[Lightningbolt]

Thank's for looking everyone. I'm already working on the next two santa's but they'll take a little longer to finish since the work week has begun again... which means that I'll have to get a little "sneakin' " carving done here and there.

As for the turnips I had also never eaten them cooked until I got to researching them on the internet and got a lot of good ideas. I also used to pick them out of my grandpa's garden growing up and just ate 'em raw but they're a lot harder to get down that way and it's sorta like eating an oversized radish which isn't too appealing. I found one lady who grates them into her salads as a raddish alternative so after trying it (and liking it) I've been doing that too in my daily spinach salad.

Ok, it's back to carvin" !

[Mottles]

Hi Dave, those are some lovely turnips. I'm not fond of cooked turnips, but enjoy them raw. There tasty in salads.
Thanks for sharing!
Kathy

[Joy]

It is wonderful to dig up a turnip and cook it and eat it right out of the garden. And now that we have had a freeze the brussel sprouts will be jumping in my steamer.

Nice job on the Santas. I like the way you left the wood on the base so they would stand instead of hanging.

[windsong]

Dave
I forgot to ask you in my last post but how did you get the Writing on the figures to look so neat.What i'm asking is how you got all the letters all the same size and spaced .I'll get it out NEAT LOOKING?
windsong

[Coffeeman]

Dave, Real nice job on your Santa's.. I just finished another one tonight too, I also like what Joy stated in the above post, your base concept is real neat. Bill

[Lightningbolt]

Windsong: I have attached a picture of the woodburning tip that I used for the lettering which is part of my Detail Master IV woodburning system. I bet that I use that tip for 90% of all my woodburning.

Your compliment is inspiring as I never thought about how neat or lack of neatness that my lettering has. Just this week I was doodling some random Christmas drawings on the dry erase board at work and someone noted how "artistic" I was. The compliment sounded sorta strange at first since I didn't consider it that good but upon my questioning she was very sincere and that my art was very upper level. That really made me feel good and almost as good as the compliment I got about 5 years ago when this kindly young lady quite sincerely said that I had "gorgeous" legs. That was one flattering comment that I've never forgotten and to be honest never considered about myself. Sooooooooooooo... thank's!

Thought that I'd post a picture pre-view of the next santa I've started. I think that he's gonna be a little more interesting as I've tried to be more creative with my cuts and added a little more waving to the hair, along with his santa hat drooped over to one side of his head. I'll post the completed pictures when finished.

Thanks for all the comments but I still have a ways to go to get the kind of quality I'm looking for.

[Lightningbolt]

Opps. I got off on such a tangent talking about pretty young ladies I didn't seem to completely answer your question Windsong. As for my lettering, most of the time I pencil sketch it in before burning to be sure that all my spacing is going to work. Less often I will just count the letters in the words then just measure off the spacing with little pencil marks so that I stay in-bounds when the burning starts. Sometimes I can just coordinate everything in my head and start burning with no prep.

Other than that I guess that I just focus like a laser beam and hold my breath a lot. Good luck!

[Blake Lunsford]

Great santas Dave! I really like they way they have turned out. I got that same shipment of basswood this week. Can't wait to see what the shipping bill is on it, but I'm sure it is good wood. Great work!

Blake

[Irishman]

Your Santa's sort of have a Scotish look to them with the hat design. When I first saw your pics (before enhancing them), I thought they were large ones as your faces are very expressive. You got quite a reaction with those turnips and I can see why - very healthy looking crop. I particularly like my turnips in boiled dinners and stews - must be a maritime thing here in Canada. Your last posting shows another style of Santa. I like them all. And thanks for not showing us your legs! he he he

Patrick

[susieq]

Dave, I am not sure which I am more envious of.....your santas or your turnips..... Both look great to me. I will have to try fixing turnips the way you do. Anything you eat from your own garden, tastes better. Have you ever eaten Daikon? I have many Asian friends and they got me hooked on those giant radishes....cooked or raw.

I love the Santas and the people getting them as gifts will be crazy for them.
Nice job.