osage orange carving

Today is our 23rd wedding anniversary and this is what I am giving to hubby. It is a letter opener carved from Osage Orange (hedgewood) and it took me 8 whole days from start to finish. All hand carved with knives and gouges, rasps and sandpaper.
I just had to see if I could do it LOL The osage carvings I have done in the past were stick toppers and not too difficult. I'm pretty happy with the way this one turned out.

(some nudity, no worse than Chip Chats)
http://people.delphiforums.com/pyrogite/letterop1.jpg
Let me know what you think!

Donna

[lorax]

How sweet you are giving him a self portrait opener I thought about a self portrait carving but it's depressing how large the wood would have to be. :P

Pyrogite: Very nice job, eight days, I hope he appreciates it.

Steve

[Nancy-G]

Donna --That's BEAUTIFUL!!
What a piece of work...the human form from such a hard wood.....oh, my goodness.

Donna, you've outdone yourself...again. It's gorgeous. I have no doubt how much your husband will cherish it.

And by the way....Happy Anniversary!!!

Teri

Very nice carving. I make bows from osage orange and tried to carve it one time. Never again! Again,very nice carving.

Thanks everybody!
I don't know why, but I really enjoy carving the harder woods, maybe it is because they have such a nice sheen to them after they are sanded up good. Hubby loved this one! Of course, I can't imagine that he would tell me if he didn't LOL He is out showing it off to his friends today.

Donna

[Callynne]

Â* Â* Happy (belated) Anniversary wishes, Donna! Â*Your gift to your husband is beautiful, I don't doubt he's showing it off! Â*You do great work! Â*Callynne

[Kenny_S]

Doona,
You letter opener looks fantastic! I have not carved in Osage Orange but have made long bows out of it. Where I live, we have more of that tree than any other. Yes it is one of the hardest woods around. The little saw mill where I had a trunk sawed up ask me NOT to bring any of it back as he smokes one blade on it.
Any way, your carving are great.

Kenny S