Heart Flower

A friend gave me this flower he started carving and asked me to finish it. He designed it with four hearts and added some leaves. Girard likes to draw, and he designs some very good carvings. It is carved out of butternut and is 3 1/2 inch square by 3/8 inch thick. Butternut is easy to carve but it took a lot of sanding to bring out the richness of the wood. It has some interesting grain patterns.

Merit Badge Beads

Angie contacted me about carving pine cone beads for their Boy Scout troop. She couldn't locate any online or in local bead stores. This sparked my interest because I didn't have any idea what they would be. She said they would be like Merit Wood Badge beads, 1 inch long by 1/2 inch in diameter and brown. A set will be attached to a cord and worn around the neck. The cord in the picture isn't the one they will be using. There is a rich history with Wood Badge beads and the Boy Scouts for their leadership. They will be presented to the scouts in late October. I started out with a 1/2 inch square by about 3 inches long. A little over 1 inch in length was rounded to a pine cone shape. I drew around the cone at 3/16 inch spaces from 1/4 inch from the top. I used the corners of the square and the middle of the flat parts to free hand draw the vertical lines. Then X the squares. I used a chip knife to cut straight down on the V lines and then angle cut out the chip. I carve around each line before going down to the next one. On the very bottom I used a v tool to carve to the point. I clamped the square part in a vise to drill a 3 mm hole for the cord. Then sawed it off to 1 inch and rounded the top and painted it. This is for our future leaders.

 

Montana Happy Turtle

I received an e-mail from a lady who participated in my class of the happy turtle at the West Glacier Rendezvous. She had finished the turtle and sent some kind words and a picture. I like the paint job and the scene that explains why the turtle is happy. It is encouraging  to see the work of others.

Cross Ornament

The inside of this cross was opened up by drilling a series of holes on the center line of the side.  I angled the cross to drill out the center. With a knife and gouge I opened the drilled area. I carved though at a angle to the center and in the opposite direction on other side. I did a simple chip carving on both sides and scalloped all the ends. The finish cross is Alizarin Crimson oil color and linseed oil.  It's 4 inches long and out of 3/4 inch basswood.

Roadrunner

I carved this roadrunner at the West Glacier Rendezvous. I remember the Roadrunner and Wile Coyote cartoon, beep, beep. It may not look like the cartoon caricature or the real roadrunner, but it was fun to carve. I don't know if his eyes are worried or tired. The ribs of the Saguaro Cactus were carved with a v tool in short cuts. The Saguaro Cactus grows maybe one inch a year, but to a great height of 15 to 50 feet. The largest plants are estimated to be 200 years old. They flower in May and June. If fertilization has occurred fruit will begin to form. The 3 inch green fruit ripens just before the fall rainy season, splitting open to reveal the bright red, pulpy flesh. The natives use the fruit for jam and nectar.