Ardoria Studios

Bull Nutcracker Restoration Completed

admin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:36:13 +0000

Brandon finished adding the horns to the bull recently. He carved the horns from Tagua Nuts and they look just like ivory.

Bull Nutcracker With Horns

Bull Nutcracker with Horns

Bull Nutcracker With Horns

Here is a before and after of the nutcracker…..

Bull Nutcracker With Horns

The horns look and feel like ivory and really complete the look of the nutcracker.

More Restorations: Fox Whip Holder and Bull Nutcracker

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:08:29 +0000

Finally! Our heat wave is letting up a bit and Brandon is back to working on a few restoration projects. He is working on this whip holder…..

Whip Holder

The Fox Whip Holder is missing his foot and he needs to have his finish put back to his original color and get rid of the white washed finish. The fox is extremely detailed but it is really hard to see the details with the light finish.

Here are a couple pics of the current carved foot….

Fox Whip Holder With New Carved Foot

The foot will have to be attached and the fur carved to match then will be the finish!

He is also working on this bull nutcracker…

Bull Nutcracker

The Bull Nutcracker needs to have his horns replaced. This is the bull with a clay mock up of his horns….

Bull Nutcracker with Clay Horns

Brandon and the owner of the nutcracker had been searching for pre-ban ivory or an artificial ivory to carve the horns. They have decided on carving the horns out of tagua nuts. I’ve said it before but each project I learn something new. I never knew that there are nuts that look like ivory and as hard as ivory!

This is how the nuts looked when we received them…..

Whole Tagua Nut

This is the inside of the nut…….

Cross Section of Tagua Nut

Check back soon to see the finished restorations!

The Winking Man Restoration

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:38:18 +0000

Brandon has a few restorations lined up to do. This one was just a quick tune up. The pin needed replaced and the finish livened up.

Here are some before pictures….

Winking Man Nutcracker

Here are some pictures after the tune up…..

Winking Man Nutcracker

The Winking Man is now in operating condition and with a beautiful new finish.

Nutcracker Collector’s Club Convention Continued…

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 12:51:11 +0000

After leaving Mike and Linda’s home we attended dinner at the Golden Age of Trucking Museum. We had a fabulous dinner buffet and participated in a give and take game. Everyone that participated got to either choose a wrapped nutcracker or take one that someone else had already unwrapped….it was a good time!

The museum was a wonderful venue for the dinner. Below is the brochure for them and if you click on the picture it will take you to their web page.

After dinner we wondered through the museum and were awed by the collection of trucks, cars, signs and pedal cars. Here are some photos of what you can find in the museum..

If you are in the area stop by the museum and check out their collections. You won’t be disappointed.

Nutcracker Collector’s Club Convention

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:45:35 +0000

Last year we joined the Nutcracker Collector’s Club. Each year they hold a convention hosted by a club member or group of club members. This year’s convention was held in Connecticut, so we packed up the Prius and hit the road.

We are fortunate to have been able to attend this year’s convention and finally meet a lot of members of the club. What a group of wonderful people! Everyone collects and has a real appreciation of the art and function of nutcrackers.

Mike and Linda hosted this year’s convention. The first night started off at their home. There we got to ogle their very beautiful collection of nutcrackers. Here are just a few photos of their collection….

Notice the horse above Mike commissioned Brandon to create it for them……

: Mike & Linda’s Collection

Above center, in the back, is the Groden Brandon restored for Mike and Linda and also that extraordinary Griffin….

Notice the stump stands

That’s just a few of their fabulous nutcrackers. We really enjoyed seeing their collection. We had been told that Mike and Linda have a collection of high quality nutcrackers. They go for quality over quantity. It’s definitely true. They have the most beautiful collection of nutcrackers as well as many beautiful antiques throughout their charming home.

We had a fabulous time meeting Mike and Linda. Brandon has worked with him on a few projects and it was so nice to finally put a face to the emails! It is a wonderful thing that they opened their home for us to see their collection and give us the opportunity to meet them and the other members. It was an awesome experience.

