What's been going on over here

Hello everyone!

I have been busy working on a new series of carvings for my shop - framed animals!  I already had my framed deer in the shop, but I knew when I carved that one that I had a series on my hands!  Over Thanksgiving break, I drew up some sketches for a sweet little bear and a mischievous little raccoon that I thought would make adorable stamps.  I carved them out within a couple of days of each other, taking a break for a little Thanksgiving get-together at my in-laws.  They turned out pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself!  :)

 Little Bear Cub

 Little Raccoon

And in case you are interested, I snapped some photos of the little bear stamp as I carved it!  :)

I started out by carving the outline and the fine detail of the letters.

After the lettering, I moved on to the snout.

Snout complete!

Then I cleaned up the background and the space behind the letters.

I removed the excesses around the stamp before the first ink test. 

Results of the first ink test: need to clean up a few areas!

Cleaned up the problem areas in the first ink test and ready for a second test. 

 Results of second ink test: just a little more work on the nose!

Cleaned up the nose a little, did the third ink test, and I think it is a done deal!

From drawing to carving to print, I think this little guy is a keeper!

And now, the mess!

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From my dining room

 I have been working on adding some new designs to my shop lately...about time!  Trust me, I have been itching to add even more, but life has a way sometimes of making other plans for you. But the important thing is that I am finally back at it, and, oh boy, am I having fun with this!

I carved this latest white-tailed deer as I sat at my dining room table on a gorgeous sunny day.  I have a room devoted to my Etsy shop and other crafty endeavors, but my dining room has wonderful windows that let in loads of sunlight - a perfect spot for carving if you ask me! Listening to Daytrotter (loving The Lumineers!), carving stamps, and letting the Spring sunshine in...what a perfect day!

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Check out the notebooks (lined and blank) and notecards!

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See what I mean by great light?  Of course, in the summer, this little area gets a wee bit warm (this is Texas, after all). But right now while the temperatures are still fairly mild (well, mild for here anyway - it was 91 degrees today and it isn't even April yet), this is the perfect spot for working!  Heck, I am sitting in the dining room now!  :)