Some miniature oil paintings I've been working on.

Tables

I have been busy making tables. I will be taking these to Chicago. This first one is an Irish George II carved tea table circa 1750. (All three tables are 1:12 scale, scratch built, hand carved cherry). Carved knees, ball and claw feet, scallop apron. The real one was made with the shell a separate piece so I did mine that way. I found pictures of this and scaled it down as opposed to finding plans (like below table 2). I took some in progress shots.

Legs cut and mortised.

Dry fit.

Working on the carving.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This next tea table has candle slides and slipper feet.

Here is a blurb that came with the plans. (The plans were of a full sized table which I scaled down to 1:12th.)

"In Colonial America, prior to Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride, colonists adopted many of the lifestyles of English citizens. Tea tables came into vogue in the early 1700's." 

Some in progress shots:

Here we see the side aprons cut and slotted for the candle slides and supports.

Here the slides and supports are in place. The knee returns are still rough.

Here I've put the two little nails (the full size plans said put 2 brass screws) so the slides aren't pulled all the way out. This was quite the conundrum. Like the mind teaser of the chicken, the corn and the fox. What to take across the river so one does not get eaten. My problem was figuring if you put the nails in, you can't get them in the slots. If you put the fronts on, you can't do the nails. I put the fronts on then I found a way to support the slides while pressing in the nails. The tray top was tricky to make. I coved the strips, then I had to rabbet them. Then I had to make the bead. Last step after the finish was to turn tiny brass knobs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And last we have this little white French table. Don't have any more info just thought it was interesting. Carved knees and aprons, and I can't for the life of me remember what this style of feet are called! 

Little lop bunny

I made this little lop earred bunny. He is hand carved wood, painted, then his fur is applied. A tedious procedure indeed. 

I don't name my animals, but this little guy seems to be saying his name is Timmy :)

Lemon tree update

Well I finally have something to report on the little lemon tree. He is in NO hurry to grow up! In October, he will be 3 years old. It took 2 months to poke his little head out of the dirt. I was giving up and turning off the grow light when I spotted him:

Then it took many weeks for this:

Then months:

Last winter he had around 6 leaves and lost 3 of them....I thought it was curtains for sure.....

Now, as of today, he is a whole foot tall! Nice rebound  my little tree:)

My latest piece

A smooth hair tri-color fox terrier. He is hand carved, painted then fur applied.

With every attention to detail. Even the roof of his mouth it detailed! Toes with nails, paw pads. Very life filled eyes.

Anatomically correct male. Two of the previous three fox terriers I've carved, custom orders of people's dog from their photos, had the one ear up. So I  decided to do this one's ears the same.

On ebay this week.

Big news!

I'm ready to make a big announcement. I'm going to be a dealer in the Chicago International this April! I will have furred animals, accessories, and some furniture. Stop by and say hello :)

A little kitten

Here is my latest, a little kitten. Carved then furred. He's been startled by a mouse!

A frog comes by to say hello.

I carved and furred the mouse and carved and painted the frog.

Carved toes and little paw pads.

The amazing black raspberry

Nowhere in nature is there a flavor that can compare with the  black raspberry. I was not even aware they existed until I bought this property in Southeast Ohio, and found them growing wild here. The season is 1st week in June to 1st week in July.

You have to get deep into the thickets, and the thorns cut you up pretty bad. Plus all the bug bites, poison ivy and related nasties. The multiflora is deadly, a horribly invasive non-native bush. Seems like it's thorns have thorns! But all this is totally worth it.

This bucket full is about 12 cups. But it is only half the "yard" (places that I pick). So doing the back half nets another full bucket. This vein of berry plants runs parallel to the road. I used to go walking up the road and pick too, but it is too much for me now, so I just stay on my own property. And believe me it is plenty!

This year may be the best ever. They are huge! And perfect, and so prolific. I freeze them in 4 cup batches because seems like all the things I make from them require 4 cups of berries.

I take 4 cups of berries, a little water, a cup of sugar and cook it. From here so many wonderful things can be made, all with this mind blowing flavor.

Like ice cream and popsicles.

Ice cream cones.

And pie with home made whipped cream. This is just incredible!

Here is a wonderful slushy drink I made up. I made 2 ice cube trays of berry juice, put the cubes in the blender. Then the 4 cups cooked and strained berry juice, the juice of a lemon, a little milk, and my secret ingredient: sweetened condensed milk. (is it just me or does anyone else want to eat this stuff right out of the can haha) I put  1/3 to 1/2 the can in. Then blend. Amazing!

These berries make the most fantastic wine! No water or yeast, I just smash the berries in a bucket and let it sit lightly covered for a week, Strain and add sugar, the amount depending on how much juice you get. Put it under airlock and when the bubbling stops, bottle it. Making it this way it is thick like a liqueur. So good! Just berries and sunshine :) I also used to make it with water and yeast the conventional way and that is very good also. That way it is definitely a wine.

Tomorrow if I'm not rained out, I will go for  the last pick of the 2015 season......always kinda sad....But- I have so much in the freezer!

Bernese Mountain Dog puppy

My latest piece is this little Bernese Mountain Dog puppy. 

Hand carved with every attention to detail. 

Those big puppy paws that he will eventually grow into feature carved toes, nails, and paw pads.