My name is Mike Bailey. I began carving in 2003 when my parents purchased me a whittling kit while in the Great Smokey Mountians of Tennessee. I was hooked ! I soon started researching the great crafting of wood carving. I started reading every article and book that I could get my hands on.

Many years ago, I always loved helping my Grand Daddy in his leather shop during the summer months in the small town of Stewart, Mississippi. Luther Bailey was not only known by the locals of Stewart but, by people all over the region for his Master Craftsmanship of working leather. His work included making custom saddles, bridles and an array of different harness gear. My Grand Daddy taught me the values of a hard days work along with a sense of running a business, being fair and producing a quality product, all at the same time. The most important value however, was the word of God.

I'd always dreamed that one day, I might be able to create something on my own and actually have people seek me out, to buy something from me the way that people did my Grand Daddy.

I have always enjoyed hand drawing and painting, but its the wood carving that has brought me full circle, I simply have a passion for carving and whittling on a raw and coarse piece of wood, to having a finely sculpted work of art, hours or even days later. As I'm carving, I have a sense of creating something with my hands, much as my Grand Daddy did.

I enjoy carving a variety of different sculptures from, original works to patterns that I have found from the many books that I've read.

I'm a member of the Craftsmen Guild of Mississippi, the Columbus Arts Council and the Tannehill Woodcarvers Association.

I want to acknowledge my wife Debbie for the support that she has given to me. She is a great help in the quality control department, as she doesn't mind telling me when one of my carvings doesn't look just "Right", which just pushes me even harder to perfect my work. She doesn't mind the late nights when I stay up, after she has gone to bed, or the floor full of chips the next morning.. Debbie has always encouraged me to go out to different trade shows and demonstrate my crafts. She is so talented in her own right sewing, drawing, painting and a wonderful cook. She's the greatest ! Carving has given us the opportunity to travel and meet some great people but, mostly to just spend time together. Thanks for being such a great wife.

I also want to thank my step-son Chris, who developed this web site, this site was a complete suprise to me. I'd been wanting a site for past couple years.

Take a look around and enjoy our site. If you have any questions about my carvings or if you have a particular carving in mind, let me know. I'd be glad to discuss any custom carvings with you. info@carvingsbymike.com

Thanks for carving your way into our site

Come on back any time !

 

Mike and Debbie Bailey