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.

The flowing mane of a carved toy horse

I've been working on carving more detailed hair recently, and while it's time consuming, I really like the added texture it can bring to a toy. On these toy horses, it makes them look more lively and just plain pretty.