wood carving, dogs and fitevircomes

holiday

2011-11-29T00:24:00.001-08:00

We came north a bit for a break. Hoping a change of scenery would help Janice. It worked out well. The cottage is the Old Post Office at Dubford on the south side of the Moray Firth. An old building, stone built with walls 3 foot thick. With recent winds reaching 90m.p..h I'M GLAD.

There is also a sawmill here, so I 've got some more lime wood to spoil. First time for years I've not carved something. The withdrawals are setting in , but tomorrow we return home.

hybernation ends

2011-11-25T10:27:00.000-08:00

First an apology for neglecting this blog for almost a year.
There isa reason,we went to Kracow for a holiday, when we disembarked my wife Janice collapsed on the runway. Then a series of collapsing till the last one on our return to Scotland. She spent 14days in the acute ward of the hospital. Since then the illness has not been identified so no treatment. She is on oxygen 24 hrs a day.

Obviously my priorities have changed, time has to be spent doing chores I have left to Janice.
However we hope than I can return to blogging.

Rab C Nesbitt: "Rat" - Series 1 Episode 2 (Part 1/3)

2011-01-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

de Gaulle

2010-12-31T06:18:00.000-08:00

First sorry about de Gaulle being a messy eater, I did n't notice that ketchup stain till after I took the photo. For a couple of reasons I'm running out of carving wood so this is a bit prefabricated, 4 pieces in all. Interesting but restricting. I'd like to carve all WW2 leaders . However for the time being I'm fish stuff out of the trash bin.

Cauld laddie

2010-12-29T10:19:00.000-08:00

If nothing else its seasonal! I fished a messed up carving from the bin and got this out of it around 5 inches in height, limewood.

opinions needed

2010-12-28T06:06:00.000-08:00

Can I begin by saying I'm not keen on what goes under the guise of PC. Nor do I believe in tramping over the feelings of others.

I recently posted my latest caricature, Hitler. This seemed to provoke an over reaction from a fellow carver. " throw that efigy into the stove". First of all I will not do as dictated to.

This is one of a deries of WW2 figures I want to carve, de Gaulle is almost finished,

My question is , does anyone else find this caricature offensive?
Let me know.

Seasonal greetings

2010-12-24T20:59:00.000-08:00

For anyone who follows this blog and some do;
A merry Xmass and a Peaceful New Year for you all.

snowed in.

2010-12-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

Well it takes little for us to be beaten by the snow here in Scotland. We've had above average and we're grinding to a halt. Janice went to her work yesterday and is snowed in. Her relief can n't get there. Still its not all bad, plenty food and heating both here and at her work . I've made a big pot of golash in the slow cooker. The dogs' treats, liver I've cut up and micro waved. So send it down. The carving is a 5 inch one of the madman, I hope to carve other figures from WW2.. Unfortunately I'm running out of wood . De Gaul might be next he was a thin man and I've a bit of wood that might fit the bill.

quote

2010-12-06T15:41:00.000-08:00

The principal mark of genius is not perfection, but originality.”

The claims of originality, in fact copywrighting carving designs has often amused me. After voicing my concers another carver suggested some quotes on the topic. The one above I feel its accurate. It also rules out me, and alot of others from claims of originality.

thoughts

2010-12-04T11:24:00.000-08:00

Here's some of the Santas I've carved. The shelf sitter looks as though he's in his underwear.

Whatever

The snow for the first time today shows signs of a thaw. Because of the changing wather in this part of the world we'll get this regular in the winter. Snow thaw, snow and all the mess it suggests.

Both Janice and I are keen ebook readers and have used this a lot because of the weather. I'm reading a book on the loose of freedom of speech, I'm half way through it and have to say its made me more convinced that being PC is not something I find I want to aim for. Seems to me that if I do n't follw the dictates of a minority, usually of foreign origin I become a racist. Do n't hold with being rude nor offensive but feel I retain the right to express myself.

snow

2010-11-29T04:12:00.000-08:00

Well we've got snow here ahead of the normal time, But its here, not a lot but 6/8 inches fortunately we can expect it to shift with the climate we have here. Managed to give the dogs a run and although its was a short run we enjoyed it.

