1st Try at Christmas Elves

[TopKnot]

Thought I would post these 3 elves I have started and see what you think (excuse the photo quality). Oh, The yellow in their eyes is wood glue. Thought I would put a small drop in each eye, let dry, and that would give a smooth and hard surface for painting the eye. Any one else do this? One question I do have. I have done these with the set of tools I got from Little Shavers, basically nothing more than a knife. Does any one know where you can get relatively cheap, but good quality, gouges? In Marks Gargac's tutorial he mentions and lot of different size gouges and in checking prices, "they ain't cheap". When I did a little chip carving years ago, I made my own knives but I don't think I can make a gouge.HA! I have always found that you can do just about anything you set your mind to, but if you have the right tools, it sure makes it a lot easier. Maybe some one has some they would like to get rid of at a reasonable price. Anyway, Thanks for looking and comments and suggestions always welcome.

Chuck

[Ron T]

Hi Chuck,

Very nice job on your elves. Especially with just a knife.

If you want to make your own gouges, you can do it with umbrella spokes. Do a search and there are other materials you can use, too. Then, there are garage and yard sales for old tools.

[Irishman]

Hey Chuck. You have the "Elf bug" too do ya? We had a number of us on here carving a bunch of them for a time. I recently put mine on a backing and framed them. You may wish to consider the same if you don't plan on using them as ornaments. Yours turned our very nicely. Well done.
Patrick

[Keoma]

Great job on those guys! I wish mine had turned out so great!

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Very nice Chuck, I like that yellow in the eyes I would leave one yellow and not paint it to see how it looks finishd. I would recomend flexcuts sk series of tools they are well priced at around 9-16 dollers each, considering there amazing quality and warrenty. Ya can buy them here, I get mine here as well
Wood Carvers Supply, Inc.
another nice thing about the sk is the interchangable handle some complain about having to change it from blade to blade but once your used to it its no trouble and they save a huge amount of space. I seen elves posted on here other places and think Patrick aka Irishman did some really amazing ones. I have not tryed any myself yet maybe another time. If ya do decide on the flexcut and want info let me know my sk series set now exceeds 60 tools/four tool rolls and about 8 handles.
Carl