Okay, I'll show you mine

[Ron T]

After seeing Cliff's post of his work area and his description of the view to the lake from his window, I had to show mine off too.

My workbench is the patio table outside (I live in a condo). My tools are in the green tackle box and the few power tools I have are on a "worktable" against the wall behind the chair w/ the cat on it. I should mention that one of the risks I run whenever I leave my seat is losing it to the cat and I don't have the heart to chase her off. I usually go do something else. In this photo, I got up to get the camera and by the time I got back she was curled up in the chair. (I did post another photo earlier.)

The good news is I live right in the middle of Los Angeles, so, the weather allows me to carve a lot. The bad news is there's no place to go get sticks.

I also included a photo of me working on my Mohawk totem, the ear. The knife is just a micro blade I made for really fine stuff. I wanted to show that though it's difficult for me to hold a knife, I still can. The really good news is I get to carve, and wouldn't you all agree, that's all that matters.

[gene-messer]

you sound like me Ron .. You carve where ever you can ..

So do I ..

Gene

[bullshipper]

Nice setup Ron it looks really relaxing, when I carve in the house the cats try to help me by swatting all the woodchips, I haven't lost a seat to one yet but I figure thats yet to come. Like you I'll just go do something else. Take care bud and keep the chips flyin.

LonnieCowboy

[doris]

beautiful place to carve, and you even have my favourite plant there, a "prickly beauty" in blossom :-) (i carved one recently under that title)... looking at the image how you carve, i wondered how you hold your piece while carving...is the piece fixed somehow (and i cant see it, since under the towel)? ... i ask that, since when i started carving, i had no information at all, and just started with a dull pocket knife and holding the piece in my hand. i know, many always carve this way, but in my case it nearly made me stop carving, since (also because the knife was so dull) it required too much strength in hands. then i read somewhere about fixing carving, and i tried that, and immediately, still with dull knife ;-), it went much easier... and since you might have not come aware that fixing carving makes cutting going with less strength, i wanted mention it...of course, i dont know if you considered that already, and it just not works for you... i am glad however you make it for yourself possible to carve, yes you are right, that is all what matters :-)

[tucker1931]

Ron, that looks like a wonderful place to carve, only thing you're missing is a river running by, but hey, these dang boats going by all the time are a bigger distraction than that old tom cat of yours. I'm truly amazed at the work you turn out, given the circumstances under which you carve. Conratulations on your persistance and keep up the great work even tho I know how difficult it must be for you.
Regards my friend
Cliff

[Ron T]

Hello Doris,

Thank you for your kind words and concerns. I tried using a carving vise, but because of my hands, I can't maneuver the knives and gouges easily so I move the carving around a lot. Keeping the tools sharp definitely helps and I use power when I can. Working outside is nice when the weather is warm like today. I, too, love the flowers.

Cliff, I may be missing the river and I probably shouldn't say this but, the pool is right below my patio. Now that the weather is warm, everyone is flocking to the pool. And they're not dressed in flannels.

[tnartist05]

AWwwwww what a neat working area you have there Ron! I like it,its neat and seems you have every thing you need to carve with. As for holding a carving like this or that,its doesnt matter and the main thing is how you can carve and whats easier for youself to get the carving done.

I go to the VA alot and I use a walking cane,I need to have a total knee replacement but I cant have one with my breathing problems,in the past Ive had 2 surgeries on one knee and 3 on the other,I dont complain any more about my knees from seeing guys at the VA with no leggs.

And now,I wont ever complain about my sore hand ever again!! I can thread a neddle holding the thread and neddle way out from me,I dont have to hold it close to see the hole to slide the thread through. Plus I dont really see that well. What Im getting too,I could have slapped myself this morning after seeing your hands after I was a cry baby about my sore hand.

I dont know what happen to your hands but I do know one thing? You are are doing such excellent work with your carvings!! When living in a city,I use to go say to Home Depot and in the paint dept, buy you some paint roller wood sticks,the ones you screw into your roller so you can paint higher spots you need to paint!

I dont know what kinda of wood the sticks are but with some lite sanding and staining they make great canes & sticks.You can attach handles on them very easy and ones that will be strong and usable.

Heres two I made years ago. The handles are bone, Elk antlers scraps I had. {Whales} Theses canes are made from paint roller rods/sticks Plus a wood spirit on one walking cane.

Heres my email addy, If you ever have any questions about carvings or anything,Please contact me.

:::: Just hanging in Tennessee on a chain,carving like a drunk monkey thats insane::: LOL..........Forrest

tnartist05@yahoo.com

[mark yundt]

I don't know how you get any work done there at all. It's so peaceful looking. I'd probably be napping ,,with the cat napping on my lap. And neither of us would have any inclination to move.
And why does it seem that so many carvers have cats? At least most of the ones I know seem to have them wandering around somewhere. I have one permanently installed in my shop. Must be something in their ,and our ,personalities.

[BobD]

Yup...I've got four cats running around my house and basement shop...and a big old St. Bernard lounging at my feet (as long as I'm not power carving...she doesn't like the noise of the power carver). My newfie is a bit too attention-seeking to fit well into the shop.

Bob

[tnartist05]

I have this one last cane,Id carved from a painters stick,its totally carved from the handle to the floor tip with wining oak leaves. The handle is a old timey door knob that I scrimshawed a baby racoon on using a x-acto knive and ink.
I carved the oak leaves then stained my cuts with dark walnut stain and when I was through with the leaves,I stained the whole cane with cherry stain and a nice clear coat on it. It has such a deep cherry look to it.

I took some picts of it just now to show you that even living in a city,you can get sticks to carved like the painter sticks at most local good hardware stores,course some now use plastic instead of wood,for sure Lowes or Home depot will have the wooden ones. I hope this might have helped in some way with your need for sticks to carve.

Have a good wk end Ron.

Forrest