Jenga Blocks: Anyone taken the challenge?

[brushpilecarvings]

Here's a fish I just finished up today. Used a Jenga block, but I may go back and do it in basswood. I'm not 100% pleased how it turned out. I tried to carve a curve into the tail, but the wood kept falling out in chunks.

[Lightningbolt]

Terry: Nice job on the fish! I was thinking that a fish like this one with a much larger mouth might pass for the mother (or "baby") of all sharks!! :-)

[brushpilecarvings]

The fish was originally going to be a trout, but having the wood chunk out, it suddenly became a fallfish, a member of the minnow family (very closely related to creek chubs)

[Lightningbolt]

I'm sure enjoying the Jenga block thing just a little too much! Perhaps it must have something to do with my own persona since I've always liked small, cozy places from my own house to the wood and carving projects that appeal to me.

Here's another mini-totem that I've finished and I've added some woodburning highlighting to it. I'm still making the stands the same way and I even used "poor man's ebony wood" for the upper part of the stand, also know as pine painted with black acrylic.

I've also included another picture of just how I cut up the block with the bandsaw since it might have been a little unclear in the original posting. The entire block is utilized in the little totems and there's very little waste wood which was my goal. The other picture shows more detail of how I'm using some simple overlap notching for the stand.

I'm gonna use this type of stand a lot more in the future since it's such an eye-catching addition to the totem's appearance! Actually I've already carved a third Jenga totem and I made the stand from walnut on the bottom and maple on the top.

This Jenga block thing has led to some new discoveries that are adding a new dimension to what I carve. Just don't get much better 'n this!!

[Marci MN]

I think your totems are just tooo coool!

The other day when we were in the barn getting some more projects cut out, I seen this box in the corner. I took a look and its FULL of little 1/2 x 1/2 by about 4 inch blocks. (hubby saves everything) I showed them to my husband and told him there was a fella online who makes totem poles out of those. Hubby was amazed and impressed!!

[Lightningbolt]

Thanks Marci. I think that concentrating on such tiny projects are really honing my carving skills, but it sure does take some powerful eye glasses!!

Since there's been some talk of fish I thought that I'd post my latest Jenga block project. Yeah, it's just a tuna for gosh sakes but he's a little cutie!

[justanick]

Hi all! I also took up the jenga challange.
I carved my own fishing lures. after seeing the prices of some of my favourite lures I thought that it would be better to make some instead! I will post pictures as soon as possible. Who knows, if I catch some fish with them I my go into the lure making business!!

[Lightningbolt]

I just can't seem to get enough of it... I've carved out another one!

I decided to call this one my little "Keebler Man" as he's making an appearance from inside a big ole tree hole. (Notice the carved hand on the lower part of the hole.) Also note how I burned in growth rings on each end of the half-log to give the appearance of a log sawed in half.

I really like carving these little "defined" blocks of wood and they seem to be adding a new dimension to my work, but I can't clearly pin-point it at this moment. All I know is that I just can't seem to stop!

[Kenny_S]

Both are neat. Haven't tried the Jenga block challenge yet.

[Marci MN]

LOL Lightnin... we will have to start telling all the local children to hide thier Jenga games...

Those are just awsome!! That last one could be made into a lapel pin.

I did think of lures out of them..but I'm going to wait and see what Justanick's looks like first.

Ok Lightnin, can you find a bunny in those blocks?