[knothole]

Originally Posted by Lynn O. Doughty

Really a nice piece of work. Love the coloring of the wood. One question though, was there a particular reason you carved the head at the bottom of the beam. If you don't mind my opinion I think it would have worked better if you had reversed the direction of the head to where the lower part of the knotched beam and pins would have elevated the head and served as a great base. Just a thought.

Thanks for the comments Gene and to answer your ?? The pic`s don`t really show the top of the beam so here is another view. I reall wanted to keep the tennon joint intact if it had not been there I would have carved it as you stated. I agree on the base and I just picked up 3 more beams and they will be carved that way. Just don`t find to many with the joint still intact...Thanks again Gene I appreciate the feedback...Bruce

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I didn't mean that you would lose the tennon joint only that if it had been on the bottom of the piece you could have had it anchored to some sort of base. This would have placed the carved face reversed on the beam but elevated to the top. Just flip it upside down and you'll see what I mean.

Either way it's still a really nice carving and having done it on that beam makes it all the more interesting. And you're right about the scarcity of objects like that. I'm always on the lookout for just such thing to incorporate into my carving. If you could walk around our property fence line you'd note the missing tops to all the old wooden fence posts that have ended up one way or the other into some of my carvings. You just can't beat time and Mother Nature for making things interesting and beautiful.

[tucker1931]

Bruce, what a wonderful carving on what would be to most people a worthless piece of fire wood and turned into a work of art. To show the original joint on the beam just ads character and you have captured it beautifully. Great carving.
Cliff

[Fred Zavadil]

Bruce, I almost missed this one - excellent carving.
Fred