⭐Hello, are you like this❓

Published: Sat, 02/25/23

Hi, !

I'm wondering if you're like me in this regard when it comes to chip carving?

First, let me tell you how I got to thinking about this. My daughter, Bethany, and her kids live in the farmhouse where we lived when we returned from Indonesia. Over the course of several years I went room by room and remodeled the 100+ year old house. 5 years ago I built the small house Shelley and I live in now so Bethany could have the farmhouse for her family.

Time really has passed since the original remodel work and the kitchen needed a facelift. After some wall repair and paint, cabinet paint and upcoming countertop replacement, a wall cabinet was called for.

Looking at Home Depot resulted in cheap fiberboard boxes with shaky doors all probably made in China. I knew I could do better and here's what I created.

So how does this relate to you and chip carving?

I've always been someone who sees something and says, "I can do it better myself!" and "I'd rather do it myself!"

(okay, I'll admit it, saving money is part of it too 😉)

In 1985 when I first saw a picture of something that was chip carved in Fine Woodworking Magazine, I knew right then that I had to learn how to chip carve.

Are you like this?

Does chip carving give you satisfaction knowing you carved it yourself?

I'll look forward to hear from you.

Another Font to Chip Carve

In last week's email I shared about the Ambrosia font and how I used it on a jewelry box. Scott S replied with this...

"I too like the Ambrosia font. Another one that I like is Emerald Isle.

The commemorative plate is Emerald Isle though all caps."

Click HERE for basswood plates

"While not exactly on topic I presented this cigar box carved for my daughter-in-law some time ago."

Click HERE for basswood boxes

February Project, Video & Pattern!

Single Tea Light Candle Holder

One pattern carved two ways!

You decide how you want to carve it!

Old World Style

Swiss Style

Order your Single Tea Light Candle Holder HERE!

Have you started your chip carving journey yet?

The other day I replied to a friend who is ready to start chip carving after waiting for a long time.

I mentioned to him that it's sort of like answering this question -

Q: "When is the best time to plant a tree?"

A: Yesterday

Q: "When is the second best time to plant a tree?"

A: Today

TODAY is the second best time to start chip carving!

And a Platinum Membership includes the Chip Carving

Essentials Course for FREE!

Not long ago we talked about adding color to your chip carving. If you missed it you can read about it in a previous email or two.

You can see from the following posts that several carvers like to add a bit of color in their work!

JG is getting colorful!

Marty,
I really enjoyed the webinar on Tuesday, and learned some great tips. Thank you!

After the recent webinar about adding color to carvings, I was inspired to try something new, so I wanted to share it with you.

The design was inspired by a dish towel at a customer's home while at work, and she let me take a picture of it.

I added some pyrographic texture, shading, and lettering to these 9" trivets before painting them.

Thanks for the inspiration and lessons!

Carve something like this on a 7.5" basswood trivet/wall plaque

My reply...

I like how you noticed the dish towel and put that idea to creative use in your trivets.

But be careful, pretty soon there won't be anything you look at and ask yourself, "Can I carve that?" :-)

...and another from him :-)

Thought you might like to see this as well. It's another project inspired by something I saw in a customer's home - a 4' quilt.

This 4" coaster was my first painted chip-carved project. The carving in the painted coaster isn't as good as the unpainted one, but the purpose was learning a new technique. It was fun to see the contrast between painted and unpainted.

Thanks for what you do to keep the interest and ideas exciting!