[Mike-in-WV]

Found this picture while doing a Google search for some carving sites . Sorry I don't remember who's site it came from so that I can give them credit for it.
What a great idea for gifts to office personel, Can't think of anyone who would not love to have one or more of these in there pencil cup on there desk. Mike

[Colin_Partridge]

Mike,
They are fun to carve and only take a few minutes. I have done some when I do a show where there are a lot of children I give them away. The only problem is they always tell their friends and before you know it there are 25 children lined up for a pencil. I have seen that carver somewhere before as well if I can find it I will post it also. I have also seen a sight for a carver in the UK that carves believe it or not tooth picks and wooden matches.
Colin

[Mike-in-WV]

Colin, Toothpicks and match sticks. That man has great eyes ,Lol. I remember years ago seeing some carvings of ships that were so tiny you had to look at them through a glass. Mike

[Mothy]

Here's a link to the article by Tony Wispinski in issue 5 of WWWoodcarver Ezine
http://carverscompanion.com/Ezine/Vo...ngPencils.html
If you want to see some intricate pencil carving try this site.
http://www.infofreako.com/jad/enpitsu-e.html

Best of the New Year to you all

[Colin_Partridge]

Here is one of the sights that I found on toothpick carvings but the other one I was talking about was even more intricate than this.
http://www.shamey.com/tooth/tooth.htm
Colin

[Mitchell]

Colin,

I too used to give them away to children at shows or events. I stopped due to the number of kids growing exponentially! That and the same ones would come back for another - usually after they broke the first one. Now I usually keep a few small carvings tucked away for them. They are carved in 1/2" square stock about 2" high. I give them out only after the kid shows some real interest.

In a class one time I gave a small cowboy to a little boy - about 9 - from Germany. He had been watching me intently for at least 15 minutes. He was SOOOO proud. His brother (who I did not notice before) wanted an indian. Uh oh. I did get one made for him. Those are the carvings that I am most proud of....not how well they are carved, but by the expressions that it brings to those that receive them.

Now back to the topic.... The best pencils for carving are the "fat" ones that most oftern are used in kindergarten or primary school. Now they are made from a compressed material that carves very well.

[Mike-in-WV]

Colin, The carvings are unreal. That man has more time on his hands than I do,Lol. Wish I had that kind of tallent too!, Mike


Mothy, Thanks for the link, thats where I found this picture. Mike


Mitchel, I'll have to see If I can find the fatter pencils somewhere. Carved one on a regular pencil today and got a little deep on my first try,Lol. Mike
Thanks to all of you for your help and info. That's what I like about this site!, Mike

[sheltiecarver]

The fat pencils I can get now are actually very woody looking plastic - it carves a bit different than wood, but the neat thing is - you can use a woodburner to quickly burn in an extremely intricate beard, with squiggleys going every which way - just the way you might dream you could do with a razor-sharp v-tool. I think I originally saw them in an old Tom Wolfe book - can't remember which one.

[Carvity_Carve]

That's a fun idea! Well, the woodspirits. The “intricate pencil carvings� look too crazy for me. Went and made three woodspirits already. More fun than making dogs out of clothespins. I don't have a very small V tool (alas....), so I burned the beards in. Looks pretty good, for someone who's never burned any beard. I wonder if I should paint them or leave as is! Now I'm going to have to locate all the pencils in the house.....

Hmm, pencils, toothpicks, and pits (pits on the same site as the toothpicks).... Next somebody'll carve something from a wood chip.

[Anthony Filetti]

...pencil carving appears in Tom Wolfe's Santa carving book w/ step-by-step instrucs... I only hope he is doing better!