Custom Carved Picture

Here is my most recent custom carved picture. At first, I was commissioned to custom carved a scene on a gun stock which would be a dedication to his father and son who had passed away. Upon receiving the gun stock I discovered the stock was hollow. This made it impossible to carve the scene I had chosen onto the gun stock. It would have compromised the integrety and structure of the stock. Not to mention the wall of the stock was not thick enough to carve without going right threw the stock.

So, I called and spoke with Jayson M. who had ordered it. I explained the problem and told him I had a solution. I would create same custom carved picture on a 11″ x 14″ piece of wood and have it framed instead of the gun stock. Then he would be able to hang the picture and gun together to complete the deseried effect. The gun had been given to him by his fathers. Jayson accepted this proposal.

I was told that the property they owned was almost identical to the picture I had chosen to carve/sculpt for them. They had an old barn with a windmill, the marsh with an old tractor stuck in it, and the rolling fields where very simular to his families property. He then went on to tell me how he loved to hunt wild turkeys. He has actually harvested a bearded hen, which is very rare. The State DNR (Department of Natural Resources) asked him if they could have the turkey mounted and displayed in their muesium for the public to see. He also told me how his family enjoyed hunting whitetailed deer each year.

Upon hearing the stories of his hunting experiences and of his family property, I decided to add the bearded hen and the whitetail deer to the picture. This way everything he loved doing was included in this dedication to his father and son.

The sculpture has been designed exclusively for Jayson. This is a one-of-a-kind family heirloom. It has been hand carved and hand painted. Making this a very unique one of a kind piece of art. I am sure art collectors for miles around would enjoy adding this to their collections.

Thanks from Jayson

I received an email from Jayson stating, “We received the picture! It’s beautiful and breathtaking!!! We are very pleased and very proud! We have been showing it to several people even some good wood carvers who said they couldn’t hold a candle to it! Thank you,” Jayson M.

Jayson,

It always makes my heart sore to know I have created something so special for a customer. Knowing they will cherish this for years to come is a great honor for me. Thank you very much for allowing me to custom carve/sculpt something so stunningly beautiful for you. I hope you will enjoy it for years to come.

Happy hunting,

Deb

Custom Carved Thompson Center .50 cal Muzzleloader

The final piece for  December 2011 was a custom carved Thompson Center .50 cal muzzleloader. This gun stock has turned out spectacularly if I do say so myself! The gun is another Christmas gift from a girl friend to her special guy. WOW, what a present huh?

I was commissioned to create this one of a kind master piece. I was told he liked eagles. So, on the hunt I went to find the right pattern for this gun stock. The pattern I decided on is of our National bird the Bald Eagle. The man this gun has been custom carved for is an ex airforce man, thus making this treasure very meaningful for him.

I have custom carved/engraved one other bird which was also a bald eagle. Both turned out beautifully. This gun was fitted with a custom pattern, carved with all the detail I could put in such a small space. Then hand painted to bring out all that wonderful detail. Giving this gun a very unique look. I have been told it already has a place of honor in his home. I wonder if he will hand down this gun to his children. It would make a very unique heirloom. I’m sure his hunting buddies will be jealous. I have included some history of this gun. Read the rest of this entry »

Custom Carved Kitchen Sign

This custom carved kitchen sign now resides in my mother’s kitchen. I was asked to tile her backsplash around her counters. After completing this she made a comment, “Now I will have to see what I can do to come up with a new sign to go over my sink.” My dad over heard her say this. He went outside and called to me. When I reached him, he had a hickory board which matched mom’s kitchen cabinets. The edges had already been put through the router to form the edge. He said to me, “well there you to.” Of course I knew what he was referring to.

I custom carved the words into the sign first. Then carved the leaves. If you have not carved hickory before, I’m here to tell you it isn’t easy. Hickory wood is as hard as Oak. Some would say it is harder. After carving/sculpting the leaves into the sign. I inlayed the ivory. Then hand painted the leaves to match mom’s kitchen decor.

