FriarsGorse

Looks fantastic ... lovely job.

Minion looks really great ... you deserve to treat yourself to a carving bar ... keep posting

Well I really need help here. I am sure all carvers must have experienced it. You are happily carving away and suddenly you find a knot or an imperfection or some kind of blemish where you really didn't want it. A few weeks back I tried an Easter Island Head. It was OK but required further attempts. To my great annoyance I suddenly found myself carving ... A Hitler Island Head !!!!! I don't know if it is just me. My wife says its fine. "It doesn't look like Hitler" she said. I really do not wish to cause any offence to anyone. So do I ... A) Carry on regardless and finish it off B) Place it onto my firewood pile immediately. C) Give it a side parting.

Superb, who wouldn't want one of them.

Thanks for all these kind comments. TWiG ... I have often wondered the very same when looking at other carvings. I am not an arb but I don't really see myself as an artist. I have always been self employed. I think I am close to the jack of all trades department somewhere between the two. Last February I took the financially stupid decision to cut my working hours. I can no longer sit in the same old traffic jams and if I spend more than two hours in any kind of office I start feeling ill !! So I needed to try and sell a few carvings to keep paying bills. As I only do fairly small stuff(at the mo) I have found that a sanded finish is popular. People do seem to like a good grope and feel (of the wood). I then use 3 coats of Ronseal Garden Furniture Protector which leaves a nice satin/sanded finish. I really like it although some may not. The main thing is I have carvings I have treated with this stuff that I have left out in all weather for 3 years and they still look good. So I find I am guided by what has proved popular and what I have found works well. Thanks again ...Ross:thumbup1:

First attempt at a dragon in sweet chestnut. Used the Dremel to do teeth and claws but its a fact that all dragons own a Dremel for their teeth and claws. Took an age to dry in this weather !!

Great job Dave, looks impressive.

Nice one Mark. Happy new year everyone and best of health. Talking of which, been wondering how them shoulders are Ray/Woodwizard ... hope 2015 is good to you.

I had the same 'trousers on a hot day' issue. I got some Husky chaps from USA. Cost £52 delivered. They are basic and I presume not up to our PPE regs but much more comfortable if working on your own patch. Hats off to Dave for donating his time to help you.

Fantastic job Will, very classy.

Stunning work Si .... Your stuff just gets better and better.

BRILLIANT !!!

Sorry I don't know what price ... I have never been involved with PTA's or grants. I just wanted to say its a lovely tidy job you have done. Perhaps ask if around 5 days of heavily discounted private tuition for your kids would be preferable. Sorry if that's not helpful.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement ... back in for another hernia now ASAP ... so more frustration ahead just as I have an opportunity to finally have a go at some bigger stuff .... a big windblown oak at the farm up the road !!! Its very difficult not to take your health for granted !!! Good luck with your shoulder Ray, let us know how it goes.

Recovering from operations .... it sends you mental. Theres only so long you can go before stir crazy or that 'shouldn't have tried to do that' experience. Managed to get to the woods and find that fairly lightweight piece of sycamore I had been saving for BTB. I new one day I would fancy havin a go at him. Brings back the paint dilemma but he is a blue cat in a white coat so not much dilemma really. I just don't like painting wood.

CRIKEY !!! My gall bladder has been a right saga of three and a half years of misdiagnosis and faffing by my GP. I ended up with an infected gall bladder + stones that was missed by a scan = ambulance + hospital + discharged = 2 days later 2nd ambulance + hospital + 2nd scan = emergency operation = OWCH. When I get over this its back in for inguinal hernia that I have ignored for last 6 years !!! Sorry Dave I am turning your thread into a W.I. Coffee Morning. Are Carrbridge results determined by crowd vote or is there a deciding committee ? Its not good if there was some controversy ... if that's what you are suggesting some people were suggesting:001_huh: It would be interesting if anyone could elaborate because Carrbridge seems to have gained a lot of interest and credibility and stature in the last few years. (Says me from a distance) Roni there is nothing I can tell you... apart from you know how good your carving is .... on to the next one eh?

Missed Carrbridge as usual. Can never usually get time off in August only this time was busy having my gall bladder out !!! OWCH !!! Got me sidelined at the moment. Fantastic pieces as always. Sad to hear that Roni ...what happened ???

Another bostin job. Very nice Si

Having been sidetracked for the last six days I visit arbtalk and find this post with all of the supelatives used up !!! It deserves some dialect.... Bostin job Tommy, Really Bostin !!

RIP our best friend Chocky. We took the heart breaking decision to have her put to sleep this morning. She gave us 13 years of devotion and we can't quite believe she's gone. I think this is my favourite picture, from 2008, organising her own Loch Ness Monster search !! Enjoy them while you can because some day they do have to depart.

Yes we keep looking at hopscotch tickets and would love to do all of them !! Always trying to get enough time off so we wouldn't have to rush. The wife is at the mercy of NHS rota !! We thought a motorhome would be brilliant with a hopscotch ticket until we got back from Arran and looked at the price of motorhomes !!

This years trip north of the border ... we went to Arran. If you don't know it is just beautiful, although some great weather does really help. Had a superb afternoon at the distillery. Nice lunch from the café followed by a guided tour. At the end of the tour (only £6) a trip to the whisky bar where you can try before you buy. I was thinking of buying one of each. 10yo was a bit sharp and the 17yo a bit pricey but the 14yo has done me just nice, plus a couple more bottles for Xmas pressies. Next year Mull or Skye ?

Thought that as I wrote !! Maybe Stubbys idea was better.

Wow, a stunner .... although badly parked !! Theres a lot to look at and take in. Its a premier league piece.

Fab, a very porky looking texture.