Blue Heron's

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I haven't been but to two carving shows and the carvings that really strike me are the blue heron's...does anyone have a pattern or anything on carving them?

[mdallensr]

Hi Dave: I'm about to 'start' a blue heron and got the pattern, but then got a rough out from Beaver Dam Decoy. The pattern is also availabe from them, or I could send you a copy snail-mail. There's a really striking one, with a natural wood finish, in a book called Carving Nature. Mike

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

how much was the roughout? and are you using tupelo for the long thin feathers? or does this particular one have the feathers? 8)

[mdallensr]

Hi Dave. Their medium size pattern is listed at $4 and the life size at $10. They are Stiller Patterns and available a lot of places, including carving shows I attend. Their rough-outs are $175 for life size and $35 for medium (bodies are 28' and 15' for the two). They're really not rough-outs, since they're sanded smooth and eyes installed. You could paint them as they are or burn the feathers to make them realistic. You can see pictures of some of their decoys on their web-site:

http://www.beaverdecoys.com/

Yeah, it's kinda cheating , but if you just want to burn a realistic big heron, it beats trying to build up a blank big enough to get the head and tail. I got the pattern mostly for the feather burning and detail. There is a web-site that I've lost track of that has feather patterns for a bizillion birds; highly detailed, lot's of positions etc. I'll look. If you want a copy of the medium pattern, I have one. Mike

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I would like a copy of the pattern..have always wanted to carve a heron....I think tho before I paid that kind of money, I might consider making one....don't know.....this is one I want for myself so really doesn't matter I guess...the finished bird for our house is what I am after...

[Donna_T]

Hello Hi Ho,
I've got a pattern for a smaller blue heron--about 8 inches or so. It might be a good size to start with. I have a full size blank but have had it for years and just haven't tackled it. But our carving club did the smaller one as a mini-workshop. We even made legs out of heavy wire wrapped with heavy quilting thread (anchored with a dot of superglue from time to time). I'd be glad to send it if you'd like. You KNOW I have a stash of patterns and books and can even SOMETIMES find them quickly! I think I even have a paint chart for a heron--all Jo Sonja paints.

There are lots of georgeous reference books out there if you're wanting good photos also.
Donna T.

[Callynne]

At the Carving Show this summer there was a blue heron and a frog on a lilly pad. I think it's the best thing I've ever seen!! I really loved it and am going to tackle one someday myself (once again, it's great to know where to get advice when I'm ready to start!!). Callynne

P.S. Donna, how are you doing? Hope everything is going well and you're healing up perfectly!!

[AlArchie]

Dave, I tried to email you a pattern, but the scan was too big for your browser to accept. I'll give it another try later today.....maybe in PDF format.

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Donna that would be great and the paint scheme would also be invaluable! by the way, thanks for the nice comments on my pic trail site! Al, I think you are right, I sent an answer to your email a bit ago.......got some good news this am! My dolphins won a first in a Maryland show and my wifes chickadee won a third....always fun to win! Actually is much more fun to go to the shows...but can't always do that!

[Nancy-G]

Dave - I too love GBHs and have collected photos of them for years. I have HUNDREDS torn from magazines and collected from the 'net. I even have the book 'The Great Blue Heron' by Hayward Allen. Let me know if I can help with reference photos or if you want to borrow the book.
You can also get great reference photos at http://www.naturephotographers.net/index.html
Congratulations on the wins !! That's swell ... and it looks like they're well deserved.