[Callynne]

My daughter wants a chickadee carving for Christmas. I bought Rosalyn Daisey's Songbird Carving book...Wow! great book!...but my question is about a habitat not featured in there. My daughter wants her chickadee on a pine branch with snow. Do I just buy a good quality artifical pine branch? Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated! Thanks, Callynne

I haven't made any pine branches, but have done quite a few aquatic plants. Try using what I do......brass hobby tubing and rod or wire. You can find this is a lot of hobby shops, especially model railroad shops. The light walled tubing can be bent to shape, ground and filled, and fine rod (or wire) soldered on to imitate pine needles. It's a tedious process, making natural looking flora, but very interesting and satisfying.

Another source might be one of the taxidermy supply houses. hey carry different types of habitat. I would think that if you choose that route, though you would be far better off in both selection and price, by looking in one of the home decorating stores for good quality artificial brances.

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

One of the bird carvers I think! had a how to on pine branches, but for the life of me can't remeber who? But then it could be in one of the books! I have a mind like a steel trap....I put stuff in and can't open it!! :

[icarve2003]

Hey Callynne, I new you'd like that book. I haven't done the Chickadee yet. Pleease post a picture of it when it's done???

I've never done a pine branch. Like Hi_Ho siad, I've seen a demo on it somewhere but I can't for the life of me remember where. I will try to find it for you. I'm pretty sure it's along the same lines as what Al describes.

I'm just doing a Robin out of Roz's second book. I'm hoping to take one of her courses someday :

Chris

[Callynne]

Thanks a lot guys, I'm leaning towards the purchased pine branch for this one but I'm very interested in learning just how to make one. If you find the information please let me know, I'm definintely a 'need pictures' type of learner!
Also, if you know of any books on habitat out there. The things Rosalyn Daisey has in this book are fantastic. I'd never have thought to make things like that! The rocks, leaves, grasses...Wow! What a talent that lady has!!
Thanks again for the information and yes Chris, I'll definitely post a picture when it's done. Thanks, Callynne

[woody01]

Callynne,

Two books I feel you should have if you want to do habitat.

1) Call Wasco Wildlife Artist Supply Company and ask for their free catolog. 1-800-334-8012

2) Habitat Volume 8 of the Bird-Carving Basics series of books.

Stackpole Books
P.O. Box 1831
Harrisburg, PA 17105 was $12.95 when I got mine.
1-800-read-now

They will get you going in the right direction.

Good Luck
Woody01

[Callynne]

Thank you so much Woody, I looked around last night at artificial branches and they just aren't going to do it. I was thinking of maybe making the branch how Al suggested then using the green part of the artificial but I just wasn't sure.
I already ordered the catalog, Stackpole was closed but just now I thought I'll have to give Walden's a call when I get off here, maybe they can order it in. Either way I'll definitely have it ordered by the first of the week. Thanks so much, it's so terrific to have all you great people to help out with my carving problems! Thanks again! Callynne

[Colin_Partridge]

Callynne,
Not being a bird carver I was just curious why would you not use a natural pine branch instead of carving one surely nothing is more realistic than a real one? Or is it that the challenge is carving a piece of wood to look like a pine branch? Just curious ???
Colin

[Callynne]

I thought of that first thing Colin, but I can't see where it would hold up, the pine needles I mean. Had a Christmas tree drop those babies a couple days before Christmas, don't want her chickadee setting on a bare branch!
Woody, Walden books could order that book in, should have it this week, I can't wait. Thanks again! Callynne