First of all Teri welcome to 'Women with knifes' I am familiar with your carvings and your sense of humor BOTH are great.
I am also a friend of Pine and Butternut 'but not Basswood' I use what ever I find in the woods I have not bought anything so far , Butternut is o.k. to carve it can be stringe but since I only use powertools I can handle it, to finish it ? I do not paint at all since I love any color of the woods I use. it depends entirely on the color of the wood if I want to have clarity and no color change I use a waterbased poly 2-3- coats and buff it out and wax it at the end ,I do the same if I use any other varnish or poly , I hope this answers some of the questions on this board???

'OMA' agkubas

Thanks, OMA - I'm happy to join Women with Knives :-) My husband says he's moving out now, though - that this knife-wielding thing is going too far and he's afraid to go to sleep at night :P

Teri