New Spindles on Etsy.com

We took a road trip to visit family this month, so it's been a while since new handspinning tools were listed for sale in our Etsy shop.  As you can see in the photos, Dave has been busy in his studio.  The four drop spindles above were crafted from colorwood and birch.  They are all a nice weight for plying.

These six bottom whorl spindles are Dave's newest modified Andean/Peruvian reproduction drop spindles.  The original Andean spindle reproductions were basic no frills drop spindles with a shaped top to accommodate a half hitch and spinning was more or less off one side. They were intended to be a primitive design. Some customers had problems using the spindle with only the shaped end and wanted a better way to hold the yarn. A brass hook could have been added, but that really moves it away from being an Andean and more of a common bottom whorl suspended spindle. 

In lieu of a hook, Dave has hand carved a T Notch (aka notch and slot) at the top of the shaft. Now your half hitch is held securely, and you can also spin in center line with the shaft.

Last, but certainly not least, are the four new mini Tibetan support spindle travel sets seen below.The woods used to craft the whorls are redheart, bubinga, chechen and cocobolo.

Ebony and Fossil Mammoth Ivory Mini Phang Support Spindle

This 8 inch mini phang support spindle  was crafted from ebony. It has been inlayed with fossil mammoth ivory. This beautiful handspinning tool weights 1.6 ounces (44 grams).

**What is fossil ivory?**

Fossil ivory is ancient ivory whose composition has changed from ivory to mineral. Care should be taken to distinguish fossil ivory from recent ivory which has yellowed or discolored. Fossil ivory (including walrus, mammoth and mastodon) and other archaeological and paleontological materials are regulated by an array of Federal and State laws. These items may not be collected on any Federal or
State lands. Fossil ivory may be collected on private lands with the permission of the land owner, and is not regulated under the Marine Mammals Protection Act. Fossil ivory does not have to be tagged or registered. Anyone may sell fossil ivory without first handcrafting it.

**Where do we get our fossil ivory?**

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. We buy our ancient walrus ivory shards from ivory buyers that travel to the St. Lawrence Island area to buy from the ivory co-ops.

**Learn more about fossil ivory**

If you would like to learn more about fossil ivory, please visit the link below:
http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/qa_sub_harvest.htm


"Fresh" ivory and elephant ivory will never be used in any of the artwork created by Grizzly Mountain Arts.

New Embroidery Stilettos

Two new embroidery stilettos, or laying tools, were listed in our Etsy shop today.  The woods used are purpleheart and leopardwood.

Golden Oregon Myrtlewood Burl Top Whorl Drop Spindles

Gorgeous doesn't begin to describe the golden Oregon myrtlewood burl that Dave used for these new top whorl drop spindles!  Each has a rich golden color and amazing grain patterns.  The shafts used for these beautiful handspinning tools are jatoba, ebony and purpleheart.  Additional photos can be seen in our Etsy shop.

Brass Picot Gauge Set with Oregon Myrtlewood Burl Case

This unique set of brass picot gauges is a Grizzly Mountain Arts original design! The entire set telescopes inside each other and then slides neatly into the Oregon myrtlewood burl gauge case. The four size increments are: 1/4, 3/16, 1/8 and 1/16. Also included is a 2 inch brass ruler.

Brass Picot Gauge Set with Oregon Myrtlewood Burl Case©

New Bone Laying Tools with Wood Cases

Three new bone laying tools, or stilettos, have been listed in our Etsy shop today.  The woods Dave chose for the cases are Oregon myrtlewood burl, stunning tiger maple (an incredible amount of chatoyancy) and a beautiful joined wood.  Additional photos of each set can be found by clicking the links above.

Bone Embroidery Laying Tool with Cocobolo Case

Dave has crafted this beautiful 4 1/4" embroidery laying tool, or stiletto, from bone. He chose a gorgeous piece of cocobolo to craft the 5" long case.

Oregon Myrtlewood and Poplar Mushroom French Spool Knitters with Pyrography and Loop Lifters

These beautiful mushroom French spool knitters were crafted by Dave from Oregon myrtlewood and poplar. He has inset brass pins into the top of each.  Dave has accented these spool knitters with pyrography (burn etching). The matching loop lifter was crafted from birch and brass.

Tatting Needle Sets with Hand Turned Cases

This is a new item for Grizzly Mountain Arts!  Dave has turned these beautiful 5 3/4" tatting needle cases from myrtlewood burl and birdseye maple. The 5" long Handy Hands tatting needles included with these sets are #8, #7, #5-0 and #3-0. A needle threader is also included with each set.  Additional photos can be seen by clicking the links above.

