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The owl of Minerva flies at dusk
Without the use of power tools, carving becomes a gradual scraping away of the stone. I use files, rasps, knives, and dental tools, and then polish the piece with various grades of steel wool and rubbing compounds. Finally, a coat of carnauba wax is applied to provide some protection and to enhance the colors. Soapstone is a hydrous magnesium silicate, a form of dolomite, geologically named steatite, and commonly known as talc. Metamorphic in nature, it is usually found at altitudes of 5,000 to 7,000 feet, and is mined in both open-pit and underground mines. The mineral has a smoothness which makes it pleasant to touch, and its name comes from the fact that it is as slippery as soap when wet. It is used in the cosmetic, paint, paper, and ceramic industries, and is the basic ingredient in talcum powder. Soapstone is very soft, (#1-3 on the Mohs scale with diamonds at #10), and excellent for carving, but if care is not taken, it can easily be scratched or chipped. At the same time, it loves to be felt, and oils from the hands only enhance its beauty. Found all over the world, soapstone is best known through the unique carvings of Inuits (Eskimos), Chinese, and some African tribes. I have carved soapstone from the Appalachian states, Washington, India, Africa, and Australia. But most of the soapstone I use comes from Montana. It is called dendritic soapstone and the dark blue-grey, mossy patterns are called dendrites. Dendrites were caused by manganese seeping into the soapstone sometime during its formation. Unlike the veining in marble, the dendrites do not run all the way through the piece. The sculptor has little control of their placement as they disappear and reappear during the carving process. Dendritic soapstone is rare (especially large pieces) and it is, thus far, only found in southwestern Montana—by coincidence, near a town named Cameron. Within a quarter-mile area, along with the white, dendritic soapstone, there are patches of mauve (pink), blue, and gold dendritic soapstone. These colors are even more rare and in some places the basically white stone mixed with them to produce still other colors. The stone is asbestos-free and is highly coveted by sculptors, despite its relatively higher price. Care should be taken to display the pieces in a protected location. Oils from handling cause no harm. An occasional dusting is all the cleaning required. Washing, and especially soaking in water, is discouraged. |
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The photographs below and on the other two Soapstone pages represent several of my owls currently for sale. Many of my owls are freestanding. Those on bases are pinned and epoxy glued to the base for added durability. I should have all of the owls not marked "SOLD," but once in a while, I forget to mark one. Watch this site for periodic updates. And remember, these are all one-of-a-kind, so don't expect, look for, or want to order a duplicate. The NOTE: If you have any large pieces, 20 pounds or more, of Montana dendritic soapstone, I will pay top price. |
MY PINK HIBOU
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Carved from a beautiful piece of translucent Chinese soapstone, this owl is the largest I have carved in this stone, so far. The translucency is very nice, but there are areas that are opaque. (Be sure to check the larger photos) The back of the piece is smooth and polished, as the larger photos also reveal. The owl is 7.75" high x 6.5" wide and the depth varies up to 3". It sits on a dark-stained oak base with feet. The base is 8" long x 4.5" deep" x 1.75" high.
My Pink Hibou* was one of approximately 96 artworks out of almost 1,000 international entries to be selected for the 2011 Birds in Art exhibition at the Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin. The exhibition closed on November 13, 2011. For more information, contact me or the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Although it is sold, My Pink Hibou is included in AFC's Virtual Online Exhibition. See the next owl for more information. *I have a "senior" French lady friend, and she is always referring to my owls with the French word, hibou or plural, hiboux. I thought of her when naming this piece.
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NIGHT PATROL click owl for larger images Touring Exhibition of
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NIGHT PATROL I thought I would try to carve this piece of stone from the opposite end, but the stone said, "Oh, no, no, no! You will carve me this way!" The stone always has its way. And as it turned out, the owl does look like it has been interrupted. This is another heavy piece and, as you might know, I do most of my carving in my lap. Although impurities in the stone forced me to change direction a number of times, it still kept its original configuration and, I think, turned out very well. The entire sculpture is 12" high x 11" wide x 6" deep. Price: $5,195.00
Night Patrol is included in the AFC Exhibition to the left. |
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CAUGHT IN THE ACT click owl for larger images
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CAUGHT IN THE ACT It can only be seen from one angle, but there is a tiny rodent in the bird's closest talons. The owl appears surprised to have been "caught in the act," catching its prey. This is quite a heavy piece and, as you might know, I do all my carving in my lap. The larger photos show the beauty of this stone, another piece of Montana, dendritic soapstone. The owl is 6.5" high x 9" wide x 8" deep. It is sitting on a 1/2" thick piece of plate glass which rests on a painted ash base, 2.75" high and 9.5" square.
