A carved ornament, My Uncle Otto gave this to me in 2002. I used to carve with him twice a month..we had a whole group of wood carvers. He used to sharpen my knives for me..he kept them in great shape, he lived just a few miles away..if I got stuck and didn't know where to remove wood next..he was always available. He was a great teacher...actually he was a teacher and a Principal all his life. I had to learn how to sharpen my pocket knives for grafting trees a long time ago... and I guess I should take a class on sharpening wood carving knives too. I enjoy carving..I recently took all my knives in to be sharpened...I haven't felt much like carving since he died..but perhaps it is time. I will have to buy a box of band-aids:)
It is such a pleasure to read your site,as I drink my morning cup o'tea.As I call them memory ornaments are what Christmas trees are all about not fashion.Your stories are truly heart warming.
ReplyDeleteWising you and yours the merriest of Christmas's and a prosperous New Year.
What a neat hobby and sweet memories of your uncle. I have always admired the art of wood carving. I have seen some beautiful work displayed by our local woodcarvers. It is amazing. This ornament is really nice. So much detail in a small piece. Yes, do get those band-aids out and let us see some of your talent too.
ReplyDeleteA work of art and love. I have always wanted to learn how to carve but the closes I came to carving was using a Dremel on a gourd.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it is time. Your uncle gave a part of himself when he taught you to carve.
Beautiful ornament. My son carved me a little house when he was about 10 for our Christmas tree. It even has a chimney. Needless to say it is one of my favorite ornaments.
ReplyDeleteVery neat - Connie you may not sew but you sure are crafty --artsy -- you've made some wonderful things! Happy Holidays...
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful ornament, made even more beautiful by the memories.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is a beautiful ornament, and I hope you do take it up again, and share your journey. I love your new header, Chance looks a little like Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty ornament from Uncle Otto. That must have been fun working with him. Maybe now the hobby will give you joy and fond memories. Blessings to you and your family this Christmas.
ReplyDeleteDo a search for Silver Valley Sharpener.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pair of cardboard wheels mounted on a grinder. One has valve grinding compound covered with beeswax and the other is slotted and has white rouge on it.
Or got to a craft/hobby/jewelery supply store and get the white rouge and a stiff cotton wheel and also the finest grit grindstone wheel you can.You can also get this stuff at Menards, I think. Cover the grindstone with beeswax and the cotton wheel with the rouge. Use the beeswax first and finish with the cotton with rouge. Keep your finger on the blade and quench it in water when ever it gets warm. It's what I use on all my leather working tools. If I can't shave with them, they are too dull.
You can usually find a cheap grinder to use the wheels on.
That is quite a special talent. Santa is very cute.
ReplyDeleteSunny :)
The Santa looks so Nordic, as well he should I suppose. People who are "always available" are a treasure indeed. What wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteVery cute ornament. Definitely a treasure to be handed down generation by generation.
ReplyDeleteJen
I bet those are some good memories of carving with your uncle. I love the Santa! The one time I tried carving at girl scout camp I did the thing you're never supposed to do and carved towards my hand and cut into the skin between the thumb and pointer finger. Bled like crazy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat hobby! You really are a multi-talented person, Far Side!
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/
What a nice story. Memories of those around us are so good to recall and share. The santa is marvelous. I just remembered that we took a bunch of carving pictures at the state fair and I never shared one. I didn't get tree number two up yet, Sunday was a bomb for me but maybe this evening. Really nice photo and great blog.
ReplyDeleteThat is a really cool ornament, Connie. I used to love wood-carving, an echo of my Girl Scout days, even though I once nearly but off my finger with my jackknife. Still, creating something out of a stick or piece of wood is a pretty fulfilling endeavor. I hope you'll take it up again, then share what you've created here. :)
ReplyDeleteANSWER: No sweetie, I made a mistake on my last comment and realized it as I popped out and was going to delete it and do it over. When I logged back in I deleted the wrong comment. No,No,NO you did absolutely nothing to tick me off. Besides the fact I don't tick very easy. It's all me! I wish I could put it back, I've slept since then and I don't know what the heck I wrote.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry. Have a blessed day without crazed bloggers. Heeeheehe!!!
This is great, and woodcarving must be a really satisfying skill!
ReplyDeleteI would like to do that, bet you are good at it.
ReplyDeletePatsy
That's a neat carved ornament. I took a wood carving class once but alas I turned out to be not so good at carving. What a wonderful keepsake.
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing! A woman of many talents and surprises!
ReplyDeleteKisses,
Emma Rose
Love the Santa! Must be great to whittle and carve.. as long as you can keep all ten fingera! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI meant to write: fingers...
ReplyDeletehonouring xmas and your family both...
ReplyDeleteblessings
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