Driftwood Santa
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
Canada
November 21, 2015 9:01am CST
When we first came to Canada we rented a house on the shore of Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario being one of the Great Lakes, is huge and it actually looks like the ocean with waves but without salt.
I walked the long strip of beach that was next to my house daily. You can find amazing things on a deserted beach. I looked down at a piece of driftwood and saw Santa Clause one day. I put him in my pocket and looked for more and found a lot of Santa’s that day and in the next few years, a lot of them.
Another day I looked down and saw a five-dollar bill but never found any more of them… darn!
Another day I found a fire extinguisher (probably from a boat) so we had to call the coast guard and someone came and picked it up. They are always on the lookout for boat problems on that huge lake.
Now, back to drift wood. I went out and bought some carving tools and made those pieces of drift wood look like Santa. It didn’t take much, just a slice here and there and a dig once in a while and Santa showed up. Especially after I put some paint on him.
I gave them away to my friends and my family. I kept some for myself. When we became Landed Immigrants (the first step to becoming a citizen) I started to sell them in a local florist shop and at craft fairs. I literally sold hundreds, maybe thousands.
It was a fun part of my creative life.
It also sent me to Hospital more than I’d like to admit with gouges stuck in my hand. I decided I needed to “learn” how to carve without cutting myself so I enrolled in night school at the high school in a woodcarving course. It was wonderful and I learned a lot. I carved several things in basswood but when the course was over I went back to driftwood because I liked the primitive look of my Santa's.
I was grateful for the education and not having to visit the Emergency any more.
I sold my small driftwood Santa’s from $5 to $25, I made big ones too but those big boys went for $150.
I don’t make any of them anymore. Once we moved away from the lake it was harder to find driftwood. My private half mile of beach was perfect but public beaches are picked clean by other walkers and that's fine, I moved on to painting on wood and then slate.
The photo attached is a sample of my driftwood Santa.
Have you ever tried wood carving? Be careful or you will end up in the emergency room too. 
16 people like this
18 responses
@Marilynda1225 (84204)
• United States
21 Nov 15
I could never do wood carving. I almost cut my finger off once when cutting up a cauliflower!! Love your driftwood Santa and it sounds like a fun way to make some money. You certainly are talented 
5 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
21 Nov 15
Thank you very much. I gave my son my carving tools and then missed them and bought some more but Its too hard to find drift wood so I won't be doing that again.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
21 Nov 15
That's really cool. I have no artistic talent what so ever. If I tried it would look like a 4 year old painted it.
4 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
21 Nov 15
You would be surprised how easy it is, but then, I've called myself an artist since I was a teen.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
21 Nov 15
@PainsOnSlate I do not doubt that it is quite easy for someone with the patience and talent to do such things. I am very impatient and patience plays a big part of being a good artist.
2 people like this
@Rollo1 (16677)
• Boston, Massachusetts
22 Nov 15
I can't cut up an onion without taking off a piece of a digit. I cut myself on a potato peeler. It's one of the reasons I don't have any sharp knives. It's on purpose. My fingers wouldn't be any good for carving. When I was a kid, I often sharpened my pencils with a knife and worked with tools that were sharp. But these days. I think it's best if I stick to blunt tools. I love your Santa, btw. That's very clever and I liked what you said about seeing Santa in the wood. It reminds me of what Michaelangelo said "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free".
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
23 Nov 15
You made me laugh about sharp things. I had forgotten Michelangelo's quote but that is exactly what happened on that beach. It had to be a certain shape and Santa would just show up.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (52943)
• Canada
21 Nov 15
I have never tried carving wood, but I do enjoy stripping and refinishing wood furniture. I did some older pieces that we picked up here and there years ago, and I found it so relaxing and purposeful. I like your Santa. There used to be a lady who took fence posts and painted a face on the front, of each and then took and put a songbook, made from wood, in front of them. People all over had these carolers on their yards and porches at this time of the year.
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
22 Nov 15
@JudyEv That sounds like fun too, I'll bet the rustic look is good with photos.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
21 Nov 15
Sounds beautiful. I've see carolers in yards but not made out of fence posts.
3 people like this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
21 Nov 15
No ... I haven't... mainly because.... i'm not good with tools....like that.... I probably would end up in the emergency room... I sometimes use glue in my craft projects.... , and often glue my fingers up....
3 people like this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
24 Nov 15
@PainsOnSlate thats good that they offered that....if you look you can find some good classes... for day or night school...
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
23 Nov 15
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha I've done that too... If anyone is ever inclined to carve wood I would highly suggest to have a pro teach you how to do it, I lucked out by finding a class at the high school. I do know other woodcarvers who have classes at their homes now. I didn't know anyone back then so the high school was perfect.
2 people like this
@Namelesss (3364)
• United States
21 Nov 15
I love your driftwood santa. Didn't I see a picture once of a collection you had done? You're amazing in that you saw a possibility and turned it productive. Happy to hear you stopped slicing and dicing yourself. (wondering how many people own a splash of your blood). :)
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
22 Nov 15
@Namelesss just curious, did you ever find the time and or the energy. I have this feeling you are creative and could do this easily.
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3364)
• United States
21 Nov 15
@PainsOnSlate I knew I was right. . We need a little horn emoji down there so we can toot it, haha. I know I liked the collection and thought of doing something similar myself if I could ever find the time and energy.
