Carved Christmas Tree Ornament Swap

The Woodcarving Illustrated magazine runs a message board, where wood carvers can communicate with one another, ask questions, and otherwise spout off. One of the things that the Board facilitates is an exchange of carved Christmas tree ornaments. This year there are 18 carvers participating. Each carver carves 18 ornaments and sends one to each person that is participating. I have received four of these swap ornaments so far. I have participated in this swap the past two years, so I am getting quite a nice collection of hand carved ornaments.

Updates

I guess that every now and then there just isn't too much really interesting stuff goin on. But there is always something goin on. I thought I would kinda provide an update on some past posts, and maybe add a wee bit of new. Just some listings of things.

1. I'll be doin some repair work on the little gnome door I installed on the neighbors house. It seems that the 4 year old tried to get into the house to see the gnomes. Remember, she said she could hear them in there. She used a hammer on the door. Not too much damage, but I'll have to wait until they are gone and sneak over and make the necessary repairs. Maybe she'll think the gnomes fixed it.
2. There was a little bit of snow on the cold surfaces this morning..Probably go down as the first snow of the season around here.
3. Only 8 more days until we leave for California. It usually takes 4 days of driving to get there. But this year we'll add one more day in case of snow, and one more day because of older age.
4. I promised my swap partner (Mini Quilt In A Bag) that I would assemble the fabrics and mail by Wednesday of this week. I'll be going with the red white and blue look. Mostly red. I'll post a photo of what I am sending.
5. I purchased a new carving knife at the Dayton Carving Show. I bought a Dave Lyons detail knife. The blade of this knife is similiar to the profile that Donald Mertz recommends for carving the very small things. BY the way, Don Mertz is a well known, and very talented carver.
6. I finished the third book shelf of a three book shelf set for a local shop. Now must distress and antique them.
7. Started the second jewerly case/cabinet for the same shop.

Dayton Wood Carving Show

Thought I would share a couple of photos from the Dayton wood carving show. The first photo was judged best of show. This is a life sized bust, carved of wood. Even the lace around the neck.

I didn't see any ribbon on this carving, but it sure is an amazing carving. The Dayton show is one of the largest and best in the country. I spent Saturday and Sunday at the show.

Doll Quilt Swap 5 (DQS5)

After spending all day carving at the GOOD WIVES COMPANY quilt, fabric, and gift shop I came home to this wonderful doll quilt, that had arrived in the mail. This little quilt was made by Denise Enberg (Sewz4fun). It's about 24 inches square, and is the most precise and accurately made piece I have seen in a long long time. It's made of civil war reproduction fabrics, and is quilted with a combination of "in the ditch", straight line diagonal, rope design in the border, and different florishes in the corners. Dang! there's probably more too. Every time I look at it I find something else.

This was the first swap that I have ever been in. Daughter Tracy talked me into it. I am glad she did. I am, however, going to be spending some additional time in an attempt to improve my own skills in quilting. Thank you Tracy for the nudge to get involved in these doll quilt swaps, and a huge thank you to Denise for such a grand doll quilt.

Friday at The GOOD WIVES CO.

I was fortunate enough to spend all day today (Friday) at the GOOD WIVES COMPANY in Marion, Ohio. Today was the first day of their Primitive Christmas Open House. This quilt, fabric, and gift shop features reproduction fabrics, and was listed as one of the top quilt shops in the country, by Better Homes and Gardens Quilt Sampler magazine.
I was lucky to be invited to carve at their Primitive Open House. This shop is one of my daughter Tracys favorite fabric shops around. The day was very busy, with several folks always waiting to check out. I sold about 30 Santa Christmas Tree ornaments and pins, one Noahs Ark, and gave away 12 little carved owls and tiny Santas to kids. I'll be quiet now so you can take a quick tour of the shop.

Fabric, fabric, mostly reproduction fabrics.

Tons of fabric......all choice!

Fat quarter cabinet and baskets of them.

Yep! this is me after a long day. Sorry for the focus. I didn't take the photo! Duh! you knew that.

Confessions!

My name is Tom. I cannot pick and match fabric for quilt making. Colors confuse me. Add prints, and/or solids and I'm lost. Throw small and large prints into the mix and it's all over. Don't try to confuse me with the color wheel and other such aids. This ol dog can't learn any new tricks. I can barely follow directions. I made a stab at picking fabrics as seen in the first photo. I like red. It's my favorite color. Sent the first photo to daughter Tracy in California for help. She knows her ol dad needs help. She said add some blues. That was a very polite way of saying "yikes! too much red". I dug around and found some blues and added them to the second photo. It then dawned on me that this is fabric that Tracy sent to me to begin with. She said use the bottom row plus the red at the top right, or the top row with a navy. That was easy....Stop laughing you all! I think I'll take photos of all my fabric, number them and let Tracy just send me the numbers to use.

Wood Carving Exchange

There is an international wood carving exchange that I participate in. An excellent carver, Matt Kelly, organized and carries out this exchange. The carvers who participate in the exchange are paired up with, their "secret pal". Whoever your secret pal is, you carve and send a carving to him or her. And remember it's a carving exchange, so you too are someones secret pal, and will receive a carving. Today, I received an incredible carving from, Dick Milholm, my secret carving pal.