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On this page you will find details about carvings for
sale, gift vouchers, how to commission a special
woodcarving, publications, Zoe's instructional CDs and projects you can follow, and
the specially designed "Zoe Gertner Woodcarving Tools"
manufactured by Ashley Iles (Edge Tools) Ltd. |
Zoe Gertner Woodcarvings for Sale
Gift Vouchers
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- If you are looking for a different gift
for someone, perhaps a few days learning woodcarving
might be the answer - the gift
of a new interest which may well last a lifetime. Perfect for the person who
already has everything and ideal for an unusual retirement or Christmas present, that special landmark 50th, 60th or
70th Birthday, or perhaps to give the wood turner in the
family a new and exciting experience.
- We can arrange any combination of days
ranging from a short
"taster" session to see if wood carving is to your recipient's liking or
perhaps longer, or alternatively, several days taken over several
months. Accommodation can be arranged if desired, and all tools and timber
are provided.
- When you have purchased the number of day/s you wish, you will be sent a gift card
such as Birthday or Christmas, relevant
to the celebration, together with
suggested tuition dates to give to the recipient
so that he or she can make further arrangements with us.
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Edna's employer knew
she was interested in woodcarving and gave her a
voucher for several days carving as her retirement
present. |
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Peter's family gave him
several days' tuition in woodcarving for
a special birthday, and he carved a Cornish engine
house in relief.
See
more carvings. |
Please contact me to discuss your requirements
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Commissioned Work
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Commissioned work is undertaken with full
reference to your specific requirements. This is ideal if
you are looking for that special commemorative piece or a
carving particularly suited to someone, for whatever reason.
Such carvings are unique and you can be sure that you will
not find another the same.
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Have you a special
piece of wood with a sentimental value, perhaps from a tree
planted years ago, that you may like made into a unique carving?
Provided it is sound, this may well be possible.
Or even a rat... see below
| Originally from a fairground organ, the
carving was bought when Wookey Hole Fairground Museum
closed. Having been neglected, Hansel and
Gretel were in a poor condition. Paint had peeled away,
parts of the carving were rotten or missing and several
sections had fallen out. Zoe was asked to restore the 20inch
high wood carving to its original state. |

Hansel and Gretel were in a state of bad
repair |
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Zoe extracted the old loose filler which
had been applied previously, removed and replace the rotten
areas, then re-carved the missing arm and hands, fitting
them in place ready for painting.
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All loose flaking paint was removed.
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The carving was lightly abraded before
re-painting started.
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Each paint colour was
carefully matched to its original and several coats applied using fine
paintbrushes. |

The grasses and
flowers on the base were last to be painted. |
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The Hansel and Gretel
carving restoration took about 2 months to complete. |
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Publications
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by Zoe Gertner
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The excellent text is supported throughout with full
colour photographs and detailed line drawings. Highly
recommended for those beginning woodcarving as it tells you
all you need to know to get started. |
Part 1 - Preparation
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About Wood Tools, Materials
and Equipment ~ How to Sharpen and Care for
your Tools ~ How to Use your Tools
Correctly ~ Health and Safety |
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Part 2 -
Projects
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Carving in the Round Relief
Carving ~ Hollowing Techniques ~
Figures in the Round ~ Using Contrasts,
Deep Relief and Undercutting ~ |
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Carving a Composition ~ Detailed Figure
Carving |
ISBN
9781861080592 Published by GMC Publications October
1997, and may be obtained by internet title/author search/www.amazon.co.uk
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| Zoe
is currently contributing articles and weekend projects
to the bimonthly magazine, 'Woodcarving'
(GMC Publications Ltd) (see
latest news ) having had numerous technical
articles and carving projects published in the magazine
from 1994 to 2005. A number of these older articles can be
found in the
compendium books 'Woodcarving for Beginners'
(ISBN 1 86108 019 0) and 'The Woodcarvers' (ISBN 1
86108 038 7) published by GMC Publications.
Available by internet search.
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'Traditional Woodworking' magazine:
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Dec 04, Jan & Feb 05: Sharpening &
Maintaining Tools. |
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March & April
05:
Equipping Yourself for Woodcarving. |
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Projects
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'Projects for Woodcarvers' -
Zoe's Woodcarving CDs
Written by Zoe for her students, these wood
carving projects are suitable for a wide
range of abilities from complete beginner to those with some
experience using hand tools for wood carving. Each topic has clear instructions,
diagrams and pictures, and shows direct carving techniques,
guiding you through your carving at your own pace whilst
developing your confidence and creativity. With an array of
carving techniques at your fingertips, where will your imagination
lead you? Available on CD only
(pdf format only, Adobe Reader required).
Priced at £12 each including postage, to
purchase please
contact Zoe.
Currently Available:
Carve a
Green Man, Face and Foliage
How to Carve Incised Lettering and Lay Out an Inscription
How to Sharpen and
Restore Carving Tools
Carve your Family
Pet
Carve a Maple Leaf in Relief
... more titles on the way ...
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'Carve a
Green Man, Face and Foliage'
Have you ever wanted to carve a face,
but not known where to start? Or perhaps some oak
leaves? Maybe put the two together and carve a Green
Man? And does that sample Green Man pattern you saw in a
book seem incredibly complicated?

