2020 was a rough year, even Santa had to mask up to keep Mrs. Claus and the elves safe. Here are a few step by step photos of how I carved this year's ornament from basswood. I painted Santa with thinned acrylics and applied two coats of water based polyurethane. Comments or questions are welcome, and thanks for following along. Better days are ahead.......                                                       ..read more

I'm happy to share the news that my latest project is included in the Woodcarving Illustrated fall 2020 issue. I designed this bottle stopper project for the Halloween season with the adults in mind. Thanks to my wife for the excellent photos. Enjoy ..read more

I hope everyone is safe and well during this Global pandemic. I'm staying busy with yard work and getting the vegetable garden going for the season. Of course I've also been carving a lot of cottonwood bark. So I thought I'd share the pieces I've been working on since 'Rona came to town. Thanks for following. Take care of yourself, make sure you get outside get some fresh air, take a walk or just relax. Try not to stress we're going to get through this together ..read more

I had a good time carving with fellow members of the Northland Woodcarvers yesterday. We carve at several local libraries throughout the year. We always carve at the Mid-Continent Antioch Library, in Gladstone MO in March. We'll be at the Mid-Continent Library North Oak Branch, in Kansas City,MO in May this year. We hope to add a couple more to our schedule. These are great places to meet and introduce wood carving to people. We have gained new members in the past and have a few people interested in joining our club from this demo. If you have a carving club, you are probably experiencing a dr ..read more

This wise old wood spirit is an original one of kind carving, hand carved from a large piece of North Dakota cottonwood bark. He is stroking his long beard and seems to be reminiscing about the good old days, or maybe passing along some good advice. He measures 22" in length and over 3" wide. This piece of  bark is about 3" thick. Finished with a water based polyurethane and a coat of Howard's Feed N Wax. All my carvings are available for purchase at my Etsy Store...... Knotty Wood Spirits ..read more

I've had this large piece of North Dakota Cottonwood bark for a couple of years, I finally decided to see who was trapped inside. It measures 28" in length, 3 1/2"-4 1/2" wide and 3" thick. When I start a new project I plan to take step by step photos and show the process of creating a carving. Usually once I start carving, I get in the zone and forget. That's the case with the Native American. I pretty much had him roughed in before taking the first photo. I was more aware with the mountain man, and probably took too many photos. But hopefully these will help some of you, just getting started ..read more

Another Christmas carving. Carved this green-eyed Green Man from a 22 inch long piece of North Dakota cottonwood bark. He's a Christmas gift for my father in-law ..read more

Christmas has come and gone, the gifts have been exchanged. Now I can post some of the carvings I have been working on this season. I carve ornaments for family members every year, but this has been a rough year. I lost my Mother in March. I always carved her a special Santa in addition to an ornament,and it didn't matter what it was, she loved it. I wanted a special ornament in her memory. I started carving these in July. Then my Uncle passed away in September, and he always loved getting a carved ornament as well. I hope 2020 is a better year, don't think it could be any worse. The cardin ..read more

From Knotty Wood Spirits ..read more

Who else is still carving on projects for Christmas? Nothing like working up to the last minute ..read more