. We need a little horn emoji down there so we can toot it, haha. I know I liked the collection and thought of doing something similar myself if I could ever find the time and energy.2 people like this
@Namelesss (3364)
• United States
23 Nov 15
@PainsOnSlate Lately I've been putting some time into painting on various canvases. I don't have any drift wood. I do have a large piece of oak trunk waiting for me to do something with it. I've got to finish getting the bark off first. I'm thinking of trying some carving on that, I've never really done carving before but would love to give it a shot.
I really like the santa you put up there in the comment. I didn't see it last time I looked. We just saw a santa in the dollar store that made me think of you and your santas. I laughed out loud and got a few weird looks. :)
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90720)
• Philippines
23 Nov 15
@PainsOnSlate Well , it's Santa anyway . 
But it's beautiful .
But it's beautiful .2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
22 Nov 15
He's my Sad Santa or Tired Santa, I made all the faces look different, however they ended up people loved them and bought them too.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
24 Nov 15
You just have to keep trying to get good at it. the more you try, the better you get.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61355)
• United States
23 Nov 15
I have never tried it but it is quite adorable and would have been a great seller at our church craft fair I am sure.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
23 Nov 15
It was a good seller I had one flower shop who sold them every late fall. Christmas Craft shows did well with them too. Everyone loves Santa.
2 people like this
@simone10 (54182)
• Louisville, Kentucky
22 Nov 15
@PainsOnSlate I just love it! I like the old look to it.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
21 Nov 15
I made a lot of them and each one looked different because it was carved out of driftwood. I wish I had photographed them all. Some were awesomeand some were crazy.
@wetnosedogs (1533)
• United States
21 Nov 15
If only I had your talent and patience.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
21 Nov 15
We all are different, it we weren't life would be boring.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39504)
• United States
22 Nov 15
aint that jest the cutest thingy? i admire yer talents 'n grimaced 't the thought 'f those gouges impalin' yer skin. i ran a screwdriver completely through my hand once. didn't go to the e.r. though, didn't've the time nor inclination. surely was a painful ordeal gettin' that dang thing outta there! didn't 'ave any feelin' in 3'f my fingers fer 'bout 6 months if'n i recall correctly?
i fear i lack artistic vision when it comes to tinkerin' with schtuff. the hubs used to do carvin', woodburnin', made knives, furniture 'n such. wish he'd take it all up 'gain, but fear he'll not.
shame that'cha aint got access to pilfer driftwood any longer.
big 
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39504)
• United States
23 Nov 15
@PainsOnSlate yes ma'am, truly is. i dunno, hon, those knives're purty dangerous's well. the irony is my dad ran one through his hand 'bout 2 days 'fter i'd done mine. we compared scars my next visit, lol.
fortunately ('r not??) i've seen many thingies in my lifetime - bones pokin' outta skin, innards 'n gallons 'f blood. thus far, only thingy that truly bothers me is crispy critters...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
23 Nov 15
isn't it amazing how you can cut yourself up and be numb for a while and like magic, the feeling comes back!! I'd much rather have a knife in my hand compared to a screwdriver, yikes that must have hurt. As tough as you may think I am, I tend to faint when I see blood. I've done it many times and learned not to look at my disasters but to quickly cover them up and run to emerge.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
21 Nov 15
Thank you, I'm here to entertain. . Whenever I'd jam a gouging tool in my hand I'd wrap the whole hand and go with the knife still in my hand. That way the nurses got covered in my blood and not me...When they pulled it out. Only once I lost some feeling in my left hand but over the years it came back to normal...crazy things we do in life...
. Whenever I'd jam a gouging tool in my hand I'd wrap the whole hand and go with the knife still in my hand. That way the nurses got covered in my blood and not me...When they pulled it out. Only once I lost some feeling in my left hand but over the years it came back to normal...crazy things we do in life...2 people like this
@babaraimc (1310)
• Pakistan
21 Nov 15
you have quite a luck,
i think i need to visit that beach too to find some Santas
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
21 Nov 15
They were just pieces of wood until I carved a Santa face on them, it was fun and easy to do
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
22 Nov 15
Thanks, I've always dabbled in all kinds of art. This was fun and profitable.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (145309)
• United States
26 Nov 15
I like both your story and your interesting Santa, @painsonslate !
No, I've never really been interested in carving things. Knives like me too much! They love to dig in and see how deep they can go and what interesting things they can dig out of me, not the wood!
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
26 Nov 15
It just takes practice like cooking, you have to practice to be good at it. I highly recommend you have a lesson or two on how to handle the gouges and knives. I learned the hard way and then took lessons.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (145309)
• United States
28 Nov 15
@PainsOnSlate Uhm... yeah, I don't think I am giving knives and gouges or scrapers any more chances at MY hide, pains! They've already gotten all the chances they're getting from me!
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
28 Nov 15
@DaddyEvil sometimes its good to know your limits
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
22 Nov 15
I've looked for painted slate around here but haven't seen it yet. The roofing slate I use to paint on is a pretty big piece. I like to cut them into smaller pieces and am lucky to have a brother who can make anything. He made a slate cutter for both me and his wife who wanted to paint on slate too. Being able to have many sizes is a bonus. My brother went to a roofing company with me to look at used slate and he asked the guy showing it to us outside in a warehouse how the roofers cut them and he showed us a cutter. My brother studied it for a few minutes and asked a few questions and went home and made them for us.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21849)
• Canada
1 Dec 15
Not such a great talent but I could see the potential in a piece of driftwood.
1 person likes this
