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1. The Calabash Project
701TM -PITCHED
702TM -GIFTED
703TM -NFS
704TM: -NFS
706TM - NFS
707TM- PITCHED
708 -NFS
709TM
715TM
716TM
C 07270
C 14262
C 54611
C 63230
Folding your Pocketmod
Other News
Pipe 10: NOV06 -SOLD-
Pipe 11: DEC06 -NFS
Pipe 12: DEC06
Pipe 4: OCT06 -SOLD-
Pipe 5: NOV06 -SOLD-
Pipe 6: NOV06 -NFS
Pipe 7: NOV06 -SOLD-
Pipe 8: NOV06 -NFS
Pipe 9: NOV06 -SOLD-
Testimonials
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TM Pipes, The Shop
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Thos. Martin
Shaping The Stummels
Monday, 9 April 2007
what I know I need to know
Topic: Other News
To summarize what I'm now learning, and accepting that I need to learn:
  1. Without the lathe especially... I need to strive toward perfect symmettry BEFORE trying to make a statement with asymmetry. Put another way, you can't embrace asymmetry as an excuse for not being able to be symetrical. Put another way- sort of-, learn the trade before the tricks of the trade.
  2. I need to make more such that I can make more mistakes.
  3. Sand with intention, sand mindfully, stop sanding when you reach the pipe.
  4. (to conclude the first lesson and bring us back to number one) A good round starts good and square. *

* As told to me by a master carver, as told to him, and so-on and so-on and so-on.


Posted by thos.martin at 11:29 AM EDT
Permalink
Saturday, 7 April 2007
Save the Calabash!
Topic: 1. The Calabash Project

Read my article: Save The Calabash, in the Sherlock Holmes Pipe Club of Boston, April 078 Newsletter.


Posted by thos.martin at 11:35 AM EDT
Permalink
Thursday, 5 April 2007
Wrapsacks: To Protect & to Serve
Topic: Other News

Not your grandfather's pipesocks:



Read how you can help The Calabash Project, and Save the Calabash!



 


Posted by thos.martin at 8:22 AM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 5 April 2007 8:51 AM EDT
Permalink
Tuesday, 3 April 2007
C 14262- First US Calabash in Decades!
Topic: C 14262

 This is the first of few calabashes for this year as the gourds out of Africa are in limited supply. The bag is 6.25" x 10.25" if that gives you perspective. The lattice bowl is reformed meerschaum and the stem is nylon. A beech veneer has since been added to the end of the gourd. Nice.

 The bag (C 14262) is from Wrapsacks and is uniquely numbered and allows the history/future of this pipe, or at least the bag/sock to be chronicled. This is the future of the Calabash!

Read how you can help The Calabash Project, and Save the Calabash!

 

 


Posted by thos.martin at 6:01 AM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 5 April 2007 8:53 AM EDT
Permalink
Monday, 2 April 2007
Sit! Good dog. (C 54611)
Topic: C 54611

This pipe was made under great personal duress, but a pearl emerges! It is unlike any other pipe I have made. Its a sitter, and it stands. Angular yet comes to sensible curves. 'Ave a look:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure what to price this at. Note the matte "collar & Sleeve". The staining combination of black over brown achieves an almost charred finish. Appealing to me, but not to all. I do not polish or wax either the rim of the bowl or the end of the shank as I leave the outer most of the burl the shape that mother (nature) gave it. Most if not all carvers go ahead and polish this followed by waxing. To me, this is akin to waxing bark and I just don't like it. I do although like the contrasting finishes: shiny-matt, smoothe-burl, light-dark. I hope you do too.

Read how you can help The Calabash Project, and Save the Calabash!


Posted by thos.martin at 7:28 PM EDT
Updated: Wednesday, 4 April 2007 10:20 AM EDT
Permalink
Wednesday, 28 March 2007
African Calabash Peace Pipe
Topic: 1. The Calabash Project

A peace pipe in Afrikaans is a vredespyp. Peace - vrede. Pipe - pyp. I was sent instructions and (2) gourds to make such a pipe. The owner did not want to part with his pipe, but sent along instructions and a brief history.

The stem functioned as well.. a stem, and a string ran through it. When smoked the string absorbs the tobacco oils and repels mosquitos when worn around the neck. Larger versions served the more important purpose, meetings.

 

The gourd I was sent had a nice round tobacco hole. I broke the stem trying to pull the pipe cleaner out which was supposed to make the draft hole as the clay interior dried. Unfortuneately the cotton of the pipe cleaner stuck to the clay and I couldn't get it out. When I used another gourd I cut off the side of the gourd which didn't yeild a nice round tobacco hole. But I got to say, I am looking forward to hiking, fishing, canoeing with this around my neck keeping me mosquito free!

I filled the inside of the mini-calabash with clay and then cleaned of the outside, added the Kokopelli with pipe decorative touch, the string, and filled it with tobacco. Viola; vredespyp!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Read how you can help The Calabash Project, and Save the Calabash!

