[squbrigg]

My Granddaughter, Octavia (6) asked me Thursday if I would start to teach her to carve. She says she's a big girl now and loves to watch Grandpie carve. So after she left, I took a quick trip to Walmart to pick up a plastic knife and some bars of Ivory soap. The plastic knife looked too flimsy, so my wife suggested I carver her a wooden one! What a great idea!

In an hour I had a nicely shaped knife carved to fit her little hand perfectly, using Apple wood, nice and close grained and hard, and with some attentive sanding and a couple of coats of wax, it was ready.

Friday, she had to spend the day with us, as she wasn't feeling well, so we babysat. After a nice restorative nap, she came down to my shop and I introduced her to her first carving tool. She suggested a kitty to be her first project and I sketched an outline on the soap and she went to work!

The kid's a natural!!! She took to it like a duck to water, her depth perception is good, coordination is good, and she has the basic holding methods down pat! She was a very happy little carver! She loves her new knife and did a nice job on her first carving. She followed directions well and was quite content sitting there shaving off curls of Ivory!

Pictures to follow of course!!! :-)

Bob

[AlArchie]

Yoos a good Grandpa, Bob! and what a great idea with the little wooden knife; I'll have to remember that when my little grandaughter hits that age. Thanks for a good pick-me-up!

Al

[Tom H]

Hey Bob! Not that your posting message was not really well done, but...Those photos! They just tell the whole story and more. Forget the fact that Granddaughter is one cutie. The expressions of concentration and attention are great. You gots all the elements going for ya here. Great subject matter, great/cute subject, and a dog to top it off.

If I ever doubted that kids would actually like to carve soap, my doubts are now put to rest. Good for you and good for Granddaughter.

Tom H

[Blinky Bill]

Bob,
What you have done is truly inspirational, thankyou so much for sharing this magic time with us. Another great picture would be of Octavia carving right alongside Grandpie...........

Best wishes
John

[Gear Dog]

wow this is great,and I love how your came up with a better solution. My kids love how I "find the faces in the wood" I'm going to have to make my son one of these. And yes she is a cutie, I love the expressions.

[Thor]

This really brought a smile to my face this morning. Thanks for posting the pictures Bob.
Thor

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Another generation of ship builders in the making!

[gene messer]

Bob .. nothing could be more enjoyable then seeing something like that ..

A new generation learning skills ..

She will never foget her grandpa doing this with her .. reminder with these pictures when shes older ..

Great photos ..

Gene

[Iowa Carver]

That is just great Bob and neat to see!

Corey

[sharon cottrell]

What a sweet pea, and sweet grandpa. She will remember this experience for the rest of her life. Great idea using soap.I have 7 and 6 year old grandkids that really show an interest in my carving, will have to let them try soap.my 12 yr. old g-son did a simple relief carving in cypress firewood with power carver I got him.will have to post a picture.One of g-parents jobs is to encourage the young ones.Octavia has a wonderful g-pa.