puzzling over the next project(s)

There are two projects I'm attempting to start on.  They both have been on the list for a LONG time, and they both have me pretty thoroughly stumped.  Sometimes composition comes so easily.  Other times... not so much.  One's a drawing, one's scrimshaw.  I'll only be able to show the scrimshaw on here at this time.

Here's the surface I'll be working on:

That's an ivory hammer head, and it was custom made for me to work on.  I'm creating a piece for John Rohner's engraving hammer collection.  To my knowledge this is the only ivory one that's been made so far.  Obviously a real engraving hammer would not be made of ivory!  Over many decades, Mr. Rohner has asked various engravers to engrave a hammer head for him.  It's a tremendous honor, and I think I've been a little intimidated to actually work on it...  The design is totally up to me, with just one specification: he wants me to include a grizzly bear.  I've been brainstorming for a long time about this, and in the last few days have sketched out numerous ideas.  I think I'm getting a bit closer to something good.  But I only have one part of it figured out for certain, and that's the flat face of the hammer.  So although I prefer to have things all figured out before I start, I think I'll go ahead and start work on the face even though I'm still not 100% sure what I'm going to do on the sides or on the back.  Whatever I decide to do won't change the face though, so maybe I need to just get this thing on the bench and see what develops!

As for the drawing that's got me stumped, well, I'm sure I'll have an "aha!"moment pretty soon.  Maybe I need to go outside and wander around the horse corrals for inspiration.  ;-)