Senin, 24 November 2008
Beautiful sandals with satin, embroidery and sequins. Perfect sandals at the beach wedding, for your bridesmaids or out on the town. Wherever you wear these sandals you'll find them super comfy and quite stylish. One of our customers wore these sandals for 8 hours of standing and walking and said our sandals "where the most comfortable sandals she's ever worn!". She was so happy with her sandals, she bought a pair in each color! Your sandals are handmade on the island of Bali and are great for the beach, cruise, resort or anywhere your heart desires. These sandals are made of the finest quality materials, with satin, sequins and leather. Our sandals also match perfectly with our line of embroidered sequined clothing. Try them out!
Selasa, 02 September 2008
Antique Scrimshaw on more than just Whale Teeth
Not all authentic antique Yankee or Victorian-era scrimshawed images are on whale teeth. Walrus tusks were popular, as were (whale) panbone sections, sea turtle shells, and to a lesser extent, elephant ivory and hippo teeth. Here are a few examples of matrices other than whale teeth.
The first example is a (whale) panbone busk, custom-made for a form-flattening corset, which were required for Victorian-era women's dresses. Each corset was equipt with several long, sewn-in pockets, designed to hold thin "stiffeners" (busks) often made of wood or baleen (fibrous material harvested from mouths of filter-feeding whales, often mis-labeled as whalebone). Whalers hand-made busks of ivory, panbone (whale jawbone), & baleen, for their sweethearts and wives. None would splinter like wood, and were lighter & stronger. Read more here
The second example is a sailor-scrimshawed, 23-inch x 19-inch x 7-inch, full sea turtle carapace (shell). There are eleven separate scenes, each on their own shell plate. There are two southern hemisphere birds at the top, and five northern hemisphere mammals at the bottom, each on their own panel. Down the center are six individual initials: four in English; one in Hebrew; and one in an Oriental script. I speculate that the six initials represent a six-man longboat crew, and that each man scribed the two images on the costal scutes (lateral shell plates) both sides of their initials. The bottom "tail" panel has a "T" the imposed on an "A". I speculate that these are the initials of the captain's name, or of the ship's name. See more photos here
The third example shows the outer-curve side of a 13.5-inch & 22.8-ounce, Arctic whaler-scrimshawed walrus tusk, depicting silhouettes of: an Inuit mother & papoose in winter costume; a stretched sealskin boat; a loaded dogsled; a pair of igloos; and a skinning knife with an ulu (blubber knife). Read more here
The fourth example is a scribed elephant ivory billiard ball, which is also decorated with two ivory "ear" discs attached by brass pins. The compass rose is labeled with an "N" on one side, and decorated with a crudely scribed bark (ship) on the other. A date of 1841 is also visible just above left disc. The ball was drilled and tapped on the bottom, probably for mounting on a ship's binnacle for decoration. See more photos here
Other forms of scrimshaw include jagging wheel pie crimpers, clothespins, bodkins, crochet needles, hand tools, knife handles etc. See more examples here.
Senin, 28 April 2008
Exquisite small-medium handmade cow horn Shoe Horn !
Photo of actual item
functional length : 12 cm (4 2/3")
Photo of actual item
Gorgeous handmade Cat carving with Batik
Photo of actual item
Rabu, 05 Maret 2008
TWILIGHT
Amber, Jet, and Silver Jewelry
Sunlight captured, time frozen, life suspended... amber offers a view of an extinct world, the ancient remains of conifers whose resin once flowed to be exposed to the outside elements, to trap light and life in it's sticky embrace, and whose memory still washes up on the shores of the Baltic sea after a storm...
We've gathered some fine examples of jewelry being produced with Baltic amber, jet, and sterling silver. More jewelry can be expected and the availability will always be shifting. We tend to pick unique cuts and designs with Nordic and Celtic themes. What you see is what currently is in stock, and in most cases there is only one piece available of each style. The prices are loosely based on weight, with workmanship, uniqueness, and aesthetics all affecting them. Furthermore, all of these prices are set at wholesale levels for all customers to bring these amazing pieces to you in the most affordable way possible.
Our latest acquistions are showcased over on our new page for at least a month before they make it over here. We also have a page for our other goodies that contains various pendants and necklaces with different themes than what you'll find here.
Thanks!
Many of the types of designs that would normally appear on this page, as well as some that appeared on our other goodies or new pages, will now only live on this bracelet page.
Examples include: amber bracelets with oval shaped chunks of amber, each one including an insect, a good amount of faceted amber bracelets set on elastic string, cognac and green amber cabochon and silver bracelets, and silver knotwork patterned cuffs.
Sold pieces that we may be able to acquire again!
Old Dayak earweights
Old Dayak earweights are available occasionally-mostly pear shapes (aka gasing, spinning tops).
Please click on the above thumbnail images to view the pieces at actual size.
These antique pieces are for both wearing and collecting alike-very few examples of traditional Borneo earweights are still available. I feel the best way to honor old jewelry like this is to continue it's use and the artisan's intentions by wearing them.
The detail and heaviness of these weights speak from a period when time flowed a bit more slowly...
