Many of our tools are made to order to maintain the quality and craftsmanship Arrow Springs is known for. This may result in extended processing times. If you are teaching a class please call to let us know the date so we can make sure your tools arrive on time.
From the talented creations of Michael Barley's Baleen series of beads comes the Arrow Springs line of Barley Baleen Tools. When Michael visited the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, Washington and saw a display of baleen, the filtering structure in the mouth of baleen whales, he was intrigued and inspired to incorporate the pattern as a design element into his beadwork. Today, Michael's Baleen Bead designs are world renowned for their beauty.
Up until now, Michael has always used the Sharon Shaper as the primary tool for forming the baleen design element. Arrow Springs has designed five new tools to complement the Sharon Shaper. Like the Sharon Shaper, which is a sharp edged razor tool, four of the new tools are curved to each have a different radius, and a fifth tool is corrugated. The tools are available through Arrow Springs and an eighteen page tutorial is available from Michael on his Etsy web page. It is an excellent tutorial with clear step-by-step instruction and plenty of color pictures. The second to last page shows examples of Michael's Baleen Beads using the Sharon Shaper, while the last page shows examples of Michael's Baleen Beads using the newly available Barley Baleen Tools.
The first bead on page 18 of Michael's tutorial was made using the Barley Curve Razor Tool #2. Curve Razor Tool #1 has a tighter radius. #3 has a larger radius than #2 and #4 is larger than #3. The second bead on the page was made with the Barley Wave Razor Tool. Of course, the use of these tools is not limited to just making Barley Baleen beads. They can be used for any lampworking application.
Michale's Etsy Web page: http://www.etsy.com/shop/michaelbarley
