Shoe Carving Challenge #8: Hung Up

Hi Deb;

There no doubt is some artistic ability required to carve something. That’s the road block I run into every time I carve something. I’m just not artistic in that sense. But, I do manage to draw then carve a small portion or piece of an object, which in turn leads to the next portion. It manages to keep me from getting overwhelmed. Baby steps, I think they’re called.

I know you already know this, just trying to cheer you on.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

thanks :)
i think I’m “one baby stepping” towards eliminating the laces hahahaa :)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

One word – velcro. That’ll keep you from getting unstuck about the laces :)

-- If you can't joint it, bead it!

I get this too, Debbie when I over think stuff. Sometimes when I am designing, I research so many photographs and pictures that everything is all jumbled up in my head and I can’t draw anything! It is SO frustrating. I am finding that in order to break out of that (much like the ‘box’ you put yourself in) I just choose a simple starting point and start drawing. Just like Lee said – Baby Steps. Usually when I get to moving again, I stop the over thinking process and concentrate on the task on hand. Some of my best designs have been ‘born’ that way.

I am not as far as you are at all with the shoe. I have had some deadlines I need to meet and will jump back in afterword. I looked at the steps in doing the laces though and I can see why it may be intimidating to you. I may be joining you in a week or so in your frustration. But as an outsider looking in, I am going to suggest just taking off a little material at a time. Take a breath and take it slow. Laces are flexible so if there is a little extra removed here or there, who’s to know? Overall it will fall together.

I am sure our fearless leader (Jordan) will have some good advice for you. I just wanted you to know I am cheering for you and that I have confidence in your abilities and know you will get through this. Don’t let that anxiety get too tight a grip on you!!

Whatever the outcome, have fun and you will learn!

Sheila

-- Contributing Editor, Creative Woodworks and Crafts, Sheila Landry Designs http://www.sheilalandrydesigns.com "Knowledge is Power"

thanks :)

this one isn’t anxiety .. another step towards the awareness .. I’m not worried about the laces and about getting them right, or at least I don’t hear the voice of worry. ..

I’ll do the deep breath though when I get to carving today….. deep breath, one piece at a time … and chug my way through it.

maybe when I get through it I will know what I had experienced.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Sometimes the method maybe stopping you. What I experience with those difficult things is try it on other object… the one that you can afford to destroy or make errors. This is the reason why we need practice or test or trials or even a mistake to learn however we cannot afford to make mistake in the final work. Cheer up and do a trial thing… this will help..

-- Bert

I’m a staunch advocate for the “imagine things much worse thus noticing the comparative ease of the task actually before you” method. Just pretend you had to have four shoes completely finished by Monday but the customer called saying he only needed one by then and he’d appreciate if it had more of a folksy non professional look.

-- "The way to make a small fortune in woodworking- start with a large one"

Well, maybe you could try carving the laces. If they don’t work out just carve them off and presto! Laceless shoes! (I’m probably oversimplifying this …)

-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive

thanks everyone.
Steve – that’s my plan for the laces

and in the meantime I’ll keep peeling back the layers to discover the real roadblock here

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Jordan-makes-it-look-so-easy!
You-cant-expect-to-be-perfect-the-first-time-out.
Do-the-best-you-can,learn-from-your-mistakes-and-the-next-one-will-be-better.
When-I-made-my-first-intarsia-pattern-it-wound-up-in-the-scrap-pile!
I-had-to-regroup-and-try-again.
Practice-makes-perfect.

-- Terri, Rocky Mountain High Colorado!

thanks :)

well the laces are done … they aren’t much to look at but they are done.

and… for the record, I was so focused on the laces that when I went on to the hole for the foot .. well, ((shaking my head)) .. .. well, it is what it is.. I can’t put wood back on, so no need worrying about it

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Like in painting – if you can do a square inch, you can do the whole picture – do one lace at a time and don’t look at the whole picture. But you say you’re done? Well then if you don’t like them later, you will be further along and may make some improvements. You can always make your shoe a little smaller too if things don’t go exactly right.

-- http://www.jordanstraker.com

thanks Jordan. .. yes, I did it .. next time—I’ll take the laces out hahaha :)

I still don’t really know what the roadblock was perhaps it was that big picture vs “inch” issue.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Sounds like your enjoying yourself, & following Jordans advice, & doing just one lace at a time.

Don’t try jump ahead too fast. In one carving class I taught once, the subject was a Rose. It was a two evening course, & after the first night, I told the class if they continued at home, to carve only one petal at a time, or you may mess up. I had a couple of students that didn’t take my advice, I had a couple of messed up carvings I had to try salvage for them.

SO LISTEN TO JORDAN!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I was just going over Jordan’s blog again (on carving the laces) when it hit me—I know what the problem is!!

My shoe is black.
The laces are black.
The laces are extremely long and are stuffed here and there just to get them out of the way.
My vision isn’t what it was when I was 20 (and yes I had my glasses on)

But it is black on black and all I can “SEE” is a blob of black. My brain said, “Huh?” “Huh?” “Huh?”
And it shut down… can’t see it; ain’t going to do it… Yup.. I’m pretty sure that is what the problem was.

Of course, now that I know what the problem is I could work around it by 1) changing the laces to white ones and/or 2) getting a very powerful light to shine on it from an angle, creating stronger shadows.

But.. that will be for the NEXT one.. because these babies are already “carved”. ... (Yes, Dick.. I went ahead and plunged through it.) But that’s ok. I still like my shoe.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)