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Posted: Sun 24. Sep 2017, 15:54
by Rachel McCollough
Russell, I have had a few in my hair before!
Jyri, thank you!
Jess, sorry!
Mr. Robert, thank you! It is just the shed portion of a cicada, no more than a dead leaf

They are responsible for that buzzing sound you hear in the South in summer. They are everywhere.
Posted: Sun 24. Sep 2017, 15:58
by Robert Gage
Thanks, Rachel - I've heard cicadas before (when I was in Texas about twenty years ago) but have never seen one!
Posted: Sun 24. Sep 2017, 16:04
by Rachel McCollough
Robert Gage wrote:Thanks, Rachel - I've heard cicadas before (when I was in Texas about twenty years ago) but have never seen one!
They are really something, here is a picture from the internet of one that has just emerged:
They do not bite, they are mostly harmless.
And a short video from YouTube:
https://youtu.be/zlNDUnGNvfg
Posted: Sun 24. Sep 2017, 16:12
by Ron May
Rachel, they do make a racket that's for sure.
Ron
Posted: Sun 24. Sep 2017, 16:16
by Rachel McCollough
Ron, that they do

Posted: Mon 25. Sep 2017, 08:38
by Matt Henderson
Now that's lovely

. If I'm not saying the same thing every time, fantastic job Rachel!.
Cicidas... not a fan. I understand they're harmless but they look utterly alien
Posted: Mon 25. Sep 2017, 09:33
by Rachel McCollough
Thanks, Matt!
Cicadas...

Posted: Mon 25. Sep 2017, 17:42
by Tyler Blake
Awesome whip Rachel! I usedto playwith those shells when I was kid in Texas

Posted: Mon 25. Sep 2017, 17:54
by Rachel McCollough
Thanks, Tyler! Yes the cicada shells are fun for all the kids around! I went for a bike ride and that's all I could here was their buzzing. The cicadas, I mean

Posted: Mon 25. Sep 2017, 18:25
by Sven van Leeuwen
A bug's as lonely as a lonely bug can be.
But it's very kind of you to give him the attention he so much craved.
Apart from that, the whip looks very beautiful. The wood is yet again astonishing. And I like the color combo of the nylon and the wood.
Sven
Posted: Mon 25. Sep 2017, 20:53
by Russell Jones
I thought the cicada was a nice touch with the whip picture.
Seeing the husk reminded me of enjoying warm and lazy summer days as a child hearing the intense chirping sound while enjoying the outdoors.

Posted: Mon 25. Sep 2017, 20:54
by Russell Jones
Sorry i'm doubling up on posts about nostalgic moments lol
Posted: Tue 26. Sep 2017, 13:39
by Rachel McCollough

Sven, thank you!
Russell no problem at all! We should stay as young as we can!
Posted: Wed 27. Sep 2017, 10:36
by Ben Varsek
Outstanding work Rachel!
I realy like the natural roohide keeper on this whip, it goes along very well with the bloodwood handle!
All the best
Ben
Posted: Wed 27. Sep 2017, 12:59
by Rachel McCollough
Ben, thank you very much!
Posted: Thu 28. Sep 2017, 18:11
by Rachel McCollough
Latest project, teamster thong for a local gentleman who has trained and drives his own team of oxen. I hope to go see them in action this weekend. This whip is an intermediate... Another one with a kangaroo hide tip will replace it later. It is 5' Latigo with a double-wide 28" Latigo fall, "cracker" from roo hide. The purpose of the double width fall is to help prevent the whip from marking the oxen.
All supplies from
www.whip-nation.myshopify.com
You can see the way it is put on the stick in this picture from Ron Edward's book, How To Make Whips
Here is a picture from my client of a 75 year old thong made for this use. In Mississippi they are traditionally made from cowhide up top, with the last 18" or so being plaited from buckskin.
Here's the temporary whip I built for him until I can build one with a proper end.
All cut by hand, though I did mark off cut lines when I cut from the hide. Definitely!
I have a LOT of learning to do!
I enjoy building things like this that have a long history.
Posted: Thu 28. Sep 2017, 18:41
by Sir Roger Tuson
That looks lovely Rachel. I'm sure your customer will be very happy with that.
Posted: Thu 28. Sep 2017, 18:41
by Mark Elliott
Rachel, that is pretty nice work. I really like the way the latigo has that two toned look where you cut it and the plaiting is impeccable. The history that Edwards, Grant, Morgan, and Ashley give in their books is one of my favorite things about reading them.
Posted: Thu 28. Sep 2017, 19:48
by Scott A. Cary
That is so cool, especially when considering the connection to history. Nice work!
Posted: Thu 28. Sep 2017, 20:12
by Rachel McCollough
Thank you, Sir Roger- he seemed pleased with it this morning when I handed it off on the way to school.
Scott, thanks!
Mark, thank you!
Yes sir, the history is one part that really interests me.
I must also say the body of the thong is based closely on a pattern and measurements from Mr. Glen Denholm, it is not mine that I came up with on my own.