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A Lady's Fancy Dress-Up Walking Cane, with Handcarved Red Long-Stem Roses

Project by Mark A. DeCou posted 622 days ago 3279 views 0 times favorited 26 comments Add to Favorites Watch

This cane has been “SOLD” and shipped to Wichita, Kansas USA.

Welcome Web Surfers:
If you are surfing looking for a special walking cane on the internet, go toward the bottom of this posting where you’ll find a list of canes that I have built that are ready to ship immediately. Also, there are links to several more customized canes that have already been sold to give you ideas for your own commissioned cane.

You can reach me by emailing to:
mark@decoustudio.com

Or you can visit the DeCou Website

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Photo 1

Project Story:

When I make something to show in a gallery, or store, or art show, I make something I like, and hope that others will also. Since I’m a guy, they sort of look like “guy” canes, at least that is what I have been told. There have been a lot of ladies that have purchased them, but I have also found that many other ladies have turned away, thinking that they were too “masculine” looking for their tastes.

A couple of weeks ago a very nice lady called me asking for me to build her a fancy dress up cane, that she could take out with her to events, and social gatherings. She felt that her late-Husband’s aluminum adjustable tube cane would just not work, and after seeing it, I agreed with her.

She was really embarrassed using her husband’s cane, but she didn’t have anything else, couldn’t find anything else, but stumbled onto my canes for sale in the Hatman Jack’s store in Wichita, KS where she frequently buys hats. So, we made an appointment and she told me exactly what she wanted.

She wanted a classy looking Lady’s cane, made to her size, round and narrow, tapered, with a pretty brass tip, a small dainty handle, and long stem roses carved on the side that were painted, but not too brightly. The roses were to show up, but not be overpowering for the appearance.

I have never carved roses before, but told her I thought I could make it work. I actually had a lot of fun figuring what a rose would look like, and how to carve on a narrow little cane, so that it stuck out from the round tapered shaft. To do this, I started with a round cane blank I made 1-1/2” in diameter, and just removed everything that didn’t look like a cane, or a rose. The roses are carved out of the single block of wood along with the round shaft, they are not glued on.

I spent this week working to meet her design parameters. She was so sweet to work with, that I built a little display stand that she could keep by the door to hold her cane.

Just the Facts:
Wood: Black Walnut
Carvings: Long Stem Roses
Finish: Acrylic Paint, Lacquer, Black-tinted Lacquer
Tip: Brass, turned and polished with a replaceable rubber tip.

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

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Cane Sample Slideshow: To hear Music, click the Speaker Icon

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More Walking Sticks & Canes:
If you go to my Mark DeCou Website you won’t find very many canes pictured there. I do realize that I need to invest in improving my website, but until that is accomplished, here are few more of my canes posted at lumberjocks, thanks for your patience.

Handmade Finished Canes For Sale, Ready to Ship Now:

ETSY.com Online Shop Inventory: Click Here to Visit my Cane Inventory Page

Some Cane that are Unsold:
  1. Folk-Art Carved Wood Spirit Hiking Stick, Serial N0. 2009-06
  2. Folk-Art Carved Pirate Face Cane -Serial No. 2005-16
  3. Folk-Art Carved Mountain Man Face Cane -Serial No. 2006-03
  4. Fancy Barley Twisted Ebonized Oak & Elk Antler Cane, Serial No. 2009-05
  5. Rustic Natural Walking Stick, Nanny McPhee Movie Inspired, Serial No. 2009-07
  6. Fancy Dress Cane, Curly Ambrosia Maple Handle with Black Spiral Shaft, Serial No. 2008-21
  7. Fancy Dress Cane, Walnut Bamboo Inspired Shaft, Buffalo Horn Laminated Handle, Serial No. 2008-23
  8. Scrimshaw Artwork Walnut Cane -Serial No. 2008-08
  9. Red Oak/Black Lacquered Twisted Cane -Serial No. 2008-14
  10. Red Oak Barley Twist Walking Cane -Serial No. 2008-15
  11. Walnut Ball-Top Dress Cane -Serial No. 2008-06
  12. Walnut Cane with Chrome Ball Knob -Serial No. 2008-20
  13. Carved Thumbstick Hiking Sticks with Composite Malachite -Serial No. 2008-24

