[jillsy]

Hey there everybody,

I know we haven't even gotten over New Year's yet, but I'm going to need all the extra time to get this one started.

I'd love to carve my husband a little Valentine this year and would love any suggetions. Part of me would really love to carve alittle bear holding a heart, but I don't have much experience carving animals. Hence, why I'll need the next month to not only figure this out, but have the time to do it!

I'm not looking for anything fancy, just alittle something sentimental and cute. But, I also wanted to carve more than just a heart. And no Santas please - I'm all Santa'd out for now.

Please send help!

Have a great new year!

Jillsy

[Tom H]

Jillsy, Many moons ago I bought a small wood ball, carved a small heart, and used a piece of old silver necklace chain. I carved the number of years that we had been married into the heart. Hey, it worked. And it was quick, because I believe that I had forgotten about the date.

How about a small 4 or 5 inch tall chainsaw carved type bear, with a carved heart chained to one of its legs?

Tom H

[Just Carving]

Piece of cake--use a beanie baby for a model and carve a teddy bear. Bring his arms around to the front and visualize a heart sitting in his arms--or carve a quick heart out of wood, and plop it in the beanie baby's arms. Then take some pics like I did, and walla--one pattern for a cute heart thumping bear for your honey! As far as carving, just wing it. Have you ever seen a teddy bear that's been through the wash about a hundred times that didn't look cute? Me neither! So, your little heart thumper is going to have the facets of the carving that's going to make him look like a teddy. Go to the Little Shavers website, and read up on Rick's techniques for texturing carvings. Here's the link:
http://www.littleshavers.com/60210ShowMe.html

Here's one that might work well for a teddy bear:
http://www.littleshavers.com/60210ShowMe.html#anchor_34

And here are some pictures to use for your pattern. Print/enlarge to what you want in size. Sorry for the quality of the pics--somebody had a hot date for New Years--and he was antsy about me messing up his fur. (Hint: It wasn't me! LOL) Thanks Curly for posing!

H-appy New Year!

Bob L

[Coffeeman]

Jillsy,

I'd love to share with you what I've come up with to carve for my lovely wife and it will also work for a man too.

Titled: " I give my Heart to you"

The carving will simply be just my hand from the wrist up, as its passing over to her a heart being held in my hand by my fingers. Hopefully my description does it justice in your mind.

My version planned is a wall mounted relief style of carving.

Hope you find this as some inspiration and to anyone else, feel to use it as you wish. Bill

[jillsy]

Thanks for all the ideas and inspiration. I haven't been up for carving in a few weeks, but these new ideas are getting me back in the spirit.

Amazingly, it never dawned on me to carve something for Valentine's Day, but I remembered carvers writing about it last year. By the time I read their posts, it was too late for me to carve something, but I loved the idea of this and wanted to make sure and try it this year.

[Marci MN]

Hi Jillsy, How about a keychain? Carve a heart with a skeleton key across it with the words "you have the key to my heart" or something simular? Paint it in musculin colors maybe.

How about a love spoon with two big hearts on top (yours and his) and if you have children , they are smaller hearts under yours.. Or put marriage date on hearts.

Here is a spoon site to inspire you. Otherwise Google Images will bring up alot of ideas for you to work with.

http://www.friendshipspoons.com/

[jillsy]

Marci, I have to ask - what have you been smoking? ha ha! It's nice to see you have that much faith in me, but there's no way on God's green earth I can carve one of those spoons! I've seen carvers do these and wonder how. Maybe someday.....30 years from now, I'll be able to start something like that!

I tease you, but I really do appreciate your responding to this post. The keychain idea is a cute one. I was starting to consider just doing a mini bear for him and that might work!

Thanks and have a great new year - where I live, only 3 1/2 hours from now.

[Marci MN]

*cough cough* Why ..nuttin... Now Jillsy.. I've seen your Santas, you can carve up a spoon lickity split I'm sure of it!! Do you have a scroll saw at your disposal? Cut out your pattern, and round of the edges.. by that time you'll see where you need to carve down to make it look like over and under design. You can DO it... Use a dremel or power carver to hollow out the bowl of your spoon. ?

Speaking of bears.. Eddie has a cute pattern you can maybe sweet talk outta him. Maybe change an arm to hang outwards to hold car keys or his watch when hubby takes it off at night. That way he see's your creation every day. The other arm could hold an " I love you" type heart...

17 minutes till midnight... New Years back to you!! May we all Create in 2008!!

[Joy]

Hey Jillsy, great post. I hadn't thought of carving a Valentine for hubby. I like all the ideas you are getting. Thanks Bob for the bear pictures. They are saved in my pattern file.

[mikeg]

Hey Jillsy,

How about an arrow piercing a couple of hearts? I carved this one from a 1"x1"x6" piece of basswood a couple of years ago.

mikeg