Scrimshaw Powder Horn - "The Scrimshander"

I was given the honor of creating a scrimshaw powder horn for a well known Scrimshander, Mr Glenn Swanson. 

For me, this was a terrifying task. How do you present a piece of work to a true master of the craft?!! 

Luckily for me, Mr Swanson, a true gentleman as always, was so very gracious about it. 

We presented it to him at the 2012 Big Muddy River Rendezvous in Winona, Minnesota. 

The piece here that I recently worked on is entitled "The Scrimshander".

If you know Glenn's work then you know that on many of his pieces he will place a mouse.  Many Rendezvous people and powder horn collectors and scrimshaw collectors enjoying looking to see if they can find that trademark mouse.  So, on one side, I created a mouse for Glenn.

If you follow the mouse down to it's paw, you will find the mouse is holding something.  Keep turning it, and you realize that the mouse is guiding the arm of the scrimshander.

The scrimshander is a portrait of Glenn Swanson working hard on another powder horn.  Thus, this piece is entitled "The Scrimshander".

I am not sure what I enjoyed more, creating this piece or the wonderful smile I got from Glenn when he first saw it.  I will probably never truly know if he thought it was all that well done, but I think it was the thought of the gift.  His praises, his encouragements to continue the craft and his wonderful smile will stay with me forever.

Someday, some day way down the road, I do hope to come close to the talent and creativity of Mr Glenn Swanson.  A true scrimshander, a true artist.  My teacher, my mentor. 

Thank you for the honor! 

All my scrimshaw is hand done making them one of a kind.

Gifted

Email me with any inquiries:
directzee@hotmail.com

Scrimshaw Rum Cup / Rum Horn "White Buffalo"

I had the great honor of having my very first lesson in scrimshaw from a very well known scrimshaw artist, Glenn Swanson.  Now, this is my very first attempt so I obviously need a LOT more practice but I am so thrilled to have sat down and 'scratched' with such a great artist. 

My first attempt is a scrimshaw rum cup or rum horn.  My "White Buffalo" is simple, but remember, I have never tried this before.  On the front of the rum horn is the white buffalo.

 On the back is a woman with her baby, and far in the distance are the buffalo roaming in the fields.

The idea of the rum cup/horn is that you tie a string on the pins/staples and hang it around your neck.  You fill the horn with rum.  Pull out the plug at the top, place your finger over the hole.  Then pull the second plug, holding it over your mouth.   When you are ready for a drink, remove your finger from the upper hole....replacing your finger when you have a mouth full.

Well, I found that I absolutely loved this new form of art.  I will be trying my hand more at this so I can become better at the art.  It is not easy, you can only work for a short bit of time as your hands get use to the pressure needed to do the work. 

All my scrimshaw is hand done making them one of a kind.

Price:  $250
Email me with any inquiries:
directzee@hotmail.com

Thanks for looking, and keep creating!!

Gourd Bowl Art

Well I have decided to dabble a little with Gourds.  Though they can be a bit messy to clean out they do end up giving you a nice canvas to work on.  I was not having the best of luck with my camera & lighting today, so will try at some point to replace some or many of the photos.

 During this round, I worked mostly with inks & dyes.  I then chose a varity of things in which to trim or finish the bowls, from jute, stones, beads, wire, etc.

One of my favorites is extremely simple, but I use this bowl often at dinner.  The oblong bowl is just perfect not only to serve in but it has the wonderful handle.  I line the inside with a napkin and serve bread in it.  It also makes for a great center piece, filled with holiday decorations.

My son has decided he likes the red gourd I created.  Black String, gold beads and gold on the inside of the gourd all stand out pretty nice.  The first photo is the front, and the second photo is the back of the gourd.

Below are some of the other bowls I was working on.

 Mattering on the light, this one sometimes looks dark blue, purple, almost black or a hint of red.  I think I like this one just because each time I look, the color seems to look a little different.

