been carving a few more birds, all three almost ready to sand.....

First I roughly sketch a bird shape on the side and the top view... and if I have someone with the right tools i saw the extra pieces off. If not I just start carving....
at that point it is very simple... you just carve away the edges, and take away what is not bird. As you go it is very easy to know which way to carve with the grain: one way gouges out too big of chunks and the other way lets you take little bits at a time. After a few cuts I had the hang of it. The only tools I really use so far of the ones I bought are the knives and these gloves. I started out without them and sliced my hand pretty good so now I always wear them!

Walking stick

One of our hobbies started last year, along with my carving birds was originally to make walking sticks. The first one my husband and i worked together on. It was for my Dad for Christmas. I can show the photos now that we have given it to him. I carved the rattle snake, then my husband deepened it with a dremel tool. We stained it 4 colors and then i woodburned the scales and painted the eyes. my husband carved out a spot for two arrowheads at the top and we added a purchased leather pouch.

Since one of our goals is to hike weekly when the weather gets better, we have a few more to make for ourselves and our kids.