Posted by: Alasdair | 6 March, 2008

‘three heads’

My latest offering is another practice piece, like the fish (see my ‘arts’ tab above), the mrs likes it although I’m not so sure … aside from anything else it’s impossible to display in any meaningful way - it’s a silly shape!  Having said that though I’ve managed to pin it to a large candle thanks to the middle head’s eye which has a hole all the way through.

If you look closely at the right hand image you may be able to see the middle head has hands which are clasped just above the middle head and the ears on the wolf’s head double up as his feet!

It was a bit awkward to do in places thanks to flaws in the piece of wood I picked and bits (like the teeth) kept breaking off!  As with the fish it’s a random piece of hardwood kindling, stained (’indian rosewood’) and varnished.

 
click here for full-sized version

I’m working on something a bit bigger and bit more ambitious, which may or may not appear on here depending on how frustrated I become … as this is likely to influence whether or not I torch it!

edit: I’m an idiot and my spelling’s atrocious!

Posted in art, craft, doing stuff, life, whittle, whittling, wolf, wood, woodwork

« what’s in a miracle anyway?
gordon brown’s wet dream »

Responses

These things remind me off the local “stiepeltekens” or “geveltekens” here. This are signs on top off old farmhouses in the east off Holland (Twente). They where believed to scare off bad spirits.

Maybe you should place the art you made on top off your house.

By: Matthijs Enschede on 7 March, 2008
at 4:35 pm

Hi Matthijs,

Thanks for that, a quick ‘google’ can be very enlightening!

I think what I made may be a little small for my roof, but we do need to re-roof in the next few years so if I get any better I might consider doing one then!

By: Alasdair on 7 March, 2008
at 8:51 pm

They look really impressive. I wouldn’t have the patience!

By: IngeniousRose on 8 March, 2008
at 11:32 pm

Hi A,

I haven’t done any wood carving in months, but this is inspirational enough that I’m going to clean off my carving bench this afternoon and start a new piece tomorrow morning! Many thanks.

the Grit

By: the Grit on 11 March, 2008
at 6:39 pm

Hi Rosie … I’m not sure if you’re referring to mine or the “stiepeltekens” and “geveltekens”. If it’s the former, thanks and I bet you would! If it’s the latter, then, yeah - me neither ?!

Hi Grit, it’s been a while good to hear from you again ;) . It cheers me no end that I’ve inspired you to pick up your wood carving tools again, in fact it’s a huge compliment. Cheers :D

Did that sound sarcastic? it wasn’t meant to … sorry?!

digging

digging

still digging

.
.
.

:lol:

By: Alasdair on 11 March, 2008
at 8:57 pm

Hi A,

I would have been by sooner, but, well, pressures of life and all that. As to the inspiration, I dug out a nice piece of leftover walnut this morning, and started work on a custom key chain ornament for my aunt, who’s birthday is coming up in the not too distant future. It was nice to taste the wood dust again.

the Grit

By: the Grit on 12 March, 2008
at 8:39 pm

Excellent Grit!

Sadly I’m dependent on using whatever logs get delivered for the fire, the odds of there being a nice piece of anything in that lot are slim … although I’ll be looking with a keen eye come our next delivery!

By: Alasdair on 13 March, 2008
at 12:03 am

Hi A,

While I’m fortunate enough to have a cousin who lives just down the road and is a master carpenter and gives me his scraps, there are also shops in the area that sell slabs of most any wood I can think of, and several that I never knew existed, at very reasonable prices. You should look into this as kiln dried wood is much more predictable in how it will carve and there’s little chance of it spontaneously cracking. Your work looks much too fine to loose because of bad wood.

the Grit

By: the Grit on 13 March, 2008
at 7:12 pm

Hi Grit,

Wood identification isn’t one of my strong points, especially when it’s devoid of leaves and bark! It must be handy though having a cousin such as yours.

I just received a delivery of logs yesterday evening and the chap assures me that there is a mix of Alder, Ash and Elm … which by a process of elimination I have been able to identity! I’m rather looking forward to working on a piece of alder following a quick piece of research that has suggested that it’s particularly prized for it’s grain and colour … and it certainly has some lovely flashes of orangey red through it.

I’ll maybe go for some kiln dried when I’ve been doing it a bit longer and I’m sure it’s not some kind of fad I’m going through!

I’d love to the key chain ornament you’re doing … perhaps I could feature it here? If you fancy it drop me an email at al.martin@virgin.net

By: Alasdair on 14 March, 2008
at 12:18 pm

Hi a,

While I burn the occasional bit of elm in the fireplace, which is our main source of heat for the house, oak is the preferred wood, around here, for such purposes. Of course, when one falls, I’m not at all above slicing up a walnut or pecan tree to toss on the fire, even though they burn fast enough to make keeping the fire going real work.

