Inter Blog awareness

Hi can I recommend this blog to you?

http://myblogfinallymadeit.blogspot.com/2011/01/sundayspectacular-handmade-folksy_22.html#comments

Linda who runs the blog has kindly added one of my carvings on 23rd Jan (The link above)

Her blog highlights handmade items on Folksy so you don't have to trawl through yourself. Now I would say that Linda has good taste as she added one of my carvings, but she picks some great items.

Merlin, carved in 2009 and featured on the blog and the Folksy shop (here)

I love this fella and he hangs on the wall in my kitchen.

So check out the blog and visit Merlin

Regards Dave

Dogs Friend, Found Wood Carving

This is a piece of wood found on a walk

Covered in mud and teeth marks in the bark, obviously a 'dogs friend'

I tripped on it and almost threw it into the bush. On second look I bagged it, making my new top dirty!! (looks from the wife)

When washed (in the kitchen sink, but don't tell the wife!) it came up quite wonderful making the effort worth while

To be fair I'm always dragging old bits of 'manky' wood home to carve. pieces that would normally be thrown away

In these he looks regal and pleased with himself

I haven't cut it down and the ends are shattered and jagged as found, created by weather and a dogs jaw

The hair and beard came out very well and add life to his face, the natural markings a gift from the wood itself

I removed all the bark to expose the wood, it mostly flaked off when washing it. It was then dried on a radiator before going under the knife

The wood has natural gash down the length which has exposed the heartwood which is very dark as it boarders on rotten, but has retained stability

By carving around this natural feature the Woodwose becomes part of the wood itself; bringing a simple branch, chewed and discarded in a muddy lane, to life

He is full of character, 52 centimetres long, 5 centimeters at the widest part, the face is 4 centimetres by 6 centimetres

Finished in Danish oil and tinted to age. What started out as a natural dog toy, lying in mud, becomes a Woodwose to display in the house for years to come

He is a wall hanging piece

Comments welcome

Regards Dave

Useful Carving Doodle

I started carving a stick out of a piece of Hazel harvested last year. Before long it started to develop into a carving doodle..... a useful one as it was going to become a walking stick. The first photo shows my modest work station in the utility room, and a great piece of art done by one of my boys.

This is the top carving, which would normally be the only one on a walking stick

The stone effect added after being inspired from reading a Shawn Cipa book I received at Christmas

The carvings progressed on as I started to think of this as a chance to doodle over the seasonal break without having to plan anything

The stone work links the carvings. though each carving was done and then the stone work added

I decided to try some new approaches

Mixed with the traditional, which I love doing

Beards that become hair

Beardless but more mouth detail

Different noses

Simple faces without emotion

Linking down to my favourite that will make solo appearances soon

And a great transition between the Woodwose and the Green Man which is poignant when considering the link between the Green Man and the Wood-spirit, Woodwose

This is what doodling can achieve without planning :-)

Again, as with other aspects, this Green Man is inspired by Shawn Cipa

The bottom of the stick is quite thick and as such I didn't have a ferrule that would fit. Another great thing about doing a doodle is that its not supposed to follow convention or any pattern. I decided to use a Worktop connector as a foot of the stick to protect the bottom from getting damaged. It also remains true to re-use and adapting, recycling, and is quite effective.

The screw is threaded into the stick by at least 2.5 inches and will protect the foot of the stick from wear

The pictures are a little yellow as they were taken under artificial light and quickly so I could post. I will be adding some pyrography in the way of Futhark Runes below the carvings

Soon to be on sale in the Woodwose Folksy Shop so watch out for it

Your comments on the carvings (not the photography) as always is asked for and gratefully received

~ Regards Dave ~

~ Jan 2011 ~