The above are two carvings I've finished, the pistol wheelding has been a pain. The original came from an Woodcarving magazine and I reduced it to six inches. That was a mistake that showed up in the carving. Ah well live and learn.

izart

2010-11-22T06:46:00.000-08:00

This is the end result of a doodle, maybe it influenced by my research or a visit to Auschwitz. Whea ever or where ever it came from its different.

I think I'll go for another carving on a similar theme , or maybe the very opposite, an SS Guard. We'll see fed up with Santas.

mrclaus

2010-11-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

A couple of photos of the last carving I've finish, 4 !/2 inches plus base. This one is going to the STates.

Geordie

2010-11-18T16:25:00.000-08:00

This is Geordie a Scottish gnome who looks after the haggis in the winter time. He's out giving them their night time feed, larks tongues dipped in heather honey

Ekern Santas

2010-11-15T05:17:00.000-08:00

These I carved from a pattern in Gerald Ekern's book. I like the design and they were fun to do. The book I bought on Ebay and my friend Jack forwarded it from the US.

Just now I'm doing a clean up of bits left from previous carvings . The other source is almost finished carving, one's I should have finished but did n't.

I'm told there's a saw mill nearby which sells limewood so I'm going to chack it out .

Maissee behaves better at the Saturday class . Each time she showed aggression I corrected her. Better than the previous week but a long way to go. We just hope this socializing works. Having a dog on a lead all the time is not something I want.

more wood I've spoiled

2010-11-14T12:39:00.000-08:00

A bit unkund but a caricature of my pal Jack and his hound. Fortunately he has a great sense of humour and the Pond will be between us when it arrives.

Another pal, 5 years old goin on 50, has gone off with my little carvings of Santa. These were put on a shelf he can n't reach.

angry fishermen

2010-11-09T05:11:00.000-08:00

EEC regulations are making for a lot of unhappy fishermen in this part of the world. So I carved this wee fella to represent their anger. The regulations are restrictive and yet fail to answer the problems related to over fishing. The over fishing on our costal waters is caused not only by our vessels but all EEC members fleets. Brussels has a knack of letting regulations over rule commons sense.

PMS

2010-11-07T14:56:00.000-08:00

My wife commented that " You never carve female caricatures"! Well that's cured now.

For my own protection this carving is not based on anyone I know nor anyone I might not know.

presents

2010-10-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

Seems that demad is over taking demand on the wee carvings. Youngsters birthdays and xmas tree ornaments are being requested way too much. However that is n't all bad in ffact its good, at 70 I can not only growl at kids but make them smile. The above is a photo of the old dog we lost a few months ago. A bit like her owner she could get into trouble even in her dotage.

poplar

2010-10-13T01:02:00.000-07:00

Not much further in my mission on tree bark. Not entirely true, the cottonwood tree is of the poplar family. Poplars grow in Europe.
Interestingly its the red pine of california which is credited with the thickest bark.

I'm back blogging again

2010-10-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

After a series of events I'm back blogging again.
Nothing drastic just a heap of things that limited my time.

One of the more pleasant was a short break in Poland, my first in 30 years. Then it was north Poland Gransk in what was refered to as the German Corridor. This time it was all different in all senses, we went to Cracow and then visited Auschwitz.

We met up with a carving pal and had a meal together. Apart from the brotsch which I never liked the food was to my liking. More to the point the company was good. Romek does n't speak English and I speak no Polish so we depended on his son to translate.

The churches were full of carvings and other artistic works. Some had been looted by the Germans and then returned after 1945.

On a more down to earth level I came across these carvings, in bark for sale in the market of the old City.