These are getting harder to find, and also more expensive. Please call for a price quote.
As an example, the above pear shapes were $225/pair, though they would be at least $300/pair now.
We can get very old pairs from collectors for around $600/pair and up.
New Dayak earweights
New bronze Dayak earweights from Borneo, as shown in the top two rows, were only $40/pair!
All styles are currently sold out, but you can ask to be put on a wait list for when we get more - most likely when I travel to SE Asia again. Please click on these thumbnail images to view ones at real size.
In the top row are thorny aso's, black and blonde large aso's;
the middle row has dragons, single aso, and double aso. Aso is the Dayak term for the mythical dragon/dog beast that is prevalent in their carvings, paintings, and tattoos.
The copper coils on the bottom left are old, but are singles, and went for $20/each.
Pairs of copper coils are much more than double that amount.
Pairs of bronze coils and C-shaped are very hard to find and quite expensive.
The silver sets of weights on the bottom right are old Dayak girls' sets
and were $20 (only a few rings) to $80/set as pictured - prices now may be considerably higher.
Here we show another pair of new Dayak bronze earweights,
in a large version of the enigmatic bird/elephant design.
These went for $60/pair. SOLD
These fox earweights are made to be worn either with the entire torso through the lobe for the best distribution of weight (at 9/16" in diameter, needing a hole size of at least 11/16" to fit them in) or with just the tail section in the lobe for those with smaller holes (at around 2ga in diameter, requiring a hole size of just under 00ga to fit them in).
They are very heavy as far as the typical range of earweights are concerned-and must be worn with extreme caution. These are on a similar par to the very heavy weights that Dayak ladies from Borneo wear. I personally find them to be comfortable for everyday wear, without strenuous activity, if one is used to and likes a good weighty feel; however, these will be far too heavy for most people. The weights are the same for both ears-no lefty and righty twist. The foxes can stand up on their feet...
- Bronze foxies measure approximately 107 grams (3.8 ounces)/each and are $95/pair wholesale;
- Silver foxes are approximately 133 grams (4.7ounces)/each piece
and were $225/pair minimum (current high silver prices necessitate that the price will go up, perhaps $300)
(making them the same price for retail or wholesale customers). - Keep in mind that a quarter pound is 4 ounces, making the bronze ones just under, and the silver ones just over, a quarter pound each! Thus, these must be used only with extreme caution.
- While we have enjoyed these for a few years now, there is a chance we may not produce more...
- We do not have any pairs currently in stock, and are taking names for our waitlist.
We do not sell horn that is reddish-orange in color; this color of horn does not occur naturally and has been achieved through bleaching which denatures the protein, causing permanent problems including softening, dull finish, increased texture and even stickiness, crazing, cracking, and other inappropriate problems for a material intended to be used for body piercing jewelry.
Please request current catalog pages to see the newest pricing and current inventory, or download this list via page 3 of our online catalog. We only sell what we currently have in stock and no custom orders can be taken, though you can ask to be placed on a wait list if what you need is not currently in stock.
This jewelry is made by carvers who work in millimeters, so may not necessarily match exact gauges or fractional inches. This also means we have plenty of inbetween sizes, so feel free to ask!
You may order it in any measuring unit and we'll do our best to match exactly what you're looking for.
We do not use item numbers, so a basic description of what you are interested in will suffice...
(for example: a pair of 00ga hollow horn saddles with dots along the rim, in brown horn if possible).
In the case of engravings, inlays, and silver caps, you can simply describe how a design looks...
(for example: 1" black horn plugs with inlaid white bone open star with pie wedges between the points).
Labels with the specific names of many of our designs are shown below and on page 3 of the catalog.
You could also refer to how far down the page a specific image appears, and which piece within that image... (for example: in the third image down, the fourth plug shown on the bottom row, an 8-petaled Borneo flower, in 5/8").
The material comes from domestic Indonesian water buffalo horn (Bubalus bubalis) and cow or buffalo bone; both are used as draft animals (for example, to plow muddy rice paddies) and are consumed as food. They are highly valued and are not dispatched only for their horns or bones; these have an incredibly small value compared with that of a living animal. Water buffalo horn and bone are obtained after death, and since the cultures from which they are attained believe in utilizing the whole animal, nothing goes to waste, and thus the animal is honored more fully. Scroll down this page for a quote...
Images shown represent a fair cross-section of the types of shapes, angles, sizes, colors, hues, engravings, etc., that occur within the given styles of horn and bone jewelry available. Variations will always occur as all of these pieces are hand made by humans out of naturally-occurring, non-homogenous materials. If you need clarification about any of these factors, please ask before placing an order.
Amber is a fossilized/polymerized resin, exuded from extinct trees related to modern day conifers (and some flowering tree species) over 20 million years ago. It is primarily found in the Baltic regions, but also appears in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Burma, Italy, Romania, Borneo, New Zealand, Nigeria, the Middle East, Alaska, Canada, and even in the United States.
Clear, white, yellow, orange, red, brown, black, and even blue or green hues are all possible, while opacity can range from translucent, clear, or spotted, to milky or dark with inclusions.
