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John Carlson

@john-carlson.bsky.social
941 followers 1.3K following 330 posts

There are over 8 billion people on the planet Earth. It's hard to believe the whole world revolves around me. We are all creative beings, so if it could be true for me its true for every being. That's a whole lot of spinning heads!

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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Three little shelf mice with crinkley hemp-cord whiskers and leather tails! #Woodcarving
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
I finished my rose cross and three cross necklaces this morning. The larger crosses is stained basswood and the smaller ones are butternut.
Four more finished crosses.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
I'm nearing the end of my goal. I finished these four crosses today and I only have the rose cross to finish tomorrow! #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
Four completed crosses in basswood with golden pecan stain applied.The Rose Cross in progress, shown with my small chip-carving knife.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
The last two ten-centimeter crosses are carved! I will apply a finish after I complete the last two larger crosses, so i can stain them all at once. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
10-cm cross chip-carved in basswood.10-cm praying-angel cross chip-carved in basswood.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
The evolution of my thoughts...The original pattern, the modified carving with a circle, and the modified-modified design with a rose and smaller cross. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving.
Original design on paper by mychipcarving.com, my modification, adding the center circle-completed carving, and the newer mods with rose and smaller cross.Closeup of new design. Chip-carved rose started
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Patterns on both sides, wood cut out and ready to carve. Im still deciding how my cuts will fit.
Two new patterns transferred onto the basswood star.Two new patterns transferred onto the basswood star.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Another design, which should be easier to carve than the last one I posted. We'll see. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
When i start to divide up the geometric spaces, I try to think about how to make it interesting. The dots are where the deep points are.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Sometimes I don't even know if I will be able to carve something I draw. But I kept dividing the spaces smaller and smaller. Tomorrow I will put this and other patterns onto wood and try it out.
Subdividing the spaces 1.Subdividing the spaces 2.Subdividing the spaces 3. Can I carve it?
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
My first double-sided ten-pointed star in this series of nine. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Three out of nine double-sided, ten-pointed stars are in progress. These photos show the transfer of patterns onto the wood using a heat transfer tool. I carved one of the designs yesterday! I started carving the flip-side this morning. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
Transferring the design onto the wood using a heat transfer tool.Checking to make sure the lines transfered Side A is on the wood, ready to cut out.One side of this double-sided star is carved. I'm working on the other side
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
I got everything done that I did today! Chasing stars... #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
A new five-pointed star in basswood.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Another 10-pointed-star design! My goal is 18 designs.
Star designs started on paper using a compass and ruler.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
I started designing some new rosettes, stars, ornaments for #ChipCarving. These are five/ten divisions of a circle using a compass and ruler. There is something very exciting to me about creating geometric patterns.
A compass and pencil on a piece of paper with 4.5 centimeters circles drawn.Four ten-pointed star chip-carving designs on paper.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Playing with new designs and shadows. On the cross to the left, I wondered what it would look like with an inward-beveled edge all the way around, meeting a vertical wall. Then I kept the rest simple. I tried to fit an angel on the other cross and make it into a chip carving. #ChipCarving
Two more ten-centimeter crosses. Cutting curves and long, skinny chips are my weakness I guess. More practice!
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Rings are done! Now on to the never-ending knots!
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
I started this tonight...
A celtic-style cross started. Shown with a hatchet-style knife.I started lowering the rings.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
I started this one last night, and now its ready to finish! So many tiny chips make my neck sore. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
Another small cross completed. The same small cross in progress, shown with a chip carving knife.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
There is something very satisfying about designing something right on the wood! #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
A new cross designs started on Basswood. Shown with compass and ruler.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
Ta-Da! All eight designs by John Niggemeyer, from Woodcarving Illustrated. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving with only a few minor variations.
All eight crosses in this set are finished! I have five more blanks cut, to try my own designs.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
I finished crosses four and five out of eight today. Three more tomorrow! Then I'll show them all together. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
Crosses four and five finished. Basswood with golden pecan stain.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Second cross necklace in this series. I wonder how many designs are possible within the constraints of this shape, size and lower-cross element?
5cm × 3.5cm crosse necklaces chip-carved, shown on my green work table above my chip-carving knife, without strings.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
This one is delicate and time consuming because of the tiny chips! Number five of eight! #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
My fifth out of eight designs by John Niggemeyer, Woodcarving Illustrated magazine. Shown here, pattern, Carving in progress, photo of finished carving from magazine article.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Three out of eight in this series! #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
Three out of eight John Niggemeyer designs from Woodcarving Illustrated magazine. The one on the right is unfinished Basswood. The other two are stained and oiled.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Small cross number two of eight completed. More to come! #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
Cross two of eight completed.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Today I saw this carving i carved in 2018 hanging on the wall at my daughter's house. Im planning another relief carving with roses and this celtic cross. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
One out of eight completed! #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