These impressed me but poses the question which bark. According to my research cottonwood does n't grow in the old World. All I can say is the bark must come from a very old tree.

bark carvings

2010-10-06T04:54:00.000-07:00

These are NOT my carvings. They were on display at the Old City in Cracow. Bark they were but what bark I do n't know.

2010-09-30T17:38:00.000-07:00

This is part of the perimeter fence, electrafied. I believe it was forbidden to for prisoners to commit suicide, and also those who tried to stop them were themselves punished. German logic?

Kracow

2010-09-30T17:33:00.000-07:00

We spent 10 days here in Cracow - returning yesterday. The medieval history and the proximity of Auschwitz made the city attractive from a historical perspective.

A previous concentration on the northern outskirts of Berlin faded as it was dwarfed by this death camp.
The photo below is some, yes some of the photo wear, and razors taken from prisoners on their arrival.

I feel this says it all.

Ipad

2010-09-12T06:08:00.000-07:00

Last week iterated myself to an ipad. This is one of two reason for this blogging. The other is the time I spend on the pup. Hopefully both my iPad skills and the pups manners will improve!

back to normal

2010-08-04T01:27:00.000-07:00

WE've had a hectic spell due to my wife have real problems with her back. Poor woman has been in agony. Confined to bed most of the last three weeks. However her treatment seems to be helping and this week shows real improvement.

The above pup has added to disruption at 5 months thats to be expected. Jimmee the older Dally is trying to teach her some manners. We've had little success todate.

As a result my carving time has been limited.

The wee man looks the way I felt in the chaos while the gorilla was a new field for me. I think he needs some vegatation , bamboo high grass or something..

On Gene Messers opinions I bought two Mike Shipley knives recently , these are great knives..

Hopefully I'll have more time for my blog now.

Bloody pup.

2010-06-29T17:10:00.000-07:00

Jimmee looks on in disgust at the lack of manners the pup is showing. he's trying hard to train her but, she obviously is a female.

We enrolled her tonight in a obedience class. She introduced herself by pissing on the floor and challenging the trainers dog! She's a festy bitch.

A very jolly Rodger

2010-06-15T05:16:00.000-07:00

This is from another roughout. A pirate whose full of grog. I made him as colourful as possible. He's a tough old pirate have survived a few attack from the pup.

daft bookmark

2010-06-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

This is from an idea I seen on the magazine WCI. A small carving of a witch , holding a piece of elastic cord. At the other end is a small block of wood. The length of the cord is variable and makes a bookmark thats different.

occupied

2010-06-10T02:10:00.000-07:00

That wee pup is proving to take more of my time than I intended she's a real Tasmanian Devil. However her vaccinations have meant she stays in doors till this week end. Maybe then she'll get the exercise she needs. No doubt she's no worse than any other pup, it might well be I'm getting older and grumpier. This is the last pup I'm taking on, I've trained more of them than I can remember, so I want to finish on a winner.

Bonecrusher

2010-06-07T17:25:00.000-07:00

Here she is at 3months. Looking ahead I'll need to feed her the whole coo.

Tasmanian Devil

2010-05-30T05:21:00.000-07:00

We've been had! This was sold to us as a Dalmatian pup. Its turned out she a Tasmanian Devil.

These are dockyard chisels,, tools. They are micro chielsand I think good ones. BUT they came slack in the hndle. The right most one is unaltered. The reason for the slackness became obvious when I removed the old handles, there was no sign of glue. The handles I added are scraps of purple heart left over from a spoon. The shapes are random.

new pup

2010-05-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest family member Maysie. - 8 weeks old and manner less

Here she's being introduced to her brother Jimmee who is set on keeping her clean and teaching her manners.

spoiling more wood

2010-05-23T15:36:00.000-07:00

wood carving, dogs and fitevircomes: Bentley

2010-05-19T02:01:00.000-07:00

wood carving, dogs and fitevircomes: Bentley

Bentley

2010-05-19T02:00:00.000-07:00

Here's my holiday dog, Jack's wee mongrel. He the dog adopted me and we'd a great time.

