Back Bay sunset

The Kwiatkowski's Back Bay dock tiki. Cindy Graf's dynamite photo. 

surf & adventure keychains and necklaces

Brought in new keychains and necklaces to Surf & Adventure today. This will be the last batch of these models- get 'em now for yourself and as the perfect stocking stuffer. I'm going to Grubby Clark these molds and make way for the 2011 crew of awesomeness.

Group photo

Getting ready for my display at the Wicked 10k expo. Finishing up the bigger guys. Just have to oil them and their set... pretty happy with this batch.

Afternoon carve party

 Green palm, green apple, dry cedar.

cedar buddha

Cedar head

carving a tiki at Surf & Adventure

Midnight madness sale last Thursday. Worked for a couple of hours and made a good start. 

a slice of the process

Draw it.

Make a rough template.

Play around with router bits, depths, and designs.

Still working on scraps before moving on to pilings.

And., a tip about pouring molds.

Do the math and know what volume needs to be filled before mixing and pouring. Just winging it may leave the originals showing. Pour over top and wait another 16 hours.

Making a tiki mailbox

Posted this a couple of weeks ago and finally got to carving a few days ago.

First with the chainsaw.

Gotta buy a mailbox.

Grinder work and cut box hole... lots more work to do, but it is on it's way... I think.

Until things fall apart. Still salvageable, but, only as a display. A little bummed about this one, luckily there is a piece of cedar eagerly waiting to become the next letter box.

the Gassett collection

Thanks Anne and Bill!

Hawaiian Palace and the Baja

Top is another shot of the Hawaiian palace tiki... I must have just finished oiling it before the picture. Above is new construction at the Baja in Sandbridge. Their bay view lounge was remodeled and there is a row of 8x8's that will be getting designed. I'll keep you posted.

in my backyard

He hides in the bushes and confuses people. "What is that? The eyes are where?"

Baja tiki

Ordered as a birthday gift, now standing watch over the inside bar at the Baja. This is a beautiful piece of cedar that was great to carve and watch the color come out the more I sanded.

new photos, old tikis

I have posted pictures of both of these guys, but I came across this batch of photos and wanted to share them. 

I use to have an electric chainsaw for starter cuts and carving. When taken apart, it was small enough to fit into a carry on bag.  I actually took it with me the one and only time I traveled to Bermuda- I packed it in hopes that I would carve a tiki while there. I arrived, checked in, and eventually found a piece of driftwood on the beach. I used electricity at the hotel maintenance entrance and carved away. The tiki was only a couple of feet tall, so I was able to strap it to my rental moped and drive it to the house of a friend (friend= the father of a friend of my aunt's). He wasn't home so I left it by his front door and believe it is still there today. He told his daughter he would never move it... I'm waiting for some pictures of this.

When I did the tikis above I did not have my chainsaw with me, but, the island where we were staying did have one and they let me borrow it. I made some cuts and left most of the work for chiseling (I did bring those with me). It was nice to sit there and chip away.

Carving a mailbox holder

This has been in the works for a couple of months and I am hoping to be done this week. I made one years ago and have thought of ways to tweak it... always something different to try. 

cypress knee head

Sheila Braithwaite was kind enough to introduce me to James Sides and Bruce Bingham, local artists who created Visions gallery (this is a couple of years ago). James had this poured metal head with hand that he would wedge his business cards in. I thought it was the coolest thing and went home and carved this piece of cypress immediately. It eventually found it's way back to my garage and has been sitting there screaming ideas to anyone who will listen... I started tuning in to him a few months ago.

palm tree tiki on a sandbridge canal

A couple of months ago while paddling back to the Gassett's from Back Bay I saw this guy hanging out above a rip rap bulkhead. It looked like he could have been one of mine but I hadn't worked with any palm trees in years. On closer inspection I saw my emc carved in. It was like finding a lost brother. He had to have been carved mid to late 90's when I had a truck load of this stuff. He has weathered well and still looks good. I want to find out who owns him and track his path...he has only turned up here within the last year.

Rapa Nui pole

An easter island head with body I recently finished.

mamo and popeye's cedar figure

This guy is one of my all time favorites. My folks keep him in their kitchen dressed up like a chef and leave messages for my daughter on his chalkboard. I don't think he has ever had a name that stuck. I carved him back in 2000.

Sandbridge Market tiki

Chris and Amber gave this to Dave for his birthday some years ago. It hangs by the self serve coffee and fresh produce. Say hello to Fran the next time you're in there for your caffeine fix and be nice to the ladies making the Cajun turkey pepper jack subs.