Quote Originally Posted by Panache
That is beautiful! May I ask how long it took you to craft it?
Hi Panache,
It took about a week, working on it two or three hours a day in my spare time (I work quick...used to those deadlines!). I used pine and bass wood as I knew it was going to be painted, however if I had used a finer grained wood ( which I would have done were it to have a natural or stained finish) it wouldn't have taken quite as long. A finer grained, hardwood/fruitwood will produce finer, crisper detail, and in some ways is easier to carve with handtools- especially against the end grain.

Yes, I hope to keep it a hobby only. I have so many interests that time is a real issue. As far as woodworking, I also turn Bagpipes (Great Highland, Uilleann, Border/bellows etc.) on my lathe, as well as play them. I'm still working out the glitches with my Uilleann chanter dimensions though (talk about a real tricky little sucker to get right!).