[bbswampgirl]

Greetings!

I am back in the Welcome section to share a nice warm holiday story. If you remember, I joined not long ago looking for advice on knives and other equipment I would need to get started. Well, Santa is taking care of the knives, a glove, a strop, and some sandpaper. I had wanted a set of Flexcut gouges, but couldn't squeeze it in with everything else.

Tonight, the nature center (where I work) hosted the annual Pelican Woodcarvers Christmas party. They usually meet here once a month, and in December, have a nice get together with really good eats. As a thank you for accommodating their monthly meetings, they presented me with the 11-piece Flexcut gouge set.

I was so excited, so touched! How did they know?! (Santa works in mysterious ways, huh???)

Anyway, for Christmas, my boyfriend is giving me a day trip to collect driftwood and he's going to help me fix up the back shed for my workshop. And based on advice I received here, I told my siblings all I wanted from them was first aid supplies - HA!

So, with a bit of Christmas magic and a lot of the spirit of giving, I am on my way.

I hope the rest of you out there will find joy in the magic of this season - I sure have!

Holidays!!!

[Doug Ridley]

Merry Christmas and congrats on the new tools. I would think long and hard though before using them on driftwood as it is often full of sand and rocks and can be VERY destructive to your nice new edge tools. DAMHIKT. Power might be better on driftwood.
Doug

[Paul_Guraedy]

I agree with Doug, be careful of that driftwood and your new tools. It can be rough on them. You did not say where in LA you are located; but, having grown up "down there" I know that you cannot be far from a supply of cypress knees. That would be something to use for a good start into carving with your Christmas present.

Merry Christmas and happy carving to you also.

[bbswampgirl]

Originally Posted by Doug Ridley

Merry Christmas and congrats on the new tools. I would think long and hard though before using them on driftwood as it is often full of sand and rocks and can be VERY destructive to your nice new edge tools. DAMHIKT. Power might be better on driftwood.

Doug

I agree with Doug, be careful of that driftwood and your new tools. It can be rough on them. You did not say where in LA you are located; but, having grown up "down there" I know that you cannot be far from a supply of cypress knees. That would be something to use for a good start into carving with your Christmas present.

Merry Christmas and happy carving to you also.

Paul

You see, every time I post, I learn something new. I would not have considered how I might damage my tools by using them on driftwood. It's definitely something to think about. Okay, so maybe I'll get my boyfriend to take me elsewhere on the search for cypress knees or some other kind of "clean" wood.

Thanks for the heads up Paul and Doug!

Claire

[Nancy-ID]

Claire, what wonderful gifts you have recieved! Enjoy and Holidays to you.

[Paul_Guraedy]

Claire, I must offer my apologies for a tardy welcome to the forum and for not going to your public profile earlier. I would not have suggested cypress knees since you are already familiar with carving them.

I, too, am a product of LA raised in the Pineville area and spent my career working in the National Park Service. I am curious about the Blue Bonnet Nature Center. Where is it located and would you tell us something about it.

[bbswampgirl]

Originally Posted by Paul_Guraedy

I, too, am a product of LA raised in the Pineville area and spent my career working in the National Park Service. I am curious about the Blue Bonnet Nature Center. Where is it located and would you tell us something about it.

Hey Paul,

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center is a 101-acre natural site in the heart of Baton Rouge. It has over 2 miles of walking trails that meander throughout hardwood and cypress tupelo forests. The swamp boardwalks are my favorite places on site. We have an exhibit building that houses live animals and natural artifacts. Best of all, we have on display a nice collection of award-winning carvings, incliding decorative pieces and waterfowl decoys. The decoys are on loan from Mr. Charles Frank (renowned author and expert in the field of decoys). The other carvings are on loan from the Louisiana Nature Conservancy and many are part of collections that belonged to a Mr. Tom Flanagan.

The bar is fairly high around here, so I am quite humbled starting out. My favorites in all the collections are the really primitive decoys - there's one with just a crooked stick for a head and another with a duck pelt fixed to the body. Those 2 are really unique. I CAN do crooked sticks - HA! (And then work my way up from there, of course.)

For anyone passing through the "Red Stick" - plan to stop by for a visit!

Claire

[wood-whittler]

claire,

i agree with doug and paul also,stick with the cypress knees,i found some driftwood one time and found it to be hard and had alot of soft spots,which may be discouraging at first, you will probaly enjoy the knees better, just my 2 cents.

bart