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Scrimshaw Cabin Fever Roundup – Go Build Something

Posted on February 17, 2015January 17, 2015 by Andrew Perkins

Scrimshaw Cabin Fever Roundup – Go Build Something (or find someone who does) to Showcase Your Scrimshaw

It’s been bitter cold here, and I’ve been getting cabin fever as well as the need for making something bigger to showcase my art. After looking around a bit on the net I found several items that could be enhanced with some smaller pieces of scrimshaw. Either braving the cold and going into the garage to cut some pieces of nice wood or braving the wet and going into the cellar to cut (I could raise cold water fish in my cellar if I could get a permit – and move the furnace and electrical…), but there are also other alternatives.

I’ve broken the options down into ready-made (just add scrimshaw) and Inpirations – where you can either purchase and modify or go into your (hopefully heated and dry) workshop and create something.

Inspirations:

Insignia Desk Accessories

http://www.diplomaframe.com/shop-frames-gifts/insignia-desk-accessories.aspx – shows great ideas for DIY projects for desk accessories

http://sell.lulusoso.com/upload/20120315/Wood_Lazy_Susan_office_desk_accessories.jpg – This is a great way to show off multiple pieces of scrimshaw on the fronts.

– Desktop Name Plate (available from Amazon) would work out great with scrimshaw on either side or both,

– Notepad Caddy (also available from Amazon) has a nice space in the front for a large scene.

http://www.kyledesigns.com has a great set of desk accessories you could base your work on or replace the insignia with your own scrimshaw.

Sustainable Bamboo Pencil Holder (available at Amazon)

http://alwaysbasic.tumblr.com/post/9833230130/these-maple-accessories-are-simple-sturdy-and – Easily made by a woodworker or purchase and add scrimshaw. You’ll have to dig around http://houzz.com to find them or other inspiring ideas.
– This Desk Clock has room or a nautical scene or other scrimshaw below (via Amazon)

http://awards-gallery.com/shopping-cart/catalog/display-single-product.php?CSN=C62sP6zN2&PSN=C62sPq5sy&HATC=No&HPP=No – More Desk Accessories…

http://www.sawtoothideas.com/woodworking-plan/desks/cd-holder Plans – CD/DVD Holder. Also other great plans there, including a recipe box with a holder on the top.

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Using a magnet and your imagination (along with some scrimshaw) you can create a paperclip “organizer”. Is this where your ship ran aground?

This article was originally appeared on 1-17-2015 in the Scrimshaw.com newsletter. Get the latest information and inspiring templates free when you sign up for the scrimshaw.com newsletter

Oklahoma Attempts to Prevent the Future Poaching of Extinct Species

Posted on February 15, 2015February 15, 2015 by Andrew Perkins

Opinion

Oklahoma’s HB1787 is primarily aimed at preventing the sale of elephant ivory and rhino horn. Like New York and New Jersey they also hope to prevent the sale of mammoth ivory – the tusks of an animal that has not roamed the earth for at least four thousand years. Mammoth ivory is discernible by the Schreger Lines when cut cross-wise as well as by other means (see Robert Weisblut‘s site for more information) as noted in the US Fish and Wildlife’s guide.

It’s easy to entertain conspiracy theories where the government or some other entity with deep pockets and some geeks who are good with genomics are planning on bringing these furry beasts back, especially with the amount of snow we’ve been getting in the northeast, but the real issue is the livelihood of craftspeople, artisans and others who use this finite supply of material to ply their trade. Knifemakers, jewelers, carvers and others all use this material which reaches the surface annually thanks to frost heaves.

So what do we do – have Alaskans and Canadians gather this material and burn it, possibly powder it and use it for fertilizer? I hear there are even older fossils out there, buried in the earth in sedimentary rock – perhaps we should make trilobite fossils illegal as well.

Of Scrimshaw and Scrimshanders

Posted on February 6, 2015February 8, 2015 by Andrew Perkins

Steve Shane of Falmouth will present “Scrimshaw and Scrimshanders: How Whalers spent their off hours” on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m., at the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Rockland, Maine. This is a free program as per the Penobscot Bay Pilot

Jason Webb’s Second Mammoth Scrimshaw Sailing Ship – SOLD

Posted on January 17, 2015January 31, 2015 by Andrew Perkins

Jason Webb is a new dad but still finds time to scrimshaw beautiful works of art. His second mammoth ivory ship has Jason’s signature style. At 4″x 2-1/2″ it’s astounding how much detail is packed into the piece without making it too “busy”. Jason has a keen eye for balance as well.

The piece is signed and dated by Jason, and comes with it’s own stand (which I believe may be mahogany, but you’ll need to verify that with him). Inquiries can be made to Jason by emailing [email protected] with “Mammoth 2” in the subject line. Congratulations on your fatherhood Jason, and to finding the small pockets of time to recharge with a creative outlet like scrimshaw and sharing it with everyone.

Update: 1/31/2015 Jason’s second sailing ship on Mammoth ivory has sold. Have any designs you’d like Jason to create, or have a special scrimshaw project in mind? You can contact Jason at [email protected].

Basket Topper Coloring and Setting

Posted on January 4, 2015January 4, 2015 by Andrew Perkins

Finished my present to my lovely bride – she requested lavender and blue for the flowers so I set to work. Below are the progressive pics up through gluing and the finished product.

[Show slideshow]

The scrimshaw “basket topper” was made of casein plastic, the best alternative to ivory we’ve found to date, though we keep looking. The basket was purchased some time ago at basketville in Vermont, though we recently found another basket maker who creates wonderful baskets on Etsy by the name of DiannesBaskets.