Woodcarving Illustrated Article Holiday 2018

I was honored to have an article published in the 2018 holiday issue of Woodcarving Illustrated. It was a short article showcasing carving a vintage rolling pin. Maybe I will post a more in depth tutorial here if there is interest.

Against the Wind

I carved this guy from a split log of Missouri red cedar. I finished it by applying several coats of boiled linseed oil allowing to dry for a few days. I then sprayed several light coats of Deft Lacquer. I like this one so much, I am keeping him.

Oak Park Craft Fair 2018

This will be our second year at this event. Come on out and get an early start on your Christmas shopping. Over 150 booths, this is a big one!

Merlin the Wizard

I carved this one from Missouri cottonwood bark. I started with a quick sketch and then cleaned the carving surface. As I was carving this one the nose broke off, often a problem with bark carving. But no worries, there was another nose behind that one. I just re-carved the face and it turned out better than the first. I finished the carving with Deft Satin Lacquer.

Cutting Ornament Blanks

I carve a lot of Christmas ornaments, mostly using the 'carving on the corner' technique. I am always asked how I cut the blanks. I use a jig I made out of scrap wood I had around the shop. I started by cutting a piece of 3/8" plywood to the length of my saw table, and screwing a cleat to one end. I then made a cut in the center of the plywood until the cleat met the saw table. I cross cut a 2" x 4" at 45 degrees on my miter saw and glued them to the plywood, this will be the cradle that holds the board while sawing. After the glue has dried, I attach the jig to the table by clamping the cleat to the table. I am cutting a 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" square board, but it will work on any size that will fit through your saw. Feed the board across the jig to cut the board diagonally. I have a fence set up and cut each blank to the desired length of the blank. This technique is accurate, fast and easy. Now on to carving ornaments.....

Big Shoal Country Fair

On Saturday, September 8, Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum hosted the Big Shoal Country Fair. It was a cool, rainy and windy day. But fellow woodcarver Kerby Vincent and I stuck it out along with other local artists and crafters. Pickin' on the porch, was local band Knobtown Skiffle Band. They entertained everyone with "old-timey" music. The trio consisted of an upright bass, washboard, guitar and dueling kazoos. Met some new friends and sold a few carvings. All in all it was a good day!

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