This ancient J. Abrams Columbia zither is likely over 100 years old. It is still playable, but a small bird has taken up residence. Work the hand crank to be treated to a cheerful song.

Wooden shoe attached to a roller skate and topped with a tiny German quacking duck pull toy, four carved wooden passengers, with a steamer trunk on the back—a hideaway spot for something precious.

Vintage lace as a cape and kitchen frothers as wings and earring holders. Turned oak table leg. Ancient Moroccan sterling silver pendant and antique French cat brooch--both are removable and wearable.

15" X 12"

Pandora was presented with an intriguing box that purported to contain all the evils of the world. Opening the box would release these evils into the world. Pandora resisted but eventually peeked inside the box... What would you do if presented with such a box?

A vintage car horn housing forms the home base for various sea creatures. The four marine snails have Architectonica shells. Sea snails are masters of hydraulics, pumping water in to swell their bodies and pumping it out to withdraw into their shell, closing the door behind them (the operculum). Some sea snails actually produce their own food like plants in a photosynthetic process. The partially obscured label reads: “Emerald Green Sea Slug photosynthesizing through kleptoplasty and moving with hydraulic displacement.”

The turtle is a universal symbol of patience and longevity. Individuals have been known to live 150 years. This turtle is a heavy cast brass, and its shell is imprinted with sundial figures.. The hand-hammered tray itself is likely tin or nickel applied to a copper core, revealed here in its lovely warm coppery color.

A fanciful bird with silver plate tail feathers and wrapped copper feet. The hand-hammered tray itself is likely tin or nickel applied to a copper core, revealed here in its lovely warm coppery color.

Angelfish evolved in the densely overgrown vegetation of Amazonian rivers, hence the compressed bodies for easy navigation and tall, wing-like fins which act as a keel for making tight turns. The angelfish is a symbol of graceful, fluid movement through adversity and challenges. They mate for life.

The elephant is a universal symbol of wisdom, strength, and community. This elephant is shouting out to a nearby fire finch. The textured brass background represents a bamboo forest, where elephants find their favorite forage.

Whimsical bee-like figures populate a peanut gallery with beehive structures mounted on a patinaed copper sheet behind them.

Stock still and gazing out to sea, this Old Salt holds his catch hooked onto his pocket and has wrapped his compass round the whale’s tail. The blue whale has a brass eye and bronze oarlock tailfin, and the earpieces of vintage eyeglasses form its spout. Old Salt was a wooden nutcracker in another life.

Carved from exotic hardwood with an etched copper label, this fanciful Daggerbill sports the carbon steel blade from a kitchen knife and a blinking doll’s eye. Marlin and swordfish are apex ocean predators with some amazing vision adaptations. Their huge eyes can be selectively warmed up to give them an advantage in pursuing prey in the briny deep.

Many vintage found objects, including a copperware saucer, old incandescent Christmas bulbs, and a brass PNW whale and drawer pull.

Rainbows captured inside prisms are poured into the sugar bowl from silver plate teapots. Position this framed composition near a window where streaming sunlight can light up the colors. The blackboard behind can hold writing of your choice: “pot at the end of the rainbow” or “pour away your troubles” or “capture the colors” or “Days like diamonds” or maybe “A thousand things go right every single day.”

Inside a vintage clockworks case reside two figurines whose attention appears to be chained to and consumed by a tiny elephant. Overlooking them, apparently going unnoticed, is a larger elephant waving a signal flag. What does each elephant in the room represent and what is being signaled? You choose.

Wrought iron drawer pulls, skeleton keys, brass Victorian escutcheon, elk fur, Pilcher detachable buttons as eyes 10" x 8"

This fantastical insect would be very comfortable mounted in the corner of your ceiling. Its legs were originally hair curlers that were heated and rolled up overnight. Its head is a vintage door knob with all-seeing porcelain eyes, and brass antenna. Its wings are found feathers from a ringneck pheasant and a wild turkey.

Primitive gate hinge and skeleton keys are backed with vintage dictionary pages highlighting contentious topics.

Victorian brass door knob and escutcheon, vintage flat iron stand, frothers (could be used as earring hangers), rolled heritage dictionary pages spelling out "freedom"

12" X 8"

The giraffe has intimately evolved alongside the Acacia tree, delicately reaching its tongue around the acacia thorns to reach the nutritious leaves. This salvaged wooden giraffe is placed on a silver tray, with an eagle above.

