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26K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  DonnaMenke 
#1 ·
Start, to almost finished

Bird House Wren Beak Feather Songbird

This is the finished bird that I started 2 weeks ago. It took about 24 hours to get it to this stage. I still need to make a mount for the bird, and I'd like to make it unique. That means no 'bird on a stick', but also not the trite 'wren on the edge of the cup/bucket/shoe' environment. I've been wracking my poor little brain trying to figure out something unique and good- that I can do in 3 weeks. Any suggestions.ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Now to the process:
Creative arts Wood Wing Art Linens

Actually, the 24 hour time started 3 hours before now, at the stage where I had cut it out of wood and started on the shape. Not counted are probably 5 hours of research, making the plans, and cutting out the blank.
Finger Ingredient Plant Vegetable Cuisine

Finger Thumb Creative arts Wood Natural material

Hand Finger Thumb Natural material Nail

Another couple of hours and a lot of sanding later the basic shape was apparent.
Bird Finger Gesture Thumb Nail

Bird Beak Wood Feather Gesture

Starting to do the wood burning.
Bird Eye Beak Feather Wood

Face burning.
Bird Hand Finger Beak Wood

Burning complete.
Hand Bird Beak Gesture Wood

About 18 hours into the project it is fun to compare the original drawing and the plans to the bird so far.
Bird Vertebrate Beak Art Creative arts

Glass eyes and pewter feet have been put in place with epoxy putty.
Bird Beak Finger Sculpture Feather

First coat of paint has been applied- thinly.
Bird Beak House Wren Finger Gesture

Second coat of paint- building color.
Bird House Wren Beak Songbird Feather

Finished bird- don't mess with him!
Beak Semipalmated Plover Fawn Terrestrial animal Bird
 

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#2 ·
Start, to almost finished

Bird House Wren Beak Feather Songbird

This is the finished bird that I started 2 weeks ago. It took about 24 hours to get it to this stage. I still need to make a mount for the bird, and I'd like to make it unique. That means no 'bird on a stick', but also not the trite 'wren on the edge of the cup/bucket/shoe' environment. I've been wracking my poor little brain trying to figure out something unique and good- that I can do in 3 weeks. Any suggestions.ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Now to the process:
Creative arts Wood Wing Art Linens

Actually, the 24 hour time started 3 hours before now, at the stage where I had cut it out of wood and started on the shape. Not counted are probably 5 hours of research, making the plans, and cutting out the blank.
Finger Ingredient Plant Vegetable Cuisine

Finger Thumb Creative arts Wood Natural material

Hand Finger Thumb Natural material Nail

Another couple of hours and a lot of sanding later the basic shape was apparent.
Bird Finger Gesture Thumb Nail

Bird Beak Wood Feather Gesture

Starting to do the wood burning.
Bird Eye Beak Feather Wood

Face burning.
Bird Hand Finger Beak Wood

Burning complete.
Hand Bird Beak Gesture Wood

About 18 hours into the project it is fun to compare the original drawing and the plans to the bird so far.
Bird Vertebrate Beak Art Creative arts

Glass eyes and pewter feet have been put in place with epoxy putty.
Bird Beak Finger Sculpture Feather

First coat of paint has been applied- thinly.
Bird Beak House Wren Finger Gesture

Second coat of paint- building color.
Bird House Wren Beak Songbird Feather

Finished bird- don't mess with him!
Beak Semipalmated Plover Fawn Terrestrial animal Bird
You are one talented lady Donna! Beautiful Wren, looks like it is ready to take flight.
 

Attachments

#3 ·
Start, to almost finished

Bird House Wren Beak Feather Songbird

This is the finished bird that I started 2 weeks ago. It took about 24 hours to get it to this stage. I still need to make a mount for the bird, and I'd like to make it unique. That means no 'bird on a stick', but also not the trite 'wren on the edge of the cup/bucket/shoe' environment. I've been wracking my poor little brain trying to figure out something unique and good- that I can do in 3 weeks. Any suggestions.ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Now to the process:
Creative arts Wood Wing Art Linens

Actually, the 24 hour time started 3 hours before now, at the stage where I had cut it out of wood and started on the shape. Not counted are probably 5 hours of research, making the plans, and cutting out the blank.
Finger Ingredient Plant Vegetable Cuisine

Finger Thumb Creative arts Wood Natural material

Hand Finger Thumb Natural material Nail

Another couple of hours and a lot of sanding later the basic shape was apparent.
Bird Finger Gesture Thumb Nail

