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Firs attempt at these, next project are Mukluk's so was essential to get some practice. Made from Bovine,coated in Mink oil. Bison will be use for my next project. Added a second piece for the sole to add to durability. First test walk I found the heal needed to be thicker, gonna put some crepe rubber on their so it lasts, just have to shave the base so glue sticks. It was a learn as you go experience.

Firs attempt at these, next project are Mukluk's so was essential to get some practice. Made from Bovine,coated in Mink oil. Bison will be use for my next project. Added a second piece for the sole to add to durability. First test walk I found the heal needed to be thicker, gonna put some crepe rubber on their so it lasts, just have to shave the base so glue sticks. It was a learn as you go experience.

Firs attempt at these, next project are Mukluk's so was essential to get some practice. Made from Bovine,coated in Mink oil. Bison will be use for my next project. Added a second piece for the sole to add to durability. First test walk I found the heal needed to be thicker, gonna put some crepe rubber on their so it lasts, just have to shave the base so glue sticks. It was a learn as you go experience.

Firs attempt at these, next project are Mukluk's so was essential to get some practice. Made from Bovine,coated in Mink oil. Bison will be use for my next project. Added a second piece for the sole to add to durability. First test walk I found the heal needed to be thicker, gonna put some crepe rubber on their so it lasts, just have to shave the base so glue sticks. It was a learn as you go experience.

Here are two quivers, one simple with just fringes and a tatanka - no need to translate this word if you saw Dances with Wolves, and one fully decorated with fur, horse hair, feathers and lizard skin, and an archery arm protector covering entirely the forearm for maximum protection. To draw the pattern for the arm protector was everything but easy, therefore I'll post it later on if it appears that some of you are interested once I am sure I have not lost it (searches to be done in my archives.) Photos are a bit better on my website since I was less limited concerning their size. I made a few others, but most found new owners (sold or offered) before I took any photo.

Last post for today before going at the restaurant for diner with friends (yes, diner if you check the time of the post: I live in Europe and Earth is not flat), a large bag (approximately 50 cm or 20" wide at the top) which the decoration is once more obviously inspired by Native cultures. I chose to stylise the buffalo skull, being everything but confident in the result if I had attempted to make one more realistic. Realism is I think much easier to achieve with tooling and dyeing, techniques I do not have tried yet, therefore a bit of abstract was more appropriate. I went to some North and South Dakota reservations with it at fall 1996, where I gave a hand for a few days on a housing project with Habitat for Humanity (in Eagle Butte, Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation) and many people approached me to inquire where I got it. I consider this was a compliment. Thank them and may Wakan Tanka bless them.

I present here the two first prayer pipes (also called elbow pipes) I ever made, having carved the bowls in steatite (soap stone) - I never carved stone before that. The stems are made of various wood and materials, and those interested to know more about these pipes and how they are made can find a full description with more and better photos on my website. They are shown here with the pouches I made later on. These pouches are made of cow leather lined with a coated cloth and the decorations are of various stuff: hairy foal skin, dyed snake skin, chicken leg skin (I didn't even know it exists before I found some on an online shop!), glass beads (loom with heddle beading) and gemstone beads, feathers, hairpipes, fox fur, Corian... Fully hand sewn and own design with obviously and once more a strong Native Influence (many years ago a psychic,however right on so many things that could be verified, told me it was the very first time I was living as a white man! After all, perhaps that this influence comes from outside and inside...?)

Today I post various belt pouches, already planning to post later on the patterns for whoever would be interested to make some. A belt pouch was a much need for me when I was younger as I had the tendency to forget my wallet everywhere: At home, in bars, at friend's, in restaurants, at work in the locker rooms... Once secured in a belt pouch I cannot lose my wallet anymore... Unless I also forget my pants!, what luckily never happened so far (I never had to leave in such a rush a woman's home because the husband came back earlier than supposed. How serious I am. ) The blue one was made in 1996 and I have worn it every single day since then, even at work in tough conditions (boat building and construction), having little confidence into locker rooms, too many workmates having been stolen. It is by now very dirty and most of the decorations have gone but it remains in good condition promising many more years of service. The yellow was sold. In fact it was swapped for the replacement of the cylinder head gasket of my old Ford with one of my neighbors, a car mechanic whom the wife is also a fond of Native cultures - I always insist to add an s at the end of Culture when talking about Native people. More photos of it and a detailed description can be seen on my website. I made the one with its belt to offer them to a Lakota (Sioux) from North Dakota I was in touch with. The last one is very simple, no decoration but the stitched arabesques on the flap. It is lined with a coated cloth. Fully hand sewn, therefore time consuming although simple. Drop me a line if you are interested by the patterns. Thanks.