Sanding = Bane

Like I told my wife tonight: "The more I carve, the more I realize that I hate sanding." But we're getting closer.

Kinda Finished?

Ok, I know it took me forever, but I have tests ok? I'd like to say that the hardest part is over, but it's really just going to start pretty soon. Now that the carving is done, I get to spend an eternity sanding this up to get ready for the stain. In the meantime I'll have to round up a piece of maple to use as the backing. 

There are still a couple places I'd like to clean up, but it's definitely looking pretty good. Here's hoping that it just keeps getting better.

Something!

I know this isn't much, even after as long as it has been since I've had a post. There is a carving show coming up in a little over a month, and I decided that I need to get something in before I leave the valley for good this summer. I'll keep the updates coming, at least I hope to.

 Progress has been good over the last few days, so I'll take that as a good sign.

Explanation and Further Delays

I'm always surprised at how long it can get between posts when I get busy with other things. One thing that I often forget is that I'm a Senior Engineering Student trying to finish college. I have the greatest ability to make myself think that I have all the time I need to do what I want. 

Things have picked up quite a bit since I've returned from Portland, which was expected. The main reason I haven't been carving much was that my latest project took a turn for the worse. It was one of those things that I knew was bound to happen, but I didn't expect it to happen to my own sign. To sum up a long story, the sign was knocked off my tool chest and it snapped on the 'h' in Hampshire. It wasn't too bad of a break, but it was just demotivating to see something I had worked so long on to just be broken in half.I have since had it repaired, but am nervous to start working on it again, thinking I might break the weakened joint while carving. But I'm sure I'll get over that soon enough.

For now it looks like I'm going to have to wait until the semester winds down to get any work done. There is a carving show coming up in the next few weeks that I'm going to try and cover. If I make it, I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures for everyone. I'll try and keep everyone a little better informed from now on.

Goodbye Portland

I really did it! The sign is done and that will be the last project I'm working on while being in Portland. It was definitely interesting trying to get things done without all the tools that I'm used to using  back home. The biggest issue I ran into would be the finish, which I've totally taken for granted. I couldn't find a good gloss coat to put on the sign, so it turned out a little more matte than I'm used to, but it still looks alright.

But otherwise that's it! I'm packing up my stuff and heading home later on this week. On a different note, I just got word that Stelter made it to Germany safely in one piece! My faith in the USPS as been restored.