Holly Staff (Craft)

[Robb Hawklord]

I'll add some detail pics to the gallery the pic below links through to




Robb

Link edited 26/10/04

[Azrienoch]

It looks wonderful, Robb! After I clicked on the picture's link, I clicked on the larger picture that came up, and I was able to see more of the details. What kind of crystal ball is in the fork? What did you wrap the upper part of the staff with?
I'm always amazed at other people's works, and this staff is no exception. I can't wait to see the details!

P.S. Bring it on!

[Robb Hawklord]

Thank you Az.

The Holly came from a disuesd Local Authority Nursery, it was a sucker that appeared to have no foliage as far as I could see (the main tree, yes tree, is about 40 foot high). I had been looking for a nice piece of holly and pass by the nursery every day (its a 5 minute walk from my house), and was compelled to stop the car one day, went for a nosey round and there it was one of about 10 suckers off the main tree roots. I offered thanks after surveying it, then cut it neatly so as not to allow rot to get to the root stock, and started to pull the remainder down out of the canopy, at 15 foot, oops there were leaves, but alas I had made the cut.

What you call the fork is a crown of 5 branches, which just so happens to be the exact same size as my palm, so I cut the upper part of these branches leaving myself enough to work on. Unfortunately trees dont grow how you would like them too, so what is the thumb is more the diameter of my little finger and vice versa, its my left hand btw.

The Crystal is a rough amethyst, but is not fixed in as I had charged the staff at Stonehenge, but was not allowed to take it up to the stones, so I didnt get chance to discharge it there, and it didnt like the crystal I bought for it a week later, its quite happy to have cuddles the bear (hiding behind the axe) sit in its hand though.

The inlay is chromed craft wire, and the Celtic Knot is made of Pewter, put on temporarilly for the solstice in the position I wanted it, with Araldite, and now is permanently in the same place coz I cant get it off!!

The wood itself is treated like this

1) Extra virgin Olive Oil for a hint of green into the wood
2) Beeswax about 4 applications and finally
3) Boiled Linseed Oil

Further care is a regular coat of beeswax - I use a soft one made for waterproofing Leather (and lubricating the zip on my diving Drysuit)

I'll post up when the details are on the gallery, I dont want to be using too much of someone elses bandwidth, so I'll just put a link through to them.

Now what to do with the 8 foot oak (it was 9 foot but cit a piece to make a new handle for the sword in the pic, cheap almost balsa type on it, needed heavier for better balance), dont worry that was definately a dead sapling, full of Honey Fungus beneath bark too, should give some wonderful graining, which reminds me theres some nice fungal graining on the Holly, I'll put that up too.

I have also got a Beech Staff, and that is made for the purpose that Beech Staffs are used - combat. Also a Smaller Birch one for my 'Teenage Druid Wannabe' daughter, I'm just pointing the way for her, she has to discover the path properly herself.

Ok rambling on an on

Blessings

Robb

ps I sent Alferian pics of it soon after I cut it, before I did the Manicure

[Robb Hawklord]

OK Az

All the detail pics are there now just click on image above to go to my Eisteddford gallery



Hawky

Forgot to add, this is a short staff, I can put my hands across the top and rest my jaw on it, stops those give away jaw drops

[Azrienoch]

Those are really great! It's got a lot of personality.

[Ruthie]

Wow, you're right, it really does look like a hand!
Very beautiful
MC

[Robb Hawklord]

When I went to Stonehenge, I lost count how many asked if I would sell it. It was a good feeling getting asked, but also felt it insulting somehow - a staff is personal, its part of you and should be your own creation - after all, the wood tells you what it wants and what it doesn't.

Could do with some patience and decent carving tools, make it a lot easier for me. I used a divers knife to strip the bark, a fret saw for shaping and grooving for the inlay, a Stanley knife for finer shaping and glasspaper for the finish. Oh yeah, a drill for the holes to hold the wire ends.

Thanks for the appreciation, it is much appreciated (that sounds corny, and the grammer is.... yuk)

Hawky

[EarthWard]

Wow Robb. Great looking staff and you are one Druid that knows how to party by the looks of it.
Rock on Red Dragon!!!

[Alferian]

Hi Robb,

Very lovely! How marvelous to be able to consecrate it at Stonehenge. Thanks for the tale of how you harvested it. Sounds like a marvelous tree. Wish we had holly trees like that here in Minnesota!

Alferian

[Oaken]

This is wonderful! I don't yet have a staff, but I am so looking forward to it. I do love holly and have lots of it.

[fi]

Robb and Azrienoch, both the staffs are wonderful, you're really talented!

I have a piece of cherry drying out in my garage but don't have a clue how to go about turning it into a staff. Would one of you guys mind posting up simple instructions in the Arts and Crafts section? I did try googling but ended up getting totally confused. Strip off the bark now or later, seal the ends, don't seal the ends arrrgh!!

[Niht-Wyrd]

I am very much a "staff" person Robb, and yours is wonderful, and a lovely story to boot.

From the Witches' hills,

Craig.

[Caritas]

oh yes - I really liked this one.

Nice digs, too!

[Robb Hawklord]

Craig, Ta muchly, hopefully should soon set out to work the Oak staff, its dried out nicely, as has the Birch.

Ceritas, I might get round to posting up a better view, as its not all Red in here!!! Honest. Thanks for both compliments.

Hawky

[Kaya-Nita]

Very well done Robb i like what you did, very simple not overly done up.

[Jeb]

Great staff! Love the inlay and the wire. Did you say the crystal is removable? What a cool idea. You could insert different crystals to match your current need. Very versatile.

[Saki]

Very impressive work. It does look like a hand, I like the gold wire wrapping it has.

You could enter this as craft and as photography. You do love your composition. The photograph has all the essential elements composition, loaded with symbolism, allusion, a good title - your tool kit. for..? makes you wonder. I like the red alot. From the other photos it looks like the dragon (Solstice) tapestry is actually blue.

[Robb Hawklord]

Hi Saki

Thank you very much.

Your right 'Lotusdragon' is Blue and Green with Ivory and Copper, it is also a Chinese made Wool Rug, but it seemed to attract dirt very easilly, so after an expensive cleaning job, I hung it on the wall.

As for the title, it sounded better than 'My Toys', and also the blades are quite sharp, and therefore not toys.

I was going to call it "Staffs Never AXE The DragonS WORD for DAGGER" but thought it was really bad.

Robb

[FallingLeaves]

Nice tool kit and loved the staff....please can I have one!!!