Tools of My Trade

Everyone knows that Dave works with a variety of tools: lathes, drills, sanders and an assortment of other carving tools, but I don't often mention the tools of my trade.

I'm currently working on a new line of earthenware pendants that features an organic theme and pictured here are a few of my current "tools" as well as some newly formed pieces waiting for their turn in the kiln.

All of MY tools were cut fresh today from our yard :)

Pathways to Transformation Fair

Holistic Health, Psychic & Crafts Fair August 2-3, 2008, in Yachats, Oregon

The largest array of holistic health practitioners, psychic readers, health products and visionary arts & crafts under one roof on the Oregon Coast. Featuring over 60 booths and 25 seminars with something for everyone interested in expanding consciousness and health.

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We have been invited by the wonderful organizers of this show to participate in this year's "Pathways to Transformation" fair. We will be showing our usual array of coiled pine needle baskets, fossil ivory jewelry, earthenware clay pendants and other assorted organic inspired jewelry pieces.

This show is being held in Yachats, the "Gem of the Oregon Coast", in the Commons Building located right in the middle of town on Highway 101. Hope to see you there!

Bone and Walnut Thread Winder Spool

Dave hand made this little 2 ½ inch thread spool out of walnut and bone. It will hold up to six thread colors.

Birdseye Maple Nostepinde Yarn Winder

Dave turned this nostepinde, also called a yarn winder, out of birdseye maple. He also added a colorful celluloid insert. He tried a couple of different pics, to try and capture a good image showing the birdseyes in this beautiful piece of wood (sorry about the huge glare!).

This nostepinde is 10 inches long.

**Dont forget--You can click on any of our photos to see a full size version!**

Ponderosa Pine Needle Button Basket

A unique hand crafted basket for your sewing collection!

We hand make our baskets with Oregon Ponderosa Pine needles tightly stitched with waxed artificial flat sinew. The needles for this little basket have been dyed navy blue and two vintage buttons have been mounted together for the centerpiece.

Sorry, buttons not included!

The basket measures 2 ¾ inches across by 2 inches high and features a fancy Wheat Stitch binding. The Wheat stitch requires 2 -3 times longer in making a basket than the standard plain straight stitch binding.

This medieval Norse inspired nalbinding needle was carved from a piece of "blue" fossil mammoth ivory. The arrow design has been inlaced (also called inlay) with brass.

What is "blue" ivory?

Blue mammoth ivory is usually the outer bark ivory of the tusk and gets its color from leaching elements in the soil and ice where it has beed buried for thousands of years. The different patterns makes each needle a one-of-a- kind. Blue mammoth ivory is the most prized in jewelry making and for making expensive knife handles and pistol grips.

New Nalbinding Needles!

Somebody's been making up for lost time in the studio!

These three newest nalbinding needles were just added to our Etsy shop. All of our nalbinding needles are hand carved from ancient ivory and have been hand polished to a high gloss. Each nalbinding needle has been initialed by Dave and comes in it's own velour drawstring bag.

Grizzly Mountain Arts on Big Cartel!

We are proud to announce the opening of another online shop!

Grizzly Mountain Arts is now selling their ceramic pendants on Big Cartel. These are the same earthenware pendants sold at our art shows and at other online venues.

Big Cartel--Bringing Art to the Cart!

Gothic Style Double Tatting Shuttle

If you collect handmade tatting shuttles you won't want to miss this one. This is similar to the bone double shuttle Dave recently auctioned, except he carved this one out of East Indian Rosewood. After inlaying four mother of pearl diamonds and mammoth ivory center dots, it came out with a very Gothic looking design. It is 3 1/2 inch long, initialed and dated by Dave, the maker.

If you'd like to see more photos, this Double Gothic Tatting Shuttle is currently up for auction on Ebay.

New Items Added to the Cache!

It's been a while since we added any new items to the cache. It's not that we don't have any other "goodies" hidden away in the studio, it's just that the weather has finally warmed up here in central Oregon and Jo has been playing outside lately :)

This photo, is of some gorgeous, very old, 20mm African Krobo beads from Ghana. They have a wonderful beach glass aqua color and feel to them.

If you are interested in primitive and organic supplies, take a peek into our Cache!