They say I'm a `cut up'. Wood you?

I have always had a desire for doing things with my hands... Note that I didn't say talent. Anyway, I decided as a 10 year old kid that I wanted to learn to `carve' things out of wood with a pocket knife. Yep, I probably became the greatest stick sharpener in the world. If a wild animal ever attacked, I was ready. Then came the the gash I carved into my finger. Okay, a bandaid covered it easily but my momma decided my whittling days were over... and they were!

Then in my 30s this urge hit me again. Oh I had been carrying and cutting things with my pocket knife but never really created anything before. I heard about a club of folks who did carving and whittling near by. I joined and have been hooked for over 30 additional years. The first thing I learned is the difference of whittling and carving. Carving is using different cutting tools and whittling is using only a pocket knife. I liked the old ways and went with an `OLD TIMER' (three blade) pocket knife. I also learned why whittlers always have bandaids in their pockets. I wasn't the only one who cut things other than the piece of wood.

Over the years I have made so many caricatures, dogs, lions, horses, and other `stuff', I couldn't count them. I also taught others to whittle. I will attach some pictures of some of my creations. Don't judge too harshly. Like I said I had a desire.... I didn't say talent.

I have taught whittling at schools, churches (summer), and at libraries. One of the attachments is a picture of me teaching my Pre-K grandson how to whittle on a piece of soap with a dull knife.

Anyway, it is a neat hobby that I still enjoy. The picture containing two horses, a lion, and a dog were things from the last couple of weeks. I also have learned to `whittle' soapstone (soft rock) into peacepipe bowls and fetishes. But that's a whole 'nother story..

Here are some of my pics... hope ya like them. ;-)