Christmas day came and she received her sign. She loved it. She made dad go right home and hang it up for her. Guess that will teach him to give me a board to carve. Thanks dad for giving me this opportunity to create something special for my mother. I hope everyone else likes the sign too. Happy Carving, Deb

Custom Carved Mule Deer Foundation Gun Stock

This gun stock is custom carved for the Mule Deer Foundation. It is to be raffled off at the International Sportsman’s Expo this coming 2012, in Salt Lake City. This gun stock was quite fun to create. I found a picture of the deer on an old calendar. After playing with the picture I decided to carve it for the MDF this year.

The gun stock fits a Weatherby rifle. It has been custom carved/sculpted with three mule deer all of different ages. I have also hand painted the scene to bring out even more of the detail. On the bottom of the grip I have inlayed the MDF logo in composite ivory.

The lucky winner will be drawn during the International Sportsman’s Expo. You will have to check the MDF magazine to find out more details regarding this raffle. I’m sure whom ever the lucky winner is will enjoy this gun and will enjoy handing this gun down to their children and their children’s children for generations to come. It is a one of a kind master piece which any gun collector would be more then happy to add to their gun collection. Below is a little history of the Weatherby company. Read the rest of this entry »

Custom Carved Marlin 30-30

Custom carved Marlin 30-30 is a gun everyone knows about. A sure fire and very accurate gun to shoot. This gun belonged to my late father-in-law, Bob. He was an avid hunter with a VERY deadly aim. He was known around the Basin for his marksmanship. I am very proud to be given the opportunity to carve this design onto Bob’s gun. Thanks Mom!

I found this picture of the elk on the back of a truck window. It struck me as something my father-in-law would have liked. As I was carving/sculpting this design my mind was wondering. I remember thinking the name of this piece will be “Whispers of time” In the foothills, the wind whispers through the trees, creating a mournful wail. The “King” answers with a warning “They’re mine now!” Then, the thought came to put and elk’s horns that had been shed on the forend of the gun stock. Giving the illusion of a King that once was.

This gun stock has been custom carved/sculpted with a bull elk protecting his herd. The gun has been hand painted and signed. It is a one of a kind master piece. I know this gun will never leave the family. It will be handed down from generation to generation. Many stories will be told around the campfire of how Grandpa was an exceptional marksman, and how he loved to hunt.

Thanks again Mom for allowing me to carve this story into this gun for our family. Deb

Gun History

I have included the history of the Marlin 30-30. I hope you enjoy reading about this gun.

The .30-30 Winchester/.30 Winchester Center Fire/7.62×51mmR cartridge was first marketed in early 1895 for the Winchester Model 1894 lever-action rifle.^[2] The .30-30 (thirty-thirty), as it is most commonly known, was the USA’s first small-bore, sporting rifle cartridge designed for smokeless powder. The .30-30 is one of the most common deer cartridges in North America. Popular in Mexico and Latin America, it is known there as the treinta-treinta.^{[3] Read the rest of this entry »}

Custom Carved Remington 308

This custom carved Remington 308 is a favorite of mine husband’s. The movie “The Mountain Men” with Charlton Heston is almost worn out from being watched so much. He can repeat the movie to you line for line. He loves to hunt with the muzzle loader, (open sites of course!). He is often over heard saying “where is the sport in hunting an animal with a scope?”" The real sportsman is one that hunts with open sites like the mountain men did in the old days!” So, now you know where I got my inspiration for this custom carving/sculpture.

This gun has been hand carved to represent a bear tracking a man for a quick meal. After discovering he is being stalked, the mountain man out maneuvers the bear and hides hoping to get a clean shot at the bear. It is up to you to decide if the bear got away or not.

