1:  Newsletter Survey - Win a Herring Shortbent gouge!
2:  New Gallery Carvings
3:  Online Carving Help - update
4:  Look at this!
5:  Miscellany:
       One for the Bench
       Back issues
       Woodcarving Tuition/Teaching
       Woodcarving DVDs
       Slipstones Woodcarving Manuals

1  Newsletter Survey:

It's hard for me to believe that it's been over ten years since I wrote my first website newsletter. I confess it's been a struggle at times: trying to fit the newsletter into my work schedule when the clock moves faster the older I get. I was having one of those days recently when I looked at the number of subscribers: there are 8256 of you!

This is very reassuring and it's certainly my intention no only to continue this newsletter but to make it better.
It occurred to me that you all know who I am but, in general, I don't know anything about you. And, if I want to improve my newsletter, it seems a good place to start is to find out a little more about you, my readers/subscribers.

So, I have created a simple, quick, 9 question multiple choice survey. I'd really appreciate you taking the time to fill it in.

Now, I know doing this sort of thing can be a chore so, as an added incentive, I thought we'd have some fun and incorporate a raffle!
So here's your chance to ...

Win a Herring Bros. Shortbent gouge!

I have 3 spoon or shortbent Herring gouges to give away to 3 lucky winners...

 

Widely regarded as one of the best Victorian carving tool makers, I believe these 'Herring' gouges to be pre-WW1, making them well over 100 years old.

They have plenty of working life left and I've even sharpened them ready to go!

 

Each tool is approximately 1/2in. (13mm) wide, with shanks numbered '25', '26' and '28' - shortbent equivalents of sweeps #4, #5 and #7.

How to enter the draw for a chance of winning one of these tools:

  Entry to this prize draw is free and only available to those who complete and submit the simple Chris Pye: Newsletter survey.

  Take the survey by clicking the photo above or the link below.

  When you have submitted it, a page will automatically appear for you to enter your name and email into the draw.

  Your details will not be used for any other purpose than the draw and will be deleted once the draw has been made.

  Entry to the draw closes 15th April 2010.

  Shortly thereafter the 3 winners will be selected at random from all the entries.

  Winners will be notified by email and listed in the next (May) newsletter.
 

Take the Chris Pye Newsletter Survey and Enter the Prize Draw!

 
Thanks very much.
    Looking forward to hearing about you!

2  New Gallery Carvings!  

Tang Horse Head Bookends:

Vampire Armorial

See larger and further images of these carvings by clicking on the pictures above. Main Gallery index here.

 

3  Online Carving Help: Update  

I'm still trialling the technology and finding out both what we can do in the way of online carving instruction and support, and what we can't.
I'm still keen on the idea; I think holds a lot of promise, especially for outlying carvers.

Currently I'm pursuing grants to help fund the project. If you are aware of where funding might be found, please let me know!

4  Look at This!

One of my favourite mallets was 'feathering' from so much use: fibres were pulling away from the face and it was looking a bit of a mess.

An upholsterer revealed his trick for repairing chairs: binding a loose chair joint by wood-gluing fine calico tightly across it.

Well, I'll try most things and did the same to my mallet, as seen here: soaking the wood and calico well as I bound the mallet; wrapping just one layer of calico, tightly stretched. The calico/glue has cured hard to the wood of the mallet.

So far, so good: the calico is holding up well. I'm sure that, with just a few minutes work. I've considerably extended the life of my mallet.

 

And look at this:

This is a carving glove, adapted from a light, white cotton 'gardening' glove by cutting of the thumb and first 2 finger sleeves.

I wear them in hot weather or with light-coloured wood to keep the wood clean. Once your carving gets dirt rubbed into it, only re-cutting will restore a clean surface.

 
You can see the gloves are a bit worn. That's because I wash them regularly - it's no help wearing a dirty glove!
So get a few pairs. But be wary of coloured gloves; the dye may come off onto the wood.

That's it!

Please forward this newsletter to a woodcarving friend, and anyone else you think might be interested. Thanks!

Joy and success with your carving.

 

                                                   Chris Pye

 
PS: One for the Bench:

"Creative minds have always been known to survive any kind of bad training."

           ~ Anna Freud

BACK ISSUES of this newsletter:

http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/intro/pastnews.html
including zipfiles for 2001 - 2006 text-style newsletters

TUITION/TEACHING 2010

UK (1-TO-1 PERSONAL TUITION)

The best way to learn or improve your carving is to join me in my studio for intensive, custom tuition, tailored to exactly what you need. Easy to arrange; dates to suit.

Click here for full details

USA 2010 Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Maine

  Aug 29 - Sep 4:  Elements of Wood Sculpture

Details on the Haystack website: www.haystack-mtn.org

USA 2010 Center For Furniture Craftsmanship, Maine

  Sep 20 - 24:  Lettercarving

  Sep 27 - Oct 1:  Relief Carving

  Oct 4 - 8:  Carving Tutorial

Details on the CFC website: www.woodschool.org

 
  WOODCARVING DVDs

Full list and details: here

  Sharpen your Gouge
  Essential Lettercarving Techniques
  Ornamental Carving

 
  SLIPSTONES WOODCARVING MANUALS

Help yourself!
You are free to copy any or all of these pdfs/ebooks, send them to your carving friends, or have them available on your own website but you must not charge money for them.

Full list and details: here

  Roman Letter on Grid
  5 Big Thoughts about Carving
  Learning to Draw - Henri Ruukki
  Chris Pye Signature Slipstones
  Deep Undercutting Tools
  Key Notes on Sharpening Woodcarving Gouges
  Master Woodcarving Secrets
  Quick Carving Questions - 1
  Quick Carving Questions - 2
  Quick Carving Questions - 3
  Quick Carving Questions - 4
  Selecting & Sharpening Your V Tool
  Learning to Carve
  Learning to Carve 2
  A Guide to Safe Woodcarving
  Mistakes and Woodcarving
  Fundamentals of Woodcarving
  Slicing, And The Value Of The Inside Bevel