Thread: Fern

Beautiful. Very literal carving which appeals to the botanist in me. Reminds me to make a trip out to my "patch" to see what's up for Fiddleheads. Steam, butter, lemon, salt. Got a cream soup base recipe which needs testing.
I can imagine your fern(s) as elegant spoon handles but oh so time-consuming to make.

Very beautiful Copeau! The fine detail is exquisite!

Very nice and delicate. How long did it take to make it?

It wasn't that long,finally, about a day. Would have been faster and more easy if the leaves were covering each other in the opposite way, I think. Because of the grain direction. The general shape is quite simple and the cuts are repetitive except the sroll at the end.
btw it's basswood, 20cm.

I heard it was eatable but never tried, Robson !

Very musical and beautifully done.

A hat (for very small heads)????

The "fiddle-heads" or croziers of many species of ferns look the same. A few are edible for those who are not sensitive, some ferns are quite toxic to everyone.
We have two species in the lowland swamps among the mountains which are better by far that such greens as asparagus. But many of my friends would need to spend the day in the bathroom for the digestive upset!
Still, there is an elegance in the geometry which you have carved with your usual excellence.

WoW, delicate, beautiful, great detail, now the question is "how the hell did you do that in a day?", it takes me a day to work out where to start. It could actually be converted to a hairstyle with a thin delicate face underneath.

Very very beautiful Copeau !

Just an added note of kitchen trivia:
There are several companies with licenced areas near the city of Prince George, British Columbia, for the commercial harvesting of fern fiddle-heads. Air freight every day out of YXS (Prince George) to the markets in Paris, France!

Thanks for your kind words !

Originally Posted by Robthechisel

WoW, delicate, beautiful, great detail, now the question is "how the hell did you do that in a day?", it takes me a day to work out where to start. It could actually be converted to a hairstyle with a thin delicate face underneath.

I feel I'm going quite slow usually but I was specially inspired by this one, It went just like a river flowing. And it was a scrap, i wasn't afraid to waste it. Let's add half a day for complete finishing, ok ?
Hairstyle... that's pretty much what i was thinking when i was talking about a hat.
With a head, it will take more time, i didn't made a lot. Specially if you expect it to be thin and delicate ! I should make one bigger.

Thanks also for the kitchen stuff !
Robson, that must be a crazy world we're living in... I wonder who is buying fiddle heads in Paris, it's not very well known and I'm pretty sure it's usually seen by people like nettle soup, kitchen for boyscouts ! I never saw some in markets when i went there... I wasn't in the right place for sure.
Maybe it's fashionable for noted restaurants ?

I think that the fiddleheads are a very fashionable crop with a single brief season each year. Suppose you could not buy asparagus from all over the world, just your home crop, that sort of thing. Certainly a seasonal item on restaraunt menu.
I have an extended season as I can start picking in the valley bottom and go up in altitude as spring goes up as well. Two or three servings, 10-20 each and I've had enough. Spring treat, a month goes by and they are mostly open.

Beautifully done Copeau!!!

Copeau, I was thinking of something along these lines, thin delicate face. Hope that gives you some more ideas. Forget some of the lower pics, more the top 3.

Thanks for these picts, Rob. It's inspiring.
Whose work it is ?