New Fiber Tools for Etsy

These are our newest tools to be listed on Etsy. The spindles and tatting shuttle are sold, but some of the alcohol ink pin cushions are still available. Thanks for taking a look!

Lightweight Oregon Myrtlewood Burl and Jatoba Top Whorl Drop Spindle

Dave has crafted the 2 1/4 inch diameter notched whorl of this lightweight mini top whorl drop spindle from Oregon myrtlewood burl, and the 9 3/4 inch shaft from jatoba. A brass hook has been added to the top.

When constructing his spindles, Dave mounts the spindle whorl blank on the shaft, and then turns and shapes the whorl and shaft together to achieve a well balanced spindle. In addition, he further spin balances each spindle by embedding a counterweight, when needed, in the underside of the whorl.

The weight of this beautiful handspinning tool is 0.8 ounces (25 grams).

Beautiful Akha Spindles

The Akha style spindle is a new spindle for Grizzly Mountain Arts.  This type of spindle originated with the Akha people, an indigenous hill tribe that live in small villages at high altitudes in the mountains of Thailand, Burma, Laos, China, and Yunnan Province in China.

Dave has crafted the whorls of his Akha spindles from beautiful Spectra-Ply to reflect the bright, colorful textiles created by the Akha people.  He has used birch for the shafts, and brass was used to make the hooks.  Please click on each photo to go to our Etsy shop for more views of each spindle.

Vintage Reproduction French Style Support Spindle Sets

These new vintage reproduction French style support spindles were recently listed in our Etsy shop.  The woods used are maple, paduak and walnut.

There are a variety of antique French style spindles, but this style caught Dave's eye while looking at some photos in a vintage spindle group.  He has crafted this French style support spindle with random coves and grooves to give it an authentic period appearance.  Thus, no two spindles of this type made by Dave, will be the same.

Our support spinning bowls combine the efficiency of a ceramic surface with the stability of a wide beautiful wooden base. The ceramic insert measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the gorgeous base is approximately 3 inches in diameter and 2 inches in height. The ceramic spinning bowl inserts were decorated by hand with accent glazes and kiln fired. Cork has been added to the bottom of this bowl to keep the wood from scratching other hard surfaces.

New Phang Support Spindles

Jatoba was the wood used by Dave to craft the beautiful phang support spindle shown on the left.  Fossil mammoth ivory has been inlayed around this beautiful handspinning tool.  The phang on the right was crafted from ash.  Dave chose turquoise as the inlay material for this spindle.

Eucalyptus Burl and Cocobolo Mini Top Whorl Drop Spindle

Dave has crafted the 1 7/8 inch diameter notched whorl of this mini top whorl drop spindle from eucalyptus burl, and the 7 3/4 inch shaft from cocobolo. A brass hook has been added to the top. Brass inlay has been added to some of the voids in the burl. The weight of this beautiful handspinning tool is 0.8 ounces.  Additional photos can be seen in our Etsy shop.

New Andean/Peruvian Style Bottom Whorl Drop Spindles

Six new Andean style reproduction spindles have been added to our Etsy shop!  Andean spindles are suspended drop spindles with no frills...no hook, no notches and no grooves. They were developed to spin long-staple alpaca and other camelid fibers native to the Andes. Spinning is done off the side using a half hitch.  

Moose Antler Ogham Blessing Whorl Support Spindle

"A blessing on the soul" is the inscription that Dave has carved into the 1 1/2 inch diameter moose antler whorl of this Takli support spindle.  This 8th century Ogham blessing was first discovered on an ancient spindle whorl in Buckquoy, Birsay, Orkney, Scotland in 1970.

The ebony shaft measures 9 1/2 inches in length, and the weight of this beautiful handspinning tool is 0.9 ounces (25 grams).  Additional photos can be seen in our Etsy shop.

