This is my first time ever at trying to carve anything at all, and it turned out to be very stressfull and very enjoyable towards the end on this practice piece. I just purchased my first set of carving tools from Woodcraft, and ordered some basswood off the internet. When the basswood arrived, I left it setting in the shop until I had guts enough to attempt something like this. I have enough basswood to carve about eight more, and then I'll start on some mahogany legs. The instructional videos that I bought from Phil Lowe and Mary May where great. Thanks for looking.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...2-12151121.jpg
Rick