[Dusty Buffalo]

A friend of mine at work has an 8 year old daughter that is interested in learning to whittle/carve (the daughter specifically asked to learn). They've taken her to the local Woodcraft store but at the moment they don't have any classes available.

She probably will need an experienced carver to teach her how to hold her knife or tools, as my friend says she's not real coordinated using even basic items such as a butter knife or fork.

Do any of you have any suggestions on where else she could look for someone to teach her daughter how to carve? She very interested in carving horses in particular. We're in the Atlanta metro area, so do any of you Georgian's have any ideas?

Thanks for the help.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I would think there are tons of carvers and clubs in your area.....

[Ashbys]

Why not start here with a bar of soap and a set of plastic knives. Do a few simple projects and see if she stays with it.
You can also use clay from a hobby store at least to safely learn basics.

Ash

[AlArchie]

Soap is a GOOD medium to start with, especially at age 8. 8 is the age Cub Scouts go into soap carving because they don't have the physical dexterity to handle wood and sharp knives. OK, that's a generalization, but a pretty valid one.

If she won't be happy with those plastic knives, check at one of the hobby or art stores for the clay sculpting tools. Nice small wooden handles and very impressive looking steel blades, but no where near as sharp or likely to cut little hands as carving tools.

Fresh Ivory soap is probably the best soap to start with, and Ivory gives me a quarter for each bar they sell for carving. They are really slow paying though cuz in the 40 years I been recomending them I haven't got even ONE quarter.

Al

[Canopener]

Ain't kids great, and you just want to help them.
It seems to me you have gotten some good advice on carving soap.
If I could make a suggestion, start her out on carving hearts. You could use "Cyndi Joslyn's" article in WCI Spring 2006; or she could start out with a basic heart. Hearts seem to be real winner with little girls, [I know I have gotten some big hugs with Cyndi's hearts] they can be very simple or complex. In other words; the kid will figure out pretty soon if this is something they want to pursue.
Soap might be difficult to paint though.
If she is successful at this simple project she can move on to horses.
Or she might turn out to be a world class trombone player.
Good luck and have fun.
Jim

[jillsy]

OOOO! Fun! Can't wait until my daughter's of carving age!

[wood-whittler]

dusty,

i would suggest soap also, my daugter started about 2-3 yrs ago{shes 11 know} wanting to learn how to carve so i started her on the soap there are a couple of books out there on soap carving by howard suzuki, i got one of those it shows how to make tools and all from the big popcycle sticks.she has done this for a couple of years and know i am letting her carve wood.she has her own tools and bag and loves it.
but the kids need to start with the soap before wood to help get their cordination going.

hope this helps

bart

[Mottles]

'Carving Clubs', our Wood Bee Carvers hold soap carving lessons at the local librarys. We have one coming up on the 26th in Prescott, AZ. at the library. Sorry your not closer. We have children sign up from 3 years to 16.
We use the large bar of Ivory soap, plastic picnic knife, tooth pick, simple animal templets.
Ivory is the best as it doesn't flake and brake when the kids cut into it.
The animal templet is placed on the bar of soap, then outlined with the tooth pick. Then the outline is removed and the kids begin carving around their outline. It's really amazing how well these kids do and they have something special to take home with them. We don't have the session go over an hour, which is long enough for all. LOL
So check with your local library.
It's a great introduction to carving for children. I even make little soap carving for my home and gifts.
Kathy

[Kenny_S]

ALA gave some good advice on the Ivory. I taught Bear Scouts how to carve in soap and like ALA, never got a cent from Ivory, However, I have invested a lot of money over the 15 years of Scouting in to soap. Ivory is the best, if you are going to use soap. Plastic of even butter knives can be use. If she sticks with it, First investment is a Carving glove and thumb guard. Contact Rick of Little Shavers on Gloves and tools if she goes ahead and stays with it.
www.littleshavers.com

[BasketballJones]

My little man turns 8 next month and I don't trust him with a knife (don't trust him with a hammer either but that's another story). I've guided his hand and cut chips while both of us wore gloves but that freaks out the wife (why we do it).


Toy R' Us and Walmart sell a Nickelodeon product like Playdough called Magic Gook (something like that). If you keep it in a bag and moist it won't harden and it doesn't crumble when it hardens like playdough. We also use clay, along with plastic knives, and I stole a butter knife When he messes up he crumbles it and begins again. Be nice if that could be done with wood.