Inuit inspired fid.

[Toddy]

Basically it's a strong spike; a strong, gently pointed, smooth surfaced, metal, wood or bone tool. The fid sometimes has a hollowed out channel on one side. The spike/fid allows one to spread apart ropes or basketry work without cutting, to pass another rope or rod through the space thus created.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[John Fenna]

I'm not going this year, I have family who are very ill, so I'm staying close to home. Wales is just too far to get home from if I'm needed.

Shall we see if Josh and Shewie might be available to pass things along ?

atb,
Mary

I am sorry to hear that Mary!
You are going to be missed!

 

[Wayland]

Mary, there is no rush. It could wait until the next time we meet if that is best for you.

I will be up in Edinburgh in the new year or you may be down for a meet at Murton Park at some time.

Time is not, or should not be a pressure upon us.

 

[mrcairney]

I LOVE this. I pretty much love everything you do Gary. Shows a great knowledge but also love of the history. Question is, where does one acquire whale bone?

 

[Toddy]

Thank you for the good wishes it is much appreciated.

Gary, I'll see about passing this stuff on to Grooveski or Stuart69 and if they'll pass it to Shewie then I think it'll get to you before I get a chance to visit Murton again.

John, I'll see that someone brings down Wee Jock, back from his holidays

cheers,
M

 

[Wayland]

I LOVE this. I pretty much love everything you do Gary. Shows a great knowledge but also love of the history. Question is, where does one acquire whale bone?

From Wales of course.....

Actually it was from a beach in Norway but I couldn't resist that.

 

[Shewie]

Question is, where does one acquire whale bone?

There's a couple of belters at Whitby, I'm sure they wouldn't notice if you borrowed one ...

http://www.visit-whitby.com/images/whalebone.jpg

 

[mrcairney]

HA! Yeah, I'll just rock up with a chisel eh?

Is it wrong that when I see something like this I think 'I have to make one of those!' this must be project #231244 that's in my head now.

PS. Gary - *groan* indeed!

 

[Retired Member southey]

Really nice piece matey!

 

[Wayland]

Snip> PS. Gary - *groan* indeed!

Sorry, couldn't resist that.

 

[Zingmo]

The ring is a bit of 2mm silver wire I had spare...

as you do!

I obviously have the wrong kind of spare stuff filling the garage!

I really like this. The seal looks like he is bringing you the ring. (once the thong is added he will look like he's hanging on for dear life!)

Z

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

It reminds me of a fishing plug I like it.

 

[Wayland]

Yes, I see what you mean. I hadn't thought of that.

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

I guess i see things different to most people. I blame the pixies

 

[Wayland]

Another picture that shows the overall shape a bit better.

 

[stekker]

Nice fid!
Art and function in one - ideal!

+ 1

Greetings Theo.

 

[Wayland]

Someone over on BcUSA told me that "The Inuit believe that if you do not make you work as beautiful as possible, you disrespect the spirits and are cursed with bad luck."

I'd never heard that before but it makes a great deal of sense when you look at the skill and craftsmanship that they put into their equipment.

 

[Tengu]

Yes. And they are also gadget freaks.

What would an Inuit do with a fid anyway? They did not produce baskets or nets.

 

[Retired Member southey]

I would guess for use with ropes, splicing and the like, but only a guess, maybe as an awl too,

 

[Wayland]

Notice the word inspired.

The tool this was inspired by was a hunting tool used to imitate a seal scratching the ice around a breathing hole intended to attract the resident seal to investigate.

Not the sort of tool I need...

I do however use a fid on frequent occasions so I used the seal head decoration on that instead.