**Moose antlers are naturally shed each year, so no moose were harmed to create this spindle.**

The Druid's Egg Tagua Nut and Brazilian Cherry Bead Whorl Support Spindle with Matching Support Bowl

This matching set of handspinning tools includes a vegan ivory tagua nut Druid's egg support spindle, and a ceramic and Brazilian cherry spinning bowl. Please note that the tagua nut Druid's Egg cannot be turned while mounted on the shaft, therefore each spindle may have a slight wobble.

The tagua nut, also known as vegetable ivory, was beautifully carved by Dave to represent a Druid's Egg. He has crafted the 10 inch long shaft from Brazilian cherry. The weight of this supported bead whorl spindle is 1.1 ounces (30g).

Our originally designed support spinning bowl combines the efficiency of a ceramic surface with the stability of a wide beautiful wooden base. The ceramic bowl measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the gorgeous Brazilian cherry base is 2 3/4 inches in diameter. Cork has been added to the bottom of this bowl to keep the wood from scratching other hard surfaces.  Additional photos can be seen in our Etsy shop.

The Druid's Egg Tagua Nut and Brazilian Cherry Bead Whorl Support Spindle with Matching Support Bowl

This matching set of handspinning tools includes a vegan ivory tagua nut Druid's egg support spindle, and a ceramic and Brazilian cherry spinning bowl. Please note that the tagua nut Druid's Egg cannot be turned while mounted on the shaft, therefore each spindle may have a slight wobble.

The tagua nut, also known as vegetable ivory, was beautifully carved by Dave to represent a Druid's Egg. He has crafted the 10 inch long shaft from Brazilian cherry. The weight of this supported bead whorl spindle is 1.0 ounces (29g).

Our originally designed support spinning bowl combines the efficiency of a ceramic surface with the stability of a wide beautiful wooden base. The ceramic bowl measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the gorgeous Brazilian cherry base is 2 3/4 inches in diameter. Cork has been added to the bottom of this bowl to keep the wood from scratching other hard surfaces.

Please visit our Etsy shop to see additional photos of these handspinning tools.

Spindles and Bowls

We have added several new spindles and support spinning bowls to our Etsy shop this evening.  Andean style bottom whorl drop spindles and two Tibetan support spindles with matching bowls as seen in the photo above can be found here.

New Andean/Peruvian Style Drop Spindles

Four new Andean style drop spindles were listed in our Etsy shop this evening.  Andean spindles are suspended drop spindles with no frills...no hook, no notches and no grooves. They were developed to spin long-staple alpaca and other camelid fibers native to the Andes. Spinning is done off the side using a half hitch.


Dave has made these spindles in the same affordable and basic fashion as the original Andean spindles with one exception--he mounts the spindle whorl blank on the shaft, and then turn and shape the whorl and shaft together to achieve a well balanced spindle. Dave's reading and research on Andean spindles indicates that the whorls are shaped first, and then fitted on a hand shaped (sometimes not too straight) shaft. He assumes that one benefit of this is that once a shaft is worn out the whorl can be removed and fitted to a new shaft, but he just cannot bring himself to make a spindle that wobbles, so these whorls are permanently fixed and balanced.

0.8 Ounce Wormy Maple Top Whorl Drop Spindle

Dave has crafted the 2 7/8 inch diameter notched whorl of this top whorl drop spindle from wormy maple, and the 9 inch shaft from walnut. A brass hook has been added to the top.  The weight of this beautiful handspinning tool is 0.8 ounces.  Additional photos can be viewed in our Etsy shop.

Carved Moose Antler and East Indian Rosewood Rim Weighted Top Whorl Drop Spindle

**Due to export restrictions of wildlife materials, we cannot ship products crafted from antler outside of the U.S.**

This unique 1.1 ounce moose antler rim weighted top whorl drop spindle has been intricately carved by Dave with his signature leaf motif. The notched whorl measures 1 5/8 inches in diameter, and the East Indian rosewood shaft is 7 1/4 inches in length. The end of the shaft has been shaped to accommodate a half hitch and a brass hook has been added to the top.  Additional photos can be seen here.

