One of a Kind Wood Carvings: "Kari Minion, The Tour Guide"

There was no problem trying to figure out the subject to carve for my next "One of a Kind Wood Carving" recipient. Kari's work cubicle is literally covered with Minions! One of them is nearly three feet tall and takes up an entire corner of her desk. The fun carving this piece was to personalize the little Minion to make it look like Kari.
Three things stand out; her hair, eye glasses and smile. To top off "Kari's" "look-a-like" Minion she is attired in the Disney Tour Guide Costume. This is how "Kari Minion, The Tour Guide" worked up.....

Beginning with a 3"x4"x7" piece of tupelo "Kari" is sketched on the front and outline drawings on the sides and rear of the piece.

You'd think a round carving will be easy. However, I soon realized I wouldn't be rough trimming like I have on past carvings. I decided to cut the sketch off the front and redraw the image on the blank.

Drawing the image again was well worth it. Actually, very little wood is to be cut away. The problem to contend with is that nearly all of the features need to remain untouched as you cut "deeper" into the piece. I decided not to use the band saw for any of this piece.

A rough burr made short work of the "roughing" stage.

I also made it a point to "relief" cut the areas that will need to protrude before I can really begin to round the piece off.

Once all of the features were well identified I could make some progress.

I made great progress! Until the rough burr I was using dug into the wood, pulled the piece out of my hand and caught my thumb! I know, don't say it, where are my gloves!

After swallowing my pride, covering the cut with a band aid and putting the right hand glove on, I was back in business!

(And no, I did not get any blood on the piece!)