The Bird Whittler Studio.

This morning, I missed my early morning walk. Rain tapping on the windows made the decision easy. A friend often teases me, “You’re a fine weather walker!” And maybe they are right. But I have never seen the point in heading out to watch birds and wildlife only to come back soaked through. Nature’s best enjoyed when you are not dripping wet.

Studio Mornings and Catching Up
Instead, I have spent the early hours in my studio, unpacking from the weekend’s successful craft fair and demonstration. It is always a good feeling unpacking the birds, then on the computer checking bird whittling pack orders, and getting everything ready for posting. I had a few bird sales that went home with the customer on the day of the sale. Checked the emails and updated the website..

Bird Lists, and New Projects.
Once the admin’s done, I turn to my other bird orders. I tick off the completed ones and add new requests to the list. If you are visiting the website for the first time, do check the homepage or blog for updates. This week, I will be working more on the Blue Tit and continuing to whittle the full-size Jay. If you have seen it, you will know it is a real challenge with just a Stanley knife.

The Thrush That Stole the Show.
At the weekend, I was demonstrating at the Seaview Colonnade Craft Fair. As always, the whittled Thrush that stole hearts. One of the stallholders even wanted to take it home! That always makes me smile. But truthfully, when I return home, he is always the first item to unpack. I remember the thrill of completing it years ago… and the heartbreak just days later when it fell off the shelf and broke its tail. It could not be sold after that, but it became a talking piece for many others to enjoy, so it was worth the three months of work and a tale to tell.

Inspiration from Sandilands Nature Reserve.
People often ask, “When you are not doing your customer orders, do you still get inspired to whittle other birds?” The answer is yes, all the time. Just the other day at Sandilands Nature Reserve, a Goldcrest flashed in front of me. That moment planted a seed for a future whittling project.

Another idea came from an old article and photo I had saved years ago of a Thrush feeding its young in a nest. Seeing it again gave me a real thrill. The image of the Thrush standing over its chicks, mouths wide open, chirping for food… Could this be a winter project? You might spot later if I cut a block, it could be that I am thinking of doing the Thrush and its babies. That could be me committing to a 2026 whittling challenge.

Stonechat on the High Branch.
One more bird keeps nudging at my mind, the Stonechat. I see it often at Sandilands, perched on the highest branch, with a female nearby or both circling each other in flight. It is a beautiful sight and another idea waiting to be whittled.

Whittling Ideas Never Too Far Away.
So many creative whittling ideas come to me—some from walks, some from memory, and some from chance encounters. That is the joy of it. Anyway, thank you for reading this post. I’m off now to do a bit more work on the Blue Tit. Keep an eye on the blog for updates over the next few days.

Have a great day!