[sbro]

Hi,
I am looking for someone in Seattle who can do a carving project for me. It is to carve some nativity characters out of my Christmas trees from the last 2 years.
Thanks

[BobD]

sbro,
Shawn Cipa has a great book on carving your own nativity figures. If you are in Seattle, check out Rick Ferry (www.Littleshavers.com) he goes by Rick From Seattle on the board. He's got a great beginner's kit. All it should take is a few chisels, a knife, and some patience!

Bob Duncan
Wood Carving Illustrated

[decoycarve]

I have carved a few Santas from the trunks of peoples christmas trees. I don't carve them anymore not even our own. If the tree does not have a fairly large trunk by the time you get the bark off theres not much good wood to work with. Christmas trees have a lot of branches coming out of the trunk, thus a lot of knotts and close together. Some trees are Fir the wood is stringy and unstable.
Its very hard to dry these pieces without them splitting. I would suggest that you have someone do stylized or folkart type pieces from these. I found myself trying to grind thru one knott after another trying to find a stable area I could carve in. Not saying it can't be done but it isn't easy out of the wood from christmas tree trunks.
P.S. Welcome to the board.
Goody

[sbro]

Thanks for the input. It doesnt need to be all that professional. I would do it myself but I have to keep it a secret. My wife never had real Christmas trees groing up and enjoyed them so much during our first 2 years of marriage so I want to make them into the nativity figures. The other challenge is I need them done in or around Seattle so as to not cause suspicion.