> ... I'm just back from the
> hardware store with some wider-diameter rod and another straight piece I
> want to mess with to create a single row of the rectangular projections.
> There are many places where the other two background stamps are too wide.
> I think I'm beginning to obsess...

I had the same reaction to taking a class of his.  Suddenly I'm
collecting scrap bolts off the street and filing on them to make
different sized frosting tools, and then it occurs to me that you can
have different 'grain' sizes to the frosting as well as different
shapes, gads.  Don't ask how many 'different' cross/plus/phillips
punches I now have.  Let's just say they're all users and let it go.

On the other hand, it sounds like I had a very different reaction to
the care involved in the carving.  I found the emphasis on getting it
done rather than getting it perfect to be liberating and I enjoy
carving more now. Mistakes are either design elements or another push
to get better.

Enjoy the days,
cur