Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our house to yours!

Club Christmas Party

Kansas City Woodcarver's Club held our annual Christmas dinner this week. We also have a gift exchange, and I received this great cottonwood bark house from fellow carver Harvie Farnam.

 

Last Christmas Carving for this Year

Just finished this Santa, carved from basswood and mounted on a cherry base. He stands 8" tall including the base. This is my final Christmas carving for this year. I carved two Santas, twenty-three ornaments and the nativity. Now it's time to move on to something new.

Santa 2013

Here is my first Santa for the 2013 season. Tried something different on this one, a thin wash on the fur and painted eyes. Then, several light coats of Deft lacquer and a coat of Howard's Feed 'N' Wax. I think I like the natural wood. He is carved from basswood and standing on a cherry base. Overall height 11 1/2". Comments welcome.

Away in a Manger.......

I started this project in September, I've worked on and off for the last three months and it's finally completed. I'm pretty happy with the results, but more important the wife is happy! Thanks for following along.

3:10 to Yuma

Jeremiah was purchased and left today for his new home in Yuma, Arizona. Which is ironic, considering I purchased the bark to create Jeremiah from a supplier in Cottonwood, Arizona. Kind of like he's going home.

Shepard #2

I've been busy carving Christmas ornaments and working on a Santa. But, back to the Nativity, here is the second Shepard. Like the others, carved from butternut. Next, baby Jesus. I just might finish this before Christmas.

Shepherd

Been a while since I've posted, been busy with yard work and clearing the garden and getting it ready for winter. Finally got back to working on the Nativity. Here is the first of two shepherds. Carved from butternut and finished with Deft Satin, he stand 5 1/2" tall.

Third King of the Magi

Here is the third king of the Magi. I took more progression pictures to better show the carving process.

Wow! Beautiful grain!

 I start out by transferring the pattern to a piece of butternut and cutting out the blank on a band saw.

Front view.

 I removed wood from the sides of the head face.

Back view.

 Next I begin to remove wood from under the arms and taper the forearms and hands.

Back view showing wood removed from under arms.

 I cut in the sleeves and begin to remove the wood between.

I begin to round off the body shoulders and head wrap.

Rough in the crown. 

Create folds in the head wrap and bottom of the robe.

Remove the wood from the back and sides of the frankincense holder. 

 Carve the details of hands, face and crown, and begin sanding.

Finished sanding and profiling with 80 grit.

Continue sanding switching to 150 grit .

When sanding your carving make sure to line up scratch marks with the grain of the wood before changing to a finer grit. Continue sanding with 220 grit, and finishing up with 320 grit.  I seal the carving with Deft Satin Lacquer, applying several light coats and using a Sand-O-Flex with 320 grit between first few coats.

Second of the Magi

Here's my next piece for the nativity. The second wise man, carved from butternut, measures 4 1/2" tall. Sealed with Deft Satin lacquer like the other pieces.

First of the Magi

Here is the next piece in the nativity, one of the wise men. Like the other pieces he is carved from butternut and stands 6 1/2" tall.