It has obviously been some time since I started this venture of updating my website. So much has happened to everyone since then, including me. I got married. We had a son. We bought a house. Somewhere between all of that, I picked up a new hobby: whittling.
It started out with a make-your-own-pipe kit and some boredom. Soon there were hours of YouTube videos of hands transforming blocks of wood into gnomes, Santas, animals and portraits playing in the background as I worked from home. Next I was looking at tools:
knives, spoon knives, dremels, spurs, sanders, palm tools, paints, chisels and many other dressings of the hobby. And now, when I have a few hours I can turn out several whittles a week. It's a fun game to hide some of my carvings at my friends' house when I go to visit, or drop them in the pocket of someone's coat when they come by.
They are not anything super special, but they are fun to work on. I aim for personality over perfection. Mostly I've made gnomes, Santas, wood spirits and these guys. I've also made random mushrooms, Christmas trees, hearts, penguins, a squirrel, and a few wands. Luckily, my most severe injury only cost me three stitches and taught me the importance of a carving glove.
For Christmas last year, I was able to put packages of my little creations together for some gifts, and I hope I can to that again this year. The goal was to have a small inventory put together to maybe sell at a craft fair or someplace, but I don't think I'm going to get there this year. Next year perhaps. Who knows? Maybe you'll be able to buy them here one day!
The great thing about the hobby is that is has been a creative output during a time when we have been unable to gather and perform. Even though things are starting to pick back up, my whittling isn't something that I will be setting down any time soon.