Mike asks " What wood are you using?"

Juniper.  I'm on a second one in basswood (from ebay) and that is a joy.  For
instance, I couldn't get the V tool to cut nicely in the juniper but no problem
in the basswood.  The lumber yard had some tupelo but it needs to dry out first
- not sure what that is like but apparently tupelo is favored by the duck decoy
carvers so it should be good also.

Having no artistic ability, I was kind of put off carving but it is all done for
you in this book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565233298/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s
00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565233298/ref=oh_aui_detailp
age_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Print the plans out to whatever scale of your wood, trace it onto the block,
band saw off the outline, then just round everything over.  The beautiful thing
is that if you blunder no one will know the difference (unlike, for example,
duck carving).  In fact, for the second one I'm going to try a little asymmetry
to see if it adds to the grotesqueness. Plus it is going to be at roof level so
the pressure is off.

I had amassed a collection of proper carving chisels but the tool I used most
was a regular ol' carving knife, of the kind favored by St. Roy for laying out
dovetails, etc.  Bottom right in one of the pictures.

Many (OK, one person) asked about the home made vise - I'll post some pictures
later today.

Cheers