New measure

[Woodrock]

I got tired of the plastic tube I have been using for a powder measure, so made this one today from a Blacktail antler point.  Telephone photograph, probably too close to my hand. The cord is selfmade nettle, and well waxed.
Woody

[Voyageur]

Now that's real creativity---I think it's nicely done with natural materials......"Doc"
                                     

[Two Steps]

Wouldn't get my fingers too close to that opening Woodrock...that darn thing looks hungry!!
Nice look measure there, real nice
Al

[ridjrunr]

I love seeing people's creations,thanks for showing!
Very nice

[Uncle Russ]

That Measure is a work of art!
In fact, I think it's very well suited to the Pacific Northwest as such carvings are abundant amongst our Northwest native peoples.

But, still yet, the thing that really got my attention was when you said, "The cord is selfmade nettle, and well waxed."

I would like hear some more about this....
Is this nettle as in "Bull nettle or stinging nettle"?

What am I missing here?  

Uncle Russ...

[Woodrock]

Russ: the only nettles I know are the local Northwest stinging variety...only the tops of the leaves sting. You can strip the leaves by running you fingers up from the bottom without being stung, I still wear gloves though. The local Salish people made most of their nets from nettles. I spun this cord with a drop spindle. Waxing it makes it look a lot better. Nettle fibre is surprisingly strong.
Woody

[Uncle Russ]

WOW! I am impressed!

I suspect we are truly never really to old to learn, and I definitely just learned something!  

Thanks for sharing all this with us, it is truly appreciated.  

Uncle Russ...

[Bison Horn]

Great job! Interesting note on the nettle twine. We got Bullnettles here. They are all sting from top to bottom. BH

[Riley/MN]

Nice work!

[Spotted Bull]

I have a friend who's mountain man name is large mouth bass that would love that!

[sse]

You guys who make stuff like that amaze me...!  

[Farmer Jim]

Russ: the only nettles I know are the local Northwest stinging variety...only the tops of the leaves sting. You can strip the leaves by running you fingers up from the bottom without being stung, I still wear gloves though. The local Salish people made most of their nets from nettles. I spun this cord with a drop spindle. Waxing it makes it look a lot better. Nettle fibre is surprisingly strong.
Woody

Do you work with the nettles green or dried when making the cord?

[Woodrock]

Russ:
You can work the nettle fibre either green, or dry, but I prefer dry since I find it easier to separate the outer husk from the fibre dry.  If you wait until the first frost that knocks the nettles down, and harvest then, and let them dry they will separate by beating a bunch with a stick.  the next step is to comb the junk out. If you need to make cord whilst the nettles are still green you can separate them by running them over your thumbnail them combing them clean...messy.
Woody

[Hanshi]

That is one of the best antler measures I've seen yet.  Not familiar with the nettles and had no idea they possessed such utility.