Another bit of damask...

I tried a new "damask" carving this morning.

Very fulfilling fun for me! A reader suggested I take a picture of my tool in hand working...I'll try it, but it could be tricky carving with one hand and taking a picture with the other...next, I'm working on carving a script word. But what word shall I carve? hmmm.

artsy carving mania...

Lesson seven - stamp carving

This lesson was all about making your own alphabet stamps.

I have lots of alphabets, and thought I'd do numbers instead.

I made this alphabet block as a piece of art by itself. I'll have to make another set that is separate numbers. I found lots of ideas on the internet today. I wonder what I'll be carving Friday... three lessons to go.

Vrooommm!

Phil couldn't take it any longer - put insurance on the new car and off we went...

The view from the passenger seat...

What I did Monday...

My latest carving.

Still carving, this is my carving from Monday. It's damask. This one is my favorite so far.

I did manage to find more carving material. I went to Michaels "one last time" to check if they had any, and with a JoAnn's coupon in hand for 40% off. There was ONE piece there - I grabbed it! Feeling much better, but what's with that? I want an endless supply!

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Do you notice how much this new carving looks like my new sidebars on my blog? My blog's new look is another gift from my daughter and granddaughter (in Minnesota!). Thank you! I love it!

a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

Our next-door neighbors have the earliest blooming Rhododendron I have ever seen! Here it is February 4 and it is blooming! Its beautiful. Smallish blossoms. Its right on our property line, so I enjoy it as much as they do.

Last night we decided to do some yard work first thing this morning.
It was sunny and nice out, just kinda cold! Like FROZEN cold!

The above logs are from a tree that fell in my mom and dad's back yard. Phil cut it up with his chainsaw and now its firewood for next winter. It was a BIG one! The wood from it filled the bed of our pickup.

This is what we did today. We collected all the downed branches in the immediate area, from the ice storm. This is the second truckload we have hauled away. It was invigorating work!

I think we may have a buyer for our old Cadillac tomorrow. In the meantime, I have put the dashboard of the new one on our computer's wallpaper. I can't believe Phil hasn't driven it yet.

The first of February already here.

My latest stamp carving project:

I was pretty happy with this. I carved it in about 1/2 hour, then played around with it for longer. I have lots of ideas for my own hand carved stamps, but have found it difficult to find the speedy carve (pink stuff) to carve. Michaels is OUT and I've checked back twice and not found the supply replenished. Joann's doesn't carry it. This does not bode well. I went to Dick Blick, (on-line) and the price wasn't bad, but no 40% off coupons, and they added almost half the price again for shipping. hmmm. there's gotta be a better way and I'm going to find it.

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We are in the process of selling hubby's Cadillac and it looks like it will be sold by the weekend. Several interested parties. Then, finally we can go out for a drive in our new car!

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The sky was blue here today - 50 degrees for a bit - I opened my sun roof - wonderful!