Sioux Chief

Sometime between 2012 and 2015

Time to carve: 3.5 hours
Finishing: 2 hour









Another slide carved during Merit Badge Uninversity at UMASS Amherst I think a couple of years ago. I had a couple of adults ask me about what I was carving while I was chipping away, well here's the result. Carved from red maple with my trusty knife and a lot of sharping using a home brew recycled computer hard drive sharpener system. A couple of coats of poly finish this off.
There is something about the non-descript face and the almost weathered look that appeals to me.

Tarascan Indian Mask

Sometime between 2012 and 2015

Time to carve: 3.5 hours
Finishing: 2 hour










One of my favorite pieces! Carved from red maple it was made using a rotary tool with a saw bit and my knife. Lots of sanding in this one too. A couple of coats of clear poly and a wooden loop glued to the back.

Some good information on the  Tarascan Indians of Mexico can be found here Purepecha-Tarascan Indians

Ole Man of Hawaii

Sometime between 2012 and 2015

 Time to carve/make: 2 hours
Finishing: 2 hour











This one took a bit of time to procure as palm trees don't grow up north and my mother-in-law had gotten rid of her palm tree in Florida. Luckily for me, she knew where to get some dried up palm fronds and sent them up to me. (Thanks Diane!)  The first step was cleaning and letting the fronds dry thoroughly. I cut out the basic shape and mouth using coping saw. Next I gave them a few coats of golden shellac and built up a good thick layer. Using a black permanent marker, I copied the design of the face onto the frond. With a sharp knife, I carefully scrapped away the shellac and top layer of the frond to make the face. I super glued the bristles of a cheap black nylon brush for the beard and hair. Using super glue again, I coated the exposed areas I had scraped to protect it. A wooden loop was glued to the back. I had enough fronds to make several and sent one down to my nephew who is in Scouts.

Beaded Thunderbird (Rosette)

Spring of 2016

Time to make: 2.5 hours













I had some bead left over from some earlier projects so there was nothing to pick up. Just a needle, thread, and piece of white cloth and I was on my way to beading. I forgot how much I enjoyed this kind of methodical building but as I remember it was a trying time at work and was a good release. Once finished I glued it to a wooden round and have a wooden loop for the neckerchief.

How To: Native American Beadwork, Rosette

Knot Slides

Sometime between 2012 and 2015


Time to carve: 3.5 hours
Finishing: 2.5 hour










Knot slides were an interesting addition to my woggles. Worn at the bottom of the neckerchief, in place of trying a knot like some do, these are a nice compliment to the "top" knot.  Carved from bass wood during a Merit Badge University at UMASS Amherst and painted with craft. I finished them off with some clear poly.

Black Walnut

Some time between 2012 and 2015

Time to make: 1 hours
Finishing: 2 hour







The squirrels around my house find black walnuts somewhere around here (I've never been able to find it) and bury them in my yard. So when I saw this pattern, it was as easy as picking one off the ground in my back yard in the spring. The nut had been chewed on but I didn't need the whole thing just slice out of the middle. A quick cut with the band saw, sanding it with fine sandpaper, then drilling a couple of holes into the back for a coat hanger loop super glued in place. I gave it a couple of coats of poly and was amazed at the natural beauty of the slide.

Hound Dog

Around Thanksgiving 2011

Time to make: 2.5 hours

Finishing: 1.5 hour













"You want what?" my wife said when I asked for the turkey neck as she was preparing the Thanksgiving meal. This slide was made from a bone in the turkey neck, a couple of small pieces of wood, and a couple of beads.  The turkey neck was boiled in water until the meat and bones could easily be separated. I let the bones dry then selected one for the slide. Getting out the craft paint, I painted it black and while waiting for it to dry I carved the tongue and bone from some pine. These were also painted with craft paint and set aside. With all parts dry, I super glued the bone, tongue, and the bead eyes in place. A couple of coats of poly to seal it and then it was ready for the loop. The loop is a piece of leather with a screw into the back of the bone to finish it up.

I really found the bones interesting so look to future posts for more slides using the turkey neck bones