First time with cottonwood bark

[Newsome Road]

I didn’t really like the way it felt on my knife when I was roughing away the outer bark, but the inner bark was very easy to carve. It’s kind of brittle so details might be a challenge. There are also cracks and splits and layers that you find as you go that you have to adjust to work with, but...

[Newsome Road]

Hey y’all! We hit the busy season at work so I’ve been MIA for a while. But I’ve finally found a little time for some carving therapy. This was my first time using cottonwood bark. I spent about 20 minutes on it, a far cry from the amount of time that goes into most of my carving! But my 7 year...

[Newsome Road]

Haha! He does! I guess he just had to have a talk with some children about the naughty list!...

[Newsome Road]

Finished another Mike Shipley pattern. The other man in the photos is also a Shipley pattern, and was my very first caricature. I think it’s safe to say I have improved at least a little lol. Also made those hillbillies some trees so they would feel more at home. And finally, uploaded a late Santa...

[Newsome Road]

What do you hope to make on the lathe? Pens, small bowls, large bowls, table legs? Lathe recommendations will be highly dependent on your goals. I have a shopsmith. I can make small bowls or pens or maybe a short furniture leg. I can't turn long objects and I can't turn big things that aren't already...

[Newsome Road]

Welcome aboard!

[Newsome Road]

I enjoy watching Linker carve! I have never tried to follow along with him, I just watch for fun. But I've picked up all kinds of things from watching him.

I think you need to do a cowboy boot toothpick holder fairly soon. There are not a ton of details in a boot, but you'll really learn...

[Newsome Road]

Nicely done!

[Newsome Road]

I'm a pencil guy. I feel like I can make lighter marks that are easier to remove. I can see where a pen would make for less smudging, but to me it seems you either use a ballpoint which would leave an impression, or a felt tip that would bleed into the wood....

[Newsome Road]

Thanks for the warning!

[Newsome Road]

We are pulling into Hershey, PA shortly and taking the kids to the chocolate factory. Tomorrow we will be headed to Allentown for a couple days of skiing and a wedding. We will be fairly busy, but we might find a little downtime. Is there anything up this way that a woodcarver needs to see?

[Newsome Road]

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

[Newsome Road]

Happy Birthday!

[Newsome Road]

Thanks! I switched it out because I didn't want people believing I was portraying myself as a Grinch!!...

[Newsome Road]

Excellent!