[Larry A.]

I stopped cutting myself when I made it a firm habit to put on my gloves and thumb guard before I even pick up a too. Before that I was always picking up something I was working on just to do one cut away from me -- didn't need a glove -- several cuts later, and now sporting a bandaid, I put my glove on too late.

[Tessla]

I became very safety conscious when a family member expressed dreaded and horrified concern about me cutting myself when I told her I wanted to work with and carve in wood. I'm beginning to think that that conversation had more to do with me putting off beginning than anything else.

Presently I have no Basswood to carve. I bought a 24" length of pine some time ago, but decided it was too hard for a beginner like me to begin with. So, I've been looking, trying to study, and sanding wooden kitchen utensils just to get my hands on wood.

I enjoy the process of shaping a rough cut piece of wood (store bought mass-produced) into something that is functional and looks beautiful at the same time. Unhappily, most of that imported junk is nasty smelling wood that refuses to sand smooth for me.

I have to hurry past Holiday Tree ornaments cut out of wood knowing the wood is too thin, badly cut, and I'd probably be dissatisfied with the finished piece. My hand just itches to "make it better".

I've just ordered a Beginners Carving Kit and look forward to getting my first pieces of Basswood.

Tessla

[Kenny_S]

Hello and Welcome to a great place.
I am up the road from you on the Kansas and Oklahoma border on highway 75.
Lots of great ideals here.

[Tessla]

A beautiful day to all.

I received my "Little Shavers Woodcarving set" yesterday, so all I need now is wood to carve.

Just paid my bills so I'll wait another month to order Basswood and march out into the yard and gather up some tree branches and whittle on the twigs and sticks that are left from last December's Ice Storm that left us without electricity for 3 days.

The poor Maple was shredded, snapped, and popped of its branches. All the remainder was hauled away by family for fire wood. I get to keep the scraps. A scary day as i kept expecting a huge limb to fall on the house...:P

The bark is still on, and I think that will be a fine introduction to sore hands. Wooden Ice Cycles anyone?

Tessla

[Sharon of the Dell]

Congrats on getting your carving set. I bet you are excited, I would be! Carve those scraps of maple and have fun! It's free, the best kind in my mind.

[Mottles]

Hello and welcome Tessla.
Kathy

[Tessla]

Thanks for all the responses. They are very encouraging.
I realize i'm probably posting in this introduction thread far longer than I should be but I've not carved anything viewable yet.

I mentioned in my original post the Maple tree that was scrambled by last December's Ice Storm where I live and and all the twigs, twiglets and branches that dropped. Well, that tree is still dropping limbs and we're being careful not to have any family gatherings under its not so friendly shade.

Just peeling, skinning, and debarking fresh, raw, sap filled
wood is a revelation. I'm shocked at how fast it dries, splits and cracks...so everything now goes into a plastic bag.

If you don't learn woodworking and carving in one way..you learn it in another. I've decided to keep all the branches and limbs that fall from this tree...the only one that is on property we live on...small lot...one huge Maple tree that someone around here called a scrub Maple...its not a Sugar Maple, nor a Red Maple. This wood shatters, splinters and is generally very weak...but I am learning from it... Onward and Upward
Tessla