As to alder, while we don’t have much of it around here, what I’ve come across is pretty wood and, if memory serves, is a very good wood for the construction of longbows. It’s also interesting, since you mention it, that we had one near the house die two or three years ago, and I saved a couple of yard long lengths from the bottom for future carving. Another year or three and I’ll have a real dilemma in deciding what their final form should be!

As to the hobby bug, be careful! Wood carving is one of the numerous hobbies that can easily get out of hand. I, for instance, even though I’ve only been dabbling in it for three or four years have acquired a custom made work bench, five or six sets of chisels, a dozen or so clamps of various sizes, and several dozen bits for my Dremmel. I would, however, point out that this is not that drastic an investment as I know people who have built side buildings equipped with numerous power tools to facilitate their indulgence in this craft.

When (and if) I finish the key chain ornament, I will be more than happy to send you a pic, and many thanks for asking.

the Grit

By: the Grit on 14 March, 2008
at 9:07 pm

Hi Grit,

Our wood is largely used for kindling (cheaper and more effective than fire lighters!), as wood doesn’t burn too efficiently on the open fire (that heats our home … )

The mrs has already suggested a dremmel, which I resisted, but oh! the temptation!!

I look forward to seeing the key chain, assuming you finish it ;)

By: Alasdair on 15 March, 2008
at 12:31 am

Hi A,

I highly suggest the Dremmel. They’re really very affordable, less than $30 and probably lower over there, what with the US dollar being valued only slightly higher than toilet paper these days. Besides, it’s a real testosterone generating thrill to play with a tool that spins at 20,000 RPM!

As to fires and heating, we have an insert in our fireplace. It’s much more efficient and gives more control over how much heat is pumped into the living areas. The flat iron top that sticks out several inches beyond the brick is also useful for heating water and canned food when the power goes out.

As to the key chain, I’ve got the major features blocked out and am waiting for inspiration to strike about what, if any, fancy features to add. Decisions, decisions.

the Grit

By: the Grit on 15 March, 2008
at 7:09 pm

Hi Grit,

On the dremmel. Stop it! At this rate I’ll have ordered one by the end of the day, although I suspect I’d probably be cheaper ordering state-side and having shipped back … how screwy is that!

On heating. Hopefully come next winter we’ll have got shot of the open fire and have a multi-fuel range in the living room (ear-marked to be a kitchen) and a multi-fuel stove in the master bedroom (ear-marked to be the living room).

We did consider an insert - if what I’m thinking of is correct - as a temporary measure, but decided it was too expensive to be temporary but not what we wanted in the long-term. Bizarrely, I actually prefer the solid fuel heating, despite it’s down-falls, to the instant heating instant hot-water option of gas. With solid fuel you know how much muoney you’re burning :twisted:

By: Alasdair on 16 March, 2008
at 3:11 pm

Hi A,

As to the Dremmel, I am confused. Don’t they carry them at your local hardware store? I really must save up and visit England, as I suspect there is much I assume I know that I actually don’t.

On heating with wood, it’s an easy choice for us, since we have 40 or so acres of forest and the price of fuel is mostly a good deal of back breaking labor with chainsaw and splitting maul. This actually saves us money, as without the gainful exercise, I’d probably have to pay to join a gym :)

Oh, and I’ve passed the halfway point on the key chain ornament. At least, I think I have.

the Grit

By: the Grit on 17 March, 2008
at 9:43 pm

Hi Grit,

Dremmel? of course they do, it’s just that the price of EVERYTHING is so inflated that it’s actually cheaper to buy things online from the states and have it shipped over here!! And they tell us our economy’s sound, aye, sound like sh**e!

40 acres! See now that just makes me jealous, We’ve got 13 trees on our 1/4 acre … and it’s pushing it to call all of them trees. At least 10 are some type of pine mostrosity that the previous owner planted along a bit of our boundary.

But there is something quite rewarding about chopping your own wood. Ok so I don’t need to lop down trees, but I do still need to split logs and prepare kindling … it’s just a bit off when you need to do it out in the c-c-c-cold.

Looking forward to the key chain.

Alasdair

By: Alasdair on 18 March, 2008
at 2:18 pm

Hi A,

It is a pain to run out of wood in midwinter. There’s nothing like having half your body freezing while the rest is sweating. That’s why I try to get all mine cut in spring. Not that I ever manage to do it, but I try. As to woods, we’ll have more before too many more years pass, as I’m letting another 25 acres or so that has almost no access go wild. If it comes out anything like our existing woods, it should be quite something in another 50 years or so.

As to your prices, that strikes me as odd. The pound is doing very well in comparison to the US dollar, so our goods should be on the cheap side. Someone’s not passing the savings on to you.

