Busy

Like buses, lots of oak carving has come along recently. In this picture, gate finials, coat of arms shield and components for an organ (ongoing). Oak isn't just oak. Even within 'European' or 'English' oak there is a variety in the ease of carving. Within this batch, some of it was very hard but amenable to carving detail, other oak was soft or 'mild' but with a crazy grain structure. Some was ordinary.
I hate, and try not to carve American Oak except for lettering. I suppose I might be an Oak Racist.

On and on

Inching along with oak mouldings for Chatsworth House. Finished soon. My back is holding out, partly thanks to a physiotherapist's exercises which, if you walked into my workshop without warning, would resemble the strange contortions of a Morris Dancer! Please knock first!

Oak Crunchy

Just a snap of progress of the Arthouse job on my bench today. I thought it was nice the way the bits of oak combined with the carved leaves.