[Woodcarver] Re: Mike Bloomquist's Carving Site - carving for enjoyment

[Steve Nordhauser]

I am probably never going to be an excellent carver - mainly because I 
have too many interests and spread myself across them as the mood 
strikes me instead of concentrating on one for hours per day. Even so, 
when I just want to make wood chips and not work on one of the on-going 
projects I make:

Chopsticks - using a drawknife and spokeshave. Sure a lathe can do it in 
45 seconds but an hour carefully shaping them is rewarding....and a lot 
like making a pointy stick
Spoon blanks - sometimes I carve spoons but roughing them out is the 
"making chips" part.
Dibblers - I think that is what they are called - for seed planting. 
They have a point on one end and a forkish shape on the other.
Free-form thing-a-ma-bobs - usually done testing out a new knife or when 
I *need* 10 minutes of peace
Incense burners - slab some wood 2" x 8" x 1/4 to 1/2" and do whatever - 
relief, lettering, abstract shape or chip carving and drill an angled 
hole at one end for the stick

If carving isn't making you happy, it is time to try another approach or 
another hobby for awhile.
Steve

>
> Subject:
> RE: [Woodcarver] Mike Bloomquist's Carving Site - carving forenjoyment
> From:
> Alex Bisso <albisso at bresnan.net>
> Date:
> Sat, 30 Oct 2004 13:55:31 -0600
> To:
> "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
>
>
> Hi Sylda - actually I think you are right on. Although when I first 
> started carving I did enter some shows, that never was the purpose of 
> the carving and I have not done so in years. My situation is that I 
> actually enjoy doing a number of things more than carving. However, 
> they are not as constructive and do not do much to develop my artistic 
> abilities which is something I want to do.
> ALEX
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     From: woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net
>     [mailto:woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net]On Behalf Of Sylda
>     Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2004 10:03 AM
>     To: Woodcarvers List
>     Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Mike Bloomquist's Carving Site - carving
>     forenjoyment
>
>     On 10/27/04 4:24 PM, "Alex Bisso" <albisso at bresnan.net> wrote:
>
>         To make a DONATION to the Mailing List using PayPal OR regular
>         mail, click this link:
>         http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
>
>         Am I missing something? I guess the difference in your carving
>         and mine is: I’m not carving to have show winner. Oh, yes, I’m
>         doing the best I can whenever I carve (woodburn, make
>         jewelry), but I’m carving to (1) enjoy myself; (2) see what I
>         can do; (3) be with friends at club meeting times; (4) keep my
>         hands usable; (5) keep busy doing something fun; (6) occupy my
>         mind with something constructive; and if at some point in time
>         I come up with show/class winning item I’m be thrilled beyond
>         words, but these other things are way ahead of that. Is that
>         thinking wrong? People seem to like the things I make and are
>         thrilled with the presents I make and even display them, so my
>         work must not be all bad. Have I missed the boat?
>         Sylda
>