Post #275682 by Tamapoutini on Sat, Dec 30, 2006 1:49 PM

Hey Tiki friends.

Thanks Alien: The Cartoonish one drawn up there is the origial of that particular style & still as you see it there. Im planning to keep that one for myself as I like the Madness of it myself.

Ben/JP: Im no expert on the Old bindings but do know that there were no holes in the toki-blades; occasionally notches or grooves at the butt-end to assist in holding the binding however. Smaller whao/chisels/gouges were either handheld or pushed straight into a shaft (with a hollow to accommodate) & again used by hand; no mallet.

Back home but well & truly stuck in holiday mode: I think production is over for 2006, but once the New Years hangover passes Ill have no excuses...

During our Christmas holiday out of town I retreived a large Hei-tiki from a gallery to try on eBay (ahem!). This piece was actually made a couple of years ago & after seeing it again was surprised at how nice it is (must have taken forever but I hardly remember making it!? - one of 'those' ones Ben :wink:)

The eyes are painted with a bake-on enamel modellers paint to represent the sealing wax used in antiquity. The stone is British Colombian jade (we have a local importer) which I used a lot more often in my early career - much cheaper & better quality than what is commonly available in NZ jade; a perfect material for the beginner though understandably not as popular in NZ.

Hope you likee & it suffices until production gets rolling again.

*A few changes planned for '07, a website being one of the priorities. Finally thought of a business name-change last night & have secured the domain name for it. Ill keep you posted...

Take care & have a safe New Years!! Tama :)