[Joy]

I have completed my first wood carving rally. I was so nervous about going that I almost backed out. (Carving in front of other people...when I've never had a class before was scary.) But wood carvers are just as caring in person as they are on this forum. Every one made me feel welcome and the instruction was just what I needed.....little tips and techniques that you can't get from a book.

The class was Charley Phillips' Sunflower clock (Summer 2006 issue). All I completed was one flower (Charley says she can carve a clock in a day or two). But that was enough to teach me the techniques. She has smaller projects to teach but I like the big complicated things. Carving for me is the "doing". I'm almost sad when I finish a piece. So I have lots more "doing" on this one

If you ever have a chance to take a class from her you will enjoy it. But if you don't like LOTS of undercutting.....stay away. LOL

[mdallensr]

I'm glad you broke the ice. Next time, you'll know what to bring and what to expect. Our instructor tries to show us enough so we're convinced the carving is "ours". If we're carving a face, he'll carve one eye and we'll do the other. Next time, he'll carve a nose and we'll carve the other...... Mike

[Joy]

I would like to see that guy that has one nose carved by the instructor and one carved by you LOL. Maybe you will start a new style.

The instructor asked if I wanted her to show me on my piece, but I said NO. I knew her work would be much better and I would always know which was her part.

The best part of all this is the instructor only lives 20 miles from me and she has invited me to join her weekly carving group. It can't get much better than that!

[jillsy]

Hey Joy,

Good for you, sounds like fun!

You're right. The fun of carving is the "doing." Sometimes I'm so eager to see the finished piece, I rush through, rather than focus on doing better. I'm trying to teach myself more patience so that when I finally do finish a piece, I'll have less to look back on and say, "Oh, I should have done this part better," or "I should have given this part more time."

Thanks for the reminder!