Here's how to create your very own 'Green
Man'
(This CD is an ideal accompaniment to
the 'Maple Leaf in
Relief' CD ) |
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'How to Carve Incised Lettering
and
Lay Out an Inscription'
Do you need a new sign for your house?
Maybe you'd like to try some calligraphy using the
medium of wood; or you've turned a bowl or platter for a
special occasion and want to commemorate it ... Zoe
shows you how it's done on this CD.
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'How to Sharpen and
Restore Carving Tools'
What is nicer than the smooth polished
facets made by a razor sharp carving tool slicing
through wood? As every woodcarver knows, sharp tools are
essential, and being able to sharpen and maintain them
yourself is key to fully enjoying your carving.
With clear instructions, diagrams and pictures Zoe
shows you exactly how to achieve that perfect cutting
edge, and how to maintain and restore your precious
carving tools.
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'Carve your Family
Pet'
Many British families
have a much loved pet, maybe a cat or dog, an ideal
subject if you are want to try 'carving in the round',
or if you need more guidance to build up your
woodcarving confidence.
Follow Zoe's detailed instructions, diagrams and
pictures and you will be able to produce a lovely
carving of your own beloved family pet dog or cat. |
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'Carve a Maple Leaf
in Relief'
Would you like to
carve a panel of leaves in relief - or have you
already tried, but somehow they look 'wooden' and
lifeless? Zoe shows you how to carve these delicate
serrated Maple leaves, explains the why's and
wherefore's of undercutting and how it will bring your
carving alive. This CD is an ideal accompaniment to the
'Green Man' CD .
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Look out for more new CD's
coming
this year
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Ashley Iles Carving Tools: the Zoe Gertner Range
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The family firm of Ashley Iles manufactures a range of
specialist high quality wood carving tools
designed by Zoe Gertner. These tools have shorter and lighter blades than
the standard tools, making them easier to handle and more suitable for
delicate carving. Each tool is supplied
ready honed and razor sharp ready for use, beech handles and brass ferrules
adding to their aesthetic appearance.
Whatever style of carving you do - whether 'in
the round', relief, or lettering, carving with these tools is a
joy. Try one, and you won't be disappointed.
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Carving fine detail on
a Tudor rose |

Seven gouges were used
to carve the Tudor rose |
How the 'Zoe Gertner' specialist carving tools evolved
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In my early days of teaching
woodcarving, I noticed students having difficulty
controlling cuts when using a standard sized gouge with
a mallet for shaping a 'carving in the round' – modern
gouges seemed too long, heavy and difficult to guide
around the desired shape of the sculpture. At the more
delicate hand carving/detail stage where many tiny
accurate cuts are made and the gouge has to be held
close to its cutting edge for accuracy, again, standard
carving tools were too long and heavy - they wavered
about, making it hard to control the cutting edge,
fingers were made sore from gripping firmly, and
they were very tiring particularly for frailer
students and those with smaller hands. |
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As an experiment I cut a short length
off the end of the handle of a 1in no 9 gouge and found
that the reduced length of the tool made it much easier
to use. Having tried out my experimental gouge, some of
my students also shortened the handles of their larger
gouges to good effect; however, the problem of excessive
length and weight of the blades of the smaller gouges
when using them for hand carving remained. There was not
much I could do about this for my students though
happily for me, my own carving gouges are old, light in
section, well balanced and very easy to use. |
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The problem remained in abeyance until
in the mid '90's,until when demonstrating woodcarving at
Yandles Woodworking Show, I was able to talk to Barry
and Tony Iles about the difficulties experienced with
modern carving tools. They listened, took
measurements of my own carving gouges and a few weeks later, sent a sample set of
'Zoe Gertner Specials' based on them, of the most commonly used sweeps
and sizes, honed razor sharp and ready for use. Sales of
these specialist carving tools are consistent since they
were introduced, meeting with universal approval because
they address all of the aforementioned difficulties, and
appreciation for their appearance, quality and ease of
use. |
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The 'Zoe Gertner' carving tools were reviewed by 'Woodcarving'
magazine (GMC Publications) in issue 48,
and
you can purchase them from Ashley Iles (Edge Tools)
Ltd, East Kirkby, Spilsby, LIncs. PE23 4DD Tel: 01790 763372 or go to
www.ashleyiles.co.uk
for further details about them.
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