Help Haiti

There was a very different post here up to this morning.
However; I have been informed that though my intentions were honorable, I cannot publicly state that proceeds from sales will go to a specific organization for a particular cause unless I have expressed permission from said organization.
Who knew?
With apologies to all, I have removed the post. No impropriety was intended.
I will still be donating as outlined in the removed post. Any who purchased from my shop with this post in mind, rest assured that 100% of the pledged proceeds will be sent as previously stated. If you would like additional info, please contact me for specifics at aosleather@gmail.com
Thanks again to all!

A Friend, His Treasures and Something Weird

On a recent autumn afternoon I took my camera and journeyed out to the backwoods home of a dear friend.
Called Griz by all who know him, he is a man of many talents and wonderful collections. His basement, which is cleverly disguised as a cluttered mess, holds an array of marvels and oddities. This first picture gives a small notion of the initial visual impact of this treasure trove; I call your attention particularly to the unremarkable blue tub in the lower right - it will figure largely in my story as it takes a turn for the weird.

Griz is first and foremost a knapper. He chips magnificent blades and arrowheads out of stones and bits of colored glass. Some he sets into knife handles, many he sells loose to artisans who use them in their own work.
He also makes drums for the Powwow community; everything from small hand-held drums to the large drums used in the center of the circle. All of his drums are made with wood he harvests and skins he tans. There really isn't much that this self-sufficient man cannot do without any assistance from factories or manufacturers.
One of my favorite pictures from that day is this shot of Griz showing off his two-meter wooden feather. He tells a captivating story of watching a lightning bolt strike a tree and splinter it into rubble, leaving behind this incredible work of nature's art. It's one of the few things in his basement that will never be for sale.
So many treasures - too many to show in this post...
He has a penchant for beads and has a fabulous collection of glass chevron beads, both contemporary and antique.
He has a vintage Fender Bass guitar and yes, he can play it!
But in my title I promised you something weird, and here it comes...
When i first began snapping pictures I did not realize that I had my digital camera set to Landscape. Not the right setting for indoor pictures and I shot a few pictures before I realized my mistake and changed to a more appropriate indoor setting.
I didn't think much of it until I got home and downloaded the pictures to my computer.
Remember that blue tub? That perfectly opaque blue tub?
Well, look at this shot... I could not believe what I seemed to be seeing - it seemed I could see through to the contents, though that is surely impossible. Unwilling to believe what my eyes were telling me, I called Griz and asked him what was in that tub. That question confused him and I had to explain why I wanted to know. "A couple of folded blankets," was his answer.
Well holy crap! That certainly seems to be what I am seeing. Griz even made the trip to my house to see for himself and he was as amazed as I was/am.
So, to sum it up in question form, indoor pictures taken on the landscape setting allow the camera to see through heavy opaque plastic? I don't know, but my eyes certainly tell me that, as impossible as it seems, that is somehow exactly what has happened.
Of course, if any of you have a logical explanation, both Griz and I would love to hear it!

Bold Beauty

I've been working on a new batch of Earth Medallions for a couple of weeks now.
It's a large batch, so it will take another week or so to bring them all to conclusion. It's a lengthy process, with lots of small steps to pass through before the thrill of cutting the window in the leather setting and revealing the beauty of the stone within. For me, it's a bit like Christmas morning every time!
This is a particularly bold batch thus far, with lots of strong colors and patterns. I'll post a few here - clicking on the pictures will take you to their listings in my Etsy shop, where you can see more pictures of each and find detailed descriptions.

Dalmatian Jasper; distinctively spotted and ultra-earthy. This handsome rock is said to be an ancient stone of kings and shaman.

Lizard Stone Jasper; I've set several pieces of this unique green and brown stone from the American southwest and I've loved them all.

Tiger Eye; a favorite gemstone worldwide, looks very much like a cat's eye in this sweet little round pendant. It even winks with the shifting light!
These and many more can be viewed in detail in my Etsy shop, linked at the top of the left sidebar.

