• From William Huver on Preparing to Carve - Beginner Lesson #1

    Mary,

    Thanks so much for making these videos! Clamping something seems rather obvious until you actually try to do it; especially with your examples of the odd shapes. The creative clamping ideas are a tremendous help. One of the main points that came across to me with this video was to take time to plan ahead.

    I am one of those people who doesn't have a "real" vise or bench at the moment. When I was young, the electronic guts were removed from two old wooden Television cabinets, and these cabinets became "desks" for my brother and I - our version of a "PlayStation". 🙂 Now they serve as the base for my bench and are topped by a 5' x 5' piece of 1-1/2" thick "core" board (particle board) with a heavy white oak veneer (from a local furniture company) as a work surface.

    The particle board overhangs the cabinets, and I use that to best advantage by laying scrap 2x or 4x lumber along an edge and clamping it to the overhang. That way, I can lay workpieces alongside the scrap and clamp them to either side of the lumber so that the work piece can rest on the "benchtop" or hang alongside it. More creatively, multiple or shaped pieces of lumber can be used, or the lumber can extend off the end of the benchtop at one of the corners as long the lumber used is stiff enough to keep the workpiece solid.

    Thanks again!
    Bill

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    2015/01/14 at 12:58 am
    • From Mary May on Preparing to Carve - Beginner Lesson #1

      Hi William,
      I first started carving with a workbench in my bedroom - just a plain bench-top with no fancy vices. You become VERY creative in how to hold your work safely so it does not slip.

      Thanks for sharing!

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      2015/01/17 at 8:51 pm
      • From William Huver on Preparing to Carve - Beginner Lesson #1

        I think that really shows how much you love your craft!

        Although, sleeping and waking up to the smell of freshly cut wood... that sounds like a great idea! It makes me think about camping, but with the luxuries of home. I might have to try that, if I can get away with it... I don't know, I may wind up sleeping out in the wood shop. lol

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        2015/01/21 at 11:21 pm
  • From Trond Kolsto on Carving Stylized Serif Lettering in Capitals - Episode 1

    Mary

    Are you planning any educational videos using the Textura Quadrata fonts? (Sometimes called Gothic)

    Thank you

    Trond

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    2015/01/13 at 9:45 am
  • From David Piazzo on Carving a Cardinal "In the Round" - Episode 1

    No problem watching this video... hope I feel the same way about trying to carve it!

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    2015/01/12 at 4:06 pm
  • From David Piazzo on Carving a Large Sunburst

    Mary, is there a name for carving the rays like this, where the line between the rays is the high point, and the type of carving where the high point is the middle of the ray and the lines between them are the low point?

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    2015/01/08 at 1:24 pm
    • From Mary May on Carving a Large Sunburst

      I refer to them as "concave" (hollowed or scooped rays) rays and "convex" (raised or rounded over) rays. I'm not sure of the "official" name, however. Works for me!

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      2015/01/13 at 12:03 am
  • From Joseph Chalovich on What videos would you like to see?

    Hello Mary:
    I took a course with Roy Underhill and Peter Follansbee this summer..building a 17th century joint chest. I would like to know how to decorate such a chest in the period manner.

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    2015/01/07 at 8:56 pm
    • From Mary May on What videos would you like to see?

      I'm sure that was a fun class. With Roy and Peter together, it's never dull! I will probably venture down teaching some of this style in a video lesson - it's really a lot of fun. And it often goes a lot faster than some of the fussy relief carving that I do.

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      2015/01/13 at 12:01 am
      • From Rob Drown on What videos would you like to see?

        I am also interested in that type of carving. I would love to see that video. What do you call that type of carving!

        I would also like to see a larger Celtic knot.

        I really enjoy these videos. Now I need to do some carving of my own!!

        Rob

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        2015/02/08 at 3:27 am
        • From Mary May on What videos would you like to see?

          The type of carving Peter Follansbee does is beautiful, often repetitive pattern from the 17th century. He can carve out a wonderful design in minutes. That's 17th century power carving! He's a great carver, and a great person!

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          2015/02/10 at 10:09 pm