Today's the Day!!

[jillsy]

Cheers My husband, Ted, is going to take the 2 babies out for a few hours for the sole purpose of letting me carve! It's not even 9:00 am yet and I'm already chomping at the bit!

I'm debating between a Ron Ransom Santa or starting my Shawn Cipa Nativity. I've carved a few things from both so far, but the Nativity really intimidates me, especially Mary and the animals. My ultimate goal is to carve out the full Nativity for my 3 year old daughter, Mary and a Noah's Ark for my now 7-month old son, Nicolai.

Has anyone found a good pattern for Noah and his animals? I like the folk-art style, not realistic, yet more detailed than just a blocked-out piece (is that what they call "stylized"?) Also, has anyone seen a pattern for the actual ark? Can't find one anywhere - just for pulltoys.

Luckily, time is on my side since the babies are so little. Maybe by the time Nic is old enough to appreciate it, I'll have much more experience.

[Donna_T]

Wow Jill,
What a lucky gal you are to have a hubby who realizes your need to recharge and do something for you.

I got a couple of patterns for a ark (one was in the Better Homes and Gardens WOOD magazine about 7-8 years ago) and I'm not sure where the other one came from....but I never built one. Nancy G from the other side of Missouri built an awesome one several years ago herself. I digress...so I just started carving an animal for each of the youngest grandkids each Christmas. There are two of the little grandkids, so I figure that follows the two by two theme of the ark--and I try to make two different poses of the same animal. David Sabol has 2-3 books out on detailed animals of the ark and I used his basic patterns to start with.

Len Diehl has a great, more stylized nativity set book out. You can always add more detail to a stylized pattern to get the look you want without tackling a more elaborate concept.

Anyway, good luck with the project. Have fun today and let us see your progress.

Donna T

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Thats a good "Next" book for Lynn Diehl, Lynn you listening? lolCowboy

[Lightningbolt]

I have always loved Ron Ransom's santa's... even if my mother has my entire collection!! :-)

[whitecree]

Well, what are you doing wasting your time? Get carving!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Take a look at Lynn Diehl's book "Carving the Nativity" before you decide....good book! Good design!

[Claude]

Jill:
Go to http://www.foxchapelpublishing.com/c....cfm?CatPos=24

Over on the left side, type "noah" into the search box (without quotes), and you'll see a list of 7 or 8 books, at least 4 of which have directions/patterns/etc. for Noah's Ark.

Claude

[Callynne]

Hope the day went perfectly for you, Jill! Share some pictures when you're ready!

I agree with Donna, sounds like your husband is a real keeper! Deborah