• From Jim Pell on Carving Corner Acanthus Leaf on Egg & Dart Molding

    Mary,
    What is the profile of the molding prior to carving the Egg & Dart design and do you use a caliper to adjust the size of the Egg & Dart so that the Acanthus
    Leaf Corner comes out to the right length?
    Jim Pell

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    2013/03/04 at 3:24 pm
    • From Mary May on Carving Corner Acanthus Leaf on Egg & Dart Molding

      Jim,
      If you look at the video on carving the egg and dart in oak, there is a pdf file below the video that shows this profile. It is basically a quarter round.

      Yes, I start in the center point of the length of molding and space it out so that it meets at the same point on each end. If it meets at an awkward point, I adjust the calipers and measure it again. Ideally, the acanthus leaf should end up flowing over the egg, and not the dart. It just gets too messy otherwise.

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      2013/03/05 at 9:01 pm
  • From Marty Miller on Carving a Camellia Flower - Beginner Lesson #8 - Episode 1

    Mary,
    I did the camellia flower in mahagoney. It was a different feel from the camellia I did in basswood in class. The mahagoney carved well, but not as easy as the basswood. The mahagoney seemed more grain direction sensitive. I went back to the donut several times to revisit the correct carving direction. It also seemed more prone to chipping out. I like the look and detail the mahagoney holds. The second effort was also a distinct improvement from the first. I spent more time touching up my tools to keep them working well.

    I am away from home helping out with my granddaughter in Albany, NY. I don't have my shop and bench to work on so I cobbled together a work table and clamps on a card table. Actually works well, but I have to work sitting. It has taken some getting use to but I like working this way. I think I will try to work sitting when I return home. Do you ever sit and carve? Am I going to limit myself?

    Marty

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    2013/03/03 at 9:13 pm
    • From Mary May on Carving a Camellia Flower - Beginner Lesson #8 - Episode 1

      Marty,
      I started carving on my kitchen table. Any level surface will work! Sitting down does limit the angle and direction you can go. Also I tend to lean into my carving, and am unable to do that when sitting down. Different muscles are used.

      Have fun!

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      2013/03/05 at 9:03 pm
      • From Marty Miller on Carving a Camellia Flower - Beginner Lesson #8 - Episode 1

        Thanks for the advice. I'll go back to bench work when I get home. I am going to build a carving bench to raise my carving height at my workbench like Jim and Norm had at the class. I do like sitting for the fine detail work and finish cleaning up of edges.
        Marty

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        2013/03/11 at 11:48 am
  • From Justin Reinmuth on Carving Traditional Serif Lettering in Capitals

    THANK YOU MARY!!!!

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    2013/02/28 at 1:41 pm
  • From Marty Miller on Carving a Donut - Beginner Lesson #6

    Mary,
    Just finished my second donut. It is a definite improvement from the one I did in class. I am going to try one in Mahogany to see how the feel and grain varies from the basswood. I found the fishtails I got from you made the process much easier.
    Marty

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    2013/02/27 at 4:49 pm
  • From Marty Miller on Starting to Carve

    Mary,
    Great practice video to get back into good habits with the gouges. I don't think of mine as a Picasso, but my wife thought it was an interesting start.
    Marty

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    2013/02/27 at 2:44 pm