Victorian brass door knob and escutcheon, antique sterling serving spoons, vintage flat-iron stand, Swiss music box playing When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, rolled heritage dictionary pages spelling out "clarity"

12" X 8"

The giraffe is a venerable symbol of grace, yet only roughly 100,000 giraffes exist today. This carved brass giraffe wearing a sterling garland on its neck is placed on an ornately decorated floral silverplate serving tray from WB Weidlich Bros, with a stash attached below of rolled and tied pages from a vintage African wildlife book.

Vintage and well-used canoe paddle from Folbot of Charleston, obsolete stereoscope viewer used by cartographers, baking tin, sunbleached rope, and egg beater

24" x 12"

Well-used canoe paddle made by Caviness Woodworking in Mississippi, vintage telephone switchboard operator's headset and cord, two spatulas, tiny damper spoons from a piano, and an antique adjustable hole drill tool as a tail fin. Piloted by sonar.

5 ft x 18"

Vintage rowing oar, eyeglass handles, clock case, fireplace rake, bronze oar lock, articulated abalone mermaid body with ceramic head, silkworm cocoons, other found objects.

5 feet x 18"

Beached boat flotsam, tiny starfish, brass fish, seal figurine, barnacle, shell, and other found objects

8" x 5"

Salvaged grinder gears and brass buttons as a halo, wooden dolphins with drawer pulls as crowns, greeting card holder as background, brass fish and hermit crab as companions

12" x 10"

Puffin figurine made of Mount St Helen ashes, yin/yang medallion around its neck, various brass and copper found objects, copper souvenir plate with four points of the compass.

15" x 8"

Blue leather giraffe mounting. Hanging medallion of horsehair, blue glass beads, vintage apron ribbon, brass bullion thread. Silverplate platter. Antique rainbow rhinestone necklace.

24" x 12"

Vintage brush, kitchen utensil handle, button, lamp part, brass lion’s paw, and a vintage pinch purse for hidden treasures.

12" x 5"

Boat flotsam washed up on Lummi Island. Vintage Statue of Liberty, monopoly houses, lighthouse representation on the point, and brass unicorn as a masthead. Typewriter keys and brass letter stencils spell out "Ship of State." A comment on our political difficulties and hopes.

The parrot is a symbol of change and connection to the spiritual world. This bird perches on a vintage skeleton key and is framed by carved mango wood. An art deco chandelier piece with double swans forms its head, domed jade stones as eyes, vintage passthrough and key plate as body, brass keys as flight feathers. Unlock the cage.

Vintage gate hinge, skeleton keys

15" x 10"

Victorian brass escutcheon and latch, skeleton keys, carved mango wood frame. The latch in the position of the third eye rotates to reveal a keyhole. Achieving balance or "opening" the Third Eye is believed to help you see things clearly as they are, trust your instincts, and break free from ego-driven limitations.

15" x 12"

The multihued Chrysiridia rhipheus from Madagascar, unlike most other moths, is active by day. Its life stages include egg, larva, cocoon, and adult. Note that butterflies metamorphose inside a chrysalis but that moths metamorphose inside a cocoon. A miniature silver hand refers to the tiny corner torn from the left forewing. Parts included are a cuckoo clock pinecone, tomatillo skeleton, and jumbo enameled button.

12" x 15"

This individual Charaxes numenes (the Rajah or Emperor butterfly) is shown with both top and bottom views under a magnifying lens, and atop a delicate Victorian embroidered butterfly, backed by a heritage dictionary page. A salvaged Royal Monaco auto emblem is attached.

8: x 10"

A preserved example of Danaus plexippus (the Monarch butterfly) lays atop archaic diagrams for navigation. The Monarch species is renowned for its navigational skills, traveling several thousand miles over a handful of generations. The tiny black dot in the middle of the hindwing indicates that this is a male Monarch. The host plant for the species is the milkweed (see lower right). Chrysler Imperial and Mercury Monarch automobile emblems are incorporated.

12" x 15"

This racehorse cameo suggests a memento of the winner’s circle. Breyer horse coated in SilverGleem, curtain finial, trumpet mouthpiece, and a variety of found objects in brass and copper.

