Custom Orders

Please note I am not currently accepting custom orders.

My custom orders list will be limited to 10 orders at a time. After orders are taken, a list will be posted at the bottom of this page. As orders are completed, I will remove them from the list, and will not take any additional orders until those 10 are completed. Before I begin taking custom orders, I will post the date and time when custom order requests can be sent in my group on Ravelry. Currently there is a limit of two items per order. I typically make one custom order per week, so that the maximum wait time to receive your order is approximately 10 weeks from the date I start work on that round of custom orders. Orders will generally, but not always, be completed in the sequence in which they are listed.

Ordering

If I am currently taking custom orders and you would like to place one, send an e-mail directly to [email protected]. Please include as much information as necessary, including the following:

Type of spindle
Type of wood(s) (CLICK HERE to see which woods are currently available for which types of spindles)
Approximate length (standard length is 9 1/2 to 10 1/2 inches and maximum length is 11 inches)
Approximate weight if that is important to you
A sample image of any design you would like to have added (the cost will be lower if you supply the design than if I have to create the design myself)
Your Paypal e-mail address

If you have no preference in one or more areas, let me know. Please be as specific as is necessary depending on what you would like to receive. If your request is for a Teacup with a burl whorl, for example, I will assume any burl will suffice, so if you only like specific burls please mention it in your request. If you instead would like to leave most of the creative process up to me and are only concerned with having a contrasting whorl and shaft, for example, let me know that as well (I'm a big fan of that, FYI). Please note that if you desire a particular weight, I will try to get as close as I can but I cannot guarantee an exact weight because once the spindle is removed from the lathe to weigh it, I cannot always ensure it is balanced once additional material has been removed to decrease the weight. I generally do not require a deposit except in rare circumstances, such as when wood needs to be special ordered and will not be used otherwise. Once I receive your order, I will send you an e-mail with any questions I may have and the cost of your order. If you need to change your order after it is placed, please let me know ASAP.

When your order is finished, I will invoice you through Paypal and send you an e-mail to let you know your order is finished. Payment is due within two weeks of the invoice date. If payment is not received within two weeks, your order will be cancelled and the finished items will be sold in a store update (i.e. you will forfeit your spot on the customs list). Payment can be made through Paypal via Paypal or credit card, or by mailed money order or check. Your order will be shipped after payment is received.

Painted or burned designs are available on most spindles except those made from burls or bog oak. I may rarely burn a design into a burl but will never paint one, as I believe the natural beauty of most burls is too exceptional to cover up. I do not paint or burn bog oak out of reverence for its aniquity. Thank you for your understanding.

Please note that some spindle designs are limited edition and are not available by custom order. Currently, this includes "claw wand" spindles and Jack bead spindles (Jack bead spindles will be available around Halloween and Christmas each year). Spindles are limited to 11 inches in length. This is due to several reasons, including the difficulty of ensuring a longer shaft is straight, the increased probability of warping, and the availability of appropriate shipping boxes and turning blanks. Also, I am no longer using gaboon ebony for spindle shafts, as I find it too susceptible to warping and it is on the IUCN red list as an endangered species. As an alternative, I would suggest Indian ebony, which is nearly identical in appearance and density to gaboon ebony, or African blackwood. African blackwood is often nearly black, and has the added benefits of being denser than gaboon ebony and more resistant to warping, having a more interesting although sometimes difficult to see grain pattern, and a subtle chatoyance.

When requesting your custom order, please keep in mind that variation is inherent in handmade items, especially those made from figured woods or which are hand dyed. When making a custom item, I use the best materials I have on hand (e.g. the most figured burl or the whitest holly) and craft the item with the same great care and attention to detail as any other. If you have a specific vision for your custom item, please be very specific in your request and I will do my best to meet your expectations. If the item does not meet your expectations, I will sell it in a store update and make one additional item. If that item also does not meet your expectations, your order will be cancelled to prevent other customers' custom orders from being delayed.

I reserve the right to refuse custom orders. This may happen, for example, if you request a type of spindle I do not currently make (new spindle designs take a significant amount of time to design and test), or an image design of a theme inconsistent with the rest of my work (I prefer to limit artwork added to spindles to nature and/or fantasy themes). If you think your custom order idea may be rejected, feel free to include some backup ideas with your order request and we can discuss. If you have an idea for a new spindle design, it is best to post your idea in the ISO with a twist thread in my Ravelry group.

Pricing

Spindles range in price from $40 (for basic Russian style spindles in common woods) to $120 USD, depending on the wood(s) used, the type of spindle, and any painted or burned design added. Bowls range from $20 for a basic flat-bottom spinning bowl to $100+ depending on the style of bowl and the wood(s) used. I combine shipping on multiple items and offer a small discount on spindle/bowl sets. Please contact me for a quote for custom orders.