Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21
A NEW NOTION.
Woodworking Has become a Fashinable
Pastime for Women,

Many ladies of leisure are turning
their attention to wood-carving, says
the New York Star.
This art, in the minds of those unin-
formed upon the subject, is COMPOUNDED
with the work turned out by the scroll
saw, but il is an entirely different pur-
suit, and though it has engaged the
attention of the ladies in Europe for
some years it has never until now re-
ceived consideration among fashiona-
BILE women in this country who have
time to give to the cultivation of their
skill in this direction.
Several ladies of prominent families
who have been deeply interested in
wood-carving as pastime during last
winter have since their departure for
their country seats had work-rooms
! fitted up to devote to the development
of their ambitious efforts in the carv-
+! ing of articles of utility or ornament.
ANY woman or child with taste for
carving can, by the expenditure of
| less than S. for an assortment of steel
chisels of four sizes, varying from an
eighth of an inch to an inch wide. three
gouges of different sizes, mallet, a
knife resembling a shoemaker's, and
| parting tool, open broad field for the
exhibition of her abilities. Sets of
| light tools, which are known as print
cutters tools,' are best adapted to the
delicate hands of women, and small
handles can be bought to which these
| instruments are easily fitted. Should
person be disposed TO expend SIS for
course of half dozen lesson such an
| insight into the details of the work
might be obtained that would only re-
quire industry and perseverance to
turn out good work.
| There are three kinds of wood-carv-
| ing-the relief, surface, and incised-
and designs are easy to obtain bv
copying nature or reproducing designs
| published in art journals, OF they can
be easily drawn by any one who has a
| little artistic taste or skill in devising
either floral or geometrical patterns.
With a solid table or workbench
placed in a strong light the first at
tempt at carving is best made upon a
simple pattern, let us say of an oak or
ivy leaf.
! A panel of walnut, mahogany, or
any close-grained wood is a good selec-
ton of material to begin upon. En-
glish oak being harder is less desira-
Bile for maiden effort. Drawing the
pattern upon the wood, the first pro-
cess of carving, known as ''stabbing
out" follows, which can be effected by
employing the chisel in stabbing the
outline of the leaf or using little
notched instrument called a pattern
Wheel" which turns on pressure and
dents the outline as it is pushed along.
Then the cutting away should begun,
cautiously at first, until experience
teaches the best method of working
with or against the grain and securing
accuracy in the following of the pat
tern. 1t is an excellent idea to have a
real leaf at hand, in order to follow
nature with precision and make the
veins and fibers truthfully.
The carver should always take care
to cut thoroughly, leaving no frag-
ments and considering what the effect
of every stroke of the chisel is to be.
Having completed the outline, the mid
ribs of the separate lobes of the leaf
should be stabbed out and the surface
of the lobes slanted down to them from
side to side. The second stage is a
repetition of the first process, and the
appearance of the leaf must be consid-
cred after tie ground has been lowered
with regularity. Light and shade can
be artistically rendered by judicious
use of the gouges applied at different
degrees of curvity.
The principles of carving, once ac-
quired, are easily adapted to ornamen-
tation, and the skillful amateur can
soon undertake more ambitious de-
| eli