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STARE DOWN click owl for larger images |
STARE DOWN If I were to bet on a "stare down" contest between you and this owl, I would bet on the owl. This owl is carved from a piece of East Indian soapstone and it is 8.5" high x 5" wide x 4.5" deep, and carved all the way around. It is mounted on a dark-stained cherry base that is 2" high and 5" square.
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S-T-R-E-T-C-H click owl for larger images |
S-T-R-E-T-C-H Just beginning a stretch, this owl is one of my larger carvings in Montana soapstone. It has both the dendritic pattern and swirls of manganese mixing with blue-green base color, plus a band of iron running through the extended wing. The owl, itself, is approximately 9" high, 9" wide, and 5.5" deep. It is mounted on a slab of slate, 2" thick by 9" wide and 7" deep. This, in turn, is attached to a 1/2" thick piece of dark-stained cherry that is 10" wide and 8" deep. There are 1/4" high, square cherry feet on the base. As a larger photo shows, the back is fully carved, too.
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A WISDOM OF OWLS click owl for larger images
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A WISDOM OF OWLS This is a beautiful piece of Montana soapstone with the dendritic pattern quite heavy on two sides and not as intense on the others. The piece, itself, is approximately 6.25" high. Add the 5" square x 2" high, dark-stained cherry base, and you have an impressive piece. A Wisdom of Owls is another name for a gathering. However, species do not intermix as they are on this piece. Price: $950.00 |
PENNSYLVANIA
What a huge rush! What a sublime justification for the very existence of the stone. Unlike that which usually happens, the wanting and expecting were much outdone by the having. Thank you very much. Dan B. NOTE: Dan passed away on June 4th of 2007. He was one of my very best customers, though we only knew each other for eight months. He came into my life for a very short time but gave me the incentive to go back to carving, more with his use of words than with his purchases, although they were considerable. |
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SOAPSTONE #1 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #1 Wondering why this owl wasn't on my Web site, I just found it, and others, hiding is one of my wooden storage boxes downstairs. Now that it has come back into the light, I can repeat that it is a very nice piece of dendritic soapstone. It is always a surprise when the colors come out during the hand polishing. What you see is the carved part. the back is smooth and polished. The owl is 5.5" high, 6" wide, and 3.5" deep. A bit of whimsy never hurt anyone. Price: $695.00 |
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SOAPSTONE #2 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #2 This owl certainly has a regal stance and air about her. The dendrites hide a great deal of the detail in the photos but, in person, much more is revealed. The owl is 7.75" high, 4.25" wide, and about 5.25" deep. She is carved all the way around and is mounted on a dark-stained cherry base, 5" square and 2" high. Check out the larger photos.
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SOAPSTONE #3 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #3 A small, "signature" piece, this owl strikes a restful pose while keeping a wary eye. Price: $150.00 |
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SOAPSTONE #4 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #4 The owl has a bit of attitude and quite a bit of dendritic pattern. The larger photos will give you a better perspective. It is 3.25" high, 5" wide, and 3" deep. It stands well on its own but could be mounted on a base for an additional charge. (The same is true of most of my work, though some prefer free-standing owls) Price: $275.00 |
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SOAPSTONE #5 click owl for larger images
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As I have often said, the stone actually tells me how to carve the owl. Sometimes the owl appears a bit contorted, but I just follow along and do what I am told. This owl of Montana, dendritic soapstone has many dendrites, of which I have no control. They come and go as I carve. This is another piece which is not carved all the way around. The owl is 3" high, 4"wide and 3.5" deep. The dark-stained mahogany base in 4" square and 2" high.
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PENNSYLVANIA
What a huge rush! What a sublime justification for the very existence of the stone. Unlike that which usually happens, the wanting and expecting were much outdone by the having. Thank you very much. Dan B. NOTE: Dan passed away on June 4th of 2007. He was one of my very best customers, though we only knew each other for eight months. He came into my life for a very short time but gave me the incentive to go back to carving, more with his use of words than with his purchases, although they were considerable. |
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SOAPSTONE #6 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #6 This very triangular piece of soapstone leaves very little for this owl to stand on. But the owl is fully carved with lovely dendrites throughout. It stands 5" high and is mounted on a dark-stained, 4" x 4" x 2" cherry base. The owl seems a bit serendipity to me.
