Couple of Rosettes

[Stoney1964]

Learned a lot doing these deep chip rosettes since they are my first. One is about 12 inches in diameter and the other with the walnut frame is about an 8 inch rosette. I will frame the other one too now. I put a cherry gel stain on the unframed one. The center picture is just an unfinished pic of the one that is cherry stained now. I am cosidering turning the one on far left into a clock. That will be my first clock if I do. Both pieces are carved in basswood. Not very good wood I might add so it will be a lot easier hopefully when I get some good quality wood. It sure was a challenge since every chip you cut is a different grain direction.

[bigEd_H]

Nice rosettes, Stoney. I really like the one in the third photo. The freestyle vines really add a nice touch.

Ed

[carver33]

Stoney, I agree with Big Ed, like the one framed one best. The vines give it a special character.

What do you consider good wood? I'm not a chip carver, so I can't recommend anything.

[Stoney1964]

Well Carver33,
I have been using southern basswood and it can be hard and have problems with it. Such as spotting, brittleness, yellow in color,etc. I have had the opportunity to carve some northern basswood and does it ever make a difference. Its a lot whiter in color and carves just the opposite of southern. Its such a difference that you have to remind yourself to stop and strop you knife when using northern, with southern you have to stop and strop all the time. It will cost you but its worth it for nice projects. If you search older posts under chip carving you will see a buck deer that I carved. That was done on northern and its going to be auctioned off to raise money for a scholarship fund. I was very pleased with how it came out. I cant say I feel that way about work I have done in southern.

[carver33]

Ah, now I see. I didn't realize that you were working in southern Basswood. You're right, the difference between southern and northern Basswood is night and day.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Great job Stoney !

Dave

[Burtoni]

Real nice work on the chips!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tomrsey]

Stoney, very nice rosettes! I am about to take my first chip carving class. If my first projects look half that good, I will be happy.

[CarverRog]

Stoney, you're getting there. In picture of the flowers and stems I'll throw out a suggestion. I know this is a detail kind of thing but to give the flower stems more movement taper the stems from one end to the other and give them more wave because now to me they look like bent toothpicks. Look at this piece that I did some time ago.




Look at the base of the stem how it looks like it was cut at an angle. What you have done looks great but these ideas might help in the future. Good Luck!

[Stoney1964]

Wow! Great advise. Thanks for commenting. Thats exactly what I need.