While waiting for glue to dry at times, I've been toying with some perfunctory wood carving using my simple power tools. Grinder, Dremel, jigsaw, adapted hand held blades, etc. I've carved a bird, bunny and a deer.
My wife collects Nutcrackers and has many!
I mentioned one day that she has Bakers, Blacksmiths, Drummers, Cowboys, Heralders, Fishermen, Soldiers of all manner, French, English, Viking, German, Samarai, Celt, etc, but nothing even resembling African.
As I said, "toying" with the idea that if I do not have to make it fully functional as a nutcracker (many of hers are not functional, just decorative) I can probably carve one out and with her help we can decorate it to resemble a Mandinka or Zulu warrior. I even think a masked "mudman" look might be kind of cool.
The form will not be hard at all to carve out, but the detailed decoration will make or break the project.
I've been researching African ceremonial dress and war ready accoutrement's of the many cultures I can find. Choosing ONE will be difficult.
It might be a fun project, but open a can of worms I did for sure!
