Cochet Hook

My daughter is teaching my great granddaughter how to crochet. She needed a little larger crochet hook so it would be easier for Ayana. I used a number 9 mm hook for a pattern and carved one out of cherry wood. A friend had trimmed a cherry tree last spring and I used this wood. The wood is hard but it is mostly straight so it carves fast. The flat spot is important so the hook won't turn in the hand while crocheting. 

Heart Necklace

These hearts are carved from a hardwood called Monkey pod. This wood is found in Central America and the Pacific regions. They use Monkey pod wood for furniture and dishes. I found a bowl in a thrift store that I could cut into heart shapes. The wood came from Hawaii. I found the darker areas on the wood was harder than the lighter areas. The finish is a gun stock oil called Tru-oil. The first coat was put on with a brush to fill in the open grain of the wood. The next coats were hand rubbed in, using steel wood or fine sand paper between coats. I used jewelry wire to make a loop and glued it into the heart for an attachment.

Chickadee

This Chickadee is a little larger than half size. I turned the head a little bit. I didn't use any measurements when carving. The eyes look like I placed them to high on the head. After I painted the bird, I dropped it and it landed on it's beak. We had a bird feeder by I window and every once in a while a bird would fly into the window so I had to move the feeder.  So this bird has a crooked beak. I like the paint work on the bird. The feet are made from wire that is soldered. The Chickadee is perched on a piece of wood cut from a Cherry tree branch. 

Library Display

This is my display of my carvings from the past year at the Plummer Library. It will be up for about 6 weeks. I write a few stories about the carvings to create interest in wood carving. They have a great showcase and the patrons enjoy having displays when visiting the library.

Ornaments

These three ornaments are carved from 1" by 1" by 4 " long basswood. I used a jump ring to hook on the acrylic bobble. I used a drill to open the hole at each end of the bobble because the ring wouldn't go all the way through without distorting the ring. I used cording for the bows, but you could use ribbon. It doesn't take a lot of time to carve these and they are good gift idea's.

Cowpoke

This carving of a cowpoke is from a rough out that is 11 inches tall. The base is from a piece of counter-top that has speckles that look somewhat like rock. He is painted with acrylics and a satin lacquer finish.

                      

Eagle Feather

Several members of our club has been carving this feather. I carved one in basswood and another one in cottonwood bark. They are about 11 1/2 inches long and 3/8 inch thick. I thought there wasn't enough movement it the feather so I used a gouge along part of the feather. I broke the quill on the bark feather when carrying it in my bag. The barbs of the feather on the bark are larger because of the layers in bark I thought I would have trouble with breakage. They both have a satin finish but I'm thinking I will paint the eagle head on the basswood feather.