Bearded Tit and the Magnolia
I was happy to meet an old friend I used to work with after many years and even more elated when he joined our carving club. We have similar interests and I don’t think he would object to me classing us both on the stranger side of the population. We also mirror each other in our responsibilities to our spouses, but I was sad to hear that his wife was facing terminal cancer. She had been fighting the disease for many years and she’s a wonderful lady, full of joy and optimism and is facing this full-on with realism I would struggle to match if I was facing this illness.
On meeting her before Covid struck she told me how much she loved watching the Bearded Tits in her garden and I thought I could secretly carve her a picture. As covid went on I lost the love of carving and it got put to one side until I bumped into my friend. I was told that she had gone through a serious illness and it was touch and go at one point. This gave me a kick up the backside and I got back into the workshop.
On the day I gave it to her, she was over the moon, especially when, on that day, she was due to find out if her chemotherapy, which had stopped over the lockdown could be restated. I am happy that I was able to add a good memory to a possible bad day for both of them and highlights the joy of using our talents for the betterment of others.
The carving was created on a cherry round and was a difficult piece to carve as the outer areas were lovely to carve but the centre was dam dry, despite many duckings to add moisture. I’m afraid a lot of mitre glue was used to keep things together. The idea was gleaned from a Pinterest article showing how an artist builds up a picture out of plaster for wall decorations. It was finished in a clear acrylic spray.
I wish them both and the family all the best in their journey together.
