---- Chris Pye: WOODCARVING - NEWSLETTER ---- October 2003 http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com "Dedicated to the teaching, learning and love of woodcarving" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please forward this newsletter to a woodcarving friend, and anyone else you think might be interested. Thanks! This is an opt-in newsletter and you should only be receiving it because you requested it from the website, or were sent it by a friend. Subscribe or Unsubscribe easily on the home page here: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/ or using the link at the end of the newsletter. ****Back issues here: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/intro/pastnews.html including zipfiles for 2001 and 2002 newsletters ============================================================ Hello Everyone! CONTENTS: 1. Website News 1) More Green Man Carving 2) New Gallery 3) New eBook 2. Quick Carving Questions 1) Pre-Sharpened Tools? 3. Parallel Lines - Guest Article 4 Magic Words To Use Daily by Michael D. Pollock 4. 'Follow up: Carving on Turning' 5. Quick Reminder Website Bookmarks at the end. __________________________________________ 1. WEBSITE NEWS __________________________________________ 1) NEW GREEN MAN CARVINGS! Two carvings by you... SevenOaks Green Man by Bernard Greatrix: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/greenman/gm_gallery14.html Kirkmichael Green Man by Steve Smith: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/greenman/gm_gallery15.html The full index of images is here: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/greenman/gm_galleryindex.html Have you carved a Green Man or similar that you feel is good enough to contribute? ... and one by me, in Gallery 8: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/gallery/gallery8.html Main picture: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/gallery/green10.html and detail: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/gallery/green9.html This carving will form an article in a future edition of Woodcarving magazine and individual copies will be available for sale from the website soon. 2) NEW GALLERY! I have had the privilege of carving another 'flagon' style trophy for the Prince of Wales: 'National Hedgelayers Society Best Overall Growth'. (Is that a raised eyebrow I see in America and elsewhere? Here in Merrie England, Hedgelaying is an esoteric art form.) See the trophy in Gallery 7: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/gallery/gallery7.html There are links on the 'details' page to some pictures showing how I carved the trophy. I particular look at how I carved the bird's nest which sits down the bottom of the flagon... 3) NEW eBook! I announced a little while ago that I have produced - with Ashley Iles - a range of very flat gouges. We are calling them #2 1/2's to distinguish them from the normal #3 in the Sheffield list. I have written an article called: "SLICING, AND THE VALUE OF THE INSIDE BEVEL WITH THE CHRIS PYE #2 1/2 FINISHING GOUGES FROM ASHLEY ILES" which describes how these tools came about and demonstrates how to finish your carvings 'straight from the chisel'. It's free, in pdf format, and here: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/toolshop/ts_iles.html In the UK you must get the tools directly from Ashley Iles at this time: Website: http://www.ashleyiles.co.uk Email: sales@ashleyiles.co.uk In the USA, you can buy these tools: Website:http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/ Full url to the finishing gouges: http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/indexsuper.mvc?SCREEN=NEXT&nextpage=/extra/pyeguide.mvc Email: sales@toolsforworkingwood.com - further details in the pdf document. _______________________________________ 2. QUICK CARVING QUESTIONS ________________________________________ **** QUESTION 1: PRE-SHARPENED TOOLS?**** "Do Auriou tools come pre-sharpened like Pfeil tools (at least the primary cutting edge)? Do they need to be taken to a grinding wheel (essentially starting from scratch) and/or then to an Arkansas stone? I'm just beginning to carve and am just wondering what level of initial sharpening these tools might require?" **** ANSWER **** They are probably about the same I would think, perhaps Pfeil are a little keener. Both need the bevel angle adjusted and inner bevels put on but you shouldn't need a grinder, just your Arkansas oil stones. When I started, I spent 2 days sharpening tools with my mentor before he would let me at a piece of wood! Priceless experience - like learning to tune a guitar before playing it. I know sharpening is a bit intimidating when you start but it's a nettle, a skill, you must grasp. Unfortunately, even if they are sharp when you buy them, they won't stay sharp forever! I suggest you just take one gouge, make sure its cutting angle is 15-20deg., that it has an inner bevel