Carving this month's project provided opportunities to self-evaluate.
Howdy !
When carving this month’s project, I found myself pausing to analyze if there was a better way to approach the pattern. It was a good reminder about how important it is to self-evaluate as you carve—not just when something goes wrong, but throughout the whole process. Sometimes, taking a step back and trying a different approach can make all
the difference in the final result, or even help you remember lessons learned from previous projects. If you’ve ever gone through the Deliberate Practice course, this isn’t the first time you’ve heard about self-evaluating.
Of course, practicing the pattern on a spare
board first is always a wise move, too. It allows you to identify short-grain areas where chip out can be a problem, or how to approach unusual patterns without worrying about impacting your final project. I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way!) that a little practice goes a long way to building confidence and improving your technique.
Tips for Effective Self-Evaluation
Don’t be afraid to try a new approach if your order of cuts
isn’t working as well as you’d like.
Keep a dedicated practice board handy for testing out tricky parts of a pattern before committing to your final project.
Remember, everyone runs into challenges, but self-evaluation helps you identify trouble spots early and continually learn from each project.
Sometimes my carvings aren't complicated or fill the whole surface of a peice, but still meet what I'm trying to accomplish.
This Easter carving is an example. I used a photo from our church's youth magazine as my
inspiration, and it now hangs on our living room wall.
Have a wonderful Easter!
Jon
Hi Jon - I love the plate and the colors! I agree with you; not everything needs to be complex. Sometimes, a simple pattern may present more of a challenge because there's less to focus your attention on, but sometimes, it's just more enjoyable to carve them, too.
Rather Carve a Large Desk Coaster?
Those are available too!
Ready to carve large desk coasters are made from clear northern grown basswood. Buy 2 and SAVE!
Includes: Basswood coaster blank Self adhesive cork Pattern application is
available
