It seems like every time I start thinking, I really need to start blogging more, life gets unexpectedly busy, I'm lucky to have five spare minutes to turn on the computer, and blogging goes completely out the window. Well, now my son is napping, my husband is relaxing downstairs, and here I am, taking a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Christmas to write a little note.

Christmas is always a busy time for craftspeople. I am finally beginning to make a go at turning this wonderful hobby into a small side-business. I did a craft show with my dad, an amazing woodturner. You can see his site at www.aroundthewoods.com. We had a great time, and I was able to sell a few carved golf balls and some very cute bird tree ornaments. Since then, friends have also been interested in buying golf balls as Christmas presents. It has been a great boost to see that people enjoy the small things I make. I even received a letter from one buyer at the craft show, saying the blue jay she bought brings a smile to her face every time she sees it! These are the little things that make my day.

Below is a picture of some of the many golf balls I have carved. I hope they give you ideas of fun creations to make for yourself.

Merry Christmas!

~Karen V.
www.etsy.com/shop/thewhittlethings

Butterfly on Flower... Finished!

Well, except for the varnish, this little guy is all done. Again, I'm sorry I don't have the greatest pictures. I'm using my computer's camera, which isn't the best. However, I think you'll still enjoy the look of this butterfly:

Butterfly on Stand

A close-up of the antennae

The antennae are the only part that are not carved out of the original golf ball. I find antennae are too delicate to carve, and to be perfectly honest, I just don't have the patience to make sure I get them right. Instead, I molded the antennae from black-colored Sculpey clay, and baked them in a 275-degree F oven for five minutes. I used white glue to attach them.

The golf ball stand is homemade, using corkboard, a self-adhesive fake grass tile, and a golf tee. I found both the corkboard and grass at a local dollar store, and the golf tee is from Wal-Mart. I attached the grass to the cork, used an exacto knife to cut the board into squares, and inserted the golf tee into the center of the square. I then used a glue gun to securely attach the tee in place.

~Karen V.
www.etsy.com/shop/thewhittlethings

Golf Ball: Butterfly on Flower Day 1

Last night, I was reviewing what carving projects I have on the go, and at which stage they were each at. I had two wooden eggs that were drying their first coat of varnish; a golf ball waiting to be painted; a landscape egg I had almost finished carving; a golf ball that was marked and ready to be carved, and two eggs that needed to be sanded. With a heavy sigh, I decided to start sanding the two eggs, and then reward myself with hacking away a bit at the landscape egg and golf ball.

I'm not ready yet to show off the landscape egg. I've finished the carving, but I think I'll wait until it's been sanded and painted before showing it off! I will, however, show what twenty minutes of carving at a golf ball produced:

I know, it's not the best picture. I'm hoping you can begin to see the butterfly taking shape on the top of the golf ball, though. The ultimate plan is for this to be a butterfly with its wings spread out over a flower.

Karen V.
www.etsy.com/shop/thewhittlethings

Welcome to The Whittle Things

Welcome to The Whittle Things!

My name is Karen, and I have been carving for about 16 years. It started out as something I could do to spend time with my dad, and has now become part hobby, part obsession, and a genuine sanity saver! As a stay at home mom of an infant boy, by the end of the day I need something to do that gets my mind off of housework, childcare, and the daily round of tasks to be done.

About three years ago I discovered the joy of carving basswood eggs. This was a Godsend for me, as I was a newlywed living in a small apartment without room for large pieces of wood and equipment. Basswood eggs are small, easily stored, and yet provide lots of opportunity to create whimsical people, animals, birds, and even landscapes.

Shortly after Christmas 2011, I also began carving golf balls. I had no idea this could become so addictive too! While I still tend to prefer egg carving due to the wider possibility for detail, I find golf ball carving to be relaxing as well. There is no need for sanding, painting base coats, or even using a lot of paint. I can just carve, paint in the details, apply a coat of varnish and it's done!

I have also recently begun creating golf ball keychains, like this rose over here. It's a great idea for any golfing friends, plus it just makes a neat key chain!


I look forward to sharing my carving projects with you, and hope to hear from other carvers out there!

~ Karen V.
www.etsy.com/shop/thewhittlethings