The gun was hand painted and is signed by me. It is a one of a kind original work of art. Art enthusiast around the world will be after this gun for their collections. Makes you wonder what kind of design you could have on your gun stock. I’m sure you would be the envy of your hunting club and your friends would sure be very jealous! Please contact me to see what I can do for you. Hope you enjoy this post. Happy carving! Deb

Custom Carved W.A.R.A. Fall Shoot Out

You are invited to the second ever art rodeo held in Heber City, UT.  The Western Art Rodeo Association, W.A.R.A. is being held along with the Cowboy Poetry. Western Art Rodeo Association’s Fall Shoot Out is being held this weekend November 3 – 5, 2011!  I’m sure you are wondering what this means. Let me explain, have you ever watched the Pro Rodeo? They have rounds of competition. If you are among the top 3 contestants you advance to the final round or championship round to determine the winner.

Well, the W.A.R.A. is based on this concept. There are two rounds to determine the winners that will go on to the championship round. We use the top 4 winners from each round. These 4 winners move on to the champion ship round. During the final round (or championship round) the winners of the first two rounds take the scores they earned from the first two rounds. Then they compete with their final piece of art for their final scores. This is then added to the other two scores separately, (example: In round one I show an art piece I created. I win round one with a score of 86. In round two I take 2nd place with a score of 78. I move onto the championship round with both of my pieces. I get to use the scores from both of my first and second rounds but they are judged individually. After judging my final piece in the championship round and receiving a score of 87. This score is then added to both my first place and my second place exhibits separately. This gives me a total of 173 for my first place piece from round one.

Round 1 =  86

Championship =  87

Total                      173

Then the score is added to my second place exhibit giving me a score of 165). Who ever has the highest combined score of the rodeo wins the competition!

Round 2 =  78

Championship =  87

Total                     165

So, there is a chance one person can win first and second place of the Western Art Rodeo Association’s Fall Shoot Out for 2011.

I hope you will consider coming to watch the competition and to see all the art exhibits. Not to mention listening to the Cowboy Poetry. The W.A.R.A.’s first ever event was held last April at the Sundance Resort, Utah. It was a fantastic event. Over a hundred pieces of art was judged. There where people from all over the country there. Artists from the east coast as well as the west coast was in attendance. The art that was on display was breath taking to say the least. The only way to describe the art is to tell you to come and view it yourselves. There are also demonstration’s and classes designed to help you learn what art is about and how to judge a quality piece for yourself. You can see how many of the pieces of art are made or join in a discussion with the artist on how he/she came up with the idea to create their pieces of art. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to see and talk to some the world’s master artists. There will be oil paintings, water color paintings, bronze sculptures, wood carvings, sculptures, egg sculptures, gourd carvings to mention just a few types of art that will be on display. Come talk to the artists, watch the competition. Be a part of a growing art association!

The doors open at 5:00 -m 9:00 pm Thursday night for the general public. Friday morning doors open at 10:00am and go to 9:00 pm for the general public. The first round of competition will start on Friday at 5:00 pm. Second round will be Saturday at 1:00pm with the championship round is on Saturday at 5:30 pm. Doors close at 9:00 pm Saturday. You can purchase advanced tickets at http://westernartrodeoassociation.com/upcoming-events/tickets for the W.A.R.A.’s Fall Shoot Out. Tickets for the Cowboy Poetry can be purchased at: https://www.ezticketlive.com/checkout/event_view/asp?id=28.

I hope you will all come and visit with me. I am signed up for the competition. It would be great to see you all there and have your rout for me!!!! The audience is encouraged to participate in the judging. See everyone there!!! Deb

Custom Carved Mule Deer Magazine Article

I would like to thank the Mule Deer Foundation for the article written about me in the September/October 2011 MDF magazine. It has been my pleasure to custom carve the guns for the MDF fund raisers. I look forward to carving the next gun stock for the MDF. They will be raffling off my next custom carved gun stock this coming February 2012. At the Sportsman’s Expo in Salt Lake City, Ut.

