Siamese Whittlebears

This is carved from a corner of a Clementine box. I think it's a pine of some sort. It's 4" tall by 1 1/4" wide by 5/8" deep. Still not sure if I will separate them.

Maybe this is what I'll do with all them Clementine box corners I have.

Patriotic Ribbon Pin

I carved this 2 1/4 inch wide by 2 1/4 inch high red white and blue ribbon bow from pine, painted it with acrylics and sprayed it with several coats of matte Krylon.

I borrowed an idea from my wife and carved an Easter Bunny pin. She crochets bunnies from her own pattern using yarn leftover from her other projects. She glues on a tail, a nose, and a bow, and then gives them away to friends and family.

So, I carved one for her from basswood. It's 3 1/4" tall and 1 3/8" wide. I painted the ears, eye, nose and tail with acrylic paints and sealed the pin, with several coats of spray on Krylon Matte finish.

She loved it!

Happy Easter!

How I attach pinbacks to my carved pins...

Since I've started making pins, I've been using 5 minute epoxy buttered on the back of the pinback and I apply that to the back of the pin. I cut a gouge to allow the epoxy to make direct contact to the wood. No pressure, no clamps. Just make sure the epoxy oozes through the holes on the pinback. Then I let it sit overnight.

I've had pins break but never had the pin come off the wood yet.

Summer 2013 Starfish

A 2" tall by 4" Starfish pin carved for my wife, Michelle, from basswood and painted in acrylic paints and sprayed with Krylon Gloss Finish.

Some woodcarvings I've done since January:

A 3 5/8" tall by 1 1/2" wide celtic spoon carved for my wife, Michelle, from pine and coated with semi-gloss Minwax Polyacrylic.

A 2 7/8" tall by 2 7/8" wide heart shaped chip carving pin carved for my wife, Michelle, from basswood and coated with semi-gloss Minwax Polyacrylic.

A 3 1/2" tall by 2 1/4" wide egg shaped chip carving pin carved for a customer's request from basswood and coated with satin Minwax Polyacrylic.

An 3 inch diameter earth day face pin carved for my wife, Michelle, from basswood and painted in acrylic paints and coated with semi-gloss Minwax Polyacrylic.

A 3 inch tall by 2 1/2 wide by 1 1/2 " deep sitting Whittlebear carved for my wife, Michelle, from pine and highlighted with acrylic paints and coated with semi-gloss Minwax Polyacrylic.

A 3 inch tall by 2 1/2" wide Liberty Bell pin carved for my wife, Michelle, from basswood and painted in acrylic paints and sprayed with Krylon Matte Finish.

A 3 1/2" tall by 1 1/4" German Nutcracker pin carved for my wife, Michelle, from basswood and painted in acrylic paints and sprayed with Krylon Matte Finish.

Summary of 2012 Carvings

It's been a while since I posted to my blog. So, I thought I'd start with a summary of some of the carvings I did during 2012.

The shamrock pin is a 1/2" deep x 1 3/4" wide x 2 3/4"tall deep relief carved in basswood painted and highlights dry brushed with acrylic paints and sprayed with clear hi-gloss lacquer.

The St. Bridget's cross pin is 2 1/2" square carved in basswood, and brushed with clear Minwax Wipe-on Poly satin and Johnson's paste wax.

The American Spirit pin is about 3 3/4" tall and 1" wide carved in basswood painted with acrylic paints and sprayed with Krylon matte finish.

The Happy Spirit ornament is about 3 3/4" tall and 1 1/4" wide carved in cedar and brushed with clear Minwax Wipe-on Poly satin and Johnson's paste wax.

The Easter Egg pin is 3 1/2 inches tall and 2 1/4 inches wide carved in basswood and finished with 2 coats of satin finish polyurethane.

The Dala horses are 5 inches square carved in pine and painted by my wife, Michelle, with acrylic paints, and finished with satin finish polyurethane