a new idea ( sharpening )

hi folks, as you know many carvers have a hard time to sharpen knives, and i have a new idea, that may help . i have other previous tapes that i put on youtube called the secert of sharpening , but this is simple and may help those who dont want to use a drill to sharpen their knives, i planning to put a video on tonight, so stay tuned.... i am all for new ideas , my goal is to make it simple and affordable for everyone, that is why you see woodcarving tips and how to videos on my channel....no need to spend alot of money on things that you can create right at home. ok........... now off to the farm to get what i need and then i can start making some more tapes tips on sharpening

pine cone ornament project

hi folks if you want a fun time woodcarving then try this pine cone, you will be able to follow on my youtube channel, thanks to rick from little shavers,, its his design click on his site on the right under links and cool stuff, and if you want to follow me just click on the carverswoodshop youtube link , thanks for joining me ,,, and this is a fun easy project , happy carving everyone

hobo santa /snowman relief ( friends) is finished

hello, i am finished with this hobo santa/snowman friends and ready to start the pine cone ornament you can follow the teaching video on this project (HOBO) on youtube. this design was mine own, and its the first one i made like this,,,i was happy with the outcome, it was a fun project , if you like a pattern is 1.50 and i will send it by email to you, now off to the farm to cutout some pinecones lol happy carving , arleen

tulip, one of an earlier project on youtube

this is just a picture of the tulip i made for my mom for her birthday last month, its one of my video projects on youtube if you like to try to make one like it, it was a fun project. its all out of one piece of wood, happy carving , arleen

http://www.youtube.com/carverswoodshop

ckeck out new links if you have the time

i have a spot that i am putting links for you on the right, to use to find tools and wood, and also some other neat sites that i come across, ckeck them out , i only purchase wood from heineck woods, have fun surfing the net.

some more info on the hobo santa carving class and about sharpening your knife

just to let folks know i will have knives here that you can purchase and the carvers glove , thumb guard and the strop, so that we are all on the same page, i am not in the business to sell tools but i am buying them and selling them at my cost , i just want you to to have a good knife, and soooo important to start your carving right thought this might be better then everyone starting with a different knives unless your are an not a beginner and you know how to sharpen your knives. this way you will have a good knife that will last you a lifetime with the right care. i might do a couple of classes just how to sharpen knives, and teaching how to keep them sharp,,, is sooo....important folks that you learn how to sharpen your knife. once you learn this , you will enjoy woodcarving even more,,,, nothing is more frustrating than a dull knife...... so learn this early in your woodcarving venture... you will never regret learning to sharpen a knife. and remember alot of carvers have a different way to sharpen, they are all good, just find the one that will work for you ! so try and try again to sharpen your tools, it take time to learn this so dont be discourged if you dont get it right the first time keep trying, i promise if you get this sharpening stuff right you will enjoy woodcarving so much more, nothing better than a great knife and good wood, to carve with,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, sept 14 will be here before we know it, and what a fun time it will be, happy and sharp carving to you all , arleen

what is junk to one, is treasure to another,,, tools from holland

hi again, i spoke to my uncle in holland, the tools he sent over, were hand made by him, you can no longer get the gouges that they used years agos, the long tool the draw knife with a handle , also can not be purchase, they are now collector items,,,, and how funny was it back in 1994 when my folks went to holland asked what i wanted them to bring back,,,,, i told them a set of the old woodcarving tools that made wooden shoes, now some in my family in holland couldnt understand back then why the heck i would want that old stuff,,,,,,lol now they know, you cant get it anymore and i was lucky to have my folks find a whole set of six tools that i have now, but i really wanted the draw knife with the handle if nothing else,,,, the guy they got it from wouldnt break the set,,, so i got all of them, i was so happy when they came home back then and told me they found it,,,, what is junk to one is treasure to another.. you never know, happy carving, arleen

upcoming projects on my youtube channel

howdy folks, well i mention before about doing a pine cone ornament which will be the next project after the hobo santa/snowman friends, i about half way i think with this project and then i have something a bit new has to do with angels, i have a design that will make you smile i sure, so stayed tune, and it might be a couple of weeks but i will get it done, lol,,,, i cant wait,,, but i know it will be fun, lol well back to to loading up #6 #7 video of the hobo santa/snowman friends ..... carving is soooo neat,,,, how i love it ,,, keep carving ,, and be safe ,,,,, arleen

