A Message for My Yahoo Groups Friends

Just wanted to say here that I am open to private swaps of my work for Hitty carving.  I have had a few already and they have been very successful.  I have received painted Hittys (and unpainted, at my request) and the swaps have worked out for both parties.
Just email me privately at myheadsundercover@yahoo.com.  Thanks!

Tons to catch up on---and look at whittling post below this one...

 

I got a dollhouse off Craigslist.  I think it was supposed to be a Barbie house, so the ceilings are a bit high for Hitty.  Yet Hitty is 6.5" tall, which makes her a giant in the 1/12 scale houses.  (Do I have that right??)

Here are a few pics of the doll rooms.  Also, I have returned to needlepoint for rugs for the Chateau.  Mind you, it is PLASTIC CANVAS (gasp) but is 10 mesh.  I can design patterns (similar to cross stitch, a passion of mine in the 80s) and use up all sorts of types of yarns.  Can anyone say HAPPY????

 

Great to pull out Julia's dollhouse stuff. 

 

 

Hitty Gran enjoys some solitude in the writing room.

 

 

Several Hitty friends gather in the parlor to catch up on the local news.

 

 

Ten mesh (per inch) plastic canvas rug.

 

 

No, I didn't cross stitch this----it's paper!

 

 

My rendition of Hitty's whale.  Send to a doll-friend as a pif (pay it forward).

 

 

This is my Rakes and Leaves rug, with my hand showing a size reference.  Pretty daunting----approx. 6,500 stitches.

 

 

Rakes and Fences rug finished and in place...

 

 

Fence and Fowl was done for a doll-friend...

 

 

I decided to do some pieces as "greeting cards" and call them "needlepoint greetings."  This piece was sent to a dear friend.

(NOT my pattern.)

 

 

Another needlepoint greeting.

(NOT my pattern.)

 

 

My daughter made this for her English teacher who loves unicorns.  It is 4" tall.  She has become quite the easy hand at amigurumi.  

 



Early April---lots to catch up

WoooWhooooo!  Finally I can write words under my pics!

I began whittling the last week of January.  Here are some blanks one of the carvers in the local club kindly cut out for me.

 

First, I carved several Christmas Pickles to get a feel for the knife.

Pickle, anyone?  They are 3 inches long.  I have a mason jar filled with them and must say it looks hysterical...

 

 

This is somehow turned sideways-----notice I whacked off the cardinal's crest....the bird didn't feel a thing.  It is now a Comfort Bird.  (Look it up.)

 

 

Again, my pickles....

 

 

These 4" birds were all done in basswood.  Basswood is one of the easiest woods to handcarve.

Try telling that to my left index finger, which remains numb at the joint at the tip!

 

 

Bowl of my birds.  I am making several for different needs---grief, illness, birthday, and general "you-are-not-forgotten" gifts.

 

 

The darker birds are made of catalpa.  Frankly, I don't like carving them as I feel they are too grainy.  I'm game to try any soft wood!  The one on the left is white pine and was VERY nice to carve, but is a bit too soft....you can leave nail marks in it.  I love its grain, though.