In fact the entire holiday was great inspite of Air France. The Auld Alliance was put in jepardy more than once when the volcanic ash meant landing at President DeGaulle airport necessary. However home safe and sound now. I've a couple of carving to work on a caricature, almost finished, thanks to my Whittling Jack and another stick Jack wants.

holiday

2010-05-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

Well we're enjoying our holiday.
Jack has good days ad soe not so good.

We got fine weather for a trip to Chicago.

not a German Shepherd

2010-04-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Well like most plans this one did n't work ou.
So it turned in to me and Jimmee. Dogs for some reasonn I find difficult, strange giving my fondness of them.

We leave for the US via Skipol tomorrow looking forward to 14 days there.

two wee carvings

2010-04-15T05:41:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest, the Viking is for the kids and the other, Cheeky Chappy is for Paul my disabled friend. If they get the fun I did carvin them - mission accomplished..

I've tried and failed to get a reasonable carving of a GSD. So I've settled for a Dalmatian hoping it looks less like a goat than previous ones!

Now the male figure has to be altered to resemble myself.

Meanwhile the litter of pups have made it to morning TV so there is our "Maisy" not three weeks old and already a star.

Our planned trip across the Pond is getting nearer only a fortnight to go. Trying hard not to get excited but admit that even for me its difficult.

more pups

2010-04-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

These are little ones I carved from scrap.

trouble

2010-04-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

Some where in there is our next pup. That poor auld Zena is in for a hard time rearing that size of litter.

pups checked out

2010-03-31T05:22:00.000-07:00

We spent the evening with the pups, Zena, Gayle and James. Socialising is not my forte but Janice enjoyed ohing and ahing over them. Can n't say they do much for me at that stage.
However on the return trip it snowed and still is. Not the crips clean stuff of the hills but slushy runny muck we gt here.

she's here, somewhere

2010-03-29T23:24:00.000-07:00

As the blog includes dogs here are a few. Among that heap is a bitch we'll be keeping. This photo was taken during the time Zena was whelping finally she gave birth to 14. So she's done well I think her owner Gayle intends this to be Zena's last litter.

Zena was the bitch we , Janice, wanted but she was not for sale. She was a year old then and one smart dog.

We intend to go and see the pups later today.

new carving

2010-03-23T08:03:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a carving of a friend, who has a German Shepherd. The dog will be at his left side so this carving does look "squint".

These are three knives, I like. The blades are thin and get a great edge on them. The steel is layered in the traditional manner , I bought them from Dick's Tolls in Germany.

Success

2010-03-06T23:14:00.000-08:00

probs

2010-03-05T06:34:00.000-08:00

I am experiencing problems uploading photos to this blog. Now that is a bind as the blog is almost exclusively photos.

footballer

2010-02-26T18:43:00.000-08:00

Here's the footballer painted.

auld Jock

2010-02-26T18:38:00.000-08:00

Been knocked off my routine. A new roof and a new bathroom. However I managed to spoil this bit of wood. 5 inches limewood, washes used.

packers

2010-02-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

There's a game played at the other side of the Pond, the players pick up the ball and run with it. The opposing side try to stop them. For some obscure reason its called football.

I've a friend whose addicted to this strange ritual, he's a fan of the Packers, I've began this a carving for him.

How about that.?

2010-02-07T09:33:00.000-08:00

My wife is a carer professionaly.
There is a woman she cares for and I have her as a friend. The reason is because or inspite of her disabilities she shows me how I should handle adversity.

When I first met Roberta she got into a blue funk if whe seen a dog. Spot and Jimmee have changed that.

purpleheart spoon

2010-01-29T08:13:00.000-08:00

First the knife is a blade I had made for me. The handle is a bit of scrap, maybe mahogany .