Bird Beak Wood Feather Gesture

Starting to do the wood burning.
Bird Eye Beak Feather Wood

Face burning.
Bird Hand Finger Beak Wood

Burning complete.
Hand Bird Beak Gesture Wood

About 18 hours into the project it is fun to compare the original drawing and the plans to the bird so far.
Bird Vertebrate Beak Art Creative arts

Glass eyes and pewter feet have been put in place with epoxy putty.
Bird Beak Finger Sculpture Feather

First coat of paint has been applied- thinly.
Bird Beak House Wren Finger Gesture

Second coat of paint- building color.
Bird House Wren Beak Songbird Feather

Finished bird- don't mess with him!
Beak Semipalmated Plover Fawn Terrestrial animal Bird
Wow! I am impressed. You have done a marvelous job making it look real …not only the detailing but the 'stance' as well.

As for a mount, the two things that occurred to me right away was a portion of a 'telephone pole' where the 'wires' are suspended/cantilevered and the 'bird on a wire'. Or now that I think about it, it could be an old salvaged fence post with the barbed wire extending.

The second was a wall mounted 'branch' instead of a table mounted branch.

No matter how you mount this, it is going to look great!
 

Attachments

#4 ·
Start, to almost finished

Bird House Wren Beak Feather Songbird

This is the finished bird that I started 2 weeks ago. It took about 24 hours to get it to this stage. I still need to make a mount for the bird, and I'd like to make it unique. That means no 'bird on a stick', but also not the trite 'wren on the edge of the cup/bucket/shoe' environment. I've been wracking my poor little brain trying to figure out something unique and good- that I can do in 3 weeks. Any suggestions.ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Now to the process:
Creative arts Wood Wing Art Linens

Actually, the 24 hour time started 3 hours before now, at the stage where I had cut it out of wood and started on the shape. Not counted are probably 5 hours of research, making the plans, and cutting out the blank.
Finger Ingredient Plant Vegetable Cuisine

Finger Thumb Creative arts Wood Natural material

Hand Finger Thumb Natural material Nail

Another couple of hours and a lot of sanding later the basic shape was apparent.
Bird Finger Gesture Thumb Nail

Bird Beak Wood Feather Gesture

Starting to do the wood burning.
Bird Eye Beak Feather Wood

Face burning.
Bird Hand Finger Beak Wood

Burning complete.
Hand Bird Beak Gesture Wood

About 18 hours into the project it is fun to compare the original drawing and the plans to the bird so far.
Bird Vertebrate Beak Art Creative arts

Glass eyes and pewter feet have been put in place with epoxy putty.
Bird Beak Finger Sculpture Feather

First coat of paint has been applied- thinly.
Bird Beak House Wren Finger Gesture

Second coat of paint- building color.
Bird House Wren Beak Songbird Feather

Finished bird- don't mess with him!
Beak Semipalmated Plover Fawn Terrestrial animal Bird
Donna you carvers just leave me in awe thats so real looking.beautiful you are a talented master
 

Attachments

#5 ·
Start, to almost finished

Bird House Wren Beak Feather Songbird

This is the finished bird that I started 2 weeks ago. It took about 24 hours to get it to this stage. I still need to make a mount for the bird, and I'd like to make it unique. That means no 'bird on a stick', but also not the trite 'wren on the edge of the cup/bucket/shoe' environment. I've been wracking my poor little brain trying to figure out something unique and good- that I can do in 3 weeks. Any suggestions.ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Now to the process:
Creative arts Wood Wing Art Linens

Actually, the 24 hour time started 3 hours before now, at the stage where I had cut it out of wood and started on the shape. Not counted are probably 5 hours of research, making the plans, and cutting out the blank.
Finger Ingredient Plant Vegetable Cuisine

Finger Thumb Creative arts Wood Natural material

Hand Finger Thumb Natural material Nail

Another couple of hours and a lot of sanding later the basic shape was apparent.
Bird Finger Gesture Thumb Nail

Bird Beak Wood Feather Gesture

Starting to do the wood burning.
Bird Eye Beak Feather Wood

Face burning.
Bird Hand Finger Beak Wood

Burning complete.
Hand Bird Beak Gesture Wood

About 18 hours into the project it is fun to compare the original drawing and the plans to the bird so far.
Bird Vertebrate Beak Art Creative arts

Glass eyes and pewter feet have been put in place with epoxy putty.
Bird Beak Finger Sculpture Feather

First coat of paint has been applied- thinly.
Bird Beak House Wren Finger Gesture

Second coat of paint- building color.
Bird House Wren Beak Songbird Feather

Finished bird- don't mess with him!
Beak Semipalmated Plover Fawn Terrestrial animal Bird
Donna that bird looked so alive and love birds and wild life wanted to share this .. God's Wings
After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast … because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.
'He will cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you will find refuge.'
(Psalm 91:4)
 