15" x 8"

Vintage clock trivet and working 5-minute timer. Figurines of mother, father, and juvenile elephant with crossed trunks. A reminder of the time remaining for viable elephant populations in the wild.

14" x 10"

Breyer horse, cast iron mine marker for the Favorite mine, curtain finial, trophy eagles, trumpet mouthpiece, brass ornamentation. In horse racing, the favorite is the horse with the lowest-paying odds, yet the favorite wins roughly one-third of all races.

Gilded toy dinosaurs to hang in a child's room or on a Christmas tree

Vintage plumber's float, ornate necklet, brass antelope and shoe, clock key. The imbabala must elude lions, leopards, eagles, crocodiles, and snakes.

18" x 10"

Vintage brass and copper smudge pot, carved wooden bear, diecast Southern Railroad locomotive Tender No. 31 with authentic Indian Head pennies as wheels. Polar bears rarely attack from trains.

20" x 12"

Vintage jewelry box, medallion from Foresters of America (Court No. 8), plumber's float, Surrealist label, intricate elephant head pipe at the crown, various found objects.

Vintage plumber's float, sea otter figurine, Body by Fisher automobile emblem, amber chandelier crystals, other found objects

Salvaged Tootsie Toys airplane body with bird wings, plumber's float, owl figurines, intricate peacock pipe at the crown, and other found objects

This ancient mermaid reads an ancient copy of the Ancient Mariner. Its pages are old and browned and very fragile, but they can still be read aloud to the fishes. Fish and mermaid are carved from exotic hardwoods and mounted atop a chunk of seasoned whiskey barrel.

…the walrus said. Time and Tide wait for no one. Here in the PNW, many treasures and incredibly interesting critters appear at low tide, so keep an eye on this tide clock, and venture out when the time/tide is right. “H” is high tide and “L” is low tide in a 12-hour rotation. The walrus perches atop a vintage candle wick trimmer. In our past, walrus oil was harvested for use in making candles. “The time has come,” the walrus said, “to talk of many things: Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax— Of cabbages—and kings— And why the sea is boiling hot— And whether pigs have wings.”

We’ve all been jittery at times when trying to make an appointment—rushing about and panicked. “No time to say Hello, Goodbye…” This clock is bounded by reflective silverplate teapots that are turned inside out. Rabbits have found refuge inside. Observe the second hand….running backwards.

This clock times the twin hours of Matutine and Vespertine, i.e. the early morning hours at dawn’s first light and the evening twilight hours before complete darkness falls. These are the hours when crepuscular plants and animals are active. Both predator and prey can be found at these times when camouflage is at its most effective, when neither the day’s heat nor the night’s blindness has arrived, and when competition for resources ebbs. The red-tipped hand denotes the arrival of crepuscular hours on the copper dial, when creatures such as rabbits, dogs, foxes, cats, deer, skunks, and fireflies can be observed.

Nesting inside a sewing machine drawer, a Porcelain quail by ceramicist Hagen-Renaker swings on a vintage copper and silver hand fashioned ladle. Actual quail eggs are included in an ornate enameled brass box below.

On a tarnished pin with layered fabrics and sheet music, a brass nightingale sings. Can be worn as a brooch or displayed on a wall.

On a tarnished pin hanging atop a vintage linoleum printing block, with layers of fiber, fabric, and silver bullion thread, a brass phoenix rises, surrounded with sparkling rhinestones. The sliver mounted at top is fossilized mammoth tusk. Can be worn as a brooch or displayed on a wall.

On a tarnished pin with rich azure satin, a lion stands guard accompanied by watchworks and rhinestone emblems on a vintage ribbon embroidered with silver bullion threads.

A vintage fish pin can be removed from this sculpture and worn, if desired. Other found objects from the ocean.

On a tarnished pin with horseshoe nail and layers of rich fabric, a salamander swims. Can be worn as a brooch or displayed on a wall.

Many vintage found objects make up this sculpture, including parts from a Wells Fargo wagon, a brass trumpet, oil funnel, odometer, stereoscope, and miner’s kerosene lantern. This sculpture has been wired as an LED accent light--the brass horn lights up at its tip.

A cigar box holds a curiously mixed vignette. On the inside walls are various translations of Nirvana. The lid to a toy top represents an intensely hot sun.