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SOAPSTONE #7 click owl for larger images
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A rather interesting pose and a nice piece of Montana stone makes this owl a keeper. With its head thrown back and looking straight up, one has to guess what it is doing. Perhaps it is wondering why the moon is so full or why the moon is there at all. It is carved all the way around and has a nice amount of dendrites. The owl is about 7.5" high x 3.5" wide x 3" deep. The dark-stained oak base is 4" x 3.75" x 3" high.
Price: $995.00
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click owl for larger images
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I like the way the manganese appears on this owl. It is actually manganese, that causes the mossy pattern as well the swirls and streaks. I enjoyed bringing the owl out of this piece of stone. The owl is about 4.25" high, 3.25" wide, and 3 " deep. It is carved on three sides, and the back is smooth and polished. Price: $595.00 Currently on display in the First Annual WAAC Membership Exhibition at the University of Wisconsin Hospital until March 2nd
Price $29 |
SOAPSTONE #9 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #9 There is an owl among those dendrites and she coyly peeks out from behind a wing. The larger photos show the image much better. The back is smooth and the owl is 3" high x 3" wide, and 1.75" deep. The oak base is 3" x 2" x 1". Price: $195.00 |
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SOAPSTONE #10 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #10 This is almost a minimalist piece in that I only carved detail on the face. It has a rather quizzical pose and the back is smooth and polished. Be sure to check out the larger photos. The sculpture is 3.25" high, 1.25" deep, and 2.25" wide and is mounted on a cherry base, 3" x 2" x 1 " high. Price: $150.00
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SOAPSTONE #11 click owl for larger images
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An abstraction of a barn owl and a pretty piece of stone made a nice combination. The owl has a lot of character and is 3.25" high, 3" wide and 1.75" deep. The back is smooth and polished. The dark mahogany base is 3" x 2" x 1" high. Price: $175.00 |
ENGLAND Just a short note to let you know that your soapstone owl arrived safely this
morning. It is a wonderful piece and beautifully carved. I would also like
to thank you for your generosity with the postage and for enclosing the
note cards. Hopefully you will be hearing from me again soon!
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SOAPSTONE #12 click owl for larger images
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Price: $575.00 |
SOAPSTONE #13 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #13
The piece stands 4" high and is mounted on a dark-stained cherry base 3" x 3" x 1.25" high.
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SOAPSTONE #14 click owl for larger images
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Looking at the photo, this owl appears quite small but, in actuality, it is of good size. As the larger photos show, the stone goes from about .5" to over 4" thick. This is a beautiful example of dendritic soapstone from Montana. The owl is 4.5" high, 7.5" wide, and .5" to 4" deep. The .5" high feet don't show well on the oak base but the help make the height of the base 2.5" high. The base is 8" wide and 4.25"deep. Price: $595.00 Price: $125.00 |
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SOAPSTONE #15 click owl for larger images
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This owl is quite small and what you see is carved while the rest is smooth and polished. Its quizzical look might be asking, "Are YOU good enough for ME?." It is such a pretty piece of stone with the mossy pattern of manganese and a tiny bit of iron causing the slight golden color. The owl is 2.25" high, 1.75" wide, and +.75" deep. The back is smooth and the owl is mounted on a dark-stained cherry base that is 1.5" square and .5" high.  Seattle, Washington
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SOAPSTONE #16 click owl for larger images |
SOAPSTONE #16
Price: $225.00
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SOAPSTONE #17 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #17
Price: $495.00 |
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SOAPSTONE #18 click owl for larger images
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The face might resemble a barn owl but the body says otherwise. Check the larger photos to see the way the manganese colored this owl. There are streaks as well as well-defined dendrites, adding up to a nice piece of stone. The owl is about 3.75" high, 3" wide, and 2.5" deep. It is mounted on a dark-stained oak base that is 3" square and 2" high. Price: $295.00
Price: $250.00 |
SOAPSTONE #19 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #19
She is about 4.5" high, 3" wide, and 1.25" thick in some places. The owl is mounted on a 3" x 2" x 1" oak base. Check out the larger photos for this one, too. Price: $175.00 |
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SOAPSTONE #20 click owl for larger images |
"Never look back" is certainly not the motto of this owl, for that is exactly what it is doing. The fairly triangular piece of stone has a nice mix of dendrites with a few swirls of manganese. The owl is carved on the side shown, partially carved on the second side, and smooth and polished on the third. It is 2.75" high, 3.25" wide, and 2.25" from front to back. Price: $150.00 Price: $725.00 |
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SOAPSTONE #21 click owl for larger images
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Angular is the word, but this owl has "attitude" despite its size. It has a nice representation of manganese dendrites with swirls of manganese on the smooth and polished back. It is worth a look at the larger photos The owl, itself, is about 3.75" high, 1.5" wide, and 1.5" deep and mounted on a dark-stained cherry base that is 2 " x 2" x 1.75" high.