Attachments

#6 ·
Start, to almost finished

Bird House Wren Beak Feather Songbird

This is the finished bird that I started 2 weeks ago. It took about 24 hours to get it to this stage. I still need to make a mount for the bird, and I'd like to make it unique. That means no 'bird on a stick', but also not the trite 'wren on the edge of the cup/bucket/shoe' environment. I've been wracking my poor little brain trying to figure out something unique and good- that I can do in 3 weeks. Any suggestions.ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Now to the process:
Creative arts Wood Wing Art Linens

Actually, the 24 hour time started 3 hours before now, at the stage where I had cut it out of wood and started on the shape. Not counted are probably 5 hours of research, making the plans, and cutting out the blank.
Finger Ingredient Plant Vegetable Cuisine

Finger Thumb Creative arts Wood Natural material

Hand Finger Thumb Natural material Nail

Another couple of hours and a lot of sanding later the basic shape was apparent.
Bird Finger Gesture Thumb Nail

Bird Beak Wood Feather Gesture

Starting to do the wood burning.
Bird Eye Beak Feather Wood

Face burning.
Bird Hand Finger Beak Wood

Burning complete.
Hand Bird Beak Gesture Wood

About 18 hours into the project it is fun to compare the original drawing and the plans to the bird so far.
Bird Vertebrate Beak Art Creative arts

Glass eyes and pewter feet have been put in place with epoxy putty.
Bird Beak Finger Sculpture Feather

First coat of paint has been applied- thinly.
Bird Beak House Wren Finger Gesture

Second coat of paint- building color.
Bird House Wren Beak Songbird Feather

Finished bird- don't mess with him!
Beak Semipalmated Plover Fawn Terrestrial animal Bird
How about on a cell phone? Great job on the bird….Carolina wrens are a favorite of mine. A couple built a nest in my shop right above my clamp rack, and I got to watch them hatch, and learn to fly, and everything. They are pretty fearless little creatures! Maybe perched on a baseball cap or a desk lamp or a wooden plane? Those birds were into everything in my shop and it got quite nervewracking with 6 babies hopping and fluttering and slipping on the light fixtures above. I carved one also, but it took me a lot longer, and I think I like yours better!
 

Attachments

#7 ·
Start, to almost finished

Bird House Wren Beak Feather Songbird

This is the finished bird that I started 2 weeks ago. It took about 24 hours to get it to this stage. I still need to make a mount for the bird, and I'd like to make it unique. That means no 'bird on a stick', but also not the trite 'wren on the edge of the cup/bucket/shoe' environment. I've been wracking my poor little brain trying to figure out something unique and good- that I can do in 3 weeks. Any suggestions.ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Now to the process:
Creative arts Wood Wing Art Linens

Actually, the 24 hour time started 3 hours before now, at the stage where I had cut it out of wood and started on the shape. Not counted are probably 5 hours of research, making the plans, and cutting out the blank.
Finger Ingredient Plant Vegetable Cuisine

Finger Thumb Creative arts Wood Natural material

Hand Finger Thumb Natural material Nail

Another couple of hours and a lot of sanding later the basic shape was apparent.
Bird Finger Gesture Thumb Nail

Bird Beak Wood Feather Gesture

Starting to do the wood burning.
Bird Eye Beak Feather Wood

Face burning.
Bird Hand Finger Beak Wood

Burning complete.
Hand Bird Beak Gesture Wood

About 18 hours into the project it is fun to compare the original drawing and the plans to the bird so far.
Bird Vertebrate Beak Art Creative arts

Glass eyes and pewter feet have been put in place with epoxy putty.
Bird Beak Finger Sculpture Feather

First coat of paint has been applied- thinly.
Bird Beak House Wren Finger Gesture

Second coat of paint- building color.
Bird House Wren Beak Songbird Feather

Finished bird- don't mess with him!
Beak Semipalmated Plover Fawn Terrestrial animal Bird
Awesome work. My dad is a wood carver; I'll be sure to show your work to him.
 

