Description

The woodpecker is a fun one to carve. Overall it is fairly easy to shape, though be careful with the feet. If trying to put too much detail or realism into them they can get too small and it is easy to break them off. The head can be a bit challenging, but is generally easy to hold and can be done by those still mastering the art of whittling. While modeled after a Pileated Woodpecker, it’s easy to change into many small birds, something worth keeping in mind if you accidentally chop off the mohawk!

The Woodpecker’s Inspiration

Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) are large birds that live throughout Canada, the Eastern half of the United States and Pacific coast as far south as San Francisco. They can grow up to 19″ long with a 30″ wingspan and can weigh nearly 1 lb. They are primarily black with a red crest on their head and black/white striping on their face. They eat mainly insects such as carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae, but also eat nuts and berries – including poison oak/ivy berries! They prefer to make nests in dead trees and often have multiple entrances. They don’t re-use they’re previous nest (which is typically unlined) providing important nesting places for other birds or animals. The Ivory-billed and Imperial Woodpeckers are closely related to the Pileated Woodpecker and sport similar pointed tufts on top of their heads, though unlike the Pileated both are considered Critically Endangered (Pileated Woodpeckers are “Least Concern”). For more info on the Pileated Woodpecker, or to learn more about birds and what you can do to protect them, please visit https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/pileated-woodpecker

General Description (applies to all our Critters)

All our Critters are made from basswood and roughly 1″ thick, 1.75″ tall and 10″ long. They can all be made into nifty letter openers (just carve their nose/tail into a flatter shape with sharp edges) or carved more true to their namesake critters. While they vary in difficulty (which we try to describe in the description for each) their long, slender shape lends themselves to easier whittling and safe, easy holding (never cut towards yourself or have any part of your body in the path of the knife).

The time it takes to carve will of course vary by Critter but even moreso by experience. Most will take many hours to get right, but if you’re skilled at whittling and “hurry” they can be carved to 90%+ within a few hours. These make excellent projects for learning to carve. They’re excellent gifts both carved and uncarved.

These whittling “kits” are perfect to learn to whittle with. These make excellent carving projects whether you’re looking for a project to do with your kids, grandkids, cousins, friends, or just to do yourself. There’s no easier way to learn carving in wood. We offer ones of varying difficulty to satisfy everyone from the novice to expert. As you get better at carving you’ll be able to add more details to help make each one uniquely yours.

These make excellent group activities whether it’s for your scouting group looking to learn to carve, or your book-club looking for a new activity. All you need is a sharp knife (a locking knife and safety gloves are highly recommended) and a Critter! All of our Critters are designed to make excellent letter openers for those wanting a fun and practical project. They can just as easily be carved into a more natural shape if you don’t need a letter opener. These make excellent gifts, either as blanks to introduce whittling to someone, or fully carved to give them a piece of art. These make an excellent craft project as a stand alone activity, or provides something fun to do while sitting around the campfire talking.

Whittling is an excellent way to relax and slow down. A chance to make something truly yours and explore your artistic side. Our Critters are designed around being easy to carve but there’s no limit to the details you can add. You can easily stop once you’ve roughed the shape with a knife, or you can take it further, sanding off the whittling marks. You can leave it as the natural wood, stain it, or paint it to truly bring out the character of the critter. Carve a single critter, or carve them all, it’s all up to you!