Painting Tips for Wood Carvers

Painting Tips for Wood Carvers Synthetic Brushes vs. Natural Brushes Paint brushes can be divided into two categories: Natural Hair(animal hair) which is broken down into bristle and soft hairs, like red sable and camel (which is actually a broad term for a group of hairs including ox, goat, pony, and squirrel), and Synthetic Hair,Continue reading “Painting Tips for Wood Carvers”

How To Carve A Great Santa

Now that everyone is finished with their 2023 Christmas carvings and the calendar has turned to 2024 it’s time to get started on your Christmas carvings again.  This month I’m reviewing a new book that will get your creative juices flowing and give you loads of really cool ideas for projects that will amaze yourContinue reading “How To Carve A Great Santa”

2024 Woodcarving Shows & Events

Happy New Year and congratulations!  You’ve all made another trip around the sun and 2024 is here!  I hope you all had a very pleasant holiday season, and now it’s time to get back down to business. As I usually do at the beginning of each new year I will start off this month withContinue reading “2024 Woodcarving Shows & Events”

The Stories of Halloween & the Jack-O-Lantern

This month (October) is my annual Halloween Special issue where I’ll be telling some Halloween and Wood Spirit stories.  Long-time subscribers may have seen a couple of these but I’m posting them again for the benefit of all the new subscribers who just joined this year.  However, I’m sure you will all find something newContinue reading “The Stories of Halloween & the Jack-O-Lantern”

How to Measure and Use a Cane

How to Measure and Use a Cane How to Determine Proper Cane Height and Length Before you start using a cane or walking stick it is important to measure it to find your proper cane height so it is the right length for you. These factors should be considered up front before you start makingContinue reading “How to Measure and Use a Cane”

Learn Through Experimentation

I‘ve been carving for close to 60 years now and I’m still learning.  That’s the thing about carving, you never stop learning.  The more you look around, the more you find new ways of doing things, whether it’s how to carve eyes or how to antique your carvings.  There’s always something out there that youContinue reading “Learn Through Experimentation”

Time Flies

Congratulations to Wood Chip Chatter!  This issue marks the second anniversary of my blog.  I began two years ago in July, 2021 as a small publication with only a handful of subscribers, and today Wood Chip Chatter has grown to a monthly newsletter with nearly 1,000 subscribers bringing woodcarving and whittling information and news ofContinue reading “Time Flies”

“2023 Woodcarving Shows & Events”

Remaining Woodcarving Shows & Events for 2023 The following is a list of the remaining woodcarving shows & events for 2023.  Get out and look for one near you! June 1-3 – Clayton, Indiana. Central Indiana Woodcarvers Roundup at Martha’s Orchard; 9-5 daily. $15 preregistered; $20 at the door. Bob Woodruff (317) 459-4454. June 2-4Continue reading ““2023 Woodcarving Shows & Events””

Illustrated Guide To Carving Tree Bark

Illustrated Guide To CARVING TREE BARK by Rick Jensen and Jack A. Williams A Book Review The “Illustrated Guide To CARVING TREE BARK” is the most comprehensive book on cottonwood bark carving I have ever seen.  Published in 2004 by Fox Chapel Publishing Company this 75-page guide is chock full, from cover to cover, withContinue reading “Illustrated Guide To Carving Tree Bark”

Wood Properties of Cottonwood

COTTONWOOD, EASTERN Populus deltoides (Populus – ancient Latin name; deltoides – triangular in reference to the leaf shape) This tree is known also by several other names, including ASPEN COTTONWOOD, CAROLINA POPLAR, RIVER POPLAR, WATER POPLAR, YELLOW COTTONWOOD. The tree grows to a height of 100 ft. or more, with a diameter from 5 toContinue reading “Wood Properties of Cottonwood”