Rattlesnake Bonanza

Let me start this post with an apology to anyone with a snake phobia. I've seen some strong reactions and it's not my intention to disturb anyone. Feel free to leave without reading this post - I won't be offended!
Though I must confess to a certain amount of squeamishness around live snakes, I've always found the skins to be beautiful.
There is a wide range of color and patterning in the snake kingdom.
Among my favorites is the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake of North America, also called a coon-tail rattler for the raccoon-like striping just above the rattle.
This gorgeous creature has incredible camouflage for its environment and a distinctive warning system to alert anyone who may stray too close. Nature designed them exceedingly well.
I've worked with rattlesnake hides in the past - they make handsome hatbands, belts and wristbands - but it's been awhile.
That's primarily been an issue of supply; once upon a time I got hides from my father-in-law when he was alive and living in New Mexico. He got them from a local wrangler who hunted rattlers to milk for venom and then release, or sometimes to kill, skin & eat.
Though commercially tanned rattlesnake hides are available, I have resisted using them because of my aversion to using products from animals that are killed simply for the skin, as I am sure is the case with the bulk-produced hides.
A few weeks ago at a local craft show, however, I met a woman who lives part time in my area and part time in Arizona. Turns out she & her husband are rattlesnake wranglers.

Long story short, I once again have a source for conscientiously harvested Diamondback skins.
I picked out a handful and plan on spending some time soon turning them into cuffs and hatbands with rattles attached. Watch for them in my Etsy shop and on my website soon.
*Picture of my handcrafted wristband courtesy of Devon Akmon. Picture of the live snake taken from public domain site, credited to Michael Smith*

Time on Rugg Pond

When the weather is too nice to stay inside and work, there are a number of local spots where I can go to soak up some nature.
One of my favorites is a Natural Area called Rugg Pond. Located where the two branches of the Rapid River converge on their way to Torch Lake, it was dammed and harnessed for a power plant in the early 20th century, turning what was once a pond into a small lake.
The plant is long gone, with only a concrete and steel outflow channel remaining, concentrating a rainbow-tinged torrent of water from the lake above to the Rapid River below.
Peaceful despite the remains of the derelict plant, it is home to a wide variety of fish and waterfowl.
There is a family of swans there that I've been watching all summer. The chicks have grown now; I can no longer distinguish them from their parents.
I often see bald eagles skimming the water or flying above, though I have yet to get a picture.
Known locally as a prime fishing hole, it is widely stated (though unproven) that Ernest Hemingway enjoyed a night of angling from the Rugg Pond Dam powerhouse.
Summer didn't really make much of an appearance in northern Michigan this year and is nearly gone. Leaves are beginning their Autumn change. Soon it will be time to think about snow tires and shoveling - knowing that makes an afternoon on Rugg Pond a treasure, indeed!

Custom Regalia Belt

It's always an honor to be asked to make a piece for a dancer's powwow regalia. These outfits are worn in sacred circles; they represent much of what the dancer brings to that circle.
One of the things I love the most about the internet is the ability to connect with dancers outside of my area.
I recently finished a belt for Barbara Hartzell, who dances in the desert southwest, far from my Great Lakes powwows.
She sent me pictures of her beadwork and asked what I could make that would match or compliment her colors and design. (Her name and her picture are used here with permission.)
The beadwork is lovely, in vibrant colors of turquoise blue and bright pink, all done in cut beads which shimmer like faceted gemstones.
After an exchange of ideas via email we decided on a carved pattern of roses inside hearts.
First the design is drawn on, then cut and pear-shaded for dimension enhancement.
Next the design is beveled; both the roses, petal by petal and the insides of each heart.
Then I matted the heart to recess it from both the rose and the surface of the belt.

The colors were matched to her beadwork; I used a pearlescent pink to compliment the sparkle of the cut beads.

The belt is three inches wide and overlaps in front, where it buckles with attached billets.
Barbara is pleased. I am honored knowing she will be dancing my belt into her circle. It makes me feel that a part of me is also dancing in the desert.
I'm always glad to discuss custom work; please visit my website for further information. (there is a link on the top of the left sidebar)