Another miniature

Tom H · #1 07-23-2007, 12:06 PM

Thanks Dave! You know that when I saw your little skier that I'd have to try. Only problem is, your skier will fit on a quarter. My little Wizard hangs over....Fun arn't they? Where's the rest of you folks that like to carve small???

Tom H

Kenny_S · #2 07-23-2007, 12:34 PM

Am I correct, is a miniature classified to fit in a 2 x 2 x 2" box.
Was wondering if I read that or just made it up.
Nice wizard Tom. I like it

gene messer · #3 07-23-2007, 01:43 PM

Tom ... Wonderful little wizard ... Even though he is small .. you can see just enough detail to know what it is ...
Great job .. and love the paint job Tom ..

It's funny you and HI Ho have carved minatures lately because last week I was just talking to the guys at Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers about minatures ...

They wanted to see some of my characters and told me that there has been alot of customers who visit their shop just looking for a small inexpensive carving to take home .. Alot of customers who go there arent carvers and just want to purchase something not so expensive ... They told me the more expensive carvings are getting harder to sell ..

So this brings up a very interesting question ... Since money is getting tight .. Do people (unless they are collectors of some specific carvings ) on vacation and such want something small and inexpensive to buy .. And passing up the more expensive carvings unless that is specifically what they want ? ...

We discussed the fact that most people on vacation are not willing to purchase a carving more then $10.00 or $20.00 to take home ..And we all know that is going to be a small carving ..

Just a thought we discussed ...

Gene

Kenny_S · #4 07-23-2007, 02:22 PM

Gene, A lot of the inexpensive carving that people(non-carvers) buy are those being carved over sea. They are bough by the thousands and ship back here and being sold. Now I have seen some knockoffs of some famous carvers being sold here in gthe states for a 10th on the dollar and even less.

I know that isn;t the answer you were looking for and I will give an example of what I was saying.
A store with in 10 miles of here ask me to carve some small items for his shop. When I took seberal to his shop he did not want to pay the 10-20 dollars for my stuff and he said can you sell them chaper. Wdell yes I could but I didn't. He should ne some carvings from over sea he had bought and was selling them for 3 to 10 dollars. Said he couldn't make a killing off of mine. I asked him what he was paying for his stuff and said he could buy most for under a dollar each. Guess those over seas people need to make a living also. Hobby Lobby has a bunch that are marking up 1000 percent and people but them.

Yes, you can sell small items for 10 to 20 dollars if thatg is what you want to do. More power to you. I wish you well.

gene messer · #5 07-23-2007, 11:32 PM

Kenny .. your right .. most of them are from overseas ..

When I entered the Mountain Woodcarvers shop in Gatlinburg .. There are very few carvings left in there and most of the items are overseas trinkets ...

A sign of the times I suppose ...

Thanks for the info ..

Gene ...

Thomp · #6 07-24-2007, 12:32 AM

non carvers on vacation buy novilitys,

i don't understand if they go to dollywood and buy items clearly labled made in china, theres no logic, it would be more authenic if they picked up a rock..

i dont like the off shore trinket-trade carvings, they dont look right, you can tell them without picking them up

gene messer · #7 07-24-2007, 05:24 AM

Sorry Tom .. Didnt mean to get off the subject of your piece ...

I forgot to ask you though .. what size block of wood did you carve the wizard from ?

I would like to give one of these guy's a try ... My step daughter like's these fantasy kind of carvings ...

Gene

Banjo · #8 07-24-2007, 07:08 AM

Tom, that wizard sure looks mischevious to be so itty bitty! I've tried carving something that small and it's HARD to do!! You did a great job! ~ Joy

Tom H · #9 07-24-2007, 08:11 AM

Gene, That little wizard is carved from a 5/16 th inch square strip of pine. I used my OAR CARVER pocket knife that Rick (Little Shavers) reworked for me.

As to the selling and buying of woodcarvings from over seas; I have a collection of carved Santas that I bought from importers down through the years. I never paid more than a few dollars for them. I'll take a photo of them some day and post it for a critique of the pieces.

I still notice that folks will purchase a hand carved piece if it is carved by a "Local craftsman". Prices can be moderate, but the higher ones goes, the less action naturally. The best pieces are the ones that become part of a collection of specific subjects, (Santas, pigs, horses, etc.). I have several collectors of Noahs Arks, that are willing to spend decent dollars once a year for a new design Ark to add to their collection. You can develop a relationship with local shops and ask them if they know of any people that collect specific subject matter figurines. In this way you may be able to identify your own market. I have several folks that are buggin me for some specific small carvings. They have mentioned a price range of between $15 and $25.

Tom H

Tom H

wood-whittler · #10 07-25-2007, 04:53 AM

tom,

man that is small, and turned out great.

bart