Author Archives: marklordphoto

Future dates for craft markets and farmers markets 2011

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After a successful Great Haseley Farmer’s market with lots of compliments about my sticks and the sale a two sticks I have decided to attend a few more.

So here are some dates for your diary to come and see great local producers around South Oxfordshire and to have a look at my sticks.

Sunday 20th November,  Tetsworth Farmers Market – Tetsworth village hall 10-12

Sunday 4th December, Wallingford Farmers Market – Market Square

Saturday 10th December, Cuxham Craft Market – Cuxham village hall – 10 -3

Sunday 11th December, Great Haseley Farmers Market- village hall 10-12

Great Haseley Farmers Market tomorrow 10-1

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If you are in the South Oxfordshire area tomorrow come and support the local farmers market at Great Haseley. It’s on the 2nd Sunday of every month and runs from 10 -12 in the village hall.  Tomorrow, however as its Remembrance Sunday it will be on from 10 – 1 for people to leave to either visit the War Memorial or the Church for the 11th hour. There will also be a minutes silence at the farmers market.

So, come along and support your local producers and who knows you may find some gifts for Christmas. I will be there selling my sticks, I have about 40 I will be taking along ranging from £20 – £120 so there is something for everyone.

To find our more about the farmers market and to read a great blog about life in the country visit Sues blog here.

Country Walking Sticks make great Christmas presents

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It’s that time of the year where we all scratch our heads wondering what to buy our loved ones for Christmas. If you are looking for something original and a beuatifully handcrafted item they will get to use and enjoy on a daily basis then why now buy them a country walking stick?

Handmade by my fair hands, every one is unique and individual. Sticks can be tailor made to your exact requirements or shorted to length if choosing one from stock. Unfortunately I do not have the skill to lengthen a stick!

So please have a look at my gallery, I will have plenty of sticks photographed and on the blog soon in time for Christmas. Prices from as little as £15.

Please email me your requirements at lordscountrysticks@gmail.com and I can send you some pictures of what I have in stock.

 

Thank you.

New 2 piece thumb stick made to commission

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Recently I had an email from a gentleman who had seen a few sticks I had been selling on Ebay who asked me to make him an antler thumb stick that would break into two pieces. This was an interesting challenge and not something I have made often. So after just 2 weeks I sent the stick off to the gent who is delighted with it.

When I was making this stick I realised how handy it could be for a stick to be broken in two for easy transportation/ storage, for the travelling sportsman jet setting around the globe on shooting/fishing holidays.  So on that note I am available to make more of these useful sticks with prices starting from just £75.

This particular example had the antler capped in buffalo horn, a nice chunky spacer of black buffalo horn between the antler and the hazel shank and the ends of the 2 pieces of stick will black buffalo to protect the ends.

Here are a few pictures of the stick I could not resist taking before sending it off!



Antler shooting stick

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Shooting Stalking Stick

Here is a fabulous antler thumb stick but with a much larger ‘v’ than usual, large enough to rest a gun in. Therefore I’m selling this one as a stalking/shooting stick ready for the shooting season. I have capped the antler with buffalo horn as usual and the antler is some of the best quality I have seen with lovely dark colouring. I have fitted a buffalo horn collar for added strength for when out in the field and also fitted a magnetic ferrule to help pick up cartridges a couple at a time!

All in all a great stick I’d be happy to keep however it must go as I need to make room for more sticks!

Simple hazel thumb sticks

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Probably the simplest of sticks to make once you have found a suitable ‘v’ on a good shank.

Simple thumb sticks!

I love the job of tidying the knots in the wood and carving a suitable thumb rest that it both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable for the user. All I use for these sticks is my favourite knife then some sandpaper to get a smooth finish. Then a few costs of boiled linseed and you have a lovely hazel thumbstick full of character!

Market stick being given a closer inspection!

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Mmm..... I love a drop of linseed oil

Whist out photographing some sticks yesterday I stopped by a gate with some cattle in the field behind.  I though it was a good place to photograph my market stick as they are used by farmers,  hence the name as they would lean on them whilst at market.

Well the shot I wanted did not really happen but one cow wanted a closer look at the quality of my craftmanship.

Later that day I sold this stick to a passing lady who bought it for her father.

Photo shoot with the sticks today!

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Pure indulgence this morning! I packed the car with sticks and headed off to a nearby wood to photograph my sticks – becauese I need to start selling a few to make room for more!

As I was photographing my sticks two couples approached me as they admired my work. ‘Are they for sale thay asked?’ This was the least likely place I though I would sell any sticks but within 1 hour 2 sticks had been sold to happy dog walkers.

Here is my favourite stick which I have decided I will be keeping as my ‘best’ stick – it will not be used for beating as its far to good.  The shanks is spalted hazel, which you pay a premium for and the antler is a superb example I bought off a chap in Scotland. I just need to get myself a dog too!

Check out the cheeky ladybird in the bottom right of the photo!

His and Hers thumb sticks ready for a ramble in the countryside.

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Here we have a fabulous lyre stick made from ash and rosewood laminated together and a Churchill thumb stick made from black buffalo horn.

Very comfortable and good-looking thumb sticks!

Both sticks are now sold however I am always making similar ones as they are so popular. Please enquire if you are after either style of thumb stick and I will try to accommodate your requests.