finishing out the carvings and year

This past week I got a few more carvings done, two in bass wood and two in butternut. I have made some changes to the way I paint and the finish I apply and with these changes I am happier with the look of the bass wood than the butternut. I like the grain in butternut but since I paint most of my carvings anymore I believe butternut no longer compliments my style of carving and painting, or should I say my style of carving and painting doesn't compliment butternut wood. I have a small box of wood left but once it's empty my time spent carving butternut may be as well.

For those that don't know it I recently after a few carvers and years of nudging gave Howard's Feed n Wax finish a try and I have to say I really love the finish it gives my carvings. With the way I paint a watered down color then applying this finish I am extremely happy with the look of my carvings. Mostly my bass wood ornaments and other bass wood carvings, though truth be told at this time of the year ornaments are about all I am carving.

So from my family to yours I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

and as always, 

"Good night and May God bless"