I am amazed and very interested in veiwing all the different types of Santa carvings. I think it would be interesting to create a listing of websites that people can go to for inspiration and ideas. I've been to teriembry.com, snowcottagecarvings.com and folkworks.com. What are others to look at?
Thanks for the inspiration!
Barry Bowers

See if this works
http://community.webshots.com/user/nancymo44

Rick-
Thanks for the link. Some great carvings! It really is humbling to see some other peoples work. Better keep working on my own.
Thanks-
Barry

[Callynne]

Hi Barry, I have been carving Santas since last December, if you want to check out mine go to

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumList?u=4055528

Just click on the album name and the pictures should come up. Let me know if the address works, I'm trying to post to directly go into the albums without having to type in other information.

I was going to post Nancy's site too but Rick beat me to it. I love looking at other peoples carving too, it always amazes me how many 'styles' there are and how great people do them! Callynne

Hi Callynne-

Hi Callynne-
Your link worked great and your Santa's are wonderful! I too am amazed how many styles and variations a Santa can be made. Your first carving is really good. I've been carving for about 6 years and might be up to the level of your first. The last couple of years I have done mostly Santa's and really enjoy them. You can't beat the look of someone's face receiving a carved Santa.
Thanks for the link. Maybe I'll get brave and post a few of mine someday.
carving!
Barry Bowers

[icarve2003]

O.k. Callynne, how long have you been carving?

I checked out your link and you've got your very first carving on there and the date is Sept. 2002. You say that you've been carving santas for about 1 1/2 years?

Please tell me you've been carving for like 10 years or something. Otherwise, you certainly are a natural.

Chris

Callynne,

Hi, this is Beeguy. I just checked out your link to your Santas again. It just amazes me how you achieve such detail while only carving for a short time. I suppose you have been asked before but have you ever considered writing a book? Maybe one geared at beginners like me with patterns and a step-by-step carving of a Santa. I for sure would buy one from you. Books are the only teachers I have as there are no carving clubs in my town. I think the closet one is over 60 miles away. That goes along with Nancy and Terie too. I have no idea where one would begin in writing a book but I sure think it would be a great idea. Or better yet, a video, now that is something I would love to have. I've been looking for a good video on carving a Santa. I know Tom Wolfe has one out, but I think that is about it as far as I know. Does anyone know of others?

I just want to say that you, Nancy and Terie continue to inspire me to carve Santas. Thanks again and keep those Santas coming.

Beeguy

Hi Barry, if your still looking for websites with carvings on it, you should check out www.reasonstobelieve.com. There are quite a few of us that sell our work there. They are located in Kirkland, Wash. ( just outside of Seattle). They have a whole section of woodcarvers on their site. If your not familiar with the store, all they sell are Santas...and thats all. I've been selling my Santas there for just over 2 yrs now. Thanks for checking out my site ( www.snowcottagecarvings.com) and I hope it gave you some inspiration. All I carve are Santas, and I love it, what a great subject to focus on. Dave

[Callynne]

Thanks for all the nice compliments guys! Get brave, Barry, we'd love to see some pictures!!

Chris, the date on that first carving would be the date I put it on the site, I have actually been carving longer (sorry, not ten years!). It will be three years this Christmas. I don't know about being a natural, when someone asks how I could have just picked up a knife and started carving I say, I think someone who could carve this way must have passed away and God said, 'hmmm, who should I give this gift to?' I was the lucky one, can't explain it any other way because everytime I carve something I still can't believe I did it!

Beeguy, I was talking to my husband the other day about Teri having a 'how to' article coming out in the next issue of Carving Magazine. I laughed and said that's one thing no one will ever be able do about my carving. I pretty much pick the same tools now for what I want to accomplish but there isn't any rhyme or reason to it, I just hack here, gouge there till it looks right. Smart mouth hubby says that's the same reason they'll never make a video of me cooking, it would just show me dumping stuff in the pot and constantly tasting to see if it's right! Ha! Ha!

Thanks again guys, I really appreciate your kind words! Callynne