Carving Soap

If you have a copy of 'Whittling and Woodcarving' by E.J. Tangerman take a look at Chapter XV (page 152 in my soft cover). A couple of the soap carvings pictured there are amazing.

I have done several soap carving 'classes' with the kids at the elementary school over the last three years and they love it! We use plastic picnic knives and Ivory soap but Tangerman says use a carving knife and a couple orangewood manicure sticks.

[muffy]

Thanks for the info on the trees Donna. Maybe i should look a little harder then i have been. sure wish i could get a picture of a basswood tree. it would be real helpful in finding one. Dan....

[muffy]

Hello artolverthebarkguy, You said you could find cottonwood bark anywhere in the country.. There are no cottonwood trees in the state of Maine.. just thought you'ed like to know..Dan...

Dan,

While cottonwood (populus deltoides) doesn't grow in Maine you should be able to find balsam poplar(Populus balsamifera) which is of the same family. I know some people carve balsam bark also.

http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrolo...alsamifera.htm

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/si...alsamifera.htm

[quote author=muffy link=board=Beginner;num=1101784694;start=0#12 date=12/01/04 at 07:49:44]Hello artolverthebarkguy, You said you could find cottonwood bark anywhere in the country.. There are no cottonwood trees in the state of Maine.. just thought you'ed like to know..Dan...[/quote]

These links might be of help in identifying a basswood tree...

http://forestry.msu.edu/uptreeid/Spe...d.htm#BASSWOOD

http://fwf.ag.utk.edu/dendro/species/basswood.html

[mikeg]

Thanks Bobby,

The only time I see it is when it's in boards! I'll have to keep an eye out on my next walk.

mikeg

muffy,
gee whiz...I will have to change my statement.....
you can find cottonwood anywhere in North America...
except in the state of Maine.
art
p.s. thanx for the tip