so you can use it upside down, and is sharp - get that right then try another. Best of luck with your carving! _______________________________________ 3. PARALLEL LINES: GUEST ARTICLE 4 Magic Words To Use Daily by Michael D. Pollock ________________________________________ 4 Magic Words To Use Daily by Michael D. Pollock As a powerfully creative individual, you have two incredible tools that form the foundation of your creative power. Whether you're aware of it or not, you're already using one of these tools to create everything you currently experience in your life - good and bad alike. Begin using these two tools together, and you'll harness a creative force within you to manifest your heart's desire. Before you can do that, however, you'll need to use the 4 magic words I'll share with you in a moment. First, let's talk about the powerful tools to which I'm referring. The tools are attention and intention. Attention is defined as: "Concentration of the mental powers upon an object." You use attention any time you concentrate your thoughts upon something, whether it's an object or just another thought. A simple law of the universe says wherever you focus your attention, you also focus your creative energy. In other words, what you think about, you create in your experience. The second tool, intention, is defined as: "An aim that guides action." Intention is the aim, the object or the reality you want to bring into your experience. Intention is "the object of your desires." When you focus your *attention* on what you want and make it your *intention* to create it, you take hold of a creative force that can literally move mountains. Alexander Graham Bell spoke of this force when he stated the following: "What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it." The 4 magic words that position you to use this creative force is your own life are... "What do I want?" Sounds simple, right? It is. But it's not always easy to know what you want. Further, when you do actually decide what you want, you face the challenge of asking for and receiving it. Even further, you've faced those times when you actually got what you wanted, only to discover it wasn't as great as you expected. You end up just accepting and tolerating whatever life throws you, whether in the form of your career, your mate, your income, your living environment, etc. Then, of course, in our state of "tolerating life," the more we focus upon what we don't want, the more of it we experience. In the words of fitness guru Susan Powter... "Stop the insanity!" "What do I want?" Begin using these 4 words each day. As Stephen Covey says, "write it down, asterisk it, underline it." If you ask it, the answers will come. Keep asking until the answers do come. See, you will always get something, even if it's only more of the same. My good friend and fellow Coach, Bryden Manning talks about "Christmas morning relationships." As a child, when you awoke Christmas morning, you knew you'd have stuff under the tree. But if you didn't make a list of what you wanted, there's no telling what you'd get. It works the same with every area of your life. Every day is Christmas morning. You'll always get something. Have you made your list yet? "What do I want?" Just say it out loud with me. "What...do...I...want?" If you have a hard time with this question, consider taking a class or work with a coach. It's too important a question to ignore any longer. It's your life, after all. Start today. Say it..."what do I want?" To the extent you get clear on the answer to this question, to that same extent can you focus your attention on it and make it your intention to create it. I'll leave you with the simple and direct words of Walt Whitman, who said "claim your own at any hazard." It's your life! Make it great. © Copyright Michael Pollock 2002 ----------------------------------------------- About The Author Michael Pollock is a popular on-line writer and Personal Coach. Visit his website at http://www.successfulifecoach.com to learn how you can design a life that's Inspired, Power-Full and Prosperous. ----------------------------------------------- *****COMMENT: HOW IS THIS RELEVANT TO WOODCARVING? It's a great question: 'What do I want?' Like 'Where am I going?', it's the sort of question which defines your goals and, from there, your path. I think this article, on the one hand, is about focussing intention, energy. Have you ever really thought about your woodcarving in these terms? What you want from it? On the other hand - and the author probably just hasn't the space to say more about the corollary: what you are prepared to GIVE to will actually obtain what you want. There's a balance in there somewhere. _______________________________________ 4. FOLLOW UP ________________________________________ My book Carving on Turning has gone out of print (that'll teach you not to buy it when you had the chance!). Some of you