 | WHERE DO I GET MY MOOSE?
IT IS ALL SHEDS FROM IDAHO WHERE I'VE SPENT MANY YEARS OF MY LIFE.
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| | WHERE DO YOU GET VINTAGE LEATHER LACE?
ALL MY NECKLACE LEATHER IS VINTAGE. IT IS CLEAN, SOFT, SUPPLE AND STRONG. WARRANTED AGAINST FAILURE WITH NORMAL WEAR. IT IS ALL USED AND BROKEN IN.
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| | WHY KILL MOOSE FOR ANTLER?
ALL MY JEWELRY ANTLER IS FROM NATURALLY SHED ANTLER. IT IS GATHERED UP IN THE WOODS IN IDAHO.NO ANIMALS HAVE BEEN HURT.
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| | WHERE DO YOU FIND ANTIQUE WOOD FOR YOUR CROSSES?
FROM OLD ANTIQUE FURNITURE THAT HAS BEEN WATER DAMAGED OR BROKEN UP. THE WOOD IS TOO GOOD TO DISCARD. THE LEATHER ON MY CROSSES ARE FROM OLD TOOLED WESTERN BELTS,OR ANY VINTAGE TOOLED LEATHER.
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| | HOW DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IVORY AND BONE MAH JONGG TILES?
MOST GAMES HAVE LABELS THAT HAVE DATES. MAH JONGG BRAND GAMES HAVE ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION ON THEM. YOU CAN TELL THE DATE BY THE ART DESIGN ON THE INDIVIDUAL PIECES.THERE ARE MANY STYLES OF RED DRAGON. I CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BONE AND IVORY BY APPEARANCE (LOOK FOR CROSS HATCHING), WEIGHT, DENSITY, FEEL TO THE HAND, AND BY SOUND. I CAN REALLY TELL BY THE SMELL. WHEN I TAKE THE BAMBOO BACKS OFF I THEN GRIND THEM SMOOTH OR MAKE SKULLS AND CROSSES OUT OF THEM. ALL BONE, ANTLER, IVORY,TOOTH HAS A DISTINCT SMELL. LIKE BURNING HAIR. IVORY HAS ITS OWN SMELL JUST LIKE BONE.
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| | HOW DO YOU SHAPE AND CARVE THE ANTLER?
I CUT IT INTO SHAPE WITH A SAWZALL THEN A SCROLL SAW. I USE GRINDERS (WET) TO DETAIL, SHAPE, AND SMOOTH THE PIECE. I ALWAYS USE A DUSTMASK BECAUSE ANY AIRBORNE ANTLER, BONE, ETC. IS TOXIC. FOR MY MORE DETAILED WORK I USE A ROTARY TOOL BUT FOR MY FINE DETAIL I USE A DISMANTELED OSCILLATING ENGRAVER I CONVERTED INTO A SMALL FINGERTIP TOOL WITH DIAMOND BITS. IT GETS REAL HOT IN MY HAND SO I USE IT SELECTIVELY ON FEW PIECES. THE ONES WITH EXTREME DETAIL.
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| | WHY DO YOU EXPOSE A GOOD PORTION OF YOUR ART TO THE INTERNET, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN STEAL YOUR IDEAS?
I'M NOT BOTHERED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE INSPIRED WITH MY ART. HOPEFULLY, THEIR INSPIRATION WILL HELP THEIR OWN CREATIVITY. SO RATHER THAN COPY, THEY WILL CREATE THEIR OWN ART. INSPIRATION AND CREATIVITY SHOULD NEVER BE HORDED OR DELVED OUT TO ONLY PAYING CUSTOMERS. THE ART SHOULD BE ENJOYED BY ALL. IF ALL YOU CAN DO IS COPY THEN YOU ARE A SAD LITTLE PERSON.
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| | HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH YOUR CARVINGS? DO YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN OR DO YOU SEE SOMETHING IN THE GRAIN.
I CAN CARVE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING AND REPRODUCE IT CLOSELY WITH ANY MATERIAL. THE MATERIAL THAT IS MULTI-COLORED OR THE MAMMOTH WITH ALL THE DARK GRAINS OR SOME ODDLY SHAPED MATERIAL TALKS TO ME. I SEE SOMETHING HIDDEN AND ITS MY JOB TO DIG IT OUT. SOMETHINGS ARE OBVIOUS TO ME BUT SOME EVOLVE AS I CARVE AND THE FINAL PRODUCT SELDOM LOOKS LIKE WHAT I ENVISONED AT THE START. I LOVE CREATING SOMETHING NEW AND IT IS THE HUNT FOR THE TREASURE THAT KEEPS ME SEARCHING DELIGENTLY IN ALL MY PIECES. THE REPRODUCTION OF MY PREVIOUS WORK PAYS THE BILLS AND THAT KEEPS ME DELIGENTLY REMAKING THE BEST SELLERS. CUSTOM WORK IS THE HARDEST BECAUSES IT TAKES DISCPLINE TO DO OTHERS BIDDING AND LET CREATIVITY FLOW. ME AND DISCPLINE NEVER GOT ALONG.
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