| Project by cathyb | posted 09-07-2011 12:45 AM | 2282 views | 0 times favorited | 12 comments |  |
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My leopard is my body guard. He stands behind my desk and is always ready to attack an unauthorized intruder-so far that hasn’t been necessary. This piece is carved from mahogany and probably weighs 80 pounds. My son was in eighth grade when I carved this guy and he never liked him because the gnomes “freaked him out”. Really? They don’t seem scary to me.
The down side of carving-it takes a long, long time and the pieces cost plenty. I still own all my menagerie figures, but without any regret whatsoever.
-- cathyb, Hawaii
12 comments so far
patron
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13722 posts in 4793 days
#1 posted 09-07-2011 12:53 AM
menagerie is right
you just keep adding to this zoo
they all look so lifelike
very well done
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
Michael1
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#2 posted 09-07-2011 02:51 AM
Very nice carving. Very realistic looking
-- Michael Mills, North Carolina, http://www.scicaskets.com
janice
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#3 posted 09-07-2011 03:04 AM
I’m curious how long does this take you? He is beautiful too!
-- Janice
TopamaxSurvivor
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#4 posted 09-07-2011 05:01 AM
Fantastic!! How many do you have? I’m going to have to add you to my list so I don’t miss any more ;-)
-- Bob in WW ~ "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence
cathyb
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#5 posted 09-07-2011 07:49 AM
Janice I don’t know how long it took. If you include the painting, I probably spent a month making this guy. I’ve made quite a bit of money as a cabinet maker, but frankly those cabinets were just a challenge and then work. Carving is fun from the first blow of the mallet to the final brush of the finish. I just love these guys…......
-- cathyb, Hawaii
Ken90712
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#6 posted 09-07-2011 10:39 AM
Great job, nice carving. Very realistic looking
-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"
StumpyNubs
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#7 posted 09-07-2011 02:23 PM
Nice wooden saddle! But how’d you get that leopard to sit still while you put it on ‘em?
-- Subscribe to "Stumpy Nubs Woodworking Journal"- One of the crafts' most unique publications: http://www.stumpynubs.com/
Bluepine38
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#8 posted 09-07-2011 04:06 PM
There you go again, I hope by now you have realized that sons and other weird living things do not have
to make sense, they just are, about like woodworkers come to think of it. Nice looking leopard.
-- As ever, Gus-the 83 yr young apprentice carpenter
mmh
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3701 posts in 5175 days
#9 posted 09-07-2011 04:38 PM
What wonderful pieces to have and display! They have such a “touch me/ride me” appeal.
A funny thought came to mind: If a burgular came in at night and stumbled onto them, he may take fright and leave without doing any harm! Now you just need to install a “growling” system that’s motion activated.
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
cathyb
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860 posts in 4696 days
#10 posted 09-07-2011 06:16 PM
A growling alarm? love that idea! wouldn’t that be fun, especially for the dog…......
-- cathyb, Hawaii
nitewalker41
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470 posts in 4145 days
#11 posted 09-08-2011 04:39 AM
super nice….I sure wouldn’t want to be unwelcomed with it as the guard
-- "older I get, the more fun I have"
Jim Jakosh
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27687 posts in 4558 days
#12 posted 10-07-2011 04:04 AM
Beautiful carving, Cathy!!!!!!!!!!!..........Jim
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!
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