wooden shoe carving tools

hi there, these were sent to me by my uncle from holland, thought you might like to see them i will do a video on these to show how they work

next project after the hobo santa/snowman friends relief, pine cones,

hi there folks, i will be carving a pine cone ornament in my next project after this series with the hobo santa/snowman relief (friends).... i have two more lined up after both of these, and the eagle project will have to wait a spell, to busy these days, between family coming down this summer and working , and trying to catch up on my inkjet orders this week, but i will keep them coming for sure,

my uncle in holland the woodcarver!! wooden shoes

well i went to get my mail today , and my uncle ( oma geert) sent me some tools from holland so that i can now hollow out the wooden shoe i made earlier, i really didnt know how to sharpen these, thinking maybe he should do a video on how to sharpen these, well , i took my tools home, and bingo, there is a video of how to sharpen these tools, to my great surprise, i will do a video on this tonight , to show you why these tools might be tough to sharpen, knives i am fine with gouges i can but i am not fast at it as some folks are, he did a great job and i will soon put a link on it so you folks can see it, when he came here to see his brother ( my dad) back in 1991 , i was carving santas and he wanted to learn so we carve a couple of santas, and he is still carving today, all kinds of things, esp the wooden shoes, the old fashion way his website is www.youtube.com/hobbygeert and you can see him making a wooden shoe, someday i will have to go visit him!

new carvers just for you!!! and others too of course :)

hello folks, if your a new carver the most important thing that you need to learn other than owning a carving glove and a thumb guard ( both are a must) is how to control your knife, i have a video on youtube teaches you the correct way to cut the wood with a knife. its a safe way and it will help you control where the knife goes, please take a look at it, and i am sure if you will get the hang of it. the glove protect from slicing but not for stabs from your knife, so please look at it , and then if you want to venture into a project i have a beginners ( wooden shoe ) that was made with the new carver in mind, so have fun, be safe and enjoy this wonderful craft of woodcarving you can find the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQbMyXdDnw8

chickadee on dvd in divx form for your computer

dvd of the chickadee now available 20.00 shipping free in the usa and canada

trying to find time LOL where does it go??

folks, i am trying to get my big eagle project going it might be a couple of weeks. like everyone i know we are all so busy, i will start my hobo santa/snowman relief ( friends) tomorrow, have fun no matter what your working on, and remember take your time and enjoy! get your knives ready for another project, take care, arleen

bandsaws?

well just a few words about bandsaws. i have a delta 12inch with a 6 inch riser, which i had for 25+ years. the best investment i ever made. my bandsaw is very heavy, and its heavy to move. now on the market there are many to choose. i chose this bandsaw because i did my half size eagle and wanted to be able to cut very thick wood, this bandsaw can cut up to 11 inches thick and that is because of the block riser. but a smaller one would have been good too. making this purchase can be expensive, but doesnt have to be, you can get some nice smaller ones at lowes, home depot, and sears has some nice bandsaws, and their prices for the smaller ones run 100-200. the larger one like i have can cost 400-600 depending what you get, if you decide to get a block riser. get a good smaller one if you will not cut anything over 3 3/4 inches deep, most of the projects that i have posted on youtube can be done with smaller bandsaw, and a bandsaw will last a long time. i found it to be one of the most useful tools in my shop along with a good knife. please get one if you can afford to , if your a beginner, it will not be a wasted money, but a good tool to have in the shop, remember to follow safety procedures when using one, i never wear rings or long sleeves or any jewelery when cutting with a bandsaw, also use a dust collector cause the dust can be an issue, if you get one i sure you will enjoy using it and be able to create your on designs, happy and safe carving,

ruddy duck pics and about woodburners

well folks the ruddy duck is done, and i am about to start with the hobo santa/snowman relief (called friends) the last two ruddy duck videos will be on tonight, it was a fun project, and if your a new carver you will need to have a woodburner, please if you can afford a woodburn that is sold at carving shops and woodcarving show, its well worth it, some woodburning pens that you can purchase in a hobby chain stores are not the same, i believe that the woodburner i used or ones that are the same, cost about 80-120. i can only tell you that i had my woodburner for the last 22 years or longer ( lol ) i cant remember its been to long .... but anyway, i recommend if you can afford a good one to buy it. it will last years, now some of the replacement tips , can cost 12-30 depending on which burner you get, and you may have to replace it from time to time, the ruddy duck teaching videos does teach you how to make feathers etc, if you want to follow the ruddy duck videos to learn how to carve and burn your welcome to check it out at http://www.youtube.com/carverswoodshop if you decide to do this project that you enjoy it, arleen

