Bear Mother Myth I

What’s the best way to find out your ring size?

The best and most secure way to find out your ring size would be to go to a local jeweler and have him size your finger. It's always important to tell the jeweler how wide the ring will be, that you are sizing your finger for. The reason is that for most people the wider a ring is, the larger the necessary ring size will be. As an example if you measure your finger with a ¼ inch wide ring sizer, for a ring that will be 3/8 of an inch wide you might be off by ¼ to ½ a ring size. It’s always best to measure the ring size of your finger with a ring that has the same width as the ring that you would like to order.

If a ring is just a bit too tight and doesn’t have any settings, inlays or onlays, it is sometimes possible to have the ring size increased a little, by stretching the ring through a jeweler. If the ring has a sizing gap, it’s also often possible to cut the ring and add or remove a little bit of silver or gold to increase or decrease the size of the ring and solder it back together again. You should always get advice from a professional jeweler, before you decide what to do.

Depending on your wrist and how wide you would like the gap to be, our bracelets usually fit a wrist that has a circumference of between 1/4 of an inch or 1/2 a centimeter smaller and up to 1/2 an inch or 1.3 centimeters larger than the posted length of our bracelets.

Please note: These are estimates and we cannot guarantee a perfect fit. Of course you can always contact us and we will be glad to help and work with you.

A paddle can be hung in several ways depending on the space you wish to hang it.

In the gallery we tie a black cotton string just under the handle around the neck of the paddle and hang it by the string vertically on a hook coated with rubber, so that it doesn't scratch the back of the handle. The handle is on top, and the tip of the paddle is pointed down.

A paddle may also be hung horizontally or angled, suspended in the air from the wall or ceiling, using transparent fishing line. Just loop two fishing lines around, one on either end of the paddle, to hold it in place.

Some museums have a holder fabricated that is lined with felt and will hold the paddle tight in the middle and screw it to the wall. That way you can hang it any way you like. You would need a metal fabricator to make this holder.

If you have any more questions please email us at info@spiritsofthewestcoast.com

Argillite is a dense, black, carbonaceous shale known as kwawhlahl in the Haida language. It is found exclusively at a creek on Slatechuck Mountain (Tllgaduu randlaay) on Graham Island, the largest island in the Haida Gwaii archipelago.

Once the stone is cut from the hillside, it must be backpacked down the mountain on foot before it is carved. Argillite carvings have been prized around the world since the 1800s when the Haida began selling pieces to sailors. Today, Haida carvers continue the tradition.

Abalone is a unique type of snail that lives in the ocean. It comes from the family of Haliotidae. It’s common name, abalone, comes from the Spanish term aulon or aulone.

The First Nations peoples of the Northwest Coast consider abalone a valuable and sacred material. It is often used to create objects of prestige and status, such as chief's headdresses, bracelets, and earrings. Abalone shells are also used to create intricate inlay designs, which often have symbolic meaning.

Traditionally abalone was obtained through trade with other coastal groups, or through harvesting by the Indigenous peoples of the region. The shells were harvested from the rocky shores of the Pacific Northwest, and the process of collecting them was considered a sacred activity.

In addition to its ceremonial and spiritual significance, abalone was also used for practical purposes. Abalone shells were used as a source of food and it was also used to create tools such as knives, hooks, and needles. 

Today, abalone continues to be an important part of Pacific Northwest Coast culture. Many Indigenous artists continue to work with abalone and use it in contemporary art and cultural revitalization efforts. Abalone art and artifacts are also highly valued by collectors and museums.

Overfishing and poaching have reduced wild populations to such an extent that farmed abalone now supplies most of the abalone used, becoming a more sustainable option.

Jewelry containing abalone should be removed when showering. Avoid contact with soaps and chemicals, including polish, as they can dull the appearance of abalone.

We ship internationally!

Free shipping on most items within Canada and the U.S.

The Shipping times mentioned below are estimates for orders that we have in our inventory and are not guaranteed . Shipping to the USA or other international locations may be delayed due to national customs organizations. These delays are not included in the shipping estimates mentioned and are out of our control.

If you have a specific shipping / delivery deadline, please call or email us, to make sure we have the item that you would like to order in stock.

Custom orders or orders for items that we don’t have in our inventory, or don’t have the exact size in stock, will take longer. It usually takes 2 – 4 weeks depending on the individual item and artist, to have individual items carved. Custom orders may take somewhat longer.

International Shipping - items may be subject to customs processing depending on the item's declared value.

Sellers set the item's declared value and must comply with customs declaration laws.

As the buyer, you should be aware of possible:

- delays from customs inspection.

- import duties and taxes which buyers must pay.

- brokerage fees payable at the point of delivery.

Your country's customs office can offer more details.

Regular Shipping:

We usually use Canada Post services without tracking information for our regular shipping option. The delivery standards for surface/air shipping are usually 2 - 9 business days (Canada), 5 - 12 business days (USA), 6 - 35 business days (Europe) and 6-35 business days to the other continents. If your shipping address is remote, delivery times may increase. These delivery standards are estimates and are not guaranteed.

Canada Post International Parcel Surface or Priority Worldwide Express Shipments:

If you would like to find a faster priority / express shipping service, than the ones mentioned in the shopping cart, or if shipping times are less important than the cost, please contact us for a custom shipping quote. Delivery dates mentioned below are approximations that do not include delays due to International Customs or unforeseen circumstances. The delivery standards for Priority™ Worldwide( Usually through FedEx ) are usually 2-3 business days (USA), 3-5 business days (Europe) and 4-6 business days to the other continents. The delivery standards for International Parcel Surface can be up to 7 weeks. If your shipping address is remote, delivery times may increase. These delivery standards are estimates and are not guaranteed.

Canada Post shipping services with tracking numbers can be tracked at the following website: http://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/track/personal/findByTrackNumber?execution=e1s1