I saw an article in Woodcarving Illustrated last year about how carvers can use scrap wood from other projects to make really neat small carvings. The carver that wrote the article, used some scraps to make earrings. So I took my Santa Claus carvings and shrunk them to the size of an earring.
My wife loved them. I gave them to her as a gift. Although they are slightly large for her ears, they still look really cool.
Hand Carved Santa Claus Earrings
Have you ever had an idea for a wood carving project but just don’t know enough about your subject matter to feel comfortable enough to tackle the project? When doing any wood carving project, you minds’ eye must first see the project so that it can translate the doing process to your hands. Having this mental picture is vital to your success.
A great idea to not only inspire you, but to also assist you in gathering a mental picture, is to start a scrap/reference book. Use clippings from magazines and old books that depict your chosen subject and place them in a scrap book. You can also use the internet to search for pictures and drawings of your subject matter.
By collecting these items, you will be on your way to being able to picture in your mind what you want your hands to carve. As you gradually add to the collection of images, you may even come up with other ideas that you hadn’t previously thought of. I also like to take pictures of all of my completed projects also, to add to my reference material for future projects.
I have always enjoyed laughing and making others laugh. While doing wood carving, I sometimes find myself thinking about funny anecdotes. Here are some “You Might Be A Wood Carver If…” sayings that I have come up with.
If you find yourself buying so many tools that you just can’t “strop”, you might be a wood carver.
If you only wear one glove and you aren’t the King of Pop, you might be a wood carver.
If the following statement makes sense, “I carve so much I have to strop every 15 minutes”, you might be a wood carver.
If you know the difference between a gouge and a veiner, you might be a wood carver.
If you leave a trail of wood chips everywhere you go, you might be a wood carver.
If the neighbors kids get their hamster bedding from you, you might be a wood carver.
If you primary vacuum cleaner is a shopvac, you might be a wood carver.
If the words “chip” and “slice” immediately make you think of something other than golf, you might be a wood carver.
If you friends invite you over for a party and tell you to bring your favorite chips, and you bring basswood chips, you might be a wood carver.
If your date has ever asked you if you had protection and you took out your wood carving glove, you might be a wood carver.
If you get more enjoyment from a copy of Woodcarving Illustrated, than from the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition, you might be a wood carver.
Let me know what you think of these sayings. I ran them past a couple co-workers and my wife and they found these to be the best out of the ones that I wrote. If you find them funny, share them with your friends and family, but tell them where you got them. 
We asked for some pictures from other wood cavers and received a really nice response from Camel. Camel has been carving since early last spring and became interested in wood carving after seeing a copy of Woodcarving Illustrated and doing some research on the internet. Since joining a wood carving club in the area, Camel has been working walking sticks, Harold Enlow characters and a chain and ball in a box.
Camel wants to carve a walking stick for all the family members (5 kids and 9 grandkids) and then wants to focus on some more in the round carvings.
You can contact Camel at: debicam@ntl.sympatico.ca
Here a couple of pictures of Camels’ most recent walking sticks.
If you have a wood carving piece or walking stick that you are especially proud of, share it with us here at Ozark Walking Sticks. If you want to add some information about the piece and/or about yourself, feel free to do so. These pictures can be anything from just a picture of the carving to a picture of you with the carving project, such as a using a walking stick that you have made.
Seeing other people’s wood carvings can provide some great inspiration for others. As we receive pictures and biographical information, we will begin adding them to the Wood Carvers section of this website. Send your responses to: ten99j4@ozarkwalkingsticks.com
During the finishing process of your wood carving projects, you may choose to use paint, stain, and/or some type of protective finish. If so, you will be using brushes to complete these processes and after each use, they need to be cleaned properly to prolong their useful life. Many products that are used to finish a wood carving, are not water soluble and therefore need chemicals to clean them from your brush.
Always follow the manufacturer recommended instructions, but here are a few other things that will make the process easier without causing your work area to become overwhelmed with chemical fumes:
1 Mane and Tail Shampoo
2 Hairspray
3 Liquid Hand Soap
4 Odorless Mineral Spirits