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Folk Art & Pop-Art Carved Canes
  1. Bishop’s Carved Walnut Crosier
  2. Nascar’s Jimmie Johnson Themed Walking Cane
  3. Carved Oak Leaf Walking Stick
  4. Folk-Art Smiling Wood Spirit Face Cane w/ Elk Antler Handle
  5. Folk-Art Carved Wood Spirit Hiking Stick
  6. Folk-Art Pirate Carved Face Cane w/ Deer Antler Handle
  7. Cartoon Character Taz, Folk Art One-of-a-kind Art Cane
  8. Sculpted Wood Spirit Face Cane
  9. Folk-Art Wood Spirit Cane w/ Elk Antler Handle & Scrimshaw
  10. Folk Art Mountain Man Face Cane
  11. Shamrock Wood Spirit Irish-Theme Face Cane
  12. Walnut Wood Spirit Face Cane with Antler & Turquoise
  13. Collection of Face Carved Canes
  14. Moses-Inspired Face Carved Cane w/ Antler & Turquoise
  15. Shepherd's Stick, Carved Border Collie Welsh-Style Dog Show Trial Stick
  16. Carved Oak Leaf Walking Cane with Scrimshaw Artwork
  17. Amazing Grace Music Notes Carved Cane
  18. A Lady’s Elegant Red Long-Stem Rose Carved Cane
  19. Prairie Fire Hand-Carved Hiking Thumb Sticks
  20. A Folk-Art Carved Albatross Head & Snake Walnut Cane
  21. Carved Folk-Art Walking Cane; 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' Story Stick with Scrimshaw Artwork-
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Native American Indian Theme Folk-Art Canes
  1. Apache Chief Geronimo Folk-Art Face Cane
  2. Folk Art Native American Face Cane Set
  3. Apache Chief Cochise Folk-Art Face Cane
  4. Folk Art Carved Cane of Shoshone Chief
  5. Indian Guides Chief Big-Red-Cloud Hiking Stick
  6. Apache Chief Cochise #2 Folk-Art Face Cane
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Scrimshaw Artwork Canes
  1. Scrimshaw Art Trophy Buck Deer Head
  2. Scrimshaw Art Walking Cane: Praying Mantis Insect
  3. Scrimshaw Art Walking Cane: Floppy Eared Bunny Face & Walnut Barley Twist
  4. Big & Tall Barley Twisted Oak with Scrimshawn Handle
  5. Walnut & Curly Maple Cane with Scrimshaw
  6. Scrimshaw Art Walnut Cane
  7. Fancy Barley Twist with Scrimshaw Cane
  8. Lady's Dress Cane, Red Oak, Walnut, Black Lacquer, & Scrimshaw Artwork of a Purple Cone Flower
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Natural Sapling/Limb Canes/Sticks
  1. Folk-Art Carved Wood Spirit Hiking Stick
  2. Nanny McPhee Movie-Inspired Crooked Walking Stick
  3. Naturally Twisted Tree Sapling Cane
  4. Naturally Twisted Tree Sapling Walking Stick
  5. Shepherd's Crook Hiking Stick
  6. Black Locust Tree Sapling Walking Stick
  7. Red BirchTree Sapling Hiking Stick
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Fancy Barley-Twist Style Dress Canes
  1. Fancy Barley Twisted Ebonized Oak & Elk Antler Cane, Serial No. 2009-05
  2. Big & Tall Walnut & Maple Barley Twist Custom Cane
  3. Big & Tall Red Oak and Antler with Scrimshaw Monogram
  4. White Oak Barley Twist Cane
  5. Osage Orange Barley Twist Cane
  6. Walnut & Figured Maple Barley Twist cane
  7. Black Walnut and Spalted Sycamore Barley Twist
  8. Red Oak Barley Twist with Black Lacquer
  9. Red Oak Barley Twist with Walnut Handle
  10. Dress Cane, Oak Barley Twist with Walnut Ring
  11. Bryan's Cane, The Start of my Cane Journey
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Fancy Dress Style Canes
  1. Pink Ivory and Elk Antler Dress Walking Stick
  2. Coiled Ribbon Twisted Spalted White Oak with Walnut Handle
  3. Polished Black Steer Horn Upright Walking Stick
  4. Mexican Bocote Wood, Elk Antler Handle with Hand-Wrought Fine Silver End Caps
  5. Fancy Walking Cane, Camphor Burl, Maple, Bubinga, Whitetail Deer Antler, Inlays & Silver End Caps
  6. Custom Dress-Up Walking Cane, Walnut shaft with a Camphor Burl Handle
  7. Walnut & Buffalo Horn Twisted Cane
  8. White Birch & Buffalo Horn Twisted Cane
  9. Walnut Bamboo-Style Cane with Chrome Ball Top
  10. Walnut & Buffalo Horn Dress Cane
  11. Bird's Eye Maple Cane
  12. Spalted Sycamore Walking Cane
  13. Walnut Tall Knob Top Opera Cane
  14. Zebrawood & Walnut Knob Top Opera Cane
  15. Dress Cane Set, with several Material Options Shown
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What is Scrimshaw Artwork?:
A Scrimshaw Art Journey: What it is & How to Do it; Five Simple Steps to Success
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Click here to go to My Website page with Walking Canes

I usually have a few canes in stock at:
  1. Hatman Jack’s Wichita Hat Works in Wichita, Kansas
  2. Hutchinson Art Center in Hutchinson, Kansas
  3. Prairie Past Times Antiques & Crafts in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas

You can contact these gallery stores directly and see what they still have in stock. They will ship to you if you buy something. If you prefer, you can also email me, as I keep fairly current on what is “unsold.”