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SOAPSTONE #22 click photo for a little larger image of the owl
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Another Barn Owl, this one also looks a bit intimidating. I have no control over where the dendritic pattern ends up, but I think is it quite appealing, here. The owl itself is 3.5" high x 2.75" wide x 1.75" deep. It is mounted on a cherry-stained oak base that is 2" square x 1" high. Seattle, Washington |
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SOAPSTONE #23
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SOAPSTONE #23 A rather tall and thin owl, it embodies a very fine example of dendritic soapstone. The back of the owl is smooth and polished. It is mounted on an oak base that is 2" x 2" x 1" high. The owl is about 2.25" wide, 2.25" deep and 4.75" high. Price: $175.00 |
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SOAPSTONE #24 click owl for larger images |
SOAPSTONE #24 It has a bit of attitude but the almost-white stone contrasts well with the dendrites to make it more charming. The owl is about 2.25" high, 2.25" wide, and about 2" deep. Price: $175.00 Price: $150.00 Price: $175.00
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SOAPSTONE #25 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #25 This owl is carved all around and strikes a very strong pose. Dendrites, the fine pattern on the bird, come and go as one carves, but they ended up in a nice pattern on this piece. The owl is about 3" high, 3.75" wide, and 3.5" deep. It is mounted on a dark-stained oak base that is 2.5" square and 1" high. Price: $375.00
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SOAPSTONE #26 click owl for larger images |
SOAPSTONE #26 The owl has dendrites and swirls on manganese with a streak of iron coloration on the front and a splotch of the color on top. Hiding behind its wing, it is a signature piece, too, and has a smooth and polished back. The owl is about 3" high, 2.5" wide, and 2" deep. It sits on a dark-stained cherry base, 2" square x 1" high. Price: $150.00 e: $175.00
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SOAPSTONE #27 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #27 A wing over one eye makes this a signature piece, but this little owl has nice detail, dendrites, and swirls to give it a lot of character. The owl is 2.25" high, 2" wide, and 1.75" deep and is mounted on an oak base, 1.5" square and .5" high. Price: $100.00 |
SOAPSTONE #28 click owl for larger images
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It is always fun to let a hole represent the eyes on an owl. As the larger photos reveal, this is a nice piece of stone representing a quite angular owl. This owl is carved on three sides and the back, such as it is, is smooth and polished. The owl is 3.25" high, 2 " wide, and about 2.25 " deep. The dark-stained mahogany base is 2.5" square and 1" high. Price: $175.00
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SOAPSTONE #29 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #29 It is small and skinny but this owl strikes a strong pose just the same. Obviously, there is a nice smattering of dendrites that only seem to add to its character. The owl is 2.25" high, 1.5" wide, and over 1.5" deep. The base is oak and 1.5" square and .5" high. Price: $95.00
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SOAPSTONE #30 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #30 The swirls of manganese add beauty to this piece of stone. There is a nice smattering of dendrites showing while the smooth and polished back has more pronounced dendrites. The owl is 2.5" high, 1.5" wide, and over 1" deep.
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SOAPSTONE #31 click owl for larger images
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SOAPSTONE #31 The dendrites came out in just the right places on this little owl. There are also a few touches of iron on the front. The back is smooth and polished, and the photo is slightly out-of-focus. (Sorry) The owl is 1.75" high, 2.5" wide, and about 1.25" deep. Price: $95.00 |
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SOAPSTONE #32 click owl for larger images
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This owl has a rather stand-offish attitude but I am sure, if you look at it long enough, you will know it is just a a cover for its shyness. The owl is 3.5" high, 2.5" wide, and about 1 " deep at its thickest part. It is mounted on a triangular, dark-stained mahogany base which is 4.25" long, 2" wide, down to almost nothing, and 1" high.
Price: $150.00 |
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To go to Soapstone |
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If you would like to see some owls I have sold
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Cameron Owls
Clarence P. Cameron
633 Cedar Street
Madison, WI 53715-2117
608.256.0444
clarowl@owlman.com
Copyright ©1999-2011
Cameron Owls
Clarence P. Cameron
All Rights Reserved
label next to an owl reflects the fact that the owl is new in 2011 and the snowflakes 
mean it is one of the newest. I am quite sure I have all the owls, including some rather old ones, but age is only a number. LAYAWAYS are possible. Just E-mail me for terms.
CLICK ON THIS OWL