youtube next project after ruddy duck ( hobo santa/snowman relief )

howdy folks, i will be doing a hobo santa/snowman relief, i have the pattern done today, and i am about to cut it out of the new basswood i just ordered, it will be the same relief style as the santa with a bear, if your not sure go to my youtube channel and ck it out, it will only be 1 inch thick and 5 inches high and 4 inch wide, so if your interested keep cking i will hopefully have it started by next week, thanks arleen

just to let you know ........ about products .....basswood

howdy folks ....i want to remind you anything i recommend ,suppliers , knives etc, i do not get anything for it, i only tell you what works for me, and what i like, i pay the same prices as you would so believe me there is no kickbacks for anything i share with you , but i will tell you what i like to use, and where i get it, and the choice is up to you , i just wanted you to know that if i like it i will share it with you , and if i dont i might tell you if its going to save you some money and grief i know i have told you not to buy your woods at your local hobby stores, now i am talking about big chains, not mom and pop store, like a carving shop etc, you will pay dearly for basswood at the chain stores, just to give you an exsample, a piece of basswood ,, 4x2x10inches going for 28.00 WOW i get it for about 7 so you see the difference and i will tell you where you can get your wood, its one of the best places,,, you can order what you want,,,, how much and any size you need, they also do roughouts, which i have not used but in case you want to , its www.heineckewood.com. its a mom and pop operation and they will treat you right, FYI ,, arleen

FULL SIZE EAGLE in flight PROJECT, THE BEGINNING ( PLANNING)

howdy folks, i always wanted to do a full size eagle in flight project, its been a goal for a long long time ,,,,, i going to blog and youtube this project, today i am starting to plan what i will need as far a basswood ( alot of it) for those who dont know how big it can be, the eagle has a 7 1/2 wing span, i did a half size that is in my home today that i did 20 years ago, so as you can see it will be a huge project that will take about a year if not longer, so your welcome to come along for the trip, its going to take alot of work on my part, plus if i do this on youtube ,,, it will take a bit longer, i will not be teaching it but letting you see how far i have completed it, so folks if you love eagles and you are sure to find this an interesting ride, by the time i have everything in place i plan to have the woodcarving shop up at the farm and that is where this creation will take place, i may have an open house on certain days so carvers can come and see it for themselves, not sure how things will go,, one little step at a time, so the planning begins, i will keep you posted here and on the youtube as i do other projects, and pictures will also be posted, not only making it but where will i display it ? its going be fun!!!

this blog will update you of youtube and classes

hi everyone, thanks for joining my blog, i created this blog to let you know what i am working on and upcoming projects along with classes , when and where, i will use this and my youtube channel to inform you, so please ck here or youtube, i do have a web site but found this is much easier to manage, so keep carving, i have lots of plan big and small, still want that woodshop here at the farm, still planning it out, and soon those classes will start in morgantown, its going to be a great fall, both group classes and private classes will be available, if you need to contact me please email me at carverswoodshop@yahoo.com thanks , arleen ps from time to time i will put up some pics of my work, happy and safe carving !!

TRI COUNTY RECORD , STORY OF MY CARVING

By Jacob Speicher

editor@TriCountyRecord.com

HONEY BROOK — Arleen Zomer has been carving wood figures for over 28 years, but it wasn't until she started using a new technology that people really took notice.

A couple of months ago, Zomer started putting instructional videos on the popular Web site YouTube, and since then she has become something of a small Web sensation.

"Right now, I have 244 videos up right now, and in less than four months I

was up to 12,000 views," Zomer said.

Now, she says that her videos total over 28,000 views.

For each project Zomer will film a series of how-to-videos consisting of between 10 and 22 clips.

"Each video is step-by-step instruction on how to carve a particular figure. It's all about taking a block of wood and giving it life," Zomer said.

Zomer got into carving at a young age because she always liked woodworking.