Attachments

#8 ·
Start, to almost finished

Bird House Wren Beak Feather Songbird

This is the finished bird that I started 2 weeks ago. It took about 24 hours to get it to this stage. I still need to make a mount for the bird, and I'd like to make it unique. That means no 'bird on a stick', but also not the trite 'wren on the edge of the cup/bucket/shoe' environment. I've been wracking my poor little brain trying to figure out something unique and good- that I can do in 3 weeks. Any suggestions.ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Now to the process:
Creative arts Wood Wing Art Linens

Actually, the 24 hour time started 3 hours before now, at the stage where I had cut it out of wood and started on the shape. Not counted are probably 5 hours of research, making the plans, and cutting out the blank.
Finger Ingredient Plant Vegetable Cuisine

Finger Thumb Creative arts Wood Natural material

Hand Finger Thumb Natural material Nail

Another couple of hours and a lot of sanding later the basic shape was apparent.
Bird Finger Gesture Thumb Nail

Bird Beak Wood Feather Gesture

Starting to do the wood burning.
Bird Eye Beak Feather Wood

Face burning.
Bird Hand Finger Beak Wood

Burning complete.
Hand Bird Beak Gesture Wood

About 18 hours into the project it is fun to compare the original drawing and the plans to the bird so far.
Bird Vertebrate Beak Art Creative arts

Glass eyes and pewter feet have been put in place with epoxy putty.
Bird Beak Finger Sculpture Feather

First coat of paint has been applied- thinly.
Bird Beak House Wren Finger Gesture

Second coat of paint- building color.
Bird House Wren Beak Songbird Feather

Finished bird- don't mess with him!
Beak Semipalmated Plover Fawn Terrestrial animal Bird
Donna,

Your carving is OUTSTANDING! Can't wait to see how you decide to mount him.

L/W
 

Attachments

#9 ·
Start, to almost finished

Bird House Wren Beak Feather Songbird

This is the finished bird that I started 2 weeks ago. It took about 24 hours to get it to this stage. I still need to make a mount for the bird, and I'd like to make it unique. That means no 'bird on a stick', but also not the trite 'wren on the edge of the cup/bucket/shoe' environment. I've been wracking my poor little brain trying to figure out something unique and good- that I can do in 3 weeks. Any suggestions.ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Now to the process:
Creative arts Wood Wing Art Linens

Actually, the 24 hour time started 3 hours before now, at the stage where I had cut it out of wood and started on the shape. Not counted are probably 5 hours of research, making the plans, and cutting out the blank.
Finger Ingredient Plant Vegetable Cuisine

Finger Thumb Creative arts Wood Natural material

Hand Finger Thumb Natural material Nail

Another couple of hours and a lot of sanding later the basic shape was apparent.
Bird Finger Gesture Thumb Nail

Bird Beak Wood Feather Gesture

Starting to do the wood burning.
Bird Eye Beak Feather Wood

Face burning.
Bird Hand Finger Beak Wood

Burning complete.
Hand Bird Beak Gesture Wood

About 18 hours into the project it is fun to compare the original drawing and the plans to the bird so far.
Bird Vertebrate Beak Art Creative arts

Glass eyes and pewter feet have been put in place with epoxy putty.
Bird Beak Finger Sculpture Feather

First coat of paint has been applied- thinly.
Bird Beak House Wren Finger Gesture

Second coat of paint- building color.
Bird House Wren Beak Songbird Feather

Finished bird- don't mess with him!
Beak Semipalmated Plover Fawn Terrestrial animal Bird
Wonderful carving Donna. I'm sure you will come up with something far better than anything I could suggest for an appropriate setting.
 

Attachments

#10 ·
Start, to almost finished

Bird House Wren Beak Feather Songbird

This is the finished bird that I started 2 weeks ago. It took about 24 hours to get it to this stage. I still need to make a mount for the bird, and I'd like to make it unique. That means no 'bird on a stick', but also not the trite 'wren on the edge of the cup/bucket/shoe' environment. I've been wracking my poor little brain trying to figure out something unique and good- that I can do in 3 weeks. Any suggestions.ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Now to the process:
Creative arts Wood Wing Art Linens

Actually, the 24 hour time started 3 hours before now, at the stage where I had cut it out of wood and started on the shape. Not counted are probably 5 hours of research, making the plans, and cutting out the blank.
Finger Ingredient Plant Vegetable Cuisine

Finger Thumb Creative arts Wood Natural material

Hand Finger Thumb Natural material Nail

Another couple of hours and a lot of sanding later the basic shape was apparent.
Bird Finger Gesture Thumb Nail

Bird Beak Wood Feather Gesture

Starting to do the wood burning.
Bird Eye Beak Feather Wood

Face burning.
Bird Hand Finger Beak Wood

Burning complete.
Hand Bird Beak Gesture Wood

About 18 hours into the project it is fun to compare the original drawing and the plans to the bird so far.
Bird Vertebrate Beak Art Creative arts

Glass eyes and pewter feet have been put in place with epoxy putty.
Bird Beak Finger Sculpture Feather