From designing the pattern, to creating the designs. To custom carving/sculpting the gun stock and then hand painting the gun stock to enhance the design. It is such a unique experience to watch it come to life. I know I will never get use to seeing my work take on a life of its own. It is something I will never get tired of. Still, to see the happiness in a customers eyes when I place their custom carved gun stock into their hands. It’s priceless!

I have included a copy of the the full article here for everyone to read.

(Please note, when you click on the image above to view the full article. You can make it even bigger if you click on the “X” in the lower right hand corner of the image.) If you would like to read the full article more clearly, please read the September/October 2011 issue of the Mule Deer Foundations’s magazine.

Thanks again to the MDF for this beautiful article. I look forward to custom carving a design for you! Happy Carving! Deb

Custom Carved Winchester Model 70

This beautiful custom carved Winchester model 70 is my latest creation. I was approached to create this gun stock while I was participating in the WARA Spring Challenge. The CEO of Montana Silver Smiths jewelry asked me to custom carve this gun stock for his wife. Deborah hunts all over the world and as you can see I have even add her favorate saying “I live to hunt”. From North America to South Africa the hunt is on for the avid hunter. Her husband commissioned me to custom carve this gun stock for their anniversary.  I’m sure his wife will proudly display her favorite gun for the entire world to see. Rick has emailed me to tell he “The stock looks fantastic. Exceeds my expectations!

The gun has been custom carved with fighting moose on one side of the gun stock and a caped buffalo on the check rest. The grips and forend have been customized with the basket weave pattern. Then to personalize the gun stock for her, I have added her name to one side and her favorate saying to the other. To complete the design, I have hand painted each scene to bring out the details even more which helps show the carving off. This gives her gun a complete new look.

Every gun collectors will be very envious of this gun. The value has doubled for this gun. Not to mention the gun will be in the family for many generations to come. Thank you for allowing to create this one of a kind work of art for your wife. I hope she enjoys it as much as I have in creating it.

Custom Carved Henry Golden Boy 22

A custom carved Henry Golden Boy 22 rifle will be raffled off at the upcoming banquet for the Cowboy Action Shooting Club, in Price, Utah. I was recently asked if I would donate a custom carving to the cowboy action shooting club. As you can see the Henry Golden Boy rifle shown above depicts the robbery of 1902 in Castle Gate Utah in which Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidd robbed the payroll office. For more information and history on the Castle Gate Robbery and other adventures of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidd you can visit the following web sites: www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/butch2.html or http://climb-utah.com/Roost/rrhistory.htm.

This gun stock is the most detailed custom carving/sculpture I have accomplished to date. After I custom carved/sculpted the chosen design. I then hand painted the art work to make the scene on this gun stock a one of a kind masterpiece. I have also inlayed ivory on the check rest. It says “Castle Gate Robbery 2011″. Gun collectors everywhere will be envious of the person who will win this gun and add it to their gun collection. This gun stock will be a cherished work of art to be handed down from generation to generation.

The Castle Gate Possee Cowboy Action Shooting Club will be holding their annual Utah State Action Shoot Championship this July 14 through 16, 2011 in Price Utah. They have a schedule of times and places listed on their web site http://www.thecastlegateposse.net/. A banquet is being held Saturday July 16, 2011 at the  Elks Lodge in Price, Utah at 6:00pm. At which time this gun will be raffled off . All proceeds will go to the scholarship fund the SASS cowyboy action shooting club have set up. The banquet is the last event of the SASS Utah State Championship.  If you would like more information on the SASS cowboy action shooting club you can go to their web site www.thecastlegateposse.net . For those who live outside of Utah and are interested in cowboy action shooting. You can visit the official SASS web site http://www.sassnet.com/index.php.

I am going to do my best to attend the banquet. I will enjoy seeing who will win my gun. Good luck to all who enters the raffle for this beautiful one of a kind work of art. Deb