"I really like the creativity of it," Zomer said. "You start off with nothing, just a plain piece of wood, and eventually you have something like an eagle."

Zomer's house is filled with her creations. The most intricate of which is a bald eagle she did at half scale.

"It's got a wingspan of three and a half feet," Zomer said. "It took me over 200 hours of work. I would like to do a full-sized one eventually, but that would take around a year."

Right now, however, Zomer is content to keep producing her videos, and she would like to get into more teaching in a traditional classroom setting.

"I've been teaching people out of my home now for a while, but I would like to start teaching down in Morgantown," Zomer said.

Zomer takes pride in making her YouTube videos.

"One of things that makes me stand out is the camera angle I use," Zomer said.

Zomer refused to say how exactly she sets the camera up, but she said the advantage comes in the way people see the piece of wood she is working on.

"Most people shoot their videos from the side or some other angle, forcing the person who's working to transpose things. My videos show the block exactly as the person working on it would see it."

Zomer can be found on YouTube by going to the site and searching "carverswoodshop." She also sells her figures on eBay, and she has a Twitter account as well as a blog.

here was the story they did on me in the local paper, and some of my carvings

http://www.tricountyrecord.com/articles/2009/07/21/news/srv0000005872625.txt

woodcarving class to start sept 14 2009 in morgantown , hobo santa

hi folks i will have a class going in morgantown pa, starting monday sept 14 from 6-8pm for four weeks, if your in or near the area and are interested please contact me, we will be meeting in the food court of the home furnishing mall, limit is 8 people, beginners welcome , for more information on the class please email me at carverswoodshop#yahoo.com the mall is located off the pa turnpike exit 298, its 1/2 mile from the turnpike to the mall located on rt 10 will be carving my hobo santa, i bit larger than this one in the picture, 5 inch tall thanks , arleen

INFORMATION ON CARVING CLASSES IN MORGANTOWN

hi folks, i just did an interview with our local paper about carving classes, just some info on that, i plan to have it in morgantown, and will have two classes two days, we can extent it to three if needed,

one class from 230-5pm and the other 530-8 pm for two days, ( or three days)

class one is the hobo santa 5 inches tall, beginner

class twoo is the hobo snowman, beginner

limit 8 per class,

cost is 65 per class

you will need the following,

a knife, ( no pocket knifes)

strop

carvers glove and a thumb guard, ( you must have them or sorry your not allow to take the class

you need to sign a release form

payment is 50 percent to sign up , and the rest on the first day of carving,

if you cancle it must be one week notice needed

what will be provided will be the following

a teacher ( that is me lol)

cutouts,

paints and brushes ,

and pattern if available for the project ,, most santas and snowman have no side profile to cut out so no pattern for them

dates and where in morgantown will be posted soon

call me at 484-364-0471

or email me to join our class

thanks , arleen

sorry this is so late,,,,, santa hobo ornament

hi folks i know its been a while, way to busy with twitter and youtube, ebay, and my podcast etc, i dont know how i find the time to carveLOL , if you havent got to gene messer blog go, its a great great site, it www.flatplanecarver.blogspot.com you will not be disappointed, i got the hobo santa ornament done, you can find it on youtube, i plugging along with more ideas all the time, so if i am a bit slow that is the reason, my efforts right now are will the youtube channel, keeping it fresh and new idea, i hope this last for a while, i also put together, how to sell my patterns for some of my projects on youtube, so if your interested just go to my youtube channel and you will see the list of patterns available, on the left, its 1.50 per pattern that is one sheet. well back to the drawing board for more projects, take care bye

Finished, the wooden shoe, and dove projects

hello everyone, well i been busy busy, went to the relay for life this past weekend, and then off to work, and been carving alot between everything else, well hope you all are doing well, i am learning twitter, its an easy once on you what to do, but i thinking of another project not sure what but come ck it out on www.youtube.com/carverswoodshop well time to go mow the grass, its been tough to find the time with all the rain we had here in the northeast,,, ok take care, arleen

beginners course and twitter

hi there folks, here i go again, i have another video coming up for the first time beginner, its the wooden shoe, it will teach ya to carve and what knives you will need, so if you interested in looking at it please go to www.youtube.com/carverswoodshop, and now gene messer doing some teaching on some requests that i posted on the woodcarving illustrated board, what folks wanted to see taught, he contacted me and did the turned head on piece which was a great video, thanks gene, i done some but a long time ago, ok so off i am going to make my own pattern of the wooden shoe , take care bye

