Hello from North Wales

[PeteM]

Hello,

I've been whittling since May this year, and have really caught the bug! This site has been really useful and I wanted to say hello and thank you, and to post some photos of some of my efforts.

I started out in May making roosters from branches, using a modified Victorinox 2-blade pocketknife, and followed the instructions given in the books of Chris Lubkemann. I could never get the tails to curl properly. The photo of the rooster is my very first attempt.

I then picked up some Red Cedar and made some animals for my kids, using patterns from 'You Can Whittle and Carve' by Franklin H. Gottshall (a great book). These I sanded and waxed to highlight the grain.

My son then asked for a Triceratops, which I made in Lime. This was quite tricky for me, especially the areas between the horns.

From tutorials on this site I made a mountain man figure (7"), but the proportions made a lankier figure, and I altered the clothes. When I made this one I didn't understand that flat-plane meant you didn't round off corners. LOL. I gave him a waistcoat and slight tum.

I also used a Santa tutorial from this site as the basis for a king I wanted to make for a chess piece (left in group photo). I made a variation with some proto-eyeballs, and then tried to make a queen. Then I made my first santa and first paint job. The eyes aren't symmetrical and not well painted...bad light and a late night to blame! All made in Lime.

The angel figure started out as a doodle on a piece of basswood 1"x1.5"x3" high, and was carved as one piece, although I have re-glued a snapped wing. I like the shape and might make a bigger one in Lime.

I've just got through some African Blackwood which I plan to use for a chess-set, which has the consistency of a hard pencil graphite, but can be carved OK with a Swedish Mora knife. Slowed me down a bit though!

I'd like to do some more flat plane carving, but find that the Lime available in the UK is a bit hard and dense to make the necessary cuts. The small amounts of basswood I have carved have been like butter in comparison..I hardly felt the knife going through it. Unfortunately basswood does not seem to be available in the UK.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to this forum.

Pete

[Al_Hillis]

welcome to the site Pete and keep up the carving , your off to an excellant start.

Al


http://picasaweb.google.com/al.hillis/WOODCARVINGSMINE

[kitaye]

WelcomePeter. I love the triceratops. I think Basswood is called Linden in the UK. Try that.

[squbrigg]

Welcome aboard. You have a great start with those critters, love the smooth flowing form. You should enjoy it here, great place to learn from.

Bob

[Joy]

Great beginnings! Can't wait to see what you will produce next. Welcome

[Shannor]

Wow! Those are lovely! I only hope my 'early' dabblings can be as good as those

[PeteM]

Thanks for the kind comments and encouragement.

I just wanted to post some of the whittled twig birds I have done, a mule in Red Cedar (unfinished) and a cute small basset hound.

I hope you like them.

Pete

[kitaye]

OMG, the penguin and dog are so small. How in the world did you ever do that without chopping bits off.

[WOODIE13]

Welcome to the board!

[GeorgiaCarver]

Welcome to the forum, you do some great work there. Thank you for sharing. Be sure to jump right in and have some fun.

Greg