The Vile Wyrm Wand

And now for something rather (but not completely) different. A while back dragontygress had asked for a wand with a dragon theme. (Dragons seem to be, quite appropriately, popular this year.) So I turned out a nice little wand and sat down to design the handle. And I couldn't. I feel like I've already done enough heraldic stuff that it's become the norm, and the wood I had used wasn't taking stain like I had wanted even if I did want to do some silver/gold leafed designs. I toyed around with the idea of embossing a dragon figure and then painting it in enamel paint, to the point where I actually had the paint at the check-out counter. But painted figures on light wood just did not click with me.

So instead I stole another walnut dowel from my bed (which is beginning to sag alarmingly ) and made a new wand with an entirely different sort of dragon theme altogether. Designing the wavy handle and the dragon's head was fun, but mostly, this wand was all about scales. The small scales were individually gouged with a gouge that has no handle, just metal wrapped in cloth. I swear I'll have blisters on my palm from it later. But the big scales on the back were the real issue. I didn't have any tool the right size, so each one was gouged several times with a shallow flat gouge to get the shape right. (I feel like I'm living up to that cutie mark you guys have given me!) It took me probably twice as long to put the scales on as it did to make the wand, but it looked too much like a dog without the scales.

And I've got to say, I really like this wand. Anyone who reads these comments probably knows I usually have a lot of faults to find with my stuff, and I could say a lot about the shape, the uneven head, the bad design of the scales on the back, etc. etc. But still, this has got to be one of my favorite wands I've made. The photos are sadly not as nice as I'd like, but this wand isn't half bad. Could be better. Not professional quality, to be sure, and if I ever made another there would be many changes. But it ain't too shabby.

Want to see more of it? Check out the gallery over at My Little Woodcraft.