Daughter trying her hand at carving.

[Mattsbagger]

My 10 yr old is trying her hand at carving. She get frustrated when stuff doesn't turn out perfect. It's way better than my first and maybe latest attempt at carving. Was at Tandy yesterday and was talking to the manager (daughter was there) managers daughter was there also. She teaches the carving classes. She is also an Al Stohlman award winner. She explained to her it takes practice over and over to get it looking the way you want. When we got home Savannah decided to try again. This is a piece she started months ago and quit. "Cuz it looks bad" So she tried again. Still not happy with the way it turned out. But didn't give up this time. The coaster is one she just freehanded with a swivel knife.

[JMcC]

Not bad for a first try at carving! Tell her not to give up! Does that Tandy store offer any classes on leather working for beginners on weekends? I know when I first started, I took a class at the local Tandy store and it was all based on a book by Al Stohlman. Even got a certificate for attending lol. Still have it in fact along with the book and projects that we did. It was very helpful and I am glad I took that class. You could go with her so she wouldn't be by herself. It would be a good memory. 

 

[Mattsbagger]

Yes they do. They have a beginner Celtic carving class in a col weeks. She wants to go to that. We took a braiding class a few months back. 20 mins into it she was helping other people.lol

[bikermutt07]

I'm glad y'all are getting to share the hobby.

I'm hoping Ethan will enjoy it when he is a little older.

[Mattsbagger]

1 minute ago, bikermutt07 said:

I'm glad y'all are getting to share the hobby.

I'm hoping Ethan will enjoy it when he is a little older.

She has made some purses for Barbie, wallets,valet trays,key fobs,notebook covers..... I put my foot down yesterday when she wanted to make a leather couch for Barbie. Lol

[bikermutt07]

Ken needs a strato-lounger.

[Mjolnir]

You are going to be the first guy to have a leather fridge! Outstanding work!

[billybopp]

Barbie needs one o' these.  She's a classy chick.

- Bill

[Mattsbagger]

She dyed resisted and antiqued the coaster and just antiqued the flower.

[DJole]

3 hours ago, Mattsbagger said:

My 10 yr old is trying her hand at carving. She get frustrated when stuff doesn't turn out perfect. It's way better than my first and maybe latest attempt at carving. Was at Tandy yesterday and was talking to the manager (daughter was there) managers daughter was there also. She teaches the carving classes. She is also an Al Stohlman award winner. She explained to her it takes practice over and over to get it looking the way you want. When we got home Savannah decided to try again. This is a piece she started months ago and quit. "Cuz it looks bad" So she tried again. Still not happy with the way it turned out. But didn't give up this time. The coaster is one she just freehanded with a swivel knife.

One of the problems that beginners run into is that floral designs are introduced as beginner projects. Yes, they're traditional, and yes, they use the basic set of tools (swivel knife, beveler, veiner, etc.), but that's way too much for a beginner to handle. 
I have a project from 7th grade shop class (yes, Virginia, in the late 70s there was actually shop class and it included leatherwork!) which is a floral design on a luggage tag. As far as I knew, leather work *was* floral work, so it didn't really stick. 
I like the idea of a "Celtic" carving class (although the historian in my wants to point out it's most likely not Celtic at all) because it's going to be a lot simpler, with less realism to try to strive for. So a beginner like  your daughter can just learn to use, say, the swivel knife, a beveller, and backgrounder and end up with a great piece. Then the confidence level goes up, and she can, if she chooses, work up to more complex realistic floral (or figure carving) designs. 

[JMcC]

12 minutes ago, DJole said:

One of the problems that beginners run into is that floral designs are introduced as beginner projects. Yes, they're traditional, and yes, they use the basic set of tools (swivel knife, beveler, veiner, etc.), but that's way too much for a beginner to handle. 
I have a project from 7th grade shop class (yes, Virginia, in the late 70s there was actually shop class and it included leatherwork!) which is a floral design on a luggage tag. As far as I knew, leather work *was* floral work, so it didn't really stick. 
I like the idea of a "Celtic" carving class (although the historian in my wants to point out it's most likely not Celtic at all) because it's going to be a lot simpler, with less realism to try to strive for. So a beginner like  your daughter can just learn to use, say, the swivel knife, a beveller, and backgrounder and end up with a great piece. Then the confidence level goes up, and she can, if she chooses, work up to more complex realistic floral (or figure carving) designs. 

That is a very good point...I know I struggled with floral carving when starting out as well!!

[JMcC]

1 hour ago, billybopp said:

Barbie needs one o' these.  She's a classy chick.

- Bill

Ha-ha!! Some people have more money than sense!

[JMcC]

1 hour ago, Mattsbagger said:

She dyed resisted and antiqued the coaster and just antiqued the flower.

That really looks good. She could add a snap and sides and make a coin purse out of the floral one with Dad's help

 

[Mattsbagger]

It's 7oz. She knows how to do rivets snaps and hand stitch.lol

11 minutes ago, JMcC said:

That really looks good. She could add a snap and sides and make a coin purse out of the floral one with Dad's help