Two new Ornaments

[TexasSteve]

Well, I am really enjoying carving. This is my first year of carving so i am still making mistakes, but learning a lot with each carving.

I carved the hanging santa from a WCI magazine article for my 6 year old grandson. The arm going across Sanat's his chest was originally supposed to be longer, but since I do not quite understand when the wood will chip I accidently took off his glove, so now his arm is short

The elf was carved for my 8 year old grandson, my cuts are not very crisp, I think my knife needs sharpening. Still had fuzzy's on it. The last part of the carving that you carve is the upper ear, well sure enough, i carved the wrong way and took his right ear off. Luckily it came off clean so a little wood glue and i was back in business.

I also included a few pictures of my work area, it is a work in progress but very comfortable to carve at. As a matter of fact i started carving the elf last night around 9pm. I didn't realize how the time had passed, when i came in it was 1:30am. I am still slow, but that is why i took up carving, to slow my life down a little and enjoy it. Carving has proved very useful for that.

Feedback always welcome on my pictures, thanks for looking
Steve

[sappy]

Looking good to me, Steve! Your work area is WAY to clean however.

[Scott Hagerty]

I'd say you are on the right track! Keep after it! The important thing is to try to learn something new from each carving!

[Mark N. Akers]

Very nice job on the Elf Steve, yes spent many late nights in the shop, and time does get away from you.

[idigjars]

Very nice carvings. Nice work area also. Safe carving.

[Bob K.]

For a first year carver I think you are coming along really fine Steve! The elf is great! Very very nice work area...I am jealous!

[TexasSteve]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I am trying several different types of carvings to I can learn different cuts and so iIcan find what iIlike to carve. I really struggle with faces and getting things to appear round. My youngest grandson is going to get a snowman, so that will help me learn to round things off. Everything still has a bit of flatness to it.

I still don't quite understand how I can carve in one direction on the block of basswood and it carves nicely then I turn it around and carve the other way, still with the grain, and it takes a chip out. Any advise would be appreciated, so far wood glue has fixed my mess ups, except for the hanging Santa hand across his chest, it was beyond repair.

Steve

[Uncle Bills Cabin]

Nice work on the ornaments. I am fairly new to carving also and had some problems with grain direction at first. But after a few carvings it starts to become second nature when you go against the grain, and you will stop before you eliminate something you wanted to keep. And your work area makes me jealous to. I was up untill 1:00 A.M. this morning cleaning and re-arranging my work shop. After looking at yours, I will be making my way back out to my shop to re-evaluate!!!

Bill

[Rezbar]

I'm not an old carver too. I like your Santa. Dino

[kdispoto]

Nice photos. You don't expect us to think your workbench is always that clean - do you?