First coat of paint has been applied- thinly.
Bird Beak House Wren Finger Gesture

Second coat of paint- building color.
Bird House Wren Beak Songbird Feather

Finished bird- don't mess with him!
Beak Semipalmated Plover Fawn Terrestrial animal Bird
Donna,

My husband had a great suggestion for the mount: on the horn of a steer! You're pretty fast so maybe you can get the steer carved in three weeks and that could use up some of that "so much wood . . ."! LOL

L/W
 

Attachments

#11 ·
Start, to almost finished

Bird House Wren Beak Feather Songbird

This is the finished bird that I started 2 weeks ago. It took about 24 hours to get it to this stage. I still need to make a mount for the bird, and I'd like to make it unique. That means no 'bird on a stick', but also not the trite 'wren on the edge of the cup/bucket/shoe' environment. I've been wracking my poor little brain trying to figure out something unique and good- that I can do in 3 weeks. Any suggestions.ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Now to the process:
Creative arts Wood Wing Art Linens

Actually, the 24 hour time started 3 hours before now, at the stage where I had cut it out of wood and started on the shape. Not counted are probably 5 hours of research, making the plans, and cutting out the blank.
Finger Ingredient Plant Vegetable Cuisine

Finger Thumb Creative arts Wood Natural material

Hand Finger Thumb Natural material Nail

Another couple of hours and a lot of sanding later the basic shape was apparent.
Bird Finger Gesture Thumb Nail

Bird Beak Wood Feather Gesture

Starting to do the wood burning.
Bird Eye Beak Feather Wood

Face burning.
Bird Hand Finger Beak Wood

Burning complete.
Hand Bird Beak Gesture Wood

About 18 hours into the project it is fun to compare the original drawing and the plans to the bird so far.
Bird Vertebrate Beak Art Creative arts

Glass eyes and pewter feet have been put in place with epoxy putty.
Bird Beak Finger Sculpture Feather

First coat of paint has been applied- thinly.
Bird Beak House Wren Finger Gesture

Second coat of paint- building color.
Bird House Wren Beak Songbird Feather

Finished bird- don't mess with him!
Beak Semipalmated Plover Fawn Terrestrial animal Bird
An amazing carving, what kind of nests do they have?
 

Attachments

#12 ·
Start, to almost finished

Bird House Wren Beak Feather Songbird

This is the finished bird that I started 2 weeks ago. It took about 24 hours to get it to this stage. I still need to make a mount for the bird, and I'd like to make it unique. That means no 'bird on a stick', but also not the trite 'wren on the edge of the cup/bucket/shoe' environment. I've been wracking my poor little brain trying to figure out something unique and good- that I can do in 3 weeks. Any suggestions.ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
Now to the process:
Creative arts Wood Wing Art Linens

Actually, the 24 hour time started 3 hours before now, at the stage where I had cut it out of wood and started on the shape. Not counted are probably 5 hours of research, making the plans, and cutting out the blank.
Finger Ingredient Plant Vegetable Cuisine

Finger Thumb Creative arts Wood Natural material

Hand Finger Thumb Natural material Nail

Another couple of hours and a lot of sanding later the basic shape was apparent.
Bird Finger Gesture Thumb Nail

Bird Beak Wood Feather Gesture

Starting to do the wood burning.
Bird Eye Beak Feather Wood

Face burning.
Bird Hand Finger Beak Wood

Burning complete.
Hand Bird Beak Gesture Wood

About 18 hours into the project it is fun to compare the original drawing and the plans to the bird so far.
Bird Vertebrate Beak Art Creative arts

Glass eyes and pewter feet have been put in place with epoxy putty.
Bird Beak Finger Sculpture Feather

First coat of paint has been applied- thinly.
Bird Beak House Wren Finger Gesture

Second coat of paint- building color.
Bird House Wren Beak Songbird Feather

Finished bird- don't mess with him!
Beak Semipalmated Plover Fawn Terrestrial animal Bird
Thanks for the nice comments, fellow woodworkers. Mark- they nest in most unlikely places, like old shoes, cracks in walls, or around here in empty electric boxes set into our concrete walls outside. In the barn once it was in an old stage-coach planter, and that was super cute.
I have decided to mount the bird on a hand. Maybe trite, and I know it has been done before, but not by me. so maybe it will work out OK. I have roughed out the hand using my life-sized hand as a model (I am a handy model- always near-by), but I plan to take about 30 years off the hand removing wrinkles, knobs and veins. I don't want the character of the hand to take away from the character of the bird.
I will post photos of this process after it starts to look good- so far (after 5 hours) it looks like a baseball mitt- terrible.
 

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