Tuesday

1.3 Ounce Swiss Pear and Bloodwood Tibetan Support Spindle



This beautiful support spindle weights 1.3 ounces (37 grams). The bloodwood shaft measures about 11 1/2 inches in length, and the whorl which is crafted from Swiss pear, measures about 1 3/4 inches in diameter.

Padauk and White Ash Tibetan Support Spindle and Bowl Set



This beautiful Tibetan support spindle weights 1.2 ounces (35 grams). The white ash shaft measures about 11 3/4 inches in length and the whorl, which is crafted from padauk, measures about 2 inches in diameter.

Accompanying this spindle, is one of our originally designed support spinning bowls that combines 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 padauk base is 3 inches in diameter and 2 inches in height. Cork has been added to the bottom of this bowl to keep the wood from scratching other hard surfaces.

We are making the ceramic inserts for our support spinning bowls in a variety of glazes, and no two pieces ever come out of the kiln the same. Your padauk and ceramic support spinning bowl will be one of a kind.

This Tibetan support spindle and matching bowl set can currently be found in our Etsy shop.

Saturday

New Andean/Peruvian Style Drop Spindles

Four new Andean style drop spindles were listed in our Etsy shop this evening.  Andean spindles are suspended drop spindles with no frills...no hook, no notches and no grooves. They were developed to spin long-staple alpaca and other camelid fibers native to the Andes. Spinning is done off the side using a half hitch.


Dave has made these spindles in the same affordable and basic fashion as the original Andean spindles with one exception--he mounts the spindle whorl blank on the shaft, and then turn and shape the whorl and shaft together to achieve a well balanced spindle. Dave's reading and research on Andean spindles indicates that the whorls are shaped first, and then fitted on a hand shaped (sometimes not too straight) shaft. He assumes that one benefit of this is that once a shaft is worn out the whorl can be removed and fitted to a new shaft, but he just cannot bring himself to make a spindle that wobbles, so these whorls are permanently fixed and balanced.

Friday

Three Graces Ceramic Cameo Adjustable Rings

We have just added the "Three Graces" ceramic cameo rings above to our Etsy shop.  We have been collecting vintage and antique cameos for some time and have made some stunning molds from them to use in our "Good Dirt Jewelry" earthenware clay jewelry collection.

White earthenware clay and various glazes were used to create these beautiful "Three Graces" ceramic cameo rings. The ceramic cameos have been set into gorgeous adjustable gold plated rings.

Sunday

Vintage Inspired Resin Cameo Needle Minders

They're back!  After a long absence, we have just listed new vintage inspired resin cameo needle minders to the "Fiber Art Tools" section of our Etsy shop.


These 1 1/2" long cameo needle minders were made from gorgeous vintage inspired resin cameos. Dave has inlayed a rare earth magnet with clear resin on the back, and also inlayed another rare earth magnet into white faux ivory resin that he turned on the lathe. Together, these beauties will "mind" your needle conveniently on your project! Separated, each cameo needle minder would also make a beautiful refrigerator magnet.

Rare-earth magnets are strong, permanent magnets made from alloys of rare earth elements. Rare-earth magnets are substantially stronger than ferrite or alnico magnets, so you'll need to keep this away from your credit cards or pacemaker.

Wednesday

It's been a while, but they're back!  Six new "Druid's Egg" pendants have been listed in out Etsy shop.  Be sure and check out our "Celtic Jewelry" section to see the new colors.  These pendants are an original design of ours, and at $19 each (with free shipping to the U.S. and Canada) they make a very affordable and unique gift.

Tuesday

These five fossil ivory nalbinding needles were recently added to our Etsy.com shop.  Four of them were crafted by Dave from fossil mammoth ivory, and the fifth from fossil walrus ivory.  At the suggestion of some of our wonderful customers who are active participants in the SCA, Dave has tried to create an authentic looking replica of a Medieval tool.

Friday

0.8 Ounce Wormy Maple Top Whorl Drop Spindle

Dave has crafted the 2 7/8 inch diameter notched whorl of this top whorl drop spindle from wormy maple, and the 9 inch shaft from walnut. A brass hook has been added to the top.  The weight of this beautiful handspinning tool is 0.8 ounces.  Additional photos can be viewed in our Etsy shop.