Who knew? Just a few years ago Brandon was just looking for a nutcracker to buy for me for Christmas. He found the figural nutcrackers and decided to make one for me. We would have never guessed that would lead us to this. We have met the most wonderful people and learned so much. I know that many of our family members glaze over when we discuss nutcrackers and do not share our enthusiasm (to use Susan’s term they are part of the disinterested club). I would have never thought that there were all these wonderful people who all shared in their love of collecting these figural nutcrackers. What a wonderful thing it is that this club has members who open their homes and host wonderful events like this.

Check back for more on the convention!!!!

The Mountain Climber

admin — Mon, 17 May 2010 09:29:20 +0000

Sound the trumpets!!! I believe he is complete. Once the customer gives the final okay he will be on his final journey home.

With each project comes it’s own unique trials and tribulations. Each project is a learning experience. This piece has been no exception. Brandon is a perfectionist and his number one priority is to make his customers happy and we hope that the customer is very pleased with the results.

Mountain Climber Figural Nutcracker

Many projects have been waiting in the wings. There are new designs waiting to be completed. There are so many ideas……so little time. Having a demanding day job and having a family that likes having you around puts a lot of demands on Brandon’s time.

I do know that it is a priority to make some much needed improvements to the workshop so it is comfortable at any temperature! When it’s stinkin’ cold outside the workshop just won’t heat up enough and you cannot carve with numb hands! Then when it’s too hot (not like that happens too much in Ohio) it’s pretty miserable. Improvements need to be made. This too will take time but it needs to be done!

It’s all just more to look forward to

Time to update!!!!

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:39:39 +0000

It’s been a long time since I have posted an update so here is a quick run down on some of the works Brandon has been working on.

First is the progress on the Mountain Climber Figural Nutcracker. It’s down to the detail work and lots and lots of sanding! It is really coming together nicely…

Mountain Climber Nutcracker

Brandon also had some restoration work come through. One was a Groden in need of much restoration as it is very old and has been infested with wood worms. There wasn’t much left of this guy. This is how he showed up here….

Groden Nutcracker Pre-Restoration

Brandon worked some magic on this piece and it is looking really great. Here is how he turned out…..

Restored Groden Nutcracker

Lots of Carving!

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:44:59 +0000

Brandon has been a busy guy! He has begun carving the commission mountain climber nutcracker. It is coming along nicely.

Mountain Climber Nutcracker

He has also been making some stands for a collector. The collector noticed in a photo on the blog the tree stump stand that Brandon made for our gnome nutcracker and ordered some. The workshop kind of looks like some beavers have gotten in there!

Our Gnome Nutcracker

Carved Tree Stump Stands

There’s lots going on in the workshop for sure and there is more to come, too. Check back soon and if you have any questions or comments please leave us a comment! We’d love to hear from you!

A Quick Update

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:55:37 +0000

The design for the commissioned Mountain Climber Nutcracker has been finalized. Now it’s time to begin carving!

The final design has changed slightly. The coat is now closed and ropes added and the sunglasses have been made smaller. It is hard to see the detail in the clay but the wood will show the detail much better.

Check back to see the project progress.

Christmas Gifts and Lights

admin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:43:32 +0000

Hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas! We had a very nice day spent with the family. Santa was good to us all! Brandon had been down and out with a wicked cold for almost two weeks but is now starting to feel much better (Thank God!).

This year for Christmas Brandon made knives for both our Dads. He did a spring assisted automatic knife with lacewood inserts for his Dad.

For my Dad he made a pocket knife with birds eye maple.

Here is a video clip of our outdoor lights. Brandon made the leaping reindeer over the driveway, the reindeer and trees in the yard and the reindeer on the garage with the wreath.

[See post to watch Flash video]

Check back soon for the update of the Mountain Climber Nutcracker.

Happy Holidays!!!