After looking at my old 1st attempt at a fossil mammoth-ivory needle, I decided to re-create the second needle I made back in the mid-80s. Ergo, the new needle is here:
This is a fossil mammoth ivory needle 62 x 4 x 3mm, hole 4 x 1.5mm. Inlaid plug of stabilized turquoise. Anchored with DevCon high-strength epoxy tinted by NuPastel chalk. Polished with 300-grit garnet paper, 600-grit wet/dry sandpaper, and white oxide.
Working time approximately 4.5 hours.
I’m really happy about this piece. It’s better than the one I sold.
But if I’m getting back into nalbinding, I’m going to need a larger needle…
Added 8-26-2016: I redrilled the old needle and chopped it down to around 55mm. A bit of repolishing, and it’s a great companion to the turquoise inlaid needle.
I’m holding off making or buying the larger bone needles I want, because that would mean new distractions in nalbinding (Honey, I made you VIKING SOCKS) and expensive trips to every yarn store I know. And remembering how much I stupidly love carding fine wool and plant fiber.
I need to win a lottery just to handle my creative obsessions.