Hand carved Celtic Cross in a building block.

[Grizz1963]

Not quite tip treasure, but absolutely FREE !!

170 plus building blocks, 3 miles from home, collect and they were mine.

Mickey supplied the van, we worked together and brought them home.

Mickey needs a front and rear porch on his place, so along with the some FREE double glazed doors and windows from a local fitter who does a lot of complete replacements and is happy to let us have some, then some recycled timber for the roof etc and an almost free addition to his home.

I will be using some blocks to build some bits around the back of the garage.




Nicola's mum has been at hospital since early today, and will be admitted when a bed comes available. As a result she was there all day as well.

This left me at a loose end, and ended up cleaning the stove/cooker, extractor hood, kitchen etc, then tried to watch a bit of recorded car programmes on telly while surfing the web forums as well.

Ended up going down to the garage instead and checking out the truck cab as I was under the impression that they used to come with a bottle jack fitted under the seat..... wrong. Have bought a 200mm tall 4 ton bottle jack now.

While down there I started to measure one of the 170 plus building blocks I got yesterday, as I want to make Nicola a Celtic cross as a "Secret Surprise" for her birthday..... she has always loved them and photographs them in graveyards etc.

Here is how far I got today, next up will be carving the front face, then designing the sides and other facets with various Celtic knots.

Hope you can see what I am trying to do.



Drilled some holes.....



Cut some wedges out



RESULT !!!!!

So far without breaking or craking it.



First half designed



End of play for today.



Next up will be hammer, chisel etc.

[Grizz1963]

Quick update as I need to get to bed.

Spent about 2.5hrs in the garage tonight working at the block.

Halfway done on the front, still need to complete it, and then design the rest of the sides and carve them.



Takes time, and I would hate to break it by being impatient or hard handed.



And this is how far I got tonight.
The rest of the front still needs to be carved around the rings.



At this point I think Nicola will be happy with what I have created, and if she is happy.... I am happy.

[Sillyoldman]

Thats really cool.

[dalbers]

That's cool

[Clyde65]

Nice job!

[Ol Blue K20]

Very nice..

[alsriv2]

Creative and imaginative.
Very impressed with the overall layout. Did you have a template?

[mcbassin]

Wow that's some creative skills. I would have busted that thing first try.

[Grizz1963]

Thanks guys.

Part made up, part seen before...... Google is your friend too.

Carried on tonight, doing the sides.

Original plan was to do lattice work sides, but decided to keep it very plain,
so as not to detract from the front detail that I finished as well tonight.



Side details completed.





Altogether now.



Next up will be doing Nicola's birth year in Roman numerals across the back.

MCMLXIV

Then I need to keep my mouth shut till the 5th Feb.

[PanelDeland]

Nice work.Not many custom carve in stone for the US.Most is done etching style.Yours will be a favorite to her because you took the time to carve it with your own two grubby paws.lol J/K

[Frizzle Fry]

awesome!

[hopped up]

Very cool! Nice work.

[mcbassin]

I'm still trying to figure out what material this block is made from? It looks like you used a standard spade bit to drill and hand saw cut the angles. Nice work

[Low Elco]

That is neat! I'd have shattered in a thousand pieces by now. I like the owl!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

That is neat! I'd have shattered in a thousand pieces by now. I like the owl!

You just have to give it a go mate..... never know, you could create something you like.

[Grizz1963]

Carried on tonight after work.

Roman Numerals for 1964 pencil drawn, but as you can see, freehand left some space, so I just freehand carved over the pencil.







Back where we started, a before and after together.



Now to wait till the 5th February.....

Going to be difficult to keep quiet and not show her.

[chevyrestoguy]

Man, I had better not let my wife see that cross. She loves Celtic designs and jewelery.

When you started this thread, I had no clue that it would have turned out like it did. You are a true craftsman. Beautiful job!

Do you plan on using a concrete stain on it or leave it natural?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Man, I had better not let my wife see that cross. She loves Celtic designs and jewelery.

When you started this thread, I had no clue that it would have turned out like it did. You are a true craftsman. Beautiful job!

Do you plan on using a concrete stain on it or leave it natural?

Hi there
Sorry I did not reply earlier.
You best not show Mrs Chevyrestoguy or you will be out back making one too.

I do not plan on staining it, rather just let it age in the garden.

[Grizz1963]

Robbie is what Nicola called him.

But his name is actually Zibbi, no idea why.

Been tossing this idea around in my head since making the Celtic Cross.

Today, after helping a mate move some gym equipment (two trips) I came home, and got going with it as Nicola was out shopping.

First up, I drew up a rough robot to get placement and size on the block.



Started by cutting away the excess.



Hand held blade works a treat to get into tight spots.





Arms made thinner.



About four hours later my wife thinks I am a hero.



And in my opinion ...... enough of a reason to spend more than 4 hours in the garage sucking dust.



Ohhhh, and she still does not have the Celtic Cross.

[LockDoc]

-
Good job. She will really flip when she sees the cross...

Tell her I like her hat pin.

LockDoc

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

-
Good job. She will really flip when she sees the cross...

Tell her I like her hat pin.

LockDoc

Thanks Leon!!

She wore the hat again with a different outfit and we went to Blue water shopping centre.
The girls in one shop went mad for it as well.

[Grizz1963]

Well, because we are both out to work early tomorrow, we decided that tonight would be cards and prezzies.



She got loads of nice cards and prezzies from friends and family.

Then I went upstairs and dug out the prezzies I had gotten her. (She had asked for a ring, which I bought in December)

YES, I KNOW....... Christmas paper, but it was all I had.



She liked my card, then the specialist book on smoking pipes.

I had a set of 5 pipes I had bought from America last year, and a ladies leg pipe bought for way too much recently (but I know she can sell it for double or more) The ladies leg was one of three fantasy pipes which included a revolver pipe and a family pipe that she always coveted..... so now she has three of her dream pipes.



Lastly she opened the box with the Celtic Cross.

I am pleased to report that she was speechless.

When I asked her, she just said that she was gobsmacked that I had created the cross for her.



And a piccie posed for all of you out there.



I guess as they say "RESULT !! "

[mcbassin]

Very cool robot! Looks like someone likes the gift

[KShortell]

I'm impressed!

[LockDoc]

-
We can tell from the ear to ear smile that she liked the presents..... I hope she had a great day.

LockDoc