Make Cool Stuff Carving IVORY! (Part Deux) (Anchorage: home, purchase)

[SityData]

Here we are: here we go again. Work @ home ( Part One ).. in your spare time, using raw materials to make Arts & Crafts.

It doesn't matter which material you use to work with. We just happen to prefer ivory because of its huge demand all over the world.

Our latest find & purchase of 'fossil ivory'. It is not often we acquire such a beautiful piece.

[SityData]

The introduction to this thread are the 3 images above.

We will show you step by step what we did with these pieces.

but first I want to show you step by step; a recent request & order we received here in Anchorage.

The request: A pair of detailed Feather -typeear-rings. There many different 'pictures' that request resembles and I am not sure what they want.

But as with any design you choose. First you have to have something to go by to draw or trace on the material you are going to use.




Here we are using what we call a feather for the purpose of this 'how to series'. This is the template... trace it on the material. This is child's play, anyone is capable of doing this (or any portion) of these simple steps.


The next step is obvious, IN any manner which you choose; cut out those shapes and smooth the excess material from the template design.




Take your time, quality is the end result if you follow these simple steps;

Six bracelets are also in the works from the first three images posted @ the beginning. I have lots of photos & videos to post !!

YOU can duplicate any of the results we achieve just by following ALL of the simple steps we post.

[SityData]

The next four steps are all pretty straight-forward and simple to accomplish.







NOTICE: how the ivory is shaped up to; but not including the line. You will also notice how; the ivory is marked for the exact thickness by using a piece already (template) in place for this purpose.



The steps are simple to understand and there are many different ways and methods to accomplish the same thing using other type tools.




This is the fun part; adding the detail. As a rule: the more detail added the higher the 'value' of the final product.





Shaping the 'vein' of the middle of the feather (which is raised).

remove all sharp edges and round them off slightly.







The final remaining steps will be included in the next post.

[naturesdreams]

Nicely put together Sity...

patience and practice... very nice choice for your design too...

[SityData]

The final touches






After the 1/16th small hole is drilled, super glue is added and the stud is inserted to dry before the final loop finding is attached







Once the glue is applied - merely push the stud in and set it down to dry.





The loop is attached to the stud to finish the ear-ring after the final polishing of the piece of ivory to a brilliant shine. It is the shine that sells.




The finished product all packed up - ready to go.. .. someplace!

[SityData]

The first cuts we made with this piece of fossil ivory reveal two things;

This was a male walrus tusk. The first cut we made shows the dark brown deeply embed right up to the core.




Cutting at the opposite end reveals a different color and not as dark



You can easily see that this portion of the ivory is very light. Dunk em into the 'soup' overnight and the difference is incredible!!





These pieces we will let soak for a day or two in baby oil or mineral oil to bring out the colors and patterns much darker shades.



The next day we see a marked profound difference with the colors and the spikes.






We shape out all our pieces and get them all ready for the great lineup.
Prefab all the pieces and work with all of them at once. You will get a lot more production if you work on more than one at a time. In the beginning of course you must settle for one at a time until you pick up the basic skills.






Now we are ready to 'run' some bracelets through all the steps to complete them. This is very beautiful ivory to work with.






Here are some new results of what we did @ home! Guess what happens when we merely show these to people? They are gone in a flash!




IN fact as soon as these were posted; the bracelets themselves were gone. Xpress mail to Louisiana !

[starlite9]

Nice work! Should be really proud of your boys!

[SityData]

Originally Posted by starlite9

Nice work! Should be really proud of your boys!

That is an understatment, to which I can only think of one word to say: AMEN! (which means) RIGHT ON!!

[SityData]

Quality is our #1 aim. Make each piece; 'perfect' as close as possible to being exact with all of the different pieces. Any deviance; will show immediately. Each piece must match.





When you display quality such as these young artists create. Nothing needs to be said.

[SityData]

The way to create pieces that are all identical in each and every aspect, is to do the same things the exact same manner time and time again. Proper technique is a discipline. It takes 'time' to achieve that discipline.

That means every time you do this particular step you do not vary in your methods. Learn how to cut down on the amount of time needed to produce the final result. You have plenty of time to 'think' as you perform these simple steps. What can you do better ? faster ? T.T.T.T.T.

"Take The Time To Think" You will be very surprised at what you can come up with.



We got some new Ivory today; (about time) something really good. We have lots of work to do to get ready for AFN.

You cannot discern or perceive how wide this white tusk is.. It weighs a hefty four 1/2 pounds.

The ten inch fossil piece has much the same colors as the last piece of brown fossil ivory we displayed earlier.



I am always getting on my sons work habits as very sloppy, clean up this mess; Don't work in it; all you are doing is spreading that dust all over the place. Clean up your work area. It is much more satisfying on the eyes when you work in a neat area vs. a messy dirty area. The final product is nothing more than a presentation of your 'work habits'.











These boys think I am blind. He won't see that dust ... OH believe me I am always on their backs for properly doing ALL the required necessary steps and taking the time to clean up your area and always keep it updated and cleaned as you work; It only takes a second; with a small vacumn cleaner to get all that dust .. .. gone!