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Background: My Cane Making Story:

I enjoy sculpting walking canes. Some folks call them Folk-Art Canes, while others call them Artisan Canes, some call them Carved Canes, while others call them Walking Sticks. There is quite a bit of argument about whether something should be called Sculpture or Carving. They could be considered Functional-Art, which is the type of work that I am usually drawn to. No matter what these canes are called, they seem to bring joy to the owners, and I have been asked to make quite a few of them in the past 5-6 years.

I started making canes on the request of a nice married couple I met on a church-building short-term mission trip to Mexico City in the early 1990’s. Several years after our trip, their son-in-law was diagnosed with bone cancer, and so they wanted to get him a specially made cane that he would enjoy using. They had heard from others that I had quit my corporate office job and started doing woodworking full-time. So, they contacted me to make his cane.

Click for details

Sadly, I also built him a casket, another first for me, about a year later

Click for details

Since the time I did that first Cane for Bryan, I have enjoyed the work on the canes that I have been able to make, but more importantly, the people that I have been able to meet and help along the journey. I do make a bunch of unique items and furniture, but without a doubt, I receive more correspondence and thank-you cards from cane customers than any of the other items I make, combined. So, they are fun for me to build, and I look forward to each new person and situation.

To keep a handle on all of the memories, I engrave a small serial number on each brass cane tip, and then I keep a detailed database log of each cane, customer, and situation. The list always brings me warm memories each time I scan it and remember the folks that have supported my work over the years, and vice versa.

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Still Want to See more of my work?

Start with each of these links, and they will take you to other organized lists of my other niche products:

  1. Custom Knives
  2. Custom Art-Furniture I've Built
  3. Artisan Hat Making Tools

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(This text, all photos, project design, are protected by copyright 2007-2009, M.A.DeCou, all rights reserved and protected, ask permission first! Weblinks to this page are permitted)

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com


26 comments so far

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9518 posts in 879 days


posted 622 days ago

Mark,

That’s one nice walking stick and a great story.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View dennis mitchell's profile

dennis mitchell

3791 posts in 1205 days


posted 622 days ago

View Chris 's profile

Chris

1462 posts in 882 days


posted 622 days ago

wow…. Thanks Mark.

-- Chris

View Roger Strautman's profile

Roger Strautman

534 posts in 1024 days


posted 622 days ago

What a classy cane. Nice touch of adding the nice stand. Another quality piece by Mark!! Thanks for sharing.

-- " All Things At First Appear Difficult"

View darryl's profile

darryl

1392 posts in 1217 days


posted 622 days ago

as always Mark, you do fantastic work.
This cane is beautiful and sounds like it matches exactly what your client is looking for.
excellent photography as well.

as a side note, I’d still be interested to see how you might incorporate the Celtic Knot design that we penturners use in one of your canes.

-- www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.darrylmasterson.etsy.com

View Mark A. DeCou's profile

Mark A. DeCou

1537 posts in 1296 days


posted 622 days ago

Thanks guys for the compliments. I do appreciate the encouragement. I built 18 canes in January-February, but I shuttled them out to stores so quickly I didn’t get any photos. Something I try not to do very often.

Darryl, I’ve looked pretty intently at pen turning to get ideas on what to use in my canes. I have been reluctant to do canes with multiple pieces just counting on glue to hold it. People lean their body weight on the canes, and they also carry them in all kinds of weather, leaving them in cold cars, and then by the warm fire, etc. So, the life of a cane is pretty harsh. Also, the pens have the brass tube that supports the wood, but even then I have seen older pens that were coming apart, and showing splits, and other problems.

Cane design is an interesting thing. I get quite a few questions and comments about canes from the internet. My goal is to introduce something unique, safe to use, comfortable to use, and a conversation piece. I have seen internet photos of canes that looked like stair ballisters with a handle, and others that folks have turned, or whittled, and I have several books on the subject that also offer inspiration.

Recently a guy asked me about a celtic knot carved down the cane in a spiral, and so I looked at it. The cost was prohibitive to him, but it would make a cool looking cane.

So many cane ideas, so little time,
Mark

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

View Karson's profile

Karson

25786 posts in 1291 days


posted 622 days ago

Mark. A great looking cane. I’m glad that you are among the living. I talked to Dusty a week ago and he said that you told him you were under the weather for a month.

