Tuesday, April 3, 2012

C is for Carving

Carving is one of my favorite pastimes. My first carving was on an eraser with a Speedball gouge. The results were at the time very pleasing to my eye. Now it looks fairly sloppy and simple. At first I was mostly carving around larger block images with only small details if any.

When I got my Steadtler tools, which has a much finer tip, I began to leave the large stretches white and carve out the lines. When I discovered the Speedball pen holder I switched back to their products for the bigger spaces. Then happy day of happy days I got the best tool ever. A nice man made a custom tool that is much like this one. I can't remember his name, but owe him much thanks. I found that my end product was much improved by each upgrade in equipment. Also, lighting so important. My style is very cartoonized. I love cartoons because they make people happy.

I learned how to carve stamps from this sight. The only thing that I found that I really didn't like is the recommendation of using magnifying glasses. They did make it easier to carve, but my eyes started to need them after several months. Now I can carve without them again, but for a while I had a lot of trouble focusing on small things.

C is also for Collage

I wanted to share with a collage of some of my favorite images.


I also like to share how they look as a carvings.

C is also for Cotton

Just wanted to make good on my promise to talk about the cotton. I don't like it. It sticks to it's self making my stitches uneven. It also doesn't have the bounce that the wool and acrylic that I have used have. The stitches look loose to me. Not sure if it is just because I am new at this, but it was making me nutty trying to use it.

Follow your craft,
Michelle

10 comments:

  1. Hi! I like your blog...I love crafting and Art and Music. Keep Crafting!

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  2. Holy Moly! You MADE those stamps? Freaking Awesome!! As for cotton, how do you mean? Sewing or yarn work? I've found that I love working with 100% cotton in my crochet. Wool is too scratchy for me and acrylic squeaks...although I have found an acrylic-bamboo blend I like a lot!

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    1. When I crocheted it there was no problem, but when I was knitting it the stitches were so loose compared to the wool. I have been using Lion Heart wool and it has not been scratchy.

      Thanks for stopping by,
      Michelle

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  3. That's so cool. I love that tree, you're talented lady :) I agree with the cotton too I have some I bought to try a bag with and it just isn't workin out lol. I went back to the acrylic yarn soo much easier it doesn't stretch so much LOL.

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    1. Thanks lady you know I love when you stop by. I wanna see that bag.

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  4. Those stamps are amazing! You did a great job! Is it hard to carve them backwards so that they stamp the right way? Do you work from a drawn pattern?

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    1. Usually I find an image I like on a free clip art sight or draw something, then you tape it to the carving medium and rub really hard with something smooth. I use the back of my carving tool. When you peal it off the image is already backwards and then you just carve it as is. When you stamp it is looking the right way.

      Thanks for asking,
      Michelle

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  5. Just another A-Z challenger stopping by...

    Wow. Just...wow. I have always been fascinated by carving. It's going to be one of those things I learn to do when I'm 85 years old and nobody wants to listen to my stories anymore. For now, there are just soooo many other crafty, creative things on my plate. I'm glad you're so good at it!

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    1. Thanks for your kind comments and I can't wait to see what you come up with when you are 85. :-) What number are you I tried to find you but couldn't?

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