ARTWORK AND DECORATIVE WORK

Within certain limitations I will be happy to put whatever kind of decoration you want on any piece that I craft for you. 

Within that we need to understand something of the limitations of the kinds of materials used- Rawhide as used for Rattle heads can be an interesting medium to paint designs onto. It is absorbent some places, hard and impermeable others. That can be within the same piece as used for a Rattle head.

I use tough, durable enamel and acrylic paints for decorating Rattle heads. These are excellent, but Rawhide does not lend itself to very complex, photographic style art. What works best in all cases is stylised art, and geometric designs. As used by primal, native peoples.

If for instance you want a very precise depiction of a particular animal or bird on a Rattle head, I must advise you to seek that kind of work elsewhere as I cannot do that for you. That includes art from such as some modern card sets such as the Medicine Cards, or complex Celtic knot-work designs inspired by ancient manuscripts for example.

Price of artwork on Rattles: £3.50 per side (Rattles have 2 or 3 sides) This is for geometric and stylised designs. We would need to discuss your needs if you want complex work.

Carving: I will carve any design, depiction or image you want onto any item that includes carving. Such as Rattle handles, Staffs, Fan handles, etc. It must though be borne in mind that the materials themselves set some limitations on this.

A Rattle handle of 8-9 inches long will take fine carving. If that is of one or two creatures they will fit the piece perfectly. If that's of a large number of creatures or designs they will all be so small as to not be properly visible. I would not want you to be disappointed when you receive what I have crafted for you.

Woods: Mostly I work in Ash, Oak, Hazel and the woods of fruiting trees such as Apple, Cherry and Plum. I can obtain other woods, but that's limited to what grows in my local area, or what I would have to buy in for you from specialist wood suppliers. Material from those sources is quite expensive and has been commercially processed. The woods I gather locally hold the spirit of the tree still.

The types of wood I use have excellent qualities for carving and are from magickally powerful trees that have ancient mythic and magickal associations. Working from this connection with the land I live in and the spirits and forces of nature itself means that every piece I create is a magickal tool that brings these powers to manifestation for you.

I can also though use Rowan, Birch, Sycamore, Beech, Chestnut, Willow, Hawthorn and Blackthorn. These woods do not take fine detail well in carving, so are best used for craft work that only needs such as incised carving- Runes, Ogham and similar rather than more complex carving work.

All prices shown on this web site and in my catalogue are based on using the types of wood I favour, so we would need to discuss your needs if you require that a piece be made from a type of wood other than those.

Beadwork: Though the vast majority of beads are made in France, Italy or Czechoslovakia, the trade route for them takes them mostly through the USA. I hold stocks of many colours, but if you need specific colours or shades in anything I craft for you there are likely to be delays while I obtain them. There may also be a surcharge to cover excess mail charges, Customs import duty on beads, etc.

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