Diamond Willow + Antler Tee Handle Cane

Rustic splender well done.

Interesting forms and nice rosey hues of the Diamond Willow. Do you hunt for your own? I don’t believe I’m in an area that grows them, but I understand it takes a lot of walking and hunting to find good ones.

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

Really nice form to this stick. Great choice of accent peices

-- Tim, Tallahasse FL

Very nice. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with some diamond willow that a friend brought back from Alaska. It’s a fascinating wood. I have never seen an opportunity to buy any. However, I still have one piece in the garage from a friend. I can’t decide what to do with it.

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.

I like the leather thong detail.

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

mmh – yes I sure do ‘hunt’ for my own DW . I am lucky that my job requires that I drive roughly 200-300 km a day in the country side. But it helps to know where to look. DW likes to be at the waters edge , so look for it at the edge of rivers, lakes, sloughs or dugouts. Anywhere it can keep it’s roots wet but it’s bark at it’s base will dry out. But here’s the problem, according to Bob Gander, there are 100 species of willow in North America [ http://carverscompanion.com/Ezine/Vol2Issue2/BobGander/DiamondWillow.html ] and only a few species develop diamonds, and not all of those 3 or so species become infected by the attack of fugus Valsa sordida [ or possibly more types of fungus].
And of those 3 willow species or so, you ‘have’ to walk up to each clump of willow to look for the diamonds under the bark, because one clump of willow may have diamonds but the clumps on all 4 sides of it may have no diamonds at all ! The willow you should watch for is a bush 8-12 feet high, and it’s stem [shaft] is fairly straight with space between the stems with in it’s clump. Willow grows in clumps about 3 feet around with maybe a foot or two space between clumps. Other willow may have lesser diamonds, or none. but is shorter 5-8 feet tall but more twisted and tangled, and thier wood tends to be softer. From a distance this years new growth tends to be reddish in colour at it’s tips. If you wish I could take a few pictures of what willow looks like for you, just let me know or here a few links to check out-
http://carverscompanion.com/Ezine/Vol3Issue3/BobGander/WillowJewelry.html
http://homepage.usask.ca/~reg772/
http://www.sticksite.com/find_sticks/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_willow

-- Everyday above ground is a good day.

I have the twin to this cane!
I bought three diamond willow sticks in Alaska.

-- Keep your fingers where the knife blade aint.

Very nice!

-- Todd Helmkamp, http://www.thornhillknifeworks.com