**Moose antlers are naturally shed each year, so no moose were harmed to create this spindle.**

The Druid's Egg Tagua Nut and Hickory Bead Whorl Support Spindle with Figured Maple Support Bowl

This matching set of handspinning tools includes a vegan ivory tagua nut Druid's egg support spindle and a ceramic and figured maple spinning bowl. Please note that the tagua nut Druid's Egg cannot be turned while mounted on the shaft, therefore each spindle may have a slight wobble.

The tagua nut, also known as vegetable ivory, was beautifully carved by Dave to represent a Druid's Egg. He has crafted the 9 1/2 inch long shaft from hickory, and adorned it with a ring of turquoise. The weight of this supported bead whorl spindle is 1.1 ounces (29g).

Our originally designed support spinning bowl combines the efficiency of a ceramic surface with the stability of a wide beautiful wooden base. The ceramic bowl measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the gorgeous figured maple wooden base is 2 3/4 inches in diameter. Cork has been added to the bottom of this bowl to keep the wood from scratching other hard surfaces.

Ambrosia Maple Mini Tibetan Support Spindles with Matching Bowls

This is a new item and wood for Grizzly Mountain Arts!  Each ambrosia maple set is unique and one-of-a-kind.  Unlike spalted maple, which exhibits patterns caused by fungi often softening the wood making it "punky", the unique patterns found in ambrosia maple are caused by boring insects which often leave holes, channels and uniquely colored tracks throughout the wood.  The holes and voids found in some pieces allow for the artistic inlay of materials such as turquoise, brass, copper and silver.

Accompanying each spindle, is one of our originally designed support spinning bowls that combines the efficiency of a ceramic surface with the stability of a wide beautiful wooden base. The ceramic insert measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the gorgeous ambrosia maple base is 2 3/4 inches in diameter and 2 inches in height.

All of the sets shown above have been sold.

Oregon Myrtlewood Tibetan Support Spindle and Spinning Bowl

This Tibetan style supported spindle was crafted by Dave from Oregon myrtlewood.  The matching support spinning bowl is also myrtlewood.  Both the spindle and bowl feature Dave signature pyrographed leaf motif.

Tiger Maple Tibetan Lite Support Spindle with Wormy Maple Spinning Bowl

This beautiful little "Tibetan Lite" support spindle weights 1.0 ounces (28 grams). The hickory shaft measures about 10 1/2 inches in length and the whorl, which is crafted from tiger maple, measures about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

Accompanying this spindle, is a variation of our originally designed support spinning bowl that combines the efficiency of a ceramic surface with the stability of a wide beautiful wooden base. While it still features our wide base and ceramic insert, this bowl has been raised with a short decorative spindle. The ceramic insert measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the gorgeous wormy maple base is 2 3/4 inches in diameter and 2 3/4 inches in height. Cork has been added to the bottom of this bowl to keep the wood from scratching other hard surfaces.

Cobalt Blue Glass Bead Whorl Spindle

Cobalt Blue Glass Bead Whorl Spindle

Dave has created this bead whorl spindle with a cobalt blue 34mm glass bead from India.  The holes of these large beads are fairly on center but you can expect some slight wobble in these spindles since the glass whorl cannot be shaped for balance on the shaft while turning on the lathe like wooded whorls.


Dave turned the spindle shaft which measures about 10 1/2 inches and weights about 1.9 ounces, from Brazilian Cherry wood.


Bead whorl spindles are designed and widely used to spin fine yarns. They are the most efficient style spindle for cotton and other short staple fibers such as cashmere and camel down.(Ref: Handspindles by Bette Hochberg).

Walnut, Cherry and Hard Maple Tibetan Support Spindle with Pyrography

Walnut, Cherry and Hard Maple Tibetan Support Spindle with Pyrography

Dave has crafted this 12 inch long Tibetan support spindle from walnut, cherry and hard mahogany. The rim of the walnut whorl has been adorned with a beautiful pyrographed rose and leaf motif. The shaft was crafted from cherry, and the point from hard mahogany. This gorgeous spindle weights 1.8 ounces (50 grams).