So I've Taken Up Wood Carving....

I had been bringing in the bits I had been carving into my voluntary job for a few months and had been told that people "liked them". But I always felt there was a difference between someone liking your work and handing cash over to you to own a piece of it. Perhaps I just finally found the right people who wanted to own a piece

I forgot to mention that I did ask the shop owner what commission she charged and she said that she just buys the pieces outright and then adds her mark up afterwards.

Agreed.

 

It wasn't a silly thing to go into the shop! Your confidence is obviously building, also with the responses you've had from the people you work with. Jane, people obviously like your work because it's now selling, that should be a great boost for you.

My daughter started her business early this summer, so she is still feeling her way too. Now, with the lead up to Christmas, she's found demand is greater than production and is snowed under. She's started her own site on Facebook which is slowly getting under way and she's also setting up stalls at local Craft Fayres which are doing very well, commissions are also coming in. Word of mouth is also a great boon.

 

I think they look smashing JJ. I'm not surprised people want to buy them

Something that could also be used as the door's handle perhaps?

 

Carved wooden door stops would be good although maybe not for a shed.

 

Just remembered that my daughter has replaced the knobs on her chest of drawers with "handles" that look like Chillies. Perhaps a range of vegetables for garden shed knobs?

 

I just had another 2 possibly 3 requests made yesterday. Two ladies want the star fish as Christmas presents and the other wants a a robin for her garden. Only problem is I've run out of oak to make anymore of the robins. I need to find a supply of oak logs from somewhere soon. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am feeling quite swamped here now.

I was thinking of blowing up the robin to make it into a much larger door stop. It would weigh a ton though.

Thank you for the compliment Kristen.

I was talking about your suggestion to the other half last night and he instantly said a carrot would make a brilliant door handle. Would anyone want a carrot as a door handle though?

 

I'd love to have one (or any other vegetable with a suitable shape to use as a handle) on my garden shed

 

I'm not sure where you are in Essex which is my old home ground as well. Is there a sawmill in your area? If you can find one, it would be cheaper to buy wood from there. If some of your work is going to be used/kept indoors could you not use a lighter/cheaper wood than oak?

I'd be happy with a carrot........or two!

 

Does that mean I'm starting to get more orders for novelty shaped door handles now? I image a carrot would be easier to turn than carve, but either way it's something that wouldn't take long to do. Mounting it to a door however would be another matter, which is a bit beyond me. My shed has a mortise door lock and handle but I image most sheds would just want something screwed to the door to act as a pull?

Frustratingly we don't have a saw mill in our local area (Thurrock). Other half tried to find one a few years back. We do have other sources of wood available to us it's just deciding which one would be best for carving. We do have a massive pile of wood logs where I volunteer that they would burn, sourced from local woods. I don't feel right buying logs from them though to carve and make money from. I suppose all I can do is ask. I also know a tree surgeon who pops in from time to time. We also have a recycling timber yard up the road but most of their stuff is full of wood worm but is usable. We made our mantle from it and the offcuts were used to make the Robin.



Both ladies want the robin to be used outside so it seems only right to use some sort of hardwood. One of them is insistent that it has to be a "dark wood".

 

The door knob idea is brilliant.....Veg,flowers,Bees,Butterflies,miniature tools....you're going to need some staff at this rate JJ....You're doing a great job

 

What about carved door wedges instead? It's not a very good pic but here's one with a carved owl.

 

I think it will look boring "turned". I like the feel of your carved work. Here's a picture of the Chillies on my daughter's desk. Although moulded, and all the same, they've got a wonkyness to them that adds to their charm, which I don't think you'll get on a lathe.

The Chillies have got a single dowel which then has a screw through from the back of the drawer. Better would be two bits of dowel, and screws, as the "handle" wouldn't spin on its axis then.

Loving the Giraffe

That's the problem with commissions ... just jack up the price for awkward requests like that. If they choose to pay then both parties happy ... but no sense you having to drive into town to get a suitable bit of wood and not get paid for your time & trouble.

 

I was thinking about these after mentioning scaling up the robin into a larger version. Would be pretty cheap to make and not take up much of my time.

I doubt I will be coming to Shineyland next year I'm afraid. But can send some ahead to sell if you wish.

I can see where you're coming from with it looking boring being turned. I could make some really wonky carrots too.

They were the sort I was imagining when I read your post. I do wonder if they would transfer easily to wood though as steel is stronger and so can hold more complex shapes without breaking etc. It's something I will defiantly look into though. Perhaps a different shape to the chillies so the wood can take more of a battering.

I didn't carved that if that's what you were thinking. Although if I had enough wood it wouldn't be difficult to do.

Agreed. I'm still learning what people want and to be honest I seem to prefer only making something once, rather than over and over again as it then becomes a production line for me. Perhaps I should call myself an "artist" rather than a "craftsman". I was flattered to be asked by others to do more of them but they all want them in different ways and sizes etc, surely I should be dictating what they can and can't have.