Sunday

Ambrosia Maple Support Spinning Bowls

Our originally designed 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 twice turned ambrosia maple base is 2 3/4 inches in diameter and 2 inches in height. Cork has been added to the bottom of this bowl to keep the wood from scratching other hard surfaces.

**What is twice turned wood?**

Some of the woods that Dave uses, such as this ambrosia maple, can only be found green or "wet".  Green or "wet" wood has to be dried before it is used, otherwise the finished project would warp, crack or check.  Since Dave doesn't have a wood kiln to dry these woods, he cuts the wood to size and turns it once to get the desired shape.  He then sets it aside for months to allow the moisture to escape.  Once he has determined that all of the moisture is gone, he then turns the piece again which results in the finished project.




Wednesday

1.0 oz. Bubinga Tibetan Support Spindle with Matching Bowl

This beautiful little Tibetan support spindle weights 1.0 ounces (28 grams). The hickory shaft measures about 11 inches in length and the whorl, which is crafted from bubinga, measures about 2 inches in diameter.

Accompanying this spindle, is one of our originally designed support spinning bowls that combines 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 bubinga base is 3 inches in diameter. Cork has been added to the bottom of this bowl to keep the wood from scratching other hard surfaces.

We are making the ceramic inserts for our support spinning bowls in a variety of glazes, and no two pieces ever come out of the kiln the same. Your bubinga and ceramic support spinning bowl will be one of a kind.

New Carved Moose Antler Spindles

Four new moose antler spindles carved by Dave, were listed in our Etsy shop today.  One is a beautiful bottom whorl drop spindle, and the other three are rim weighted top whorl drop spindles.  Each of these feature Dave's signature leaf motif carved into the moose antler whorls.  The woods used on these spindles are from left to right:



New Top Whorl Drop Spindles

We have added five new top whorl drop spindles to our Etsy shop today.  The woods use by Dave to craft these beautiful spindles are from left to right:



Tuesday

New Tibetan Support Spindles with Matching Bowls

Three new Tibetan style support spindles were added to our Etsy shop today.  Each spindle comes with a matching spinning bowl.  The woods pictured above are canarywood, bubinga and goncalo alves.

Saturday

Getting Out of Show Business

SOLD!

It's been eight years since we started doing the art/craft show circuit and it's time for Grizzly Mountain Arts to retire from the show business.  We're still in business, just doing it all online these days.  You can find us here if you'd like to see what we're up to these days.

Since we've decided to hop off of the show circuit, we are selling our complete booth set up via Craigslist.  The following is for sale for $300 (cash only, please):



*10x10 fire resistant heavy weight, steel framed Caravan brand canopy with four walls
*Four 2x4 folding tables
*Four custom fitted no-iron maroon tablecloths
*Four canopy weights
*All shelving seen in the photos

The banner, jewelry, jewelry displays and baskets are not for sale.









If you happen to live in the Central Oregon area and are interested, please send us an email!

Friday

New Andean/Peruvian Style Bottom Whorl Drop Spindles

These are Dave's newest Andean style bottom whorl drop spindles. The woods used are from left to right:

*Cedar and Mahogany
*Oak and Redheart
*Walnut and Hickory
*Poplar and Cherry
*Paduak and Hickory

Be sure add "Like" Grizzly Mountain Arts on Facebook to get the latest updates on our new fiber art tools BEFORE they are listed in our Etsy shop!



Monday

Andean/Peruvian Style Reproduction Bottom Whorl Drop Spindles

These new spindles are reproductions of an Andean style spindle. Andean spindles are suspended drop spindles with no frills...no hook, no notches and no grooves. They were developed to spin long-staple alpaca and other camelid fibers native to the Andes. Spinning is done off the side using a half hitch.

I have made these spindles in the same affordable and basic fashion as the original Andean spindles with one exception--I mount the spindle whorl blank on the shaft, and then turn and shape the whorl and shaft together to achieve a well balanced spindle. My reading and research on Andean spindles indicate that the whorls are shaped first and then fitted on a hand shaped (sometimes not too straight) shaft. I assume that one benefit of this is that once a shaft is worn out the whorl can be removed and fitted to a new shaft, but I just cannot bring myself to make a spindle that wobbles so these whorls are permanently fixed and balanced.