[Nancy_G]

Wanna' see my latest Santa? He's basswood, 14' tall. Thanks for looking http://community.webshots.com/user/nancymo44

[noel58]

Nice stuff !!! I wish I were on your Xmas list. If you were to sell the Santa, how much would you charge?

[Captain_Bandaid]

Nancy, a really beautiful Santa! Is that an original or a roughout?

[Nancy_G]

Captain, that's my original pattern...I draw all my own patterns. I draw them on 1/4' graph paper which makes getting perfectly matched front & side view patterns much easier. I happily share patterns too ..... they're a real mess but if you ever want one just let me know.

Noel, I'm kinda' glad you asked the question about price because I've been wanting to respond to the thread about selling carvings and wasn't certain how to word it. I sell every thing I carve just as fast as I finish it through a gallery in Evanston (Chicago) IL. It will sell for around $2,300 -$2,400 and I will get HALF of that. If I tried to sell my work around here (rural Missouri) I couldn't get $100 for a Santa. By selling through a nice gallery I get great money because people expect to pay high prices. I get to stay home doing what I love and earn money.....it's a little slice of heaven and I try to remember to thank God for it every day.

My prices, of course, did not start out in that price range. It's taken 10 years to develop a 'following' of collectors, a 'name' and that sort of stuff.

I love carving - I love selling my carvings. I love having a fine gallery 'pushing' my stuff and doing all the paper work. I stay home, carve and get a check every month.

If any carver reading this wants more information on the gallery - it's FolkWorks http://www.folkworks.com . Or write to me. Nancy Goff - jngoff@fidnet.com

Nancy does indeed have a following. I have been admiring her work for several years now.

Nancy, another fine example. Thanks for sharing.
truly a fine piece.

Dave

[Captain_Bandaid]

: I sell my carvings through an agent, too. I bundle them up in three's and they sell them down at the gas station for fire wood.................. :P

Excellant job, as always Nancy!
Glad to hear you are doing so well with the sales.
You are an inspiration to all your fellow carvers.

Nancy,

It's great to see a new carving (or should I say carvings) from you. The animals are wonderful.

Do you have any idea how much time you have invested in this piece?

[Nancy_G]

Phuzzy - I'm SLOW, but just how slow usually depends on the quality of the wood I'm working with (you don't think *I'M* going to accept responsibility, do you? ) I use only small hand tools -- I'm scared to death of power tools and I'm a total klutz when it comes to sharpening gouges so that makes me even slower.

If things are going well and I'm feeling good I can do a Santa like that in a week -- the next one will take 3 weeks.

I can't say how many hours I have invested in that piece. I think if I were paid by the hour I'd earn about the same same as a Wal-Mart greeter - the only other job I'm qualified for.

[Phuzzy]

Well, I certainly wouldn't consider the Wal Mart greeter option too seriously if I were you. I think a week to carve a Santa like this one is incredible. If your next Santa will take you 3 weeks, will he be lifesize?

Anyway, wonderful work and it was good to talk to you again.