 



Posted by thos.martin at 7:52 PM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 29 March 2007 8:29 AM EDT
Permalink
Pipe cleaners & cryptographical violaceum

On 16:04:07, 2007-03-28 the following Google search (whack) returned no hits:

cryptographical violaceum

Now for something completely different: Martha Stewart's pipe cleaner animals:


Posted by thos.martin at 4:03 PM EDT
Updated: Wednesday, 28 March 2007 4:11 PM EDT
Permalink
Monday, 26 March 2007
Blue Monk
Topic: Other News


 

Read how you can help The Calabash Project, and Save the Calabash!

 


 

 


Posted by thos.martin at 5:35 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 27 March 2007 10:35 AM EDT
Permalink
Sunday, 25 March 2007
You've got Mail
Topic: 1. The Calabash Project

The Calabash arrived in short order, actually the same day I recieved word that the growers got their money. They are such nice people. They included a set of salt & pepper shakers that are their specialty with the smal gourds. Pictured here is my son putting them to "the test."

They also sent me: small gourds "in case I find a use," some cut Calabash and some whole (but cleaned, "for practice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I mostly liked the way they went on what we would call a "road trip" looking for an indiginous local made pipe. And they found one that belong to an old man, but he would not part with it. Instead he gave to them, and them to me gourds to make my own and a little sketch and description about the local pipes- not the calabashes we are familiar with. These are the African peace pipe. I will blog about that shortly.


Read how you can help The Calabash Project, and Save the Calabash!



Posted by thos.martin at 5:06 PM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 27 March 2007 10:35 AM EDT
Permalink
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
The Sacred Pipe- Who was Black Elk?
Topic: Other News

Black Elk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Black Elk (Hehaka Sapa) (c. December 1863 – August 17 or August 19, 1950 (sources differ)) was a famous Wichasha Wakan (Medicine Man or Holy Man) of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux). He was the second cousin of Crazy Horse. Black Elk participated, at about the age of twelve, in the Battle of Little Big Horn of 1876, and was wounded in the massacre that occurred at Wounded Knee in 1890.

In 1887, Black Elk travelled to England with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, an unpleasant experience he described in chapter 19 of Black Elk Speaks. He was accidentally left behind and had to make his own way back to his homeland.

Black Elk married his first wife, Katie War Bonnett, in 1892. She became a Catholic, and all three of their children were baptized as Catholic. After her death in 1903, he too became baptized, taking the name Nicholas Black Elk, and continued to serve as a spiritual leader among his people, seeing no contradiction in embracing what he found valid in both his tribal traditions concerning Wakan Tanka, and those of Christianity.

He remarried in 1905 to Anna Brings White, a widow with two daughters. She bore him three more children, and remained his wife until she died in 1941.

Towards the end of his life, he revealed the story of his life, and a number of sacred Sioux rituals to John Neihardt and Joseph Epes Brown for publication (The Sacred Pipe: Black Elk's Account of the Seven Rites of the Oglala Sioux (1953) (as told to Joseph Epes Brown) , and his accounts have won wide interest and acclaim. He also claimed to have had several visions in which he met the spirit that guided the universe.


Books about Black Elk, emphasizing his Catholicism:
  Black Elk: Holy Man of the Oglala, Michael Steltenkamp
  Black Elk: Colonialism and Lakota Catholicism, Damian Costello

Also see:
  The Sacred Pipe: Black Elk's Account of the Seven Rites of the Oglala Sioux (1953) (as told to Joseph Epes Brown)
 

 


Posted by thos.martin at 9:49 AM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 25 March 2007 8:50 AM EDT
Permalink
Monday, 19 March 2007
When it rains it pours!
Topic: Other News
Although there was no flooding, I did have the msifortune of being rushed to the emergency room at 3 o'clock Sunday morning due to pian caused (presumabley) by herniated discs. Not much coming out of the shop til the end of the week. Sorry.

Posted by thos.martin at 5:34 PM EDT
Permalink
Saturday, 17 March 2007
Nor' Easter

::: SHOP CLOSED//FLOODING :::


Posted by thos.martin at 7:24 AM EDT
Updated: Monday, 19 March 2007 5:33 PM EDT
Permalink
Friday, 16 March 2007
C 07270 Finished
Topic: C 07270

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Posted by thos.martin at 7:21 PM EDT
Updated: Wednesday, 4 April 2007 10:23 AM EDT
Permalink
Thursday, 15 March 2007
The let down after the hunt & Van Gogh
Topic: 1. The Calabash Project

After searching for nearly four months, the CAlabash gourds are on their way to the states, the paymnet is on its way to S. Africa. I'm feeling a bit of a let down as there is nothing left to fo but wait (and make pipes).

So, I thought a little Van Gogh was in order. See Slide Show.


Posted by thos.martin at 10:57 AM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 25 March 2007 9:16 AM EDT
Permalink
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
I didn't forget... its on the bench
Topic: 709TM


 


Posted by thos.martin at 7:11 PM EDT
Permalink
Monday, 12 March 2007
Out of Africa: Tracking My Gourds
Topic: 1. The Calabash Project

South Africa POS Mail Tracking:

accepted on 12-Mar-2007 15:25 at the MORGENZON (RPO) post office
Date last tracked (scanned): 12-Mar-2007 15:25
Current Status: In transit
Delivery Office:

Item History

Scan DescriptionPlace ScannedTrace InformationItem StatusDate Scanned
O-ACCEPTANCE DOCUMEMORGENZON (RPO)  12-Mar-2007 15:25



Posted by thos.martin at 3:42 PM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 25 March 2007 9:17 AM EDT
Permalink
Sunday, 11 March 2007
Logo Buttons & Magnets
Topic: 1. The Calabash Project

To help The Calabash Project in South Africa you can buy a pin, magnet, or pipe. Read more.


