Last week I gave you Reason #1 why chip carving is a great hobby.
Reason #1: Chip carving goes wherever you go!
Here's another one...
Reason #2: Chip carved items are useful and appreciated (most of the time)!
Putting a photo of me and my brother in this chip carved frame makes the memory of our times together all the more special to me.
Here's what Ed said about how he took one useful item and made them into another!
Marty: I thought you might be amused by the use I put your rosette chip carving practice boards to. I didn't need any coasters; I was really just using the practice boards for carving practice. However, I had coincidentally just finishing some shrink pots I was carving, which had a remarkable grain pattern so I finished them with just oil. I had them drying on my bench right next to a couple of the rosettes I had just finished carving,
and decided to see if he rosettes could be used as lids for the shrink pots. They worked fine. I finished them to match the pots.
On the other side of the shelf where the picture frame sits, there's a double tea light candle holder and a 5x5 box. You can see I haven't lit the candles yet but the 5x5 box is filled with butterscotch candies. When I visited the jail and showed the guys the box, I was sure to put it to use and had them help themselves to the goodies.
Nancy carved this custom box I hade for her. I don't recall her plans to put it to use but she spend quality time personalizing it with her chip carving. The box was pretty big so she placed it on a stool while carving.
You've probably seen this chip carved bowl not long ago in one of my emails. How much better is it to put fruit in a bowl like this rather than a plastic dish made in China! Watch for this item to appear in an upcoming Woodcarving Illustrated article.
This 6" Scoop Plate pattern is brand new for July. You can make it utilitarian (useful) by adding a candle cup to the center if you like. Just flatten the center and screw the cup in place.
With Shelley's suggestion I decided to leave this as a plate and carved the names of the couple with their wedding date on the back.
