Beautiful Birds

Ever have one of those times where, you've been carving or sewing or scrapbooking or doing whatever your favorite hobby is, when suddenly, for no apparent reason, you lose your inspiration? You can't seem to find motivation to keep going, your materials are hidden away for a little while, and you just have to try doing other things for a little bit until you can get back to your beloved pastime?

If you have never experienced that, you're lucky. But that's what I've had recently when it comes to woodcarving. Who knows why? My inspiration is starting to come back, but right now I'm waiting on some more supplies to come in the mail. In the meantime, I have some (about six, I think) carvings that need to be painted, and golf balls that can be carved.

One project that I do find very easy to do when I'm in a "carving funk" is birds. These whimsical birds are very quick and very cute. They're great to make if you're just in a mood to make lots of shavings, and can make charming little gifts.

The design for these birds comes from Laura Putnam Dunkle's book Carving Whimsical Birds. It's currently out of print, but most online book stores will still have it second hand. I highly recommend it.

~ Karen V.

Golf Balls Galore and More

While I've been sharing with you about the golf ball butterfly and horse carving I've been working on, I have also been busy with a few other projects, too. I rarely have only one carving on the go. I like to have several carvings in various stages of progress. That way, I can do different things depending on what my mood is or how tired I am. Here are a few carvings that I finished varnishing yesterday:

Golf Balls Galore!... Granny, Bunny, Green Man, Butterfly on Flower

Bear in Tree Stump

Of course, I am still working away on my horse. I finished the carving of it last night, and tonight will begin my least favorite part of the carving process... sanding. I know many carvers don't like to sand, but I personally do love the appearance and feel of a well-sanded woodcarving. I sand all my carvings seven times using five different grits. Two sandings are done with 80-grit sandpaper, two sandings are done with 100-grit sandpaper, and then I do one sanding each with 150-grit, 180-grit, and 200-grit sandpapers.

~Karen V.
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