[tucker1931]

Lynn, being a new carver (8 months) I would very much like to see your FIRST CARVING as I'm sure all the others would as well, you see, I'm still sort of struggling (not complaining) I can see big gains in my short period of time spent and am happy. Please, lets have a look see.
Cliff

[Donna_T]

It's been nearly 20 years since I undertook my first carving. It took me several months of picking, putting it up cause I didn't like the way it was turning out, getting it back out and trying something different, etc. There's definitely things I'd do differently, but I wouldn't change that carving for the world. I might try another one, someday, just to try the things I've learned in the intervening time. That's true of the first caricature, first fish, first animal, first relief, etc.

From time to time we'll have a new carver in our club that's in awe of the finished carvings that some of us old timers are bringing for "show and tell", and we're quick to remind them that our first efforts were nothing to write home about and sometimes we even bring our first efforts just for encouragement to the newbys.

Donna T

[Alice in Wonderland]

Hello ,thank you ALL so much for answering my question ,I appreciate it, your points are all good and I too now know that I will leave my " Lady, one side crying,one side laughing "alone, she is sitting in a corner :-( and I think I will put her up somewhere ,maybe I will like her better. lol
Again Thank you all
Alice

[squbrigg]

Alice, I think it depends on the item. If it is your "first ever" carving, then I would not touch it. But, ........ always a but........... if it is just an early carving and you want to improve upon it, why not?

I did that not too long ago with a cane. It was the first cane I had carved and was okay, but I wasn't happy with it. After carving another cane along the same theme (dragon) for a client, I decieded to re-carve the old one and am very happy that I did. It became one of my favorite canes to use.

Just an opinion, for what it's worth.

Bob

[Thomp]

Alice,

put your first carvings in their own area, and keep them as is, look back on them yearly to remind yourself of mistakes you made, and to remind yourself of how much experience and growth you have accomplished.

yes re carve the project but on new wood.

[jartzh]

I use pretty pieces of wood that are too precious to waste on an ugly carving. I would reuse or refine them in a second if I thought I could get more out of the wood now since I have a better idea of what I want.

If I used basswood then I would probably just leave the old junk or burn it.