Chip-carved cross next to the pattern. Basswood with oil-based golden-pecan stain applied.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Next up, these eight cross designs by John Niggemeyer, plus five more blanks to experiment with. Then a few more cross necklaces. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
My latest-finished cross on the left, then thirteen cross blanks cut out. Eight patterns in front of them. On the right, cross necklace blanks im still cutting out.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
And Finished! #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Getting closer! #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
This Celtic-style cross, nearly complete
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Part of the problem of carving little tiny chips, is blurry, itchy allergy eyes. But it's a good thing the flaws will disappear into the shadows as I clean up and finish this piece. The odds of completing this carving today are looking pretty good! #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
The same Celtic-style cross shown with more carving progress.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Its hard to make progress on work days, especially when I'm working all day and evening. But progress it is...I will finish this by Saturday night. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
The same Celtic-style cross carving in progress. Shown with my chip-carving knife, on my black work mat.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Progress. I wanted to break up the long spanse of woven wood, so I took the liberty of modifying the original pattern. My own spin on it, inside of circle carved. So far so good. Original pattern from Mychipcarving.com #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
Original pattern next to modified design, circle completed. Shown with my chipcarving knife.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Next up, this Celtic-style cross. I am changing the pattern a little bybaddingba circle. This is to break up the endless weave. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
A new work in progress, a celtic cross shown next to the knife i'm using.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
I finished this #ChipCarving with inlay, today. #WoodCarving
Chipcarved basswood cross with a mahogany inlay.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
I finished the little cross necklace, shown here between my latest crosses. Next up, this cross with mahogany inlay. I wasn't able to match the edges exactly, but im hoping when I sand it, the edges will fill in with sawdust. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
Previously finished items, plus the new little cross necklace. W.I.P. cross with mahogany inlay, glued up and ready to chip carve.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
A Cross, the Universe. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
A new cross finished today. Basswood with golden pecan stain/oil. Shown with a chipcarving knife.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Among other things in life, I managed to finish five more projects this weekend! The bird is siberian elm. The two lovebird spoons are basswood, and the two chip-carved tree ornaments are supposed to be basswood but didn't carve like it, feel like it or look like it. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
A bird, two bird spoons and two chip-carved tree ornaments on my green work table.
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Reposted by John Carlson
Olga Patlyuk @olgapatluyk.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Please speak about Ukraine. Ukraine is under russian missile attack right now.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Having a Latte in a Latte cup and finishing unfinished projects. The rose on the left had been carved, signed and dated 2022! After this oil dries I will tint the rose and apply more Tung oil to seal it up. #ChipCarving, #ReliefCarving, #WoodCarving
A latte in a latte cup!Three unfinished rosette stars with a tung oil finish applied.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
This latest cross was very hard and flakey wood, and frustrating to carve. I pulled off a miracle in saving it. I'm planning on finishing this series of basswood crosses with Minwax oil-based golden pecan stain. Looks nice and dries a little lighter than when first applied. #ChipCarving #WoodCarving
A cross carving in progress, on my green work table.Tha cross shown with toolsThe cross finished with stain and shown with the two knives i usedMy first two crosses shown together. The oil-based stain was just applied to the cross on the left, so it appears darker than the first one.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
A (mostly) finished carving! #ChipCarving #WoodCarving
A cross chip-carved in Basswood.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Another WIP! I had trouble cutting this one out with my bandsaw due to the tight space between the horizontal and verticle arms. But I can carve it out cleanly. #ChipCarving, #WoodCarving
A cross chip carving in progress on my carving mat, with two knives showing.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Im loving this new design. It evolved from the first cut out to the corner. I wanted to stretch the triangles out to the points of the star. #ChipCarving #WoodCarving
The previous chip-carved star, completed on both sides. Plain Basswood, unfinished.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
The B-Side, thinking outside of the box on this last eight-pointed star (for now) #ChipCarving #WoodCarving
Eight-pointed star chip carving in progress, held upright with one finger. My chip-carving knife and a mechanical pencil shown. Wood chips all over in the background.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Side A completed!
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
I finished the B-side, then started the last eight-pointed star in this series...Well, let's see what this one will look like! #ChipCarving #WoodCarving
Two eight-pointed-star chip carvings in basswood. Unfinished.  The star on the left is carved and the star on the right is a work in progress.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
A good Tuesday accomplishment. Side A carved! #ChipCarving
A new design on this eight-pointed star chip carving.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
An interesting #ChipCarving star and some interesting sunset clouds.
Eight pointed chip-carved star with a new design in progress. Carved in basswood. Chip-carving knife shown next to the star.My sunset view going home last night. I should have pulled over to take a proper picture. It was beautiful.
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
This will be the fourth design based on the same layout. Can you see it?
Same layout as my previous carving, but a whole new design emerges!Same layout as my previous carving, but a whole new design emerges!Same layout as my previous carving, but a whole new design emerges!
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John Carlson @john-carlson.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
In #ChipCarving the design is always about balance between light and shadow. Im not always sure a design will work well when I start. I'm going to clean this up a little and put on the finish.
Another double-sided, eight-pointed star chip carving in basswood. Shown next to the hatchet-style knife used to carve this. Side A.Another double-sided, eight-pointed star chip carving in basswood. Shown next to the hatchet-style knife used to carve this. Side B.The same double-sided, eight-pointed star chip carving in basswood held upright. Side B.The same double-sided, eight-pointed star chip carving in basswood, held upright. Side A.
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