ps i am on twitter now if you want to follow, twitter,,,,,,,carverswoodshop

arleen

twitter if you want to follow is the following

carverswoodshop,,,,,, thanks everyone, arleen

sniffer the hound is done and twitter

HOWDY FOLKS , hi there again, now i am done with the sniffer the hound dog, if you didnt get to see it its on my youtube channel, www.youtube.com/carverswoodshop. go take a look at it if your interested, also i on twitter, still learning that one, all these ways to keep in touch i wont have time to carve! LOL well anyway,,, i starting something new again, its for the basic first time carver, that never carved before, its carving 101,,, i will be doing a wooden shoe, fitting since my folks are from holland, so that is coming up next, thanks for following, take care and happy carving, arleen

hello again,  i went to the lancaster county woodcarving show yesterday,  it was a wonderful day,  it was nice out and the show was great, if your interested in seeing a  bit of it i have it on my youtube channel, at www.youtube.com/carverswoodshop       

my intention wasnot to do the videos but i thought it would be nice for new carvers that have never been to a woodcarving show to be able to see what it would look like,   i ask if i could do some short video for my youtube channel and they agreed,,, they are wonderful folks and the show was great, so come and take a look if your interested,  

i got some 6 an 7mm eyes to do my project of songbird reliefs so i ready to start that project tonight,  i had alot of fun,   lots of carvings to admire and also alot of tools to desire lol   i have plent of tools but one more never hurt , right?  

happy carving , till next time . arleen

Hi , folks, thanks for coming to my blog,  I just finished the black lab puppy for my 10 year old great niece and she will be thrilled to get it, its headed to canada , so this item was made in the usa.  you dont find that to often these days,  so i will bring it to her later on when i travel that way.  i going to start the songbirds relief carving on june 1 2009 . it should be a fun project to do.

well i also updated my website,  http://www.carverswoodshop.com   where you can purchase some of the patterns if you need them for the youtube videos, also i going to the lancaster county carving show this coming sunday,,, looking forward to going, i havent been to their show,  i love to see what others are making and also its a wonderful place to get some neat ideas, and tool tool and more tools and books,   i love it ,   so come if you can.  i just going as a visitor, not a vendor,  lol 

well one more thing, if you need a strop i have a video how to make an inexpensive strop for less that 5 bucks.  i  want new carvers to be able to get things for a good price, and making one is easy. 

also  i am planning on some woodcarving classes this fall 2009.... making the hobo santa and hobo snowman, so if your interested go to my web site and ck it out,  ok thanks again for coming to my blog  happy and safe carving, arleen

new snowmen and santa for 2009

here is a pics of my new snowman and santas for this year i change or add something to them,    i calling this my hobo santa and hobo snowman cause you cant see their eyes,  i thought they were cute

dont forget to vote on which relief songbird you want to carve next

hi folks, thanks for coming to my blog,  please vote if you havent on which songbird to do by june 1, 2009  ,   these are great little projects to do for either a christmas tree, or just hang them on a wall ,  i have the pattern available, for 3.50 for all three, the goldfinch , wren, or the cardinal,  i going to start getting my supplies ready for what i will need ,,, i will do them all in time, but a nice little break to the santas and snowmen,,, ohhhhh folks i have a new style santas and snowmen as well,  and i will put them on youtube soon,  this summer,  ok thanks folks for all the feedback its been fun to do,,, take care, arleen  ps to vote go to www.youtube.com/carverswoodshop and see the video songbirds  :)

HOWDY  , thanks for coming to my new blog, i plan to have some videos here as well in the future and plan to carve alot more things as well, but you can also see all the videos on my youtube channel,  for santas, and snowman,   please go to www.youtube.com/carverswoodshop    ck it out,  

i working on a new santa,  same but different look, so keep cking, ,, today i am also working on a new snowman look,,,  new ideas are fun to see them come to past,,, 

carverswoodshop

howdy folks, i am now in the world of blogging, its new to me, but you can come to my youtube channel, at www.youtube.com/carverswoodshop and see all the free videos to carve santa, when i com back i will be sure to tell you more, thanks for stopping by