New Tatting Picot Gauge Sets

These unique brass picot gauge sets are a Grizzly Mountain Arts original design! The entire set telescopes inside each other and then slides neatly into the picot gauge case. The four size increments are: 1/4, 3/16, 1/8 and 1/16. Also included is a 2 inch brass ruler.  The woods used above are Holy Land olive wood, thuya burl, Oregon myrtlewood, cocobolo and spalted maple.

Brass Picot Gauge Set with Wooden Case©

Mini Tibetan Support Spindle Travel Sets

Five new mini Tibetan support spindle travel sets were listed for sale in our Etsy shop this morning.  These little beauties are perfect for lace weight and other fine, lightweight fibers.  The woods used for the whorls are ambrosia maple, bloodwood, chechen, canary wood and apricot.

Native American Design Hard Maple Support Spindle Bowl

Our support spinning bowls combine the efficiency of a ceramic surface with the stability of a wide beautiful wooden base (this is a Grizzly Mountain Arts original design). The ceramic insert measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the gorgeous hard maple base is approximately 3 inches in diameter and 1 7/8 inches in height. Dave has adorned this bowl with a pyrographic Native American design and blue acrylic dots. The ceramic spinning bowl inserts were decorated by hand with accent glazes and kiln fired. Cork has been added to the bottom of this bowl to keep the wood from scratching other hard surfaces. 

Ceramic and Birdseye Maple Lap Support Spinning Bowl

Dave has crafted this beautiful lap support spinning bowl from birdseye maple. The ceramic bowl measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the maple base is approximately 3 inches in diameter and 6 1/2 inches in length. The ceramic spinning bowl inserts were decorated by hand with accent glazes and kiln fired. Cork dots on the bottom keep the wood from scratching your chair.

Mini Ambrosia Maple and Hard Maple Tibetan Support Spindle Travel Set

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

The 1 3/4 inch whorl of this mini Tibetan spindle was crafted from ambrosia maple, and the 8 inch shaft from hard maple. The weight of this beautiful spindle is 0.6 ounces (18 grams).  Also included with this set is one of our handmade mini ceramic spinning bowls that travels securely in it's zippered pouch.

Mini American Cherry French Style Support Spindle Travel Set

The 8 inch mini French style support spindle included with this set was crafted from American cherry. This beautiful handspinning tool weights 0.9 ounces (27 grams).  Also included with this set is a mini ceramic spinning bowl that travels securely in its zippered pouch.

Native American Basket Design Support Spindle with Turquoise Inlay

Dave has crafted this unique Native American inspired 1 1/2" basket whorl from maple. He has adorned the textured whorl with pyrography and inlayed turquoise. The 10 3/4 inch long shaft was crafted from hickory.  The weight of this beautiful support spindle is 1.2 ounces (34 grams).

Walnut Vintage Reproduction French Style Ribbed Support Spindle with Pyrography

Dave has crafted this 11" walnut French style support spindle with "ribs" to give it an authentic period appearance. He has also adorned it with a pyrographed leaf and vine motif.  The weight of this beautiful handspinning tool is 1.0 ounce (27grams).

Maple and Purpleheart Acorn Support Spindle

 Dave has crafted the beautiful 1 1/2 inch acorn whorl of this support spindle from maple. The 10 1/2 inch long shaft was created from purpleheart and the weight of this spindle in 33 grams (1.2 ounces).

Native American Basket Design Support Spindle

 Dave has crafted the unique Native American inspired basket whorl from silver maple, and he has adorned it with pyrography. The 11 1/2 inch long shaft was crafted from jatoba. The weight of this beautiful support spindle is 1.6 ounces (46 grams).

Eucalyptus Burl and Paduak Mini Top Whorl Drop Spindle

Dave has crafted the 1 3/4 inch diameter notched whorl of this mini top whorl drop spindle from eucalyptus burl, and the 8 inch shaft from paduak. A brass hook has been added to the top. Brass inlay has been added to some of the voids in the burl. 

The weight of this beautiful handspinning tool is 0.8 ounces.

Ambrosia Maple and Chechen Mini Top Whorl Drop Spindle

Dave has crafted the 1 3/4 inch diameter notched whorl of this top whorl drop spindle from ambrosia maple, and the 7 1/2 inch shaft from chechen. A brass hook has been added to the top. 

