A Star is Born

This buckle is from an old pattern of mine but proved to be quite difficult.  The original pattern was done with the lettering in relief (see the old, poor quality, black and white photo below taken over 20 years ago) but I decided to incise the letters on this buckle.  Secondly, the lettering is very small and I had to use “micro carving tools” and a magnifying visor to carve the tiny letters.  Thirdly, the wood turned out to be softer than I thought and I had some collapses that had to be repaired.  But, finally the deed was done and the buckle has already been spoken for.   If I use this pattern again, the lettering will be done in relief again.

Old photo of a "relief" version of the star pattern

My next projects will be some bolo ties, a cane, and a walking stick.  I will, of course, post the photos here.

Mesquite Buckles

Mesquite is among the most handsome of woods.  Grown right here in West Texas, it is hard, its grain is usually subtle but interestingly figured and it carves well.  It can be brittle but usually takes detail quite nicely.  It provides excellent contrast for inserts and inlays of brass, gold, turquoise and other gemstones.

I enjoy the process very much: selecting the wood, forming the blanks and carving the details.  I enjoy the distinctive smell of the wood.  It is very rewarding to take a piece of rough wood and turn it into a shining object of art.   I have recently had several requests for these buckles as gifts.  Each buckle is highly polished and finished with multiple coats of Danish Oil.

I have been making mesquite buckles of various designs for years but neglected to photograph them.  These are the first photos of my recent projects.  Stay tuned for more.

"Texas" incised with brass insert

"Texas" in relief with a bone (deer skull) insert

Mesquite: Ancient Building Material

A nice chunk of mesquite ready to be carved or turned

Okay, so maybe not mesquite precisely…Acacia really, but from the same Mimosaideae — subfamily Leguminosae/Fabacae.  Acacia (another word for the Shitta tree) is mentioned repeatedly in Scripture as the building material for the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle and other religious objects.  Its relative, the Honey Mesquite — Prosopis glandulosa is everywhere around here. Mesquite was also used by native Americans for firewood, tools and weapons.  Back in the South Plains of West Texas where I grew up, mesquites rarely grew over six or seven feet tall.  Here in Abilene this tree, usually classified as a shrub, can grow to thirty feet.  Mesquites can have extremely long taproots and, with a relatively shallow water table, they get all the moisture they need.  They are ubiquitous.  I have several on my property and they are very tall.

The wood is gorgeous as you can see from the photo of “Celtic Bird.”  If you want to see some other wild examples of this symbolic bird (I really don’t know what they are symbols of) you can look here.

Celtic Bird with Turquoise Eye

I hope to be doing much more work in mesquite and the pictures will be posted here.

 

 

 

My blogs:
Whitticisms: dwhitsett.wordpress.com
In the Charamon Garden: charamongarden.wordpress.com
Whitsett Carving: whitcarv.wordpress.com
Mission South Pacific: missionsouthpacific.wordpress.com

A Sign Carver in Texas

Handcarved (not routed!) and gilded with 23K goldleaf. Currently on display at Double Diamond Signs in Abilene in Abilene.

But, that’s not all I do…check out the photos for examples of other creations.

Shallow Relief "Ribbon" Shelf Base

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My Blogs:
Whitticisms: dwhitsett.wordpress.com
In the Charamon Garden: charamongarden.wordpress.com
Whitsett Woodcarving: whitcarv.wordpress.com
Mission South Pacific: missionsouthpacific.wordpress.com