Posted by thos.martin at 1:41 AM EST
Updated: Sunday, 25 March 2007 9:13 AM EDT
Permalink
Saturday, 10 March 2007
Gourds Out of Africa
Topic: 1. The Calabash Project
Just a quick post to report that there are 15 gourds ready to be shipped out of Africa. Currency exchange (USD into ZAR)alone will take two weeks. There are gourds on the vine still growing that are slated to be TM pipes as well in 2008. The following season the planting can be specifically for pipemaking.

Posted by thos.martin at 7:52 PM EST
Updated: Sunday, 25 March 2007 9:18 AM EDT
Permalink
Friday, 9 March 2007
Announcing the Calabash
Topic: 1. The Calabash Project

[THIS ENTRY IS BEING POSTED AUTOMATICALLY. I AM AT THE NEW YORK PIPE SHOW]

Pictured: (Top) Medico Calibash with new bowl added. The pipe is 1940ish. They were basically the Kaywoodie "seconds". Note briar extension to account for short stem. It also holds a filter. The gourd has some marring. (Bottom) My 2nd and final Calabash prototype. Note black stain and lattice/meerschaum bowl. Junction of stem to gourd to be improved. It is a nylon stem with threaded insert commonly used for New meerschaums. This pipe is most large.



 


Posted by thos.martin at 7:32 AM EST
Updated: Sunday, 25 March 2007 9:19 AM EDT
Permalink
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
I Wrote, and I Quote...
Topic: Other News
Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:05 am  
 Post subject:
Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post

PipeAndPint wrote:  Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:05 am  
I enjoyed what you wrote. I confess to a near complete lack of knowledge when it comes to Van Gogh. What was it that caused him such melancholy throughout life? Is anything known about his spiritual state?

Thanks again for the interesting post!

I wrote, and I Quote:
There are of course suppositions, but the most common was that he was bi-polar.

Concerning his spiritual state, there was mention. When I get home tonight I'll respond. I don't want to misquote but thats an excellent question so I want to give it a good answer.

 

Feb 28, 2007 12:21 pm  

Short Answer: He was ecstatically pious.

Long Answer:You need to look at the question, "Why did Van Gogh cut off his ear?" The author of this book, at first specualtes that he was somehow emulating or trying to right the wrongs of "Jack the Ripper."

Vincent & Gauguin would read and follow crime in the local newspaper.
Jack the Ripper was international news. Vincen had spent some time as an evangelist near London. This was to be his vocation but he never finished (was kicked out) his education, and his congregation thought him mad and had him removed.

JTR had hacked off one of his victims ears.
His victims were mostly prostitutes. When Vincent cut off his ear and delivered it to a prostitue at one of the brothels he frequented, some say he was making this offering as a gesture of goodwill, empathizing with their lowly stature.

Others speculated he cut off his ear to put a stop to his auditory hallucinations.

Gauguin's interpretation was more Biblical.
He said that when Vincent presented his ear to the prostitute he said to her "you will remember me, verily I tell you this." When asked why he did it, Vincent replied that his reason were "quite personal."

After subsequent attacks Vincent said he was plagued be religious fears, what he also dubbed "religious exhultation. and frightful ideas about religion." He identified greatly with the story of Christ's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane when he foresaw his arrest, torture and crucifixion.

In the new Testament, after Christ accepted his fate, Judas burst into the garden with armed men, [sic] to arrest him. When the disciples saw what was going to happen, they thought of defending Christ by force, "And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear."

Vincent also read avidly the works of Emile Zola.
In his fantasy novel, The Sin of Father Mouret , the central figure, a priest, was ecstatically pious and collapsed in front of a stutue of theVirgin and later awoke in an overgrown garden. The priest is nursed back to health by a woman who was to become his lover. They were later driven from the garden by a viloent and local friar, Brother Archangias.

The priest, FatherMouret, later returned for his lover's funeral. When he finished his prayers, he calmly pulled a knife from hi pocket, opened it, and cut of the friar's ear!

In his writings, Vincent implied that his spiritual struggles were more compelling than his struggles with the flesh.
So, its hard to say whether Vincent cut off his ear to: punish himself the way the friar Archangias had been punished, or as St. Peter punished the soldier in Gethsemane, or as the prostitute had been punished by Jack the Ripper. But remember, it was Gauguin his "comrade" who refers to his actions as "Biblical mortifications."



So, PnP, if your still with me, now you know why I needed to take some time in responding. Glad you asked? Laughing Serioulsy though, I'm glad you did. Thanks.

Posted by thos.martin at 8:51 AM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 7 March 2007 7:31 PM EST
Permalink

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