The spoon is from a piece of purpleheart. That word has became a curse word. Its the worst wood I've came across. Its splintery and a poor wood to carve. I'd say hornbeam is better.
However I've tried it. I think it would power carve but SWMBO would not be happy if I did that in the kitch. Happy wife happy life.

low tec knife and wee mannies

2010-01-28T12:50:00.001-08:00

A couple of we men. Thought a clown might be a colourful subject. Enjoying my freedom, today I took the dogs out on my own. I enjoy my wander in the wood at any time of the year. Janice was at work and it gave me the opportunity to ramble for a half hour.
I've been experimenting with fancy back rests - time will tell if they help. Jimmee walks easy on the lead but I've returned to a halti for him just now.

going crazy

2010-01-23T07:51:00.000-08:00

As my incarceration continues I'm beginning to sympathise with the Count of Monta cristo.

My wardeness says Monday is my release date.

A few wee mannies I've tried. Tom has a lot to answer for.

A spoon for the gaffer

2010-01-19T10:19:00.001-08:00

Here's the latest spoon, and wee carving. Janice has been telling me what she's like for Valentine's Day. I've tried to incorporate what she likes into a spoon.. About ten inches in length , limewood interwoven with two entwined heart next to the bowl I'm really must improve my camera skills. While ok at outside photos those close ups are rubbish.

The wee mannie is a caricature of a Scots Guards Man. About two inches tall. There's a 5 year old friend of mine who will love him.

Well I've half my sentence over only another week and I'm out of solitary. While my back is only giving me the odd twinge for once I'll behave as I'm told.

a bit different.

2010-01-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

Her's something I tried out. A couple of wallets, veg tanned leather, and not expensive. I burned the design and then painted using a model paint I like. Three of the designsare from Irish's book. The only comment I'll make on the intials is they are not mine.

convicts uniform

2010-01-13T04:22:00.000-08:00

I've added to my mine of useless information. The arrows on prison garb were in fact a government stamp. Suppose it was to denote government ownership. A bit of an over kill though.
My back is improving, still under the watchful eye of SWMBO.

Mac a Nick

2010-01-12T03:17:00.001-08:00

Here's a carving of a relative, Mac a Nick. I do n't see a lot of him but its as like him as my memory permits. For any of you colonialists nick is the jail.

This brought up the question, yet to be answered, why the arrows in prison garb?

I wanted to bite the dog.

2010-01-12T02:45:00.000-08:00

As its common knowledge I love my dogs what would create such an urge?. I DONE MY BACK IN,AGAIN. After two visits to a phscio I've now returned to a normal state.i.e. my normal crabby self.

My wife Janice has got to be the most thoughtful person around. BUT she bought this three tier storage unit for my carvin stuff. In spite of this being a "bargain" its appearance ; well needed a lot to be desire. So after a bit of soft soaping she agreed it needed somthing ,well the end result is there.

First carvings 2010

2010-01-07T18:26:00.000-08:00

First there is Jimmy patiently waiting for his nightly treat. A T Bone or something of that ilke? No A fish oil capsule.

Then the wee mannies ( a collective term in the Doric for men). The carvings of Tom, and a gentleman by the name of Jack Price have always been great to study. So I've given it a go. As Tom puts his Oar Carver as a size comparison I've avoided that and used another fine knife.
I cut a length of 1"x1" to try a couple more of these. The ideas are drawn on paper and I'll see how they go. The cold spell has meant SWMBO has served notice on my time in the shed. Thirty mins a day, maximium. So carving these inside is an alternative thats attrative.

2010-01-07T18:25:00.001-08:00

Seventy

2010-01-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

Although I've little to say I felt I'd to write something, a its my 70th birthday. When I think how I led the first half of that 70 I'm blody lucky to have made the next 35.

