Meeting woodcarvers

Last night Bob, Perry and I went to the Minnesota Vikings Wood Carvers meeting in Bloomington. Bob was reluctant to go but I really think he liked looking at the carvings, especially the cottonwood bark carvings. Perry was the hit of the meeting. His friends from the Chanhassen Wood Carvers introduced him as a member of their group. He was thrilled. He was also able to take a bunch of wood home from the free box that was setting out.
I picked up a block of 3/4" basswood. I want to try relief carving. I am going to follow the directions that is a woodcarving book. It's a very simple little daisy. I have the design traced onto the wood and am ready to go after it with my gouges. Woo Hoo.
Marty from www.mychipcarving.com visited my blog yesterday. He has a wonderful online store and great instructional video to stream from his site. He suggested that I post a few pictures so I'll get the camera out later and post them.

Carver Perry

Over the winter break Perry has been going to work with me on Wednesday and Fridays. He was able to sit with the Chanhassen Woodcarvers. One of the carvers "Neil" guided Perry through a Santa Claus carving. I think Perry enjoyed the company of the carvers as much as the carving. He is very proud of his completed Santa and now is debating what he should carve next.

I am still practicing my chip carving. I designed a little square and carved it. I'm waiting impatiently for my coasters and tray to come in the mail. I'm going to chip the coaster pattern that is free at the Woodcarvers Illustrated website.

Tonight is a Minnesota Viking Woodcarvers meeting. I'm debating if I should go or not. I guess I'll see what's happening at 6:00.

The pinecone

It's a sad demise for the pinecone. I talked to my mentor and he said that I should just give it up and not work on it.
He said:
1. Is this basswood? Hmmm I think so. It came out of a grab bag box so it might not be premium wood. But I still think it's basswood.
It's too hard and I will really struggle to chip it out.
2. The triangles all run cross grain and typically a chip carving is done mostly with the grain.
3. The pinecone is curved and it's much harder to chip carve on a curved surface.

So bye bye pineapple.
One of the carvers is sharpening my bench knife for me. Hopefully it will be back in my hands on Friday.

The shape of my pinecone is done and I did a beautiful job for a first attempt. If I squint my eyes tight it looks like a pinecone shape. I don't want just a flat pinecone. I want it to carve out the little arms on the pinecone that hide the seed. I pulled out my chip carving knife last night and made started chip carving on my beautiful pinecone shape. I promptly cut a ruined one side of my pinecone by splitting my wood.
Now I expected that my first project was going to have problems and this was not going to be a museum piece, but I didn't want to just destroy the entire project.
The carvers will be at work today so I'll get their thoughts on this. Maybe they can help me recover this project. I think I'll take my knife with me too and see if they can sharpen it for me. Maybe my knife is dull and that's why the wood split or maybe I'm just a newbie and don't know what I'm doing.

Runs with Sharp Tools

You may be wondering why I titled this blog "Run with Sharp Tools".
I quilt, sew, knit, crochet and now woodcarve. I guess I like sharp and dangerous tools. It's like living on the wild side but all the while maintaining my geekiness.

Jody the woodcarver!

I've started a new craft and so I thought I'd start a blog. I just want to write about this and I want to document my progression.
Twice a week I am privledge to be in the presence of the Chanhassen Woodcarvers. I work at the Senior Center where they meet and I am able to sneak a peak at what they are working on. They have inspired me to start woodcarving. Dad is also a wonderful characture carver and has given Perry many pieces over the years.
I have researched, read books and talked to carvers. I have subscribed to Woodcarving Illustrated. I am even considering joining a woodcarving club.
So Bob has given me a set of knives and gouges for Christmas. The morning after Christmas I put the bench knife in my hand and started cutting a block of wood. I promptly sliced open the side of my left hand. My 9 year old son, Perry, bandaged me and told me that I had to get one of those gloves. Fortunately, I had a quilters cutting glove in my arsonal of craft stuff.
Yesterday, I spent the day carving a pinecone from a block of basswood. It's a online class on the www.littleshavers.com site. Bob helped me eye the symetrical shape as I was carving. This morning I have a pinecone shape sitting on my dining room table. And a small blister on my right index finger which is a compliment to the bandage on my left hand.
I enjoyed my day thoroughly. I love sitting at my dining room table with my son. He built a Lego creation while I carved. I love the feel of the wood. I'm finding that carving is not only visual but also very tactal. Feeling the carving, feeling the curves and dips in the wood is very key to the work. I laugh at the wood chip trail that was left on the floor from the table into the kitchen and bathroom. Ha Ha Ha.
Now I have to figure out how to upload pictures so that I can show you my progress.
Follow along with me as I embark on this new adventure.