[doris]

saw work done :-) ... wow, i never knew how many muscles i have in my shoulders ;-) ... the most difficult part however was that the saw is designed for big men hands. when i need to fix the blade, i need grab both u-legs with one hand, and press them together, and fit in the blade with the other hand and tighten the screw...problem is, my hands are small, when i grab the legs, my fingertips just can touch them. not good for giving pressure on them. and that was even worse, when i had to fix the blade somewhere in the middle of the design, since then i could not press the end of the legs but had to do that somewhere down, which needs even more strength... so, i hope a tool maker reads that, and considers now to make women tools too ... lol... :-) ...now the happy part starts, carving :-) that is, first clean up the edges and cut away the pieces i could not reach with the saw....

[pallin]

Doris,
What you are describing is usually called a pierced relief carving. It is a style very common in classic cathedral screens with sweeping arches, acanthus leaves, etc.

[doris]

ah, yes, did not know the name "pierced relief carving", but know them from cathedrals, and now i make one for my home :-) thanks for giving me the english name :-)

[sharon cottrell]

It's going to be beautiful and very useful.

[RussL.]

Beautiful!
Mark Y. could have told you that I would like the design! :-)

RussL.

[JimSawyer]

Great start Doris! Looks like it will be a lot of fun to carve. Can't wait to see your progress.

[mark yundt]

Hey Doris,,,looks like you're having too much fun,,or is that possible? Here you go again off in another direction,that's great,love to see you do these things.RussL is right,,neat design. Is there anything you won't try.Carving...sawing,,drawing,,faces,,busts..caric atures,flowers,,this is so great watching you do your thing,figure it out along the way,not say no to anything and learn more than you could imagine as you go. Is Germany really too far away to commute to work? I wouldn't hesitate to put anything in front of you and not expect you to carve it well. Probably wouldn't even have to look over your shoulder.And I've got some killer jobs coming in that you'd have a ball with....logistics,,,ain't fair,,just ain't fair....

[doris]

hey thank you all for nice words, and i not even started the actual carving, you are too nice to me :-) ... yes, sharon, the usefulness appeals this time to me too :-) ... jim, yes, i am having big fun, but mark, too much fun is that possible ? no :-) i love trying out things. cant imagine anything i would not try, the only it needs to me want try it, is that it tickles just a tad my curiosity....and that happens very easy, boy my mother could tell you ...lol.... ah, in my last job, i had a 3 hour commute (mind you, 3 hours was one way, i needed another 3 for the way home in the evening), now, i think would be 8 hours flight, and 2 hours train to you, that would let me work only 4 hours in your shop a day, does not sound like enough...ah, well i forgot i need sleep sometime ! .. ;-)... thank you everybody, sooon be back with more progress pics :-)

[A Willburger]

Nice design Doris. Now that it is cut out I looking forward to see the progress of you carving it.

Andy

[doris]

hi andy :-) ... i thought this is a good step to share, as the lower part of the panel starts to show the shapes i am after, very rough though, in this stage of work i care more about getting shapes i want than that the cuts look neat. and, of course nees a lot refinement of shapes still ... i think, i dont like how i made the stem of the small bud, and will try to bring it back closer to the drawing. as it is, it breaks the flow of the lines... anyway, no problem, still have lots of wood underneath...