• From Richard Conner on Carving a Philadelphia Flame Finial

    Please show how you measured off the diagram for the flame

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    2015/05/05 at 9:55 am
    • From Mary May on Carving a Philadelphia Flame Finial

      :)) I wish I knew!
      The technique I used was drawing it first on the turned surface by pure trial and error (by the technique I showed in the beginning of the lesson). Then after I carved it I wrapped paper around the finished surface and let the sharp corners press into the paper. I unwrapped the paper, and there was the pattern dented into the paper! From there, I had a lot of fixing and adjusting, but it did give a basic shape of how to lay it out on a flat piece of paper. Yes, not a very "engineered" process, but it worked!

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      2015/05/06 at 8:45 pm
  • From Dave on Carving a Lily & Rose - Episode 2

    Thanks for this lesson, I am finally beginng to understand how to make the petals look so 3 dimenional . The lighteny also makes a big difference.

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    2015/05/03 at 3:05 am
  • From Robert McCabe on Carving a Lily & Rose - Episode 2

    Have you ever carved Lime (Linden) which I think is nearly the equivalent of your basswood, that is what I useing for this project and now have tyo wait for session 3. Bob

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    2015/05/01 at 3:01 pm
    • From Mary May on Carving a Lily & Rose - Episode 2

      Hello Robert,
      Yes, when I was in England they referred to the wood as Lime. It is very similar to basswood, but I believe stronger. I believe it comes from the same family.

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      2015/05/06 at 8:40 pm
  • From laurent nahra on Carving a Lily & Rose - Episode 2

    I love your work and appreciate the details given through your lessons. Good job!
    Do you have these patterns anywhere on the site so we (learners) can get them as drawings?

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    2015/04/30 at 9:54 am
    • From Mary May on Carving a Lily & Rose - Episode 2

      Thanks Laurent,
      Most lessons have a template available in pdf format that you can print out and use. These are located in the first episode of each lesson below the video.

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      2015/05/06 at 8:39 pm
  • From David Wood on Carving a Lily & Rose - Episode 1

    As a beginner I have read a few books on how to carve. In a couple of them the author writes that you should not flick waste wood away with your chisel but to makes stop cuts and remove it. Apparently it blunts your chisels faster. What is your opinion on this?
    Great to see and learn how to carve from watching your lessons.
    David. (from Western Australia)

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    2015/04/25 at 11:03 am
    • From Mary May on Carving a Lily & Rose - Episode 1

      Hi David. Thanks!

      Well, this is a good lesson on "how to" flick the wood with a chisel. Some woods beg for it!

      I also have heard that doing this dulls the chisels. I have not really noticed this, and have always found it a great technique to get that last little bit of wood out from the corners - if it is simply done lightly. One thing you really don't want to do is to use the gouge like a pry-bar to get those deep corners clean. Tips of tools can actually break this way.

      Gentle "flicking" has never seemed to be a real problem, and it was a technique I developed early on in my carving career.

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      2015/04/29 at 8:21 pm