About the Work

Fall 2015 is the first season I have offered a consistent product line. Skitsi, Finnish for “sketch”, is a line of pens and pencils made from reclaimed wood from the guitar making process. So far two Canadian electric guitar and bass makers have participated: Dingwall Guitars, and Hillacre Guitars. Both of these makers are located in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. If you are a guitar maker in western Canada and would like to participate in this project, please email me, or contact me via social media.

The summer 2017 Skitsi line includes a variety of woods characteristic of lutherie (guitar making), but also a nice selection of exotics. The woods used in this season are: birdseye maple, black alowood, bloodwood, bois de rose (purple heart), bubinga, buckeye burl, flame maple, kingwood, maple burl, navy alowood, and wenge. Pieces are selected for specific pen and pencil designs based on their grain pattern and how they might be combined with different woods.

Slimline ball point pens are available in a variety of solid, and two-tone wood combinations as well as a wide range of hardware. Options include, but are not limited to:

Fountain pens are available in two styles: electra, and classic elite (either gun metal or 24kt gold). Each style is available in one or two-tone designs with a variety of different woods, including but not limited to:

Woods

• Maple
• Maple Burl
• Buckeye Burl
• Kingwood
• Red Grandis
• Birch
• Wenge
• Purple Heart
• Bloodwood
• Bubinga
• Ebony
• Mahogany
• Walnut

Pencils are available in two styles: 5.6mm sketch (carpenter’s) pencils, and 0.7mm mechanical pencils. The sketch pencils are available in three different types of hardware: gold, chrome, and black chrome. Mechanical pencils are only available in gold. Both styles of pencils are available in one or two-tone wood designs, including but not limited to:
Woods

• Maple
• Maple Burl
• Buckeye Burl
• Kingwood
• Red Grandis
• Birch
• Wenge
• Purple Heart
• Bloodwood
• Bubinga
• Ebony
• Mahogany
• Walnut

This season I have started making wooden bracelets. These will be available in a variety of different woods, but at the current time I have used spalted maple in its natural colour, or dyed: violet, green, and turquoise. The bracelets come in three sizes (8, 8.5, and 9) and in three different finishes (gold, faux rhodium, and copper).