.

Bisque Hitty Doll Head for Soft Body Doll or Pin Cushion

This earthenware clay Hitty doll head has been sitting on Dave's work table looking at him (and me!) for too long now and it’s time she found another home!

We like to play around with our little kiln so Dave made this glaze fired Hitty head with the best intention of making a Hitty pin cushion or soft body doll, but it seems we never have the time. I think that someone else with more talent and time could make good use of her. The head size is scaled for a 6 1/4 inch doll.

Hitty's head is currently up for auction on Ebay. Please help her find a body! :)

Handmade Rosewood Lucet with Fine Silver Inlay

Dave hand crafted this cord making lucet out of East Indian Rosewood and inlayed it with a filigree disk of fine silver. This lucet measures 2 inches wide by 4 inches long. JoAnna makes the fine silver filigree inlay discs using Precious Metal Clay. She molds the metal clay and then kiln fires it to 1650 degrees. The organic clay binder burns away melting the fine silver particles into 99.9% pure silver. Dave carved a round recess into the lucet and inset the silver disc to a near flush level. It is initialed and dated by Dave.

Dating back to the Viking era, this little hand tool was used for braiding cord used in a variety of fabrics and garments. Our lucet is currently up for auction on Ebay. Please click here if you would like to view this auction and additional photos of this rosewood lucet.