State Fair Entry

[susieq]

Hello, Just came in from the shop after 6 glorious hours of un interupted carving....boy those days are few and far between. I cut out my blank for the state fair entry a couple of months ago, did some roughing on it and then had to put it down for a while. Other stuff got in the way, like my regular job, house work, visiting out of state, etc.... I finally got back in the shop this past Thursday and got to put in 3 or 4 hours. Worked at the office Friday and carved all day today (except for an hour or so when a friend dropped by). With any luck, tomorrow will be a repeat after church. This years piece is Father Christmas galloping along on a pig with attitude. The pig is definately a boar, though not anatomically correct. Santa will be clutching a teddy bear and candy cane...with (if I can swing it) a jack in the box riding behind him looking back the way they came. The base will be mahogany. I had to glue up some thick planks of basswood for the piece. I had done a smaller version of this figure a few years ago and it turned out pleasingly so I blew the pattern up several sizes and then glued up the wood to match. If I ever figure out how to post a photo on here, I will do so.

I had just downloaded the entry forms from the fair and will fill it out and mail it Monday.....just to put the pressure on to get this project finished on time. Time is always a problem since I don't work real fast.
susieq

[Mark N. Akers]

Re: State Fair Entry

SusiQ:
Great idea would love to see it when your done,also enjoyed looking at your website,I am very partial to Santas and Ornaments,keep up the great work.

[Nancy-ID]

Re: State Fair Entry

Wow Susie, you do EXCELLENT work!!! Thumbs Up

[Bartster]

Re: State Fair Entry

susan,

would like to see the finished project, i looked at your site and really like your ornaments. great work thanks for sharing.

bart

[GeorgiaCarver]

Re: State Fair Entry

I too just looked at your site, excellent work! Thank you for sharing.

Greg

[bygeorge]

Re: State Fair Entry

SusiQ, really nice site. Nice original ideas on both the Santas and ornaments. If you get a chance, give us some progress photos on your project.

Chuck

[susieq]

Re: State Fair Entry

Thanks guys,
as you could probably tell, I am obsessive/compulsive over Father Christmas figures. I hope to post some pics if I can ever figure out how to re size them for the posting. I know you are supposed to reduce the size on them but I don't know how..... I don't have a good photo editing program on the computer yet.

As for the website, I see that you all have some wonderful sites too.... Mark, your stuff is terrific. Love the Santas especially. And the native American pieces are great. You use butternut for those? Beautiful finish on them, nice patina.

Nancy, I love frogs.....what a cute idea. We have quite a few around here...tree froggies, toads, etc...my little buddies...along with the lizards that run everywhere. And I absolutely adore your woodburning of the wolf. Awesome!

Greg, you do a little of everything... I love the gift basket idea with "lighter" in it. We heat with a wood stove here in Florida, believe it or not. We use that to get the oak burning. Cypress knees make perfect santas, don't they? They are already the perfect shape. My mom used to carve cypress knees quite often.

Chuck, your site is pretty smooth. You do lots of different things too....which are your favorites? Birds, caricatures, gnomes, or Santas? I bet the birds take the longest to do.... You all put me to shame with the variety of things each of you do.
susieq



Thanks again for your comments.
susieq

[justanick]

Re: State Fair Entry

WOW! Great carvings. I like the way you do the beards.
How long have you been carving? thanks for sharing your work with us.

[susieq]

Re: State Fair Entry

Hi Justanick,
Thanks for your kind words. I have been carving for about 14 years or so. The beards are the icing on the cake, aren't they? Roughing a piece is the least fun, but doing the detail is what I live for.

With Santa figures being whimsical, there is no limit to what you can imagine for them. I prefer the old style Father Christmas types personally, but there is something for everyone, style wise, in santa carving.

susieq

[Clifford_Parker]

Re: State Fair Entry

susieq,

Jpegs can be resized in MS Paint. Simply open the original, click Image, Stretch/Skew, and resize both vertical and horizontal to less than 100%. The file size can be checked by clicking on Image, Attributes.

Always save the resized pic under a new name to retain your original.

[DADDIO]

Re: State Fair Entry

WOW really nice carvings,went to your web site and was very impressed,you have some very nice pieces,and a nice web site also,loved the look of it also.

[susieq]

Re: re sizing photos

Thank you Cliff!!! I will give it a try.
susieq

[Nancy-G]

Re: State Fair Entry

Susie Ice Cream I thought I had been fortunate to see most of your carvings but I had never seen that galloping pig. What a delightful hoot ~~
I sure was tempted to copy him to post here right now.
Your entire site is a total joy.

[santagibbs]

Re: State Fair Entry

Hello Susan.. I certainly did enjoy your web site! Very nice carvings and the painting is excellent .. Because Curtis and I were in Folkworks Gallery for awhile, I reconized your work. Which I have always admired. Thanks for sharing it with us... I reconized yours from the Folkworks post card next to mine the little wee Santa.. lol Like Nancy, I love the pig also.. Charlotte

[susieq]

Re: State Fair Entry

Hello Nancy, Charlotte,
Thank you for your comments, made all the more special coming from talanted people like you. Nancy's beards rule! Nobody does beards like you do....AND you are a master painter!

Charlotte, who does the painting on your pieces? I love the scenery on the robes of the santas. My favorite (if it is possible to pick a favorite) piece on your website is the woodland Santa. He is wonderful. Your Wee Santa on the post card, is lovely. A great carving and more fine painting. It is really a shame that the post card doesn't show more detail but trying to fit so many pieces into the picture made it neccessary to shoot the shot farther away.... I wish you had come to the Gallery this November. I was so hoping to meet Nancy in person finally. We have been friends for years now. How many years, Nancy? Since 98 or so.... Also had hoped to meet Al Longo. This was the first time I had been able to make the event since I started selling there. It was lots of fun, and I will do it again, but hopefully Nancy and Al, and you guys will be there too.


The pig on my website is ok. He was the first one and is a bit clunky looking. I tried for more movement but it didn't happen. The second pig was a bit better and the third was a huge improvement over the first one. This larger version of that pattern, I am trying to make a very fat pig with delicate, fine legs....it's a look I like and haven't ever quite managed.....need to take off more wood than before. I hope he turns out.
susieq