The key chain, I’m happy to say, is over half finished. This is good, as I need to get it in the mail by Friday.

the Grit

By: the Grit on 18 March, 2008
at 6:18 pm

Hi Grit,

Another 25 acres? How many acres you hiding away over there? It sounds like you live in the wilderness … it’s good though that you’re letting it some of it go wild, too often there seems to be something of an obsession with keeping land ‘tidy’. Of course, if the predicted global food crisis comes to fruition you may need to give it over to some form of food production. I’d recommend wild berries :)

Passing on savings? You must be joking :lol: besides everything’s made in bloody China for tuppence and then shipped to countries X, Y, and Z and prices fixed according to market - in the UK that means high … although in fairness I haven’t actually checked the prices! Certainly when it comes to textiles though the mrs normally buys in bulk in from the states and has it shipped back here to save the pennies - ridiculous but true.

“I really must save up and visit England, as I suspect there is much I assume I know that I actually don’t.” - it’s not just England either, there’s Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland - although I’m sure you’d be welcomed no matter where you landed ;)

Alasdair

edited often as I’m an idiot!

By: Alasdair on 18 March, 2008
at 8:04 pm

Hi A,

I am fortunate enough, or cursed enough depending on how one looks at it, to be the steward of the last remains of the first Government land grant in this area. At one time it was 4,000 acres in extent. Today, however, we are down to 130 acres of hilly land that isn’t really suited for modern agricultural practices, at least without a large investment that we can’t afford at the moment. Still, having been originally settled in 1821, it’s about as historic as it gets around here, so well hang onto it as long as possible.

As to food production, the area I’m letting return to a natural state is home to a large population of deer and other wild game, not to mention a plentiful supply of nut bearing trees and wild berries. When food gets expensive enough, I’m sure I can raise the capital to exploit these resources. Unfortunately ;)

As to an extended visit to your area and all of its surroundings, that’s my dream trip. Goodness, there is so much trout fishing on your islands that calls to me that, as a member of the evil rich, it would take years to sample. Then there’s the golf and beer and whiskey and castles. Don’t worry, when I get the means, I’ll be a most frequent guest.

the Grit

By: the Grit on 19 March, 2008
at 8:08 pm

Hi Grit,

If there’s one thing my area lacks is trees … and the animals and woodland bounty that goes with them. There’s plenty of open ground, too many rabbits, a few hares and some managed grouse. Sadly though the estate management object when the locals clear out the poach the land … although they’re not overly concerned about the rabbits in fairness.

We do also have a small reservoir which I hear tell has good fishing, but again it’s permit only.

I think I’m right in saying that we’ve (the village, not me personally!) got the highest 9-hole course in Scotland, it was once 18-hole but I think the costs became prohibitive a few years back. Although it seems to be an area of growth in terms of tourism, maybe it’ll be relaid one day. ‘Extreme golf’ is probably a good description given the openess, wetness and general wildness of the area. You just need to watch out for the sheep that graze it!

Regards
Alasdair

By: Alasdair on 19 March, 2008
at 9:45 pm

Hi A,

I finished the key chain and, hopefully, sent you a picture of it. Let me know if it doesn’t come across.

As to extreme golf, I once played the local course at Krake, Saskatchewan, which was also a 9 hole run. It also had “greens” composed of sand that had been drenched in used motor oil. To putt, you waited until everyone was on the green, used a length of pipe with a chain through it to smooth a strip to the cup, and then everyone walked their ball around to the prepared surface. While the course was a bit rough, the people were quite nice.

the Grit

By: the Grit on 20 March, 2008
at 10:02 pm

Hi Grit,

I received your e-mail Ok, nice work … I’ll be posting it up in the next day or so for the world to marvel at ;)

Saskatchewan? and there was me thinking that that was a made up word (The Proclaimers mention it in their song “Cap in Hand”). That does sound like an extreme golf course!

By: Alasdair on 20 March, 2008
at 11:04 pm

Hi A,

Thanks.

As to Saskatchewan, I should have added Canada. My bad. I should also point out that the golf was even more extreme in the winter as forty below temperatures do strange things to the clubs, the golf balls, and the golfers :)

I thought “Cap In Hand” was by Jethro Tull?

Also, while looking for another clamp, I found a lovely piece of cured mahogany. It’s two inches thick and about a foot by four inches in the other dimensions. I’ve got it propped up on my workbench while I wait for it to tell me what it wants to be. Call me the Wood Whisperer ;)

the Grit

By: the Grit on 21 March, 2008
at 7:45 pm

Hi Grit,

After I read Saskatchewan in your comment I went and googled it, and lo, my knowledge of the world (or canada at least) was enhanced :)

Unionists would probably consider “cap in hand” (the proclaimers one) to be a rebel song as it’s effectively about being subjugated and having to go ‘cap in hand’ to our ‘masters’ for stuff.

Can I be looking forward to more piccies then?

I’ve nearly finished my “old man of the wood” whittle and will be uploading it once I’ve finished varnishing it.

Regards
Alasdair

By: Alasdair on 21 March, 2008
at 10:06 pm

[...] by the grit I must say that I was delighted when, following one of my own whittling attempts, the grit (of conversations with brit and grit fame) said that he was inspired to have a go at some [...]

By: ‘nancy’ by the grit « man about the house on 22 March, 2008
at 1:55 pm

Leave a response






Your response:

Categories