Wow, you are all too kind.
The I use Rough sawed pine that is scrap left over from the various barn building projects from a dairy farmer I know. Softer wood is the ticket. If it is too hard, you need to apply that much more pressure to cut, and when you inevitably slip, what would normally be a cut repaired with super glue and liquid bandage, turns into a solo drive to the emergency room to have yourself sewn back together.
Here is a shot of a shelf that has a bunch of my carvings. I don't carve anything you would recognize. Not one for carving animals or chains or "stuff". I like flowing shapes and making the piece delicate.
If you'd, I can take individual shots of the pieces, rather than the "group photo"
Thanks again for the nice comments,
Tom
P.S.
I'll take better shots of the knife as well. That is the best piece of stag I've ever had. Incredibly solid with hardly any marrow.