A number of years ago I had a Jewish friend in Canberra where I live his daughter/husband live over there found out to transfer US dollars to Bethlehem cost 50.00 US the Region is Arab occupied and I ordered by phone paid through my mate here, his daughter and son in law went by Taxi to a semi safe district collected the blanks then mailed to my mate then I picked them up. The result quite expensive patchy blanks large cost much anxiety.
Now come to think about it was a long time ago, my understanding is there are many good IAP members who trade in these blanks.
Personally it would always to be prudent to shop through USA based dealers with the ideal being face to face with them or at least from adequate pics.
Never underestimate the intrinsic value of the source but for allround mind blowing quality and grain Olive Wood is magnificent from wherever, incidentally that tiny scrap of Authenticity for Bethlehem is worth just that IMHO.
I enclose two pics to illustrate Aussie grown Olive I used for my Sisters 8T Birthday last year as an illustration of wherever Olive can be found.
Have success in locating, delivery.
Kind regards Peter.
G'day Peter,
I don't remember to have seen those pics before and I can tell you, they are and excellent representation of the quality and beauty of Olive wood, regardless where they grow on this Earth...!
Old/mature olive trees from anywhere are capable of producing some amazing treasures, which I call *GEMS*...!
I cut and process enough Olive wood to know what can be found within and while one could only wish that the whole tree could produce such amazing grain and colouration, the truth is that, sapwood counts for 50% of the wood volume, in many cases, and only very small pockets produce wood that can give pen blanks such as yours however, I'm fortunate to be able to say that, I have many of those...!
The base you used for the pen, is also of interest as it resembles exactly a small area of wood that I processed from one of the olive tree roots I collected nearly a couple of years ago. The burled "eyes" are beautifully distributed through that piece that was found at the very bottom of the root, and while didn't have the "burl" skin appearance, the "treasure" was there to be found...!
I rarely get enough area of these pronounced burled eyes, to make 3 or 4 blanks, in a whole tree and root but this time, I got a chunk that allowed me to slice into approx. 50 pen blanks @ 21mm square x 130mm long.
The root was cut last week and the wood is wet from being on all the rain he have had, and the fact that, have been separated from the tree and ripped off the ground, about 2 years ago, is not, nor it could be totally dry but, that is no big problem as the blanks left as they are (drying tower), will dry in a few months, which I will accelerated by microwaving half a dozen that I want to keep for myself, the rest I may put on my eBay store, at some time...!
So yes, Australian grown Olive wood is as good, as the best one can find anywhere in the world...!:wink::biggrin:
Cheers
George