The weight of this beautiful handspinning tool is 0.6 ounces.

New Support Spinning Bowls

 We have added several new support spinning bowls to our Etsy shop.  The spindle bowls above, were crafted from jatoba, silver maple and figured maple. The ceramic spinning bowl inserts were decorated by hand with accent glazes and kiln fired.  The lap support spinning bowls below, were crafted from figured maple, walnut and silver maple.

Flat Style Tatting Shuttles

Cocobolo, Maple Burl and Birdseye Maple are the woods used by Dave to craft these beautiful flat style tatting shuttles.  Be sure and watch our Etsy shop for more tatting shuttles in the future!

Mini Paduak French Style Support Spindle Travel Set

A new French style support spindle travel set was listed in our Etsy shop today.  The beautiful wood chosen for this spindle is paduak.  The weight of the spindle is 0.6 ounces (18grams), and the length is 8 inches.

Mini French Style Support Spindle Travel Sets

This is a new item for Grizzly Mountain Arts!  Dave has crafted these beautiful mini French style support spindles from maple.  They range in weight from 19 grams to 23 grams.  Also included with each spindle is a mini ceramic spinning bowl that travels securely in it's zippered pouch.

New Lap Support Spindle Bowls

Four new lap support spindle bowls were listed in our Etsy shop today.  The woods used for these beautiful handspinning tools are walnut, maple, myrtlewood and holly.

Lightweight Ladybug Tatting Shuttles

Two new lightweight ladybug tatting shuttles have been listed in our Etsy shop this afternoon.  These sweet little fiber art tools were crafted by Dave from basswood.

Vintage Reproduction French Style Support Spindle Sets

These new vintage reproduction French style support spindles were recently listed in our Etsy shop.  The woods used are maple, paduak and walnut.

There are a variety of antique French style spindles, but this style caught Dave's eye while looking at some photos in a vintage spindle group.  He has crafted this French style support spindle with random coves and grooves to give it an authentic period appearance.  Thus, no two spindles of this type made by Dave, will be the same.

Our support spinning bowls combine the efficiency of a ceramic surface with the stability of a wide beautiful wooden base. The ceramic insert measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the gorgeous base is approximately 3 inches in diameter and 2 inches in height. The ceramic spinning bowl inserts were decorated by hand with accent glazes and kiln fired. Cork has been added to the bottom of this bowl to keep the wood from scratching other hard surfaces.

Mini Druid's Egg Support Spindle Travel Sets

This is a new item for Grizzly Mountain Arts!  Each travel sized set of handspinning tools includes a mini vegan ivory tagua nut Druid's egg support spindle, and a ceramic support spinning bowl with travel pouch. The tagua nut, also known as vegetable ivory, was beautifully carved by Dave to represent a Druid's Egg.  Additional photos of these beautiful fiber art tools can be found in our Etsy shop.

Mini Phang Support Spindle Travel Sets

This is a new item for Grizzly Mountain Arts!  Walnut, Paduak and Figured Maple are the woods chosen by Dave for these beautiful 8 inch long mini phang support spindles.  Each mini phang travel set comes with it's own earthenware ceramic spindle bowl and zippered pouch.  Additional photos can be found at the Etsy listing for each of these handspinning tools. 

If you would like a "heads up" on upcoming fiber art tools that will be listed in our Etsy shop, be sure and "Like" us on Facebook, or join our Ravelry group.

It's Phang Friday!

Dave has crafted these phang support spindles from white ash.  He had accented them with cobalt blue acrylic, turquoise and pink acrylic inlay.

New French Spool Knitters

Myrtlewood, cocobolo, Swiss pear and Hawaiian golden pheasant wood was used by Dave to craft these gorgeous French spool knitters.  Each spool knitter also comes with a matching wood and brass loop lifter.  Additional photos of each beautiful fiber art tool can be found in our Etsy shop.

Ash and Pink Acrylic Phang Support Spindle

Dave crafted this beautiful phang support spindle from ash.  He has adorned it with accents of pink acrylic.  More photos of this handspinning tool can be found in our Etsy shop.

New Maple and Walnut Nostepindes

Maple and walnut are the woods chosen by Dave for these two new nostepindes.  The maple nostepinde is 10 1/2 inches in length, and the walnut is 10 1/2 inches.  Dave has adorned both of these beautiful yarn ball winders with his signature pyrographic leaf motif.