God bless you brother.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View Mark A. DeCou's profile

Mark A. DeCou

1537 posts in 1296 days


posted 622 days ago

Thanks Karson. I was down for a month with that flu/pneumonia crud going around. Two weeks in bed, and two more weeks just tired and not worth much in the shop.

I feel great now, probably better than 100% of what I was. Why? I cut back on my junk-food and diet soda pop, including M&M’s. I was going to quit the soda pop completely, but I’m back to one can a day now. It is easy to quit soda pop, I’ve quit it hundreds of times.

thanks,
M

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

View Karson's profile

Karson

25786 posts in 1291 days


posted 622 days ago

I’m with you on that. Glad that you are better.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View Tony's profile

Tony

812 posts in 921 days


posted 622 days ago

Nice one Mark!

-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

20518 posts in 713 days


posted 622 days ago

Mark,

I agree with the other comments that this a very nice cane. But to me the story behind it is almost as important as the project itself. With these pieces you are are able to follow your dream in life and make a difference in other people’s lives.

This is an inspirational post. Thanks for allowing us to share a small part of your life story.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

View Joel Tille's profile

Joel Tille

214 posts in 1135 days


posted 622 days ago

Very Elegant Cane Mark – The women should have no problem using this one.

-- Joel Tille

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5970 posts in 956 days


posted 622 days ago

Outstanding.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

4015 posts in 853 days


posted 622 days ago

Mark, that is one dandy walking stick. The lady ought to be proud to show it off.

-- Thos. Angle

View teenagewoodworker's profile

teenagewoodworker

2479 posts in 659 days


posted 622 days ago

thats a great cane. who ever bought it must show it off to everyone who she sees. i love the rose on it too. keep up the great work.

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

3710 posts in 870 days


posted 620 days ago

Hey Mark;

As usual…

I thought about ending my post right there and save some typing, since there all the same ie.. Great job,
beautiful, fabulous, etc…

But that would be doing you an injustice.

Your cane is beautiful and the carving is very elegant. I hope you remembered to leave the thorns off though.

Lee

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

View Mark A. DeCou's profile

Mark A. DeCou

1537 posts in 1296 days


posted 620 days ago

thanks again folks, your encouragement is much appreciate.

No Thorns Lee.

Thanks,
M

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 765 days


posted 620 days ago

It is wonderful. The rose inlay really makes it special.

View PanamaJack's profile

PanamaJack

4447 posts in 968 days


posted 619 days ago

as always Mark, a great artistic job well done!

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

View Mark A. DeCou's profile

Mark A. DeCou

1537 posts in 1296 days


posted 619 days ago

Thanks Rikkor. The roses are carved, being raised out of the surface of the round shaft. I start with a block of wood about 1-3/4” x 1-3/4” x 38”, and turn it round and tapered to about 1-1/2” diameter at the point where the roses are. Then, I draw the artwork on the wood, and remove everything that doesn’t look like a rose/stem/leaves, or a round tapered shaft. I use a Legacy Ornamental Lathe machine to do the tapering, and making the tenons for the brass tip and handle. Lots of sanding to get it smooth. It is much quicker to just quickly texture carve the shaft, which I do at times on other canes, but for this dress-up cane, it needed to be smooth to pull off the design. The difference makes a $60-$75 difference in cane pricing, which can be hard for non-woodworkers to understand, since it is hard to see how long it takes to do something like that.

In the process now of working with another customer that wants a Shamrock Spirit/Irish themed cane. I will do this work in the same process as the rose, only carving Shamrocks and a Smiling Wood Spirit style face in place of the roses. I’ll be back with photos of that cane when it is finished.

Thanks PanamaJack, I appreciate your encouragement.

Mark

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7296 posts in 1137 days


posted 617 days ago

Man you always surprise me, you can bang out the most masculine, beautiful objects, then turn around and make something this delicate and petite and just as beautiful. That rose is just stunning on that cane. I can just picture the women you made it for. You’ll always be the man. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7034 posts in 1190 days


posted 612 days ago

Hi Mark!

A beautiful cane for a beautiful lady.

A very nice rosebud, Is there one on the other side too?

You’ll be getting a lot of requests for this model.

-- -** 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

View mrtrim's profile

mrtrim

1700 posts in 771 days


posted 612 days ago

great job and story , i enjoy your storys almost as much as looking at your work . thanks for posting both

View kolwdwrkr's profile (online now)

kolwdwrkr

2242 posts in 481 days


posted 153 days ago

Very beautiful cane.

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

View SCOTSMAN's profile

SCOTSMAN

2237 posts in 476 days


posted 153 days ago

The rose one reminded me of a rennie mackintosh special rose he designed.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

View a1Jim's profile (online now)

a1Jim

16493 posts in 468 days


posted 153 days ago

A wonderful cane great work as usual

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

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