Copper and Turquoise Sewing Needle Case

Dave hand crafted this copper etched needle case and accented it with True Stone turquoise and Cocobolo wood. This needle case is 3 ½ inches in length and initialed and dated by Dave. You can find this beautiful one-of-a-kind piece up for auction on Ebay.

Mammoth Ivory Bodkin Nalbinding Needle with Case

This larger ivory nalbinding needle is 4 inches long and comes with a Rosewood case. Larger needles are used for projects using heavier materials such as for nalbinding rugs. Dave hand carved this out of a shard of ancient woolly mammoth ivory from Siberia Russia. He used a new pen case he had on hand and fashioned a engraved brass needle to mount on the top of the case, making it a neat presentation gift or treat for yourself. The ivory is at least 10,000 years old. It is initialed by Dave, the maker.

You can find this Mammoth Ivory Nalbinding Needle currently up for auction on Ebay.

Oregon Cascades Myrtlewood Signature Tatting Shuttle #15

We've just added number 15 of our signature Oregon Cascades Myrtlewood Tatting Shuttles to our Etsy shop!

What is Oregon Myrtlewood?

Oregon Myrtlewood is a broadleaf evergreen native to Southwestern Oregon and Northwestern California. Although different, Oregon Myrtlewood has a lot of similarities to the Myrtlewood growing in the Holy Land. Oregon Myrtlewood became popular for making gift items back in the early 1900’s. Oregon Myrtlewood possesses a wide variety of beautiful colors and grain patterns and is noted by many as being one of the world’s most beautiful woods. The colors range from blond to black with many shades of honey, browns, grays, reds and greens in between. Oregon woodworkers have developed a small cottage industry making handcrafted Myrtle wood products and gifts for visitors. Many beautiful gifts and works of art crafted out of Myrtlewood. In the Bible, the Myrtle tree is of special religious significance, representing fertility and life.

Fossil Walrus Ivory Oghams

We've just added some new fossil walrus ivory Ogham pendants to our Etsy shop! The Ogham design on each fossil walrus ivory shard was carved by Dave. The shape of each Ogham was made by the Earth.

This photo is of a "Protection" Ogham which measures about 2 1/4" in length.

The Celtic Ogham alphabet dates from the fourth century. The alphabet is named for Ogmos, the Celtic god of knowledge and communication. The alphabet consists of twenty letters, each named for a different tree believed sacred to the Druids.

Thumbelina Matchbox Tatting Shuttle

This is for that shuttle collector who does not have EVERYTHING yet! This miniature ivory shuttle is nearly the size of a thumbnail and fits nicely in the accompanying matchbox which we decoupage’ with the tiny THUMBELINA theme. The shuttle is approx 1 ¼ inch long and I color scrimshawed THUMBELINA hugging a rose that is larger than she is. The ivory is ancient wooly mammoth from Russia. Mammoth have been extinct for 10,000 years. This shuttle is currently up for auction on Ebay.

Spalted Maple Lace Bobbin

Dave turned this 4 1/8 inch Continental style lace bobbin out of stabalized Spalted Maple with True Stone turquoise and vegetable ivory inserts. Spalted maple is wood that shows patterns of fungi rott. Unstable it is usually soft and "punky". This is maple wood that has been impregnated under high pressure with resin that goes into every wood cell, nook, crack and crany and is very hard and high density. This one of a kind bobbin is currently up for auction on Ebay.

New Vintage Button Cameo Rings

We have added four new vintage button cameo rings to our Etsy shop!

This 1 1/8" diameter adjustable ring features a mother-of-pearl vintage button and a blue vintage bakelite button. A vintage brass finding frames a beautiful resin cameo.

Celtic Tranquility Earthenware Ogham

There are about as many variations of interpretations of the Celtic Ogham symbols as there are interpreters. We hope you enjoy ours!

This "Tranquility" Ogham features a Tibetan Yak bone bead that has been inlayed with coral and turquoise. The earthenware pendant measures about 2" in length.

The Celtic Ogham alphabet dates from the fourth century. The alphabet is named for Ogmos, the Celtic god of knowledge and communication. The alphabet consists of twenty letters, each named for a different tree believed sacred to the Druids.

You can view this and other earthenware Celtic Ogham pendants in our Etsy shop.

The Watched Clock

Dave has been wanting to try his hand at creating a Steampunk design using fossil ivory, and this mammoth ivory grandfather clock is the result!

This piece measures nearly 2 1/2" in length and 2" at it's widest point. The main body of the grandfather clock has been carved from fossil mammoth ivory, as has the inlayed round clock face. The clock's face has been scrimshawed by Dave. Vintage watch gears adorn the front of this unique, one of a kind piece. This piece has been signed and dated by Dave, the artist and can be found in our Etsy shop.

A Wonderful Surprise in Yachats!

As some of you may remember, Dave and I are in Yachats, Oregon this weekend for the "Pathways to Transformation" show. Well, the show was going very s-l-o-w-l-y on Saturday when a delightful woman walked into our booth! Anna Phillips, from Tennessee, has been reading our blog and discovered that she and her husband would be vacationing in Yachats at the same time we would be here! What a wonderful coincidence! Unfortunately, Dave didn't have any tatting shuttles for sale, but we had a wonderful visit anyway :)

Anna showed us some lovely examples of her tatting and also a selection of wonderful tatting pattern books and hand dyed thread by several amazing tatters. I wish I could remember all of their names in order to give them all a little "shout out" :)

We seldom get the opportunity to meet any of our customers, so this was very special indeed! Anna, it was such a pleasure to meet and chat with you and your husband! Thanks so much for stopping by to say "Hi!" :)

Hand Crafted Fossil Ivory Sewing Buttons

Dave was playing around with several small pieces of Alaskan fossil ivory and turned out these buttons on his mini lathe. They came out looking like gem stones! The photos really don't do these little beauties justice. One is 7/8 inch diameter, and two are ¾ inch. These would be perfect for a handmade purse project or some other needlework piece that needs a unique button.

You can find these three buttons currently up for auction on Ebay!

Hand Carved Bone Tatting Shuttle

Dave hand crafted this little 1 7/8 inch flat shuttle out of bone and carved a total of 4 Roses (2 on each side) on it. It is initialed and dated by Dave, the maker. This little shuttle is currently up for auction on Ebay.

Maple Lace Bobbin

This is Dave's latest bobbin!

Dave turned this 4 inch Continental style lace bobbin out of Maple, Burl Maple and purple celluloid accent rings. This bobbin is currently up for auction on Ebay.

Tulip Wood Lace Bobbin

Dave turned this 4 ¼ inch Continental style lace bobbin out of Tulip Wood and Ruby Red celluloid. You can find this beautiful bobbin currently up for auction on Ebay.

Cocobolo Picot Hook

Dave turned this picot hook using Cocobolo wood, colorful celluloid and a mammoth ivory accent ring. It is 4 inches long and has a #14 steel crochet hook inset.

This picot hook is currently up for auction on Ebay.

Vegetable Ivory Acorn Needle Minder

Dave carved this 2 piece acorn needle minder from a Tagua Nut (South American Palm), which is commonly called “vegetable ivory” because it can be carved and scrimshawed like regular ivory. With time and use it will develop a patina like regular ivory and the relief carvings will become even more pronounced. Each piece has a strong rare earth magnet inset into it. The acorn goes on the front of your work and the small finger pull goes on the back side holding the magnets tightly together on your or needlework. You could also use each piece as a frig magnet.

This acorn needle minder is currently up for auction on Ebay.