[wood_stuff]

Hello,
My name is marv and I have absolutely no tools or experience. But I'm excited to learn. I have been through the different threads so I know where to go if I have any questions.
I hope to begin carving by next weekend. Thanks for being an awesome site.

[susieq]

Welcome Marv,
You will become hooked on carving as soon as you start. It has so many ways to go, creatively. Something for everyone. Do yourself a big favor and find a club or carving group to join. Books are great but there is no substitute for hands on teaching or watching an experienced person use their carving tools. In 20 minutes of observation you can pick up a whole books worth of knoweledge. Welcome, feel free to ask questions anytime.

[Thomp]

Marv,

lots of places to start, fellowship in carving is the best place to start but if your in a place where your the only carver, its tough to learn from others.. hands on.. email dose work, but is tough to describe how to...

get yourself some tools. little shavers has a beginners kit that will get you set up, safely, with hand protection knife and tools, there based in Washington state its an internet store. http//www.littleshavers.com Rick and Theresa are some good folks and all too willing to get you going.
as far as im concerned
http://www.heineckewood.com/index.htm has the best basswood, i been buying there for 4 years or so and never got a bad piece of basswood from them..
i have a scrollsaw and buy 8x2x`12 sections so im not limited to size, or have to make glue ups to carve a horse..
the scraps make some strange things to carve as well.. dogs and pigs etc...

while your waiting for it all to be delivered go read the tools and sharpening forum and learn how to maintain your tools, theres nothing as unsafe as dull tools.

theres plenty of patterns here intact theres a bunch of links to free patterns available out on the web,, the search function works great but tricky figuring out how to out guess how folks posted the topic line of the projects.

fox publishing has a section for carvers at there various levels and taste of project desires,.

other places for ideas is back issues of carving magazines, available on the publishers sites or if your willing to wait for someone to dump there collection you can go with eBay,,, ,

so for about $50.00 you will be set to get started on most any small project,,

good luck.

just holler if you need a direction, most folks here will come running to help ya..
Thomas

[GeorgiaCarver]

Welcome to the fun hobby/business of carving!

[Mark N. Akers]

Hello Marv:
Welcome to the Carving site,hope you enjoy it.

[Irishman]

Welcome Marv. Look forward to seeing your work and chatting through the posts.
Patrick

[Joy]

Welcome Marv. Prepare to become addicted!

[gumbyteeth04]

Welcome aboard, Marv. I came here a couple of months ago looking for help & advice & was floored with a TON of it. I wish you well in your carving adventures.

Dan