Got the walking stick bug!!

My walking stick collection so far.

Attachment 416900
Posted previously - Sassie and Leatherwood. I really ought to fill those holes.
Attachment 416902
Changed the head angle for a better feel in the hand - Eucalypt burl, Myrtle collar and Huon pine
Attachment 416903
Curly Blackwood, Celery top Pine collar and Huon
Attachment 416904
Sheela-na-gig (Google it) motif on White Peppermint. I'm calling this one 'The Sheel-Lalie-Na-Gig Stick Thing'
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Not quite finished, I want a 'jewel' of some sort to recess into the top. Celery Top Pine.
Attachment 416905

Nice sticks!

How about something similar to this for the jewel? Ad Galaxy Opal, 100% Natural Australian Lightning Ridge Opal Free Form cabachon. GemCrystals 5 out of 5 stars (10) $23.50

Hi,

Nice sticks, I would like to know how to make them once I get past all the current projects I have rattling around the top paddock.

Thanks Claude.
If you could see my interweb search history you'd see 'cabachon' featured quite heavily!
Philip.

Nice work Phil ! I associate you with chisels & gouges & imagine it to be difficult to clamp a stick very securely.

I especially like the 'The Sheel-Lalie-Na-Gig Stick Thing' I've seen them on a very occasional ancient church in England , they are some sort of left over from pre-christian times.
I'm doing a "Greenman " stick at the moment which has the same sort of "lost in history feeling" - I love that old Celtic thing ! but there is very little of it around to reference.
Cheers Mike

Thanks Mike.
Apparently the Sheela na gig can be found more often in Ireland. While I was working on this I started wondering if this Sheela was in anyway connected with the use of Sheela for girls in Australia.
As far as holding the stick while carving, I drilled a hole in an offcut of timber stud and split it through this hole. I then clamp the stick in the stud and the timber in the vice. This gives me pretty good holding/access to the stick.
Philip.