New Year Offerings

2010-01-01T19:25:00.000-08:00

I treid and almost made it. It's a habit to start the Year with nothing left unfinished, a sort of spring cleaning. However I wandered around leaving bits here and there not quite finished . What I did finish is above.
I burned the inside of a bowl that I've been tripping over for 2 years , the designsare from Irish's book as are the next one. These are two birds I carved from Keltic/ Pictish Art. I put a homemade frame on the two kelpies . The Deer Spoon will be the next one to finish and then...

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T08:35:00.000-08:00

A Happy New Year to all.

colour

2009-12-27T10:14:00.000-08:00

Some believe pyrography should not have colour added, others use colour - me I've no qualms about it. So I gave the Waterhorses a little wash. The photo on the left is one of a pair I'm working on. A fantasy bird (peacock) from Pictish/Keltic mythology. Still more than a little work to do there but they're getting there. These I will paint in an effort to bring out the design.

kelpies, water horses

2009-12-24T03:35:00.001-08:00

The two photos here are representations of the mythological beastie from our Pictish history. A monstor of great strength and both fish and animal. These old Picts must have been on the booze a bit!

The photo on the left is of a carving on a stone near here at Aberlemno. The rights side is a burning I copied.

My goddaughter

2009-12-18T20:27:00.000-08:00

Her names Brandii, her line name I can n't remember. However I picked as a 6 week old for a friend of mine, Bob Hannah. He wanted a long haired bitch with a steady nature. fortunately for me I picked well. What I did n't allow for was training her by phone. First time I've tried that way. However it seems to be working. Every couple of months I go north an hour and see her and up till now she's doing well. This has been Bob's dream for many years but he's waited till he retired and could give the time needed for the breed.

bookmarks pyro

2009-12-17T10:22:00.000-08:00

I've been burning a few of these over the last week. The reson I've always copied my celtic knots and decided to try drawing them from scratch. Mmmm not so easy, the difficult part is trying to keep the ribbons the same width through out. However an interesting approach.

Oh deer

2009-12-12T03:27:00.001-08:00

I'll do better than that Allan here's one before its finished. Your right without stretching we can n't progress. If the truth be known I'm just "A Grumpy Aul Man".

Why do I do this. groan

2009-12-11T15:18:00.000-08:00

I started carving when I was 67 years old. Now its not a hobby thats easy to learn. Still three years later I take on caving patterns that are, well intricate. I did it with "whale spoon" in the summer, the bloody thing had me in desperation. Now I've don it again with a "deer spoon", once is a mistake twice is a no no. I'll post a photo up tomorrow.

Burnt spoon

2009-12-06T21:21:00.000-08:00

I bought, yes bought a blank, oh the pain of paying for it, of limewood.
Decided to pyrograph it and this was the outcome.

spoon and board

2009-12-04T08:01:00.000-08:00

The spoon is a couple ideas I put together. A thistle at the top not a pineapple.

I've afriend Paul who is in the advanced stages of a muscle wasting illness. He collects key fobs as his collection is growing he needs another board, I've burned this for his Xmas.

latest knife

2009-11-30T12:31:00.000-08:00

I made this from an old cutthroat. A lot of time grinding it but the Pro-Edge meant for once I' did n't over heat the blade. The handle is a piece of old mahogany I'd lying around. The pyro did n't work well the wood is too dark. However all in it feels right

Callies plate

2009-11-25T06:15:00.001-08:00

This plate had too many knots for chip carving so I burned it.

Its a present for my friend's granddaughter, a birthplate.
7 inches across.