There are many plastics and younger resins (copals) which can emulate amber. There are some tests that are available to distinguish between the materials; one simple test is friction: amber is an easy conductor of static electricity. Another can be done with a black light; genuine amber fluoresces an amazing green-blue under UV light.
Amber is a gorgeous material used from antiquity as body jewelry, in the form of pendants, amulets, and for piercings. Amber seems to capture sunlight and allow it through the body. Burmese hilltribe women such as the Kachin wear long, crayon shaped pieces of the unique dark orange-red burmite amber found there. The Aztecs utilized amber for incense and body jewelry (earplugs and labrets). They even had a word for an amber ear plug: apozonalnacochtli (after apozonalli: amber; and nacochtli: ear pendant, ear plug)
Selasa, 26 Februari 2008
DIY Plastic bag wallet
Akbar Padamsee’s abstract work in bold reds and blacks is a distinct change from the surreal earlier works and V.S. Gaitonde’s large abstract is a signature offering. That younger artists are challenging their own strengths by moving away from tried themes is evident in the Jagannath Panda who, just an exhibition earlier, was noted for minimal and soft watercolours.
Rameshwar Broota has adopted a special technique of using a sharp blade to scratch the surface at select spots, suggestive of light and forms in an otherwise monotonal grey-brown surface. As was evident from this select showing, the Christie’s sale has a strong focus—it lies not in names or mediums but in the interpretation where, says Weihe, “the content is important, not the means of expression”.
Selasa, 12 Februari 2008
Leather Tri-Fold Wallet with Chain
Code: tri-chain
Price: $16.95
Inventory: Ships in 24 Hours
The tri-fold wallet with a chain has been a popular item for us for more then 20 years. This wallet features traditional tri fold styling with the added safety of a belt loop to secure the wallet from accidental loss.
Plain Leather Tri-Fold
Code: Tri-Plain
Price: $14.95
Inventory: Ships in 24 Hours
Our leather tri-fold wallets are a product of simplicity. They do not have a cloth lining or folded edges. They are sewn with heavy nylon thread and the ends of the stitching are burned so they will never come apart. What sets these time proven products apart from our competitors is the simple design, the price and most important a life time guarantee. That's right, if you can wear one of these out we will repair or replace it free of charge. This tri-fold is made from the same fine, soft leather we use on our handbags. It measures 9" wide and 4 ¼" high when open and 3 ¼" wide and 4 ¼" high when closed. It has a full length pocket for bills and five pockets for cards and comes with a vinyl insert that has an additional 6 pockets.
Leather Ladies Wallet
Code: Ldywallet Price: $16.95 Inventory: Ships in 24 Hours |
Our leather ladies wallet features 3 inside pockets. One of the pockets is zippered for change and / or credit cards, and the other 2 pockets will hold dollar bills and receipts. The ladies wallet measures 7" wide and 4" high when closed. |
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Spring Action Leather Coin Purse
Code: snapper
Price: $4.50
Inventory: Ships in 24 Hours
This style of leather coin purse is an old standby. Ours measures 3 ½ inches wide and is 3 inches deep, just the right size to hold a folded dollar bill. We recommend purchasing this item with other products to save on shipping costs, as the minimum shipping charge is $4.50.
Leather CellPhone Case
Quantity in Basket: none
Code: Cellphone
Price: $12.95
Inventory: Ships in 1-2 Days
This is our newest version of a leather cellphone case. It is a side ways style of case with a belt loop on the back as shown in the bottom example. The belt loop will take up to an 1 3/4" wide belt. The case measures 3" high and is 4 1/4" wide and will take most of the standard flip type phones as show in the top example. The flap closure uses a commercial strength Velcro and is built to last a life time.
Leather Small Bota Bag
Code: sm-bota
Price: $38.95
Inventory: Ships in 24 Hours
Kamis, 07 Februari 2008
Purple Iris Hand Painted Wine Carafe Glass Set
Original, traditional style set of 4 wine flutes and 1 carafe.
Beautiful one of a kind set in greens, purples and white.
Painted with non-toxic professional grade glass enamel paint.
Dishwasher and microwave safe (hand wash for best results).
Flute measures 7 ½” tall with a 2” opening across the rim and 2 ½” at the base. Holds 6 ounces.
Carafe holds 40 ounces and measures 11” tall with a 3 ¼” opening across the rim and 3 1/8” at the base.
Original contemporary abstract vase.
Unique, one of a kind in vivid teal blue, deep reds and white.
Painted with non-toxic professional grade glass enamel paint.
Dishwasher and microwave safe (hand wash for best results).
Vase measures about 10 ½” Tall.
3 ½” across at the rim and base.
Vase holds 43 ounces.
Original contemporary abstract set of 4 water glasses and 1 pitcher.
Unique, one of a kind set in vivid teal blue, deep reds and white.
Painted with non-toxic professional grade glass enamel paint.
Dishwasher and microwave safe (hand wash for best results).
Glass Holds 16 ounces and measures about 7” Tall, 3 ¼” across the rim.
Pitcher Holds 96 ounces and measures 8” Tall with a 51/4” opening across the rim.
Scroll down to see an enlarged image of this modern abstract design.