asked from where it could still be bought. With thanks to contributors: ***** 1. Gary Laroff: I live in Portland, Oregon, USA and a source here has over ten copies of your book "Carving on Turning". Woodcrafters (not the Woodcraft chain of stores) in Portland has the largest selection of woodworking books I have found in the U.S. Bob Freeman, the purchasing agent, told me today that the book is out of print and he bought out the remaining stock from Sterling, which was the distributor in this country. I counted ten copies today on the shelves, but there may be significantly more in inventory. They do not have a website but do have a toll free number (800 number) for use in the U.S. and ship internationally. Contact: Woodcrafters Attention: Bob Freeman (or anyone who answers the phone) 212 N.E. 6th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97232-2976 Telephone: (503) 231-0226 Fax: (503) 232-0511 Toll free: (800) 777-3709 In addition, Powell's City of Books had two copies as of a few days ago: www.powells.com ***** 2) Mike Hancock We still have a few copies at the UKToolshop, which will be changing direction and name Classic Handtools soon. Email me mike@classichandtools.com ***** 3) Bob Dizon The person who was asking about copies of "Carving on Turning" might be able to buy it from BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS in Watford, UK. They had copies in stock when I was over there a few weeks ago. The address is: BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS 136a High Street, Watford Herts, WD17 2EN Tel 01923 244274 ____________________________________ 5. QUICK REMINDER ________________________________________ After I email out every newsletter, I always get some newsletters returned as 'undeliverable'. IF YOU DISCONTINUE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, PLEASE UNSUBCRIBE IT! It's very easy. At the end of every newsletter you'll find a link specific to you; click this and a web page will confirm you have unsubscribed. Alternatively, IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION ADDRESS, here's what you do: 1. Go to the home page of the website: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/ 2. Scroll down to the newsletter subscription box 3. Unsubscribe your old address - this will be confirmed. 4. Click 'back' and return to the home page. 5. Subscribe your new address - this will also be confirmed. If you later want to resubscribe, do this on the home page of the website. Back issues that you have missed are here: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/intro/pastnews.html ============================================= That's all for this month! Joy and success in your carving! Chris Pye ------------------------- PS: Another one to ponder at the bench: "What's terrible is to pretend that the second-rate is first-rate. To pretend that you don't need love when you do; or you like your work when you know quite well you're capable of better." - Doris Lessing ____________________________________________________________ SOME WEBSITE BOOKMARKS ____________________________________________________________ ----------------- WOODCARVING TOOLS * UK TOOLSHOP: Auriou woodcarving tools and other equipment http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/toolshop/ts_uktoolshop.html * UKTOOLSHOP Direct Link (missing out introductory page): http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/toolshop/uktoolshop/index.html ----------------- SLIPSTONES WOODCARVING MANUALS * The Accomplished V Tool 1 - Free evaluation copy http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/ * Learning to Carve - Free eBook http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/learncarving/learn_ebook.html * A Guide to Safe Woodcarving - Free eBook http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/safecarving/safecarving_index.html * Mistakes and Woodcarving - Free eBook http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/mistakes/mistakes_ebook.html * Fundamentals of Woodcarving - Free eBook http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/fundamentals/fundamentals_ebook.html *Slicing, And The Value Of The Inside Bevel With The Chris Pye #2 1/2 Finishing Gouges From Ashley Iles - Free pdf http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/toolshop/ts_iles.html ----------------- TEACHING DATES * UK (1-TO-1 PERSONAL TUITION) Full details here: http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/tuition/t_custom.html Single day: £150 3 days: £360 5 days: £495 Lunch included. Local B&Bs in a very beautiful part of England... * USA (CENTER FOR FURNITURE CRAFTSMANSHIP, MAINE) http://www.woodschool.org/ PROVISIONALLY: Sept 20 - 24 Course to be decided Sept 27 - Oct 1 Relief Carving Oct 4 - 9 Carving Tutorial Full details to be announced. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Copyright (c) Chris Pye 2003 Chris@chrispye-woodcarving.com