New Year(s) carving

[tbox61]

I was planning on watching some good college football on New Year's Eve as well as New Year's Day...unfortunately, Cox Communications was out in our neighborhood, so all I could do was watch DVR'd Hallmark movies...not all bad, but not what I wanted to do! Along with cable being out, our internet was down for 48 hours as well.

Sooooo, I picked up a Cottonwood bark carving I needed to finish, and ended up doing that while tending our woodburning fireplace most of the day on the 1st...it was 8 degrees with a wind chill of -20 on New Year's so I just stayed in and carved!

Here is the fruit of my labor...bark is 5" thick at it's thickest, 5" wide, and 16" tall.

I carved several 'level's' with boulders supporting the 'porch', and bricks complementing the full face, front and sides. Added wood planking for the door surround, the door, and the lower window surround. I 'smoked' the chimney with a match to give the impression of many fires from the little rascals that live there!

Finished with 2 coats of Minwax 209 clear finish. Back is hollowed out for hanging...it can also sit up by itself.

Enjoy!

[woodburner807]

Nice carving, tbox, and it looks like a comfortable home.

[Newsome Road]

That's beautiful! I've never tried cottonwood before, but now I want to!

[Nebraska]

Whimsical homes are always fun to look at, this is no exception nice work.

[Claude]

Well done!

Claude

[4ND3R5]

Great piece. I like all little fastening holes you put on the siding. What did you do that with? Great job.

[joepaulbutler]

Phenomenal, CW bark is always fun to carve, but hard sometimes to hold the detail, You did well.

[tbox61]

Great piece. I like all little fastening holes you put on the siding. What did you do that with? Great job.

A small round stylus...you can get them at most craft stores. I picked mine up at Hobby Lobby. If you look close at the door inset, I textured the bark with the same stylus. Just poked holes over and over to get the texture.

If you ask at the craft store, they usually don't know what you are talking about. If you find the clay section, that is where you will find the tools. I think it was around $6.00 for 4 tools. 3 tools are double ended with different sized round balls. The other tool is sharp like a needle.

[JerseyGirl]

I was planning on watching some good college football on New Year's Eve as well as New Year's Day...unfortunately, Cox Communications was out in our neighborhood, so all I could do was watch DVR'd Hallmark movies.
Enjoy!

Sounds like torture… but you made the best of it and the carving sure is beautiful!

[Merle Rice]

Time well spent, Very well done. Merle

[Glenn Jennings]

Beautiful work this piece is truly wonderful.

[Randy]

Good looking carving. Great detail. All the years I have been carving I have not carved bark. I need to do that.

[tbox61]

Good looking carving. Great detail. All the years I have been carving I have not carved bark. I need to do that.

Randy...it is quite fun to see what kind of creation you can make from the bark pieces! I can offer some suggestions for newbies...bark is quite dirty.

I have a separate set of 'bark carving tools'...re-purposed sturdy kitchen paring knives sharpened to a flat bevel, other palm tools, rasps, etc. My good basswood carving tools don't get in the vicinity of the bark. Lots of dirt, grit, etc.

My principal bark carving knife is a $.50 Chicago Cutlery thrift store find, so I am not out much if I ruin it.

Good wood glue and a tube of super glue is also a must.

[Randy]

Randy...it is quite fun to see what kind of creation you can make from the bark pieces! I can offer some suggestions for newbies...bark is quite dirty.

I have a separate set of 'bark carving tools'...re-purposed sturdy kitchen paring knives sharpened to a flat bevel, other palm tools, rasps, etc. My good basswood carving tools don't get in the vicinity of the bark. Lots of dirt, grit, etc.

My principal bark carving knife is a $.50 Chicago Cutlery thrift store find, so I am not out much if I ruin it.

Good wood glue and a tube of super glue is also a must.

Thanks for the heads up! I have a drawer with a number of old carving knives after all these years. A couple I use to clean bark off some of my walking sticks. So I will not use my go to set.

[DiLeon]

I bought one of those off-brand carving sets that are super cheap...they are used for projects like this ...and especially with driftwood which has rocks, sand, and creatures in the wood. I will not destroy my good chisels and knives on iffy wood with surprises. Never carved cottonwood bark, although did spend a good in those trees when I was a kid, they were great climbing trees.