Aw...
thanks man...
me I'm never quite content with what I've done personally or professionally and am always trying to do either sublimely perfect simpler pieces or more insanely complex work...or a balance 'tween the 2.

The photos really don't do the work justice...the lighting sucks and the enlargement to see the detail is deceptive. The real joy is holding any piece in the hand...looking at it...feeling the texture of the work...the proportionately the weight feels real without being heavy.
And the nice thing about antler...compared to metal...or gem or stone...even woods..it isn't cold..... it holds the warmth of the holder...the wearer. It feels alive. All around the stuff looks old...feels old...feels hmm timeless when it is in your hand...it grounds you..makes you feel more ...real...more present..(if that could be described as a feeling) and at the same time...I swear it pulls you out of your body...in this time....and makes you "see it" buried or exposed or dug up or found by another... God alone knows when from now.
A bit unnerving but at the same time a real feeling of permanence ...hmm..........like when you are going for a swim at the river...and hanging onto a rock in the middle and feeling the fast current..the tow pull at you...YOU aren't the rock...the piece IS.....by holding the piece ..you feel you are just trying to hang on ...to be present with that permanence in the fast flowing river of time....THAT is the feeling it pulls out of you...it is ...interesting..

Haha
probably accounts for my writings...how I explain myself ...express myself in posting in our forum...

In my 1st original unabridged very long 2 post -post I in brief mentioned it's only vulnerabilities and another example of it's wonders...

A- Constant (overexposure) long term immersion in water will slowly disintegrate antler...or wearing jewelry repeatedly while showering will strip it of the oils that moisturize it. Handling it re-moisturizes it to an extent..from the natural oils in the hand...but after serious exposure (ie. a shower) ...it's the continuous abuse without remoisturizing that will dry it out....normally a couple drops of baby oil rubbed in by hand will keep it fresh....especially if it is being continuously handled and exposed to enviroment

B- Leaving a piece on a window sill, a radiator, or a car dash will not destroy the piece per se...but it will fracture it...the energy of the heat from refracted sunlight...from a radiator...will build up as an energy inside the piece until it snaps. Weird huh?...It can take incredible extremes...but it can't take that.

The Lost Quick story removed from the 1st post.
I will show one of these pieces in the upcoming demo.
Ahem...about 18 years ago..up at my mountain shop...I was sitting in the sunshine on my porch ..carving outside...a whack of small pieces destined for inlay and such...I had about hmm...40 or 50 done...and as usual toss them at the end of the day into my ball cap and carry them home...unbeknownst to me at the time on my way home about 6 or 7 fell out ...and were lost...I got home ...and was sure I had carved more than I had...but couldn't find them...until 11 years ago walking up to my studio porch in the big hills...I saw something sticking up out of the ground...just a bit...and it was THIS little guy...



partially buried with 6 of his friends completely buried...Picked them up cleaned the dirt off...and they were...are still (couldn't part with them after their ordeal ) perfectly fine...really a pinprick of time in their lifespan...lost and buried....and that was just my cute lil' old experience with ones I made.

Wait for the demo(s)...all around I am sure it will help give more of a ...an understanding ...a feeling of relativity... than environmentally isolated photos under an extreme false lighting....the demos will be ready as time permits in between working on the part....I do see though physic demonstration as being a better representation of the material and it's qualities as being imperative to a greater understanding of it's applications. "Saying it" or showing photos is one thing..."Seeing it" displayed in action ...in real time....... is an eye opener.
The demos will floor you I am sure.