Santa Has a Heart

I started carving this type of Santa ornament with the beard having cut outs about 12 years ago, trying to do different things to the carving, It is hard for me to believe I have been carving these that long.  Dave Stetson posted a pattern with hearts cut out in the beard and I thought it would look great in this type of ornament. The blank is a 2 inch square that is cut at a diagonal and is 6 inches long. The back is dished out and I carve something in the back. This one has a heart. There is a lot of room on the back to write something. They make wonderful gifts.

     

Little Guy

These little guy's were carved from 1 inch stock, about 2 1/2 inches tall. I like to encourage people to keep carving. My earliest remembrance is in my preteens going to the sauna for my dad's  hunting knife. And then we carved hunting knives and swords to play a sort of Robin Hood. Small figures like this can be carved with just a knife although I used a v-tool and small gouge. Keep carving.

Carved Cowboy

This carving is from a Myron Compton pattern. The cowboy is 6 1/2 inches tall. I like the big head with the small body. I had sawed out the blank over a year ago and decided to finally carve it. I need to work on some of these blanks sitting around my shop.

Think Snow

Let it snow, let it snow. That's the way snowmen think. These snowmen are 3 inches tall. They are carved form a Birch branch. The wood was green so it carved good with just a knife. I left the brim of the hat a little thick because I thought it might crack. The face is the color of the wood. The mouth, around the eyes and the snow flakes are done with a Gel pen. The ink from the pens doesn't dry as quick, so it's easy to smear the ink.

Bearing Gifts

This Santa is carved from a Moore rough out. It is 12 inches tall. I wasn't able to finish it before Christmas but will able to display the Santa this coming season.

Year End

My last carvings for the year. I needed to cut down a Birch tree because to top was dying. I carved this Santa face from a branch 1 1/2 inch in diameter and 4 inches long. It carved easily because it was green. The top and bottom has some crack marks as it drys, Time will tell if it cracks into the carving. The second carving is a Santa pin that I wore during this Christmas season. It is carved from a 1 1/2 triangle block, 2 1/4 inches long. I wish everyone a prosperous new year.

Cardinal Ornament

The cardinal seems to be a Christmas favorite. I like carving birds for ornaments because they can be hung the year around. That is why I put a lot of detail into them.