Beginners Stories

[littlefatbuddy]

I originally posted this in another area about Best carving skill but thought it might be nice to hear some stories from other beginners. Maybe we should title the thread Carving Comedies or something else clever. If there is already a thread like this I apologize in advance. Please enjoy:


As a carving infant, dont be afraid to ask questions. I am so appreciative of people that I have come in contact with that are so kind and respectful. Some hobbies have people that will talk down to newcomers and sometimes even worse. I have not experienced that at all with woodcarving. I have not met one person that seemed "threatened" that someone new was moving in to their territory. Quite the opposite, its like Sunday morning at the country church when there is a visiting preacher and free food.

I do not know if this is a skill......Two days ago I started my third (ever) carving project. I guess you would call it a stick Santa. I began with the first few cuts, moved up and down and all around and then realized that something had gone terribly wrong. Super, Epic Wrong. In my begineers zeal and haste I started carving this piece from the flat front rather than the pointed edge? I guess that is how to describe it. Well not to be defeated by a simple piece of wood, I proclaimed to my family that if I could pull out this design and complete the project I would be the best carver ever. A prodigy, a natural talent, God-gifted arteest extrordinaire. I whittled and cut and cut and whittled into the wee hours of the night, until my body demanded I sleep. I cleaned my mess and turned in determined to finish the piece the next day. (Yesterday) I came home and pulled the rrrooouuuggghhh piece back out and started to plan my attack when I was distracted by the heading...carving 15 minute Santas. I thought and pondered and even wondered aloud, although noone was home, what should I do. I will not be defeated. The large stick Santa would become........One little 15 minute Santa that only took three hours and enough basswood for one more little Santa.

[Claude]

LFB: Just for info in case you didn't know...up on the green bar at the top that starts with "User CP", is a link New P o s t s. If you log in, then clicking this button will show you all new posts, regardless of the forum, since you last logged in. I like to read the new stuff in all the forums - never can tell which post will have an important tip or hint or just a couple photos of fantastic carving. The New P o s t s button lets me make sure I don't miss anything.

Claude

[edcornflake]

I've been working on several practice pieces, just trying to get the feel for grain, method, holding the piece, and which blades do what the best. I roughed out a little lighthouse, completely butchering the blocking with a coping saw (hoping for a scroll saw for father's day)... anyway, my wife fell asleep last night so I whittled away for about an hour, and when she awoke from the couch and headed upstairs to bed, I showed her the developping piece... slowly healing from the coping saw butchery into a crooked, but reasonable lighthouse. "Why are you carving a <phallus>?" she asked me...

Ugh, Some lighthouse.

[STAR]

I always read the beginner section first. I like beginners, I like the questions they ask, But the main reason I really like them is because they save me from asking them.

I can use up my quota of questions pretty quick. I find the more fiddling I do the more queries I have in front of me. Thank God for the begginer.

Pete

[Hohenems]

Originally Posted by Claude

LFB: Just for info in case you didn't know...up on the green bar at the top that starts with "User CP", is a link New P o s t s. If you log in, then clicking this button will show you all new posts, regardless of the forum, since you last logged in. I like to read the new stuff in all the forums - never can tell which post will have an important tip or hint or just a couple photos of fantastic carving. The New P o s t s button lets me make sure I don't miss anything.

Claude

Thanks for that info Claude, I had been wondering how to track the new posts and yet I never noticed the link. Not very observant I guess!