Re: Hobbies... Other than obsessing over everything related to Joe :)
Jane H. wrote:that is awesome nmagcorn. i love the fact it was from a tree from your place makes it even more special
Not sure if it's a hobby, but I make Native American inspired "artifacts" with modern, available materials. I am not Native American, but proceed on the premise that they made things of usefulness and beauty from the materials available to them. I would in no way want to try and "copy" a true Native American artifact.
So I have made many medicine shields for family and friends that reflect my surroundings with materials that come from significant aspects of my life. My personal shield is made from '66 Chevy auto body cloth that depicts a scene of the moonlit waters of Lake Tahoe. It has a traditional Thunderbird icon in the full moon, but celebrates my life here at the Lake and the many wooden boats I have upholstered, including one called the Thunderbird. Entitled "Not All Thunderbirds Fly"
I have made many artifacts to celebrate the life and gifts of Black Elk, a Oglala Holy Man of the Lakota, who's book "Black Elk Speaks" both saved and changed my life many years ago. These include a breast plate made of pipes that are dyed rolled paper.
A tee pee made of boat cover material and trimmed in leather scraps from a boat named "Stardust" I also made a Lakota styled dress with scalp lock trims from horses that were close to my heart, mane and tail hair.
I have had the privilege of displaying them at a few Pow-Wows here at Lake Tahoe, and they were well received, because I wasn't trying to copy, but to express gratitude for the traditions, reflecting my own experiences.
Beside that, I have an life long devotion to horses which I have been sharing with kids thru a 4-H program I began 25 years ago.
The local kids get a cost free, hands on, comprehensive mountain horsemanship education on the last horse property in our area.
Many of the kids go on to work and earn their college money and some even go further than that working with horses.
Right now I am working on saddle bags and pack bags. I would like to see if I can find the right equipment to upholster speakers into the saddle bags and then be able to take Joe on the trail. I would bet that some sort of I pad/phone powered speaker system would fit the requirements, but sadly I am not very well versed in any of the new technology. Always ready to learn something new if I need to. Any suggestions of what might work, greatly appreciated!
Tahoe Jo
Hi Tahoe Jo, if you've upholstered wood boats do you work @ Sierra Boatworks by any chance? Are you on the North Shore or South?
Think Gar Woods,
J Dawg