I did n't carve these

2009-11-22T08:34:00.000-08:00

After noting Allen's interest in furniture making I thought these photos might interest him. So. its a desk I bought many years ago (30) originally used as an office desk by a faimly grocer. The lide folds down and is then support by the two pull outs. I like it still never get fed up looking at it. Id say hand carved. The sides have art novau whirls on them. There you are Allen.

kinfe and spoons

2009-11-20T07:32:00.000-08:00

The first photo , a poor one, of a knife I've made from an old cut throat razor.
The second is a couple of love spoons for the coming season. Athough its not one I celebrate others do. Both are limewood and wood dye, getting to like the stuff. If I use it sparingly sometimes it looks great , other times well.
rgds
John

new knife

2009-11-11T18:44:00.001-08:00

The left side is the knife I bought from Preferred Edge. I've only used it on apple wood, to try it out. Its double edges and I like the idea. However like most things it takes me a while to get used to it. I want to use it on a cherry wood bowl I've started but lacked the means of finishing.

The black thing on the right is a scalpel handle made by Veratis. A compfortable tool in the hand. I'm using it in an effort to clean up carvings. The butt end has a cavity for spare blades.

viking hound

2009-10-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

Here's my latest headache. Its from a patteren in an Irish book. It represents a hound. My it nature and size its a bit delicate. I carved so much and have it now in position on a Jewelery box lid. Its at the stage that a magnifying glass and a scalpel are called for. The scalpel is a Swan Morton handle and blade. I 'd say a good idea I mentioned this to Tom and will put a photo on this blog, when I remember.For me its work and hour and then walk away from. I tend to get careless if I spend more time. If its passable fine, if not its only tack glued to the lid.

catch up

2009-10-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

Writing here when I've nothing to say really. The reason for the blog in the virst place was an attempt at a form of discipline. I believe that it will help me to have a structure to my time. Self discipline being the most difficult for most of us and it gets no easier as we age.

We'd a wedding anniversary meal, we're 14 years married. I got a good deal, not so sure Janice did.
Whatever the meal went well.

belt buckle

2009-10-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

I carved this belt buckle from walnut. Its for a friend who makes knives, hence the hammer and the knife.

celtic spoon

2009-10-18T05:05:00.001-07:00

Finally a Celtic Spoon I've carved in walnut. It may have been better if it had been done with thinner parts. Maybe next time.

Bob's spoon

2009-10-18T05:03:00.000-07:00

This is a spoon for another friend to mark his 40 year marriage. I think he deserves a medal for bravery!

spoons

2009-10-18T04:58:00.000-07:00

This is a spoon I carved for a knife making friend. He gets the spoon and I get a blade. The pattern is based on a spoon I have already carved. I added a turn in the main part.
I hope he likes it.

First female, Eve.

2009-10-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

She's a mate for that blue fella I carved , she's also my first female; carving that is.
Not unlike my buddy Mack the Knife.
This was done while we were in Paphos and stained on our return. I burned parts , as shadows and to keep the colours seperate.

I seemed to have got caught in a series of spoon carvings and this was a nice change.

sun and relaxation.

2009-10-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

We've returned after a fotnight on Cyprus, our hotel was in Paphos, near the Tomb of the Kings. A pleasant 14 days swimming twice most ddays. More importantly 14 rain free days.
The lady on the right is my wife Janice, while the one oon the right is Christine a friend from the ilsland of Bara.

Best Dog at the Wedding

2009-09-22T06:18:00.001-07:00

The friend who bred Jimmee got married a fortnight ago. As a surprise we took him along, she was over the moon. He was the first pup she bred and is fond of him. He has a nature that makes it difficult not to like him. That and a lot of work was put into him in his early training.

The lady on the right is Janice my long suffering wife.

Janice and I leave today for Paphos for a fortnight's holiday. Unfortunately we've to leave the two dogs here. However a neighbour boards dogs and treats them well. So off to sit on my rear end in the sun.
I've got the accoutrement's needed for a holiday; cryptic crosswords, a knife and a few bits of wood. A knife making friend wants a spoon carved so I've cut the roughout and hopefully make a spoon he'll enjoy.

I've always been crazy.

