Ideas

Have been having some ideas about what to make in wood engraving.  Blackbird is obviously top of the list.  Then wondered, what is the difference between wood carving and wood engraving?  Have I booked what I think I have booked?  I don’t want to do that ‘burn the wood with a soldering iron’ horrible thing.  Not for a whole day anyway. 

Research was required, i.e. Google.  Joy, there is a website called ‘woodblock.com’.  Love it.  Not sure I’d want to be stuck in a lift with them, but love the name of their website.  Plus, they know all things carved. 

Wood engraving is to do with the cut of wood, not with the chisel-me-quick process.  Wood engraving uses the end grain of the wood, where the tree rings would be visible.  As opposed to a plank cross-section, used for a wood cut or wood carving, where the waves of grain are visible.  We can all sleep tonight.  Yes, I’m going to say it, like a log.  (Ah, I feel refreshed).

Meanwhile, the strangest thing has happened.  Having cleared one corner of the studio, I am all fired up.  Fixing new wire for the curtains that cover the cupboard spaces, washing said curtains and clearing space in said cupboards for items sprawled on the floor.  Realised that sorting out what books need to go had shamed me into immobility.  I am mortified at how many books there are.  Already found two copies of ‘Mrs Dalloway’.  I mean of all the books to have two copies of.  Mortified.  So, the plan is, take books off the floor, pack neatly into shelves, then work through a shelf at a time over the autumn and winter.  Set a timer, half-an-hour per shelf, quickfire, stay or go, then sell.

Either that, or buy more shelves.

Credit: V. Woolf ‘Mrs Dalloway’ 1925