New Life For A Tree Branch

Sorry for the lack of posts for the last few months.  I have been helping an old friend remodel her house.  However now with the summer well upon us and the heat mostly unbearable in the afternoons I have again begun retreating to my craft room.  The following is one of several posts in the next few days.

While I enjoy carving in general (truth be know making just about anything in general).  I seem to be happiest if I am re purposing some item that would otherwise head to the land fill.  Recently it was a branch from our Catalpa tree.  It had an interesting shape and seemed to be calling out to become a walking stick.

I have never attempted to carve catalpa before.  It is not a commercially viable wood to my knowledge.  It did put up a bit of a fight but after changing the profile (sharpening) of my knives it seemed to work OK.  I decided it would make an interesting Santa Cane.

The wood is actually pretty well suited to a walking stick.  It has a nice resilience and it is pretty light weight.  At just over 36 inches this is most suited to walkers rather than hikers.  I have a Bradford Pear limb and a Bald Cypress limb that will me my next victims in the walking stick category.

More to come.

Bruce