Life in a Pine Cone - Hedgehogs in the Making

Hedgehogs grow along the main branches of this particular species of pine. They often fall off after they are matured to a certain level and the seeds continue to grow inside the cone. They then dry on the warmth of sunshine and the leaves are released.

In this case the hedgehog hibernated and that's when I came on the scene. I used a wire bruch to renive the green mossy surface from between the conical points.

I sliced off the bottom to make it flat. This can be done with a tenon saw without damaging the tenon saw. The cone is densely hard and solid.

I sanded the bottom flat, but, if you can find a way to hold it, you can also plane it flat.

I glued the hedgehog to a flat board with a dab of super glue. Thus should be enough to hold it while you carve the face.

I used the chisel, bevel down, to carve three scallops to form the face. One centred and one either side of the first top scallop.

I poked to holes for eyes with the awl.

I finished the surfaces with shellac. But you can leave it natural. Before I applied shellac, I superglued the face to seal it. This prevents the cone opening on the severed parts.