2009-09-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

Anyone whose ever read this blog will have doubts about my sanity. No doubt crediting old age as a contributing factor. This old photo proves this is not the case.
At 40 years I climbed the Inaccessible Pinnacle on the Black Cullin. So nether youth nor old age can be blamed. If more proof is needed I climbed all the Munroes in Scotland, and enjoyed it.

2009-09-18T04:01:00.000-07:00

My photographic skills are one above zero, however played around with the software . The problem was the wood dye I used on this carving, in a colour photo it shows up too strong. So I tried this in sepia. A whole lot better.

You can n't win them all.

2009-09-14T03:56:00.000-07:00

Well its a learning process, right? There's a carver I admire a fellow called Mieto. His caricatures are different. I carved one similar to his . Then tried to paint it in his way. Thats when it all went pear shaped. Always one to show what I' carving so why not the disasters?

2009-09-13T09:31:00.000-07:00

Here's my latest bit of tortures limewood. The patteren is one I've sone before, this time I've changed the colours.

The op I had has resulted in an infextion. The Anti -biotics do n't seem to be working. Still the course has another 2 days to run.

spoon knife

2009-09-06T02:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a knife I recently bought. I purchased the blank blade from Deepwood Ventures in the US. I added a hornbeam handle and I've a knife I'm really fond of. The sharpener is a bit of broom handle on which I've stuck a couple of turns of hard leather to match the shape of the blade. When rouge is added it sharpens well.

nautical spoon.

2009-09-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

The old life comes back to me on occasion, the result here is a spoon with a nautical theme. This is the notorious horn beam wood. A lot of work but a bonny wood.

flooding

2009-09-05T03:57:00.000-07:00

A bit north of here, the Moray Firth area has and still is suffering flood damage. A month's rain fell in 24 hours. We're on an elavated site here with all rivers below us.
Anyhow I'm confined to barracks and under strict instructions not to leave the premises. SWMBO let me cut a blank yesterday, but fussed in the shed's door was making sure I made my visit a short one. She returns to work today and will no doubt take the keys to the shed with her!

odin scoop

2009-09-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

Well thats the op over and the count there is still two. In the mean time as a guard against my Dally I walk around with a pillow on that region.

Now a different topic, I'm learning some carvings just do n't take good photos. I do n't believe I'm over rating this carving but the photo just does n't do it justice. Try as I might, different settings etc the photos are rubbish. However its carved from apple and more importantly I like it. That is the aim of the game.

I do n't BELIEVE

2009-09-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

Arrived already for the knife ,again, only to be told the surgeon had been involved in a traffic accident. So home again . A telephone call from the hospital later in the day gave me a slab appointment for today at 13.00 hrs. Will this one be cancelled? The suppense is killing me.
The subject line is stollen from a character Mr. Meldrew in a serious One Foot in the Grave. While I'm not a TV fan this is an exceptionall seried, now finished.

operation

2009-08-30T05:05:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I go in for an op.. This was delayed 2 months until they were happy with new tests. Well they must be. I hope I do n't have to stay the night.

wedding spoon

2009-08-26T05:32:00.001-07:00

A family friend is getting married in a few weeks . Following my wife's instructions I carved this spoon as a favour for the bride. Its big 17 inches and carved from walnut.
Thank goodness I can sharpen my knives. I'm almost, almost, pleased with the result.

new baby new spoon

2009-08-26T03:57:00.000-07:00

Not my baby I hasten to add, one of my young friend's. The patteren looked ok but I cann't say I like it when I carved it. I'll come up with something better next time.

2009-08-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

yin and yan

2009-08-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

I'll leave others to understand what it's all about, to me its aspoon.
I carved this from hornbeam, hard wood.

hornbeam

2009-08-12T04:35:00.000-07:00

I cut a small piece of the slab we bought and experimented. With a sharp knife I can cut with the grain. Anything else I need to use power. The finish is I think is bonny. Almost silky!

So the trial served its purpose. The spoon well it will do a friend for a coffee scoop.