Whittling wizard candlesticks from old textile spools

These old textile spools are great for carving. They have some real character, and the beehive shape at one end makes for a great standing base. I carved these as pair, with one wizard's beard arranged normally, and his buddy's beard and mustache are twisted around the spool, like it's blowing in the wind. After carving and sanding, I gave the candlesticks three coats of linseed oil, some acrylic paint for the eyes and eyebrows, and some clear shellac. I like how they look, especially with the brass rings on top.

An Old Textile Spool Carved into a Snowman

Old-fashioned textile spools are good platforms for carving. They sit up on their own, and come with a certain rustic look. This one was sent to me by a lady in Missouri, who asked me to carve it into a custom Snowman Christmas decoration.

To fill in the carving, I placed the snowman in front of a green pine tree. A light sanding left strong whittle marks, and after painting I gave it another pass with some high-grit sandpaper for an aged look.