[Donna_T]

Hi All,
It's unusual that I get a whole day to get away and carve with friends. Yesterday, however, I took advantage of a Mike Shipley carving workshop that our club was sponsoring.

Naturally, I bought one of his books and two of his blanks. He has some adorable projects: caricatures, hillbillies, santas, uncle sams, snowmen, cowboys, etc....all covered by one of his three (Fox Chapel) books. He is a very personable and helpful carving instructor. I think I'd classify his style is a cross between flat plane, primitive, and caricature, but it's very doable in a one-day session. Trying to get some things ready for Halloween, I completely finished a 8-9" witch, including getting it painted and dipped in BLO. I also got a hillbilly Jack-o-lantern carved and partially painted. Not bad for 7 hours of carving (plus eating and visiting!) His lovely wife was there to help with the painting and that made that part go quickly and easy.

The only problem I had with the whole day was that he automatically picked up my cutout and started carving on it when it was my turn for his attention. I tend to not like for instructors to do that--cause I want it to be "MY" carving and once they put a knife on it, it becomes THEIR carving. Just my hangup! When this happens, I usually just go back over it and change it enough that it's MINE again.

Regardless, if you have the chance to try one of Mike's workshops, or projects covered in a WCI issue or book, take advantage of it. You'll enjoy it and find you can get quite a lot done by using his simple techniques. He's a great instructor and I loved the experience.

Donna T

[carver6]

Donna,
I've never taken a carving class, other than one or two a member of the carving club gave here at the home club. I think I would be like you, in that I would prefer the instructor not do any carving on MY piece of wood. I suppose they do need to demonstrate what they are talking about but not on my piece of wood please.

Guess I should take a carving class or two before I start running my big mouth though.
Garon

[Thomp]

I would love to shair the fellowship of other carvers in this area, attend a carve around or a prefessional carving class.. but this town/community is very slow in starting new things if there not already here... if its not pecans or marty gras its just not something that willlast here,

i havent found another wood carver in this area... i have converted 2 of my hunter/fishing nephews into carvers, but their not too avid in the interval they stop by or check in.. guess its just each to their own,

When i carve into my cigar box while waiting for a doctors/dentest appointment i usualy draw a croud, becuas somebody's daddy or grandpaw use to carve...
Wish i had a place/storefront for all to drop by and whittle & spit in front of the potbelly or on the porch,

mike shipply and herold enlow have some of the funniest hillbillys i know of, fun to carve and just have around.
I got 2 of enlow's books and i think the carving country folks i recently bought is a mike shipply book..it has many fun looking projects.... but havent started it yet.
i have a couple started from enlow but im taking it slow on them as im having fun watching the charter develop..

thomas

just re did a tom wolf dog, modified it to look like a hillbillies starving hunting hound

http://lh6.google.com/thomp51La/RQSa...jpg?imgmax=144

or
http://picasaweb.google.com/thomp51La/StarvingHoundDog

[CarverTom]

Now you can find Mike's Shipley great rough outs on the web at the Old Wood Shack http://www.oldwoodshack.com

[decoycarve]

Have never had the oportunity to carve with Mike but always enjoyed doing the sea captain. I carved a couple recently and Anna painted them as Sea Santas.
Goody