 Not quite finished with the bowl below, so when done, I will replace this one but wanted to show off my heart bowl.  That hanging heart is a piece of stone I found at a craft store.  Made a nice addition.  The camera makes it look redder but in person, the stone & bowl look close to the same color.  That was purely by accident...but nice accident.

I am also working on woodburning the gourd bowls, but that will have to come later as I am still working on those.

Green Bay Packer Wooden Stools

Greetings!  Well, I had some fun this winter.  I had taken three, used, battered wooden stools and had put different packer logos on each stool. These stools were then donated to the Coulee Region Humane Society to be used in a charity fund raiser in February this year.

Of course, first I called the Green Bay Packer Headquarters to see if I could get permission to use their logos to create these one of a kind stools in the fund raiser....this way if questioned, no one gets in trouble.

I did receive a phone call from the Marketing Dept for the Green Bay Packers.

After explaining the why's and what for's regarding the stools, the marketing director stated that she would be mailing me a 'One Time Only, Permission to Use' letter.

When I receive the letter, I made a copy for the shelter to keep in their files, (in case anyone ever questions it), and a copy for each chair.

Okay, so this may not be a big deal to anyone else, but for me.....this was so EXCITING! I got permission from the Packers Headquarters! This is not something made in secret without permission, I actually got permission from the Packers!

And yes, I will be keeping a copy of the letter for myself!
 
I had a fun making them and hope those that bid on them enjoy them.

Here are the 3 stools that went up for auction to the the Coulee Region Humane Society.

Each individual stool is partically woodburned and partically hand painted.

I was a little surprised that the favorite was the one with only the Green Bay "G" logo, but I am glad it turned out!

Each stool is unique, one of a kind.

Each leg of the stool has a football, some are just the outline and some filled in. 

As always, enjoy life and stay creative everyone! 

Pyrography - Wood Burning Fun 3

I had given my 2 gallon crock away as a gift....we all seem to have a habit of finishing a project and out the door it goes, so I found another 2 gallon crock and created a new lid.  Went with somewhat the same style I used with the lady and the hair but tried a different angle, and tried masking more of her face. 

I don't think it is as dramatic as the other face, but I like the subtle look to it.  I had fun and that really is the main thing here.

She just seemed a little more mysterious, like you keep waiting for the whisps of hair to move away from her face so you can see her eyes, see what she was thinking, feeling.

Pyrography - Wood Burning Fun 2

Well, finally got around to working on my 5 gallon Red Wing crock lid.  Still may need some work but I believe I like this one. 

The picture was from watching our cat Isabel as she sleeps, or as she is better known, "Izzy".

My first 2 gallon crock ended up being given away as a gift so I was lucky enough to find another 2 gallon crock, which means, of course, new wooden canvas for me!!

I know the pyrography lids may not seem to go with the crocks, but I like the extra interest it brings to them.

If the crock is going to have a functioning lid, why not have some fun with it.  Right?!

Pyrography - Wood Burning Fun

It just seems like I go for ages before posting something new so for those who have asked, here are a couple of pieces I did this last week.  Though they are very similar, if you look close, the ladies are a little different...making each item a bit unique. 

For those who have not read my posts in the past, please keep in mind, I am having fun here, I do NOT claim to be any good at what I am doing, just that I am having a great time doing it.

First off, I had gotten a 2 gallon Red Wing crock for my birthday so I decided to make a lid for it. The lid just looked so plain to me. The more I looked at the lid, the more it looked like I saw a face. So I decided to bring that face out.

 

Later, I decide to work on the face a little bit by trying to recreate it on a wooden plate I had laying around the house.

I love the natural color of the wood on this plate so she seemed to stand out nicely on it.  This wooden plate now hangs on our wall and quietly watches over all who enter our home.

I have another Red Wing crock with a lid just calling for me to do something with it so we will have to see where that leads me. 

Until next time everyone!!  Stay creative and have fun!!!