The greatest tip.

A few weeks ago, I was setting up my display at the downtown St. Pete pier, sharing my latest artwork with the weekend crowd. If you’ve ever stopped by my table, you know my specialty: one-inch by one-inch by four-inch wood carvings of random, quirky characters.

It was a bustling, high-energy day, but everything slowed down when a man approached my setup. He looked closely at the tiny figures, admiring the details, before looking up at me with a spark of an idea in his eye.

"Can you carve anyone?" he asked.

Confident in my craft, I smiled and said yes. I had absolutely no idea that a beautiful, impromptu challenge was about to unfold.

A Race Against the Clock

The man introduced me to his son, Corey. He wanted to know if I could carve a custom miniature portrait of Corey right then and there, while the family went out to eat at a nearby restaurant.

To give me a proper reference to work from while they were away, Corey’s dad snapped a quick photo of him and texted it directly to my phone. With the image locked into my screen, I grabbed a fresh block of basswood and pulled out my trusty carving knife. Right there at the table, I did my usual safety check—running the blade gently across my arm to shave off a few hairs—and confirmed it was razor-sharp and ready to go.

Because the pier area was so busy that day, the carving took me a bit longer than I usually like. Every cut into the basswood had to be deliberate, capturing Corey's likeness and energy in that tiny block while the clock ticked away.

By the time the family returned from dinner, the shavings were cleared, and the piece was ready.

More Than Just a Transaction

When Corey and his dad saw the finished carving, their faces lit up. They loved it so much that his dad handed me more than our agreed-upon price. It was an incredibly generous gesture, but honestly? In that moment, I felt like I was the one who owed them.

As my hands worked the wood while they were away eating, I fell into a deep state of meditation. I started thinking about the long-lasting effect of what this father was doing.

To order a custom carving of your son, just so he can have a physical token to remind him of a wonderful evening out with his extended family in St. Pete—that is an extraordinarily thoughtful gift. It isn't just a piece of wood; it is a tangible testimony of a father's love.

Capturing the Memory

I was so excited for them to see the final piece that I completely forgot my own golden rule: I didn't take a picture of the finished carving for my archives!

Luckily, having that text thread from earlier saved the day. I reached back out to Corey's number to ask if he could help me out. He happily snapped a photo of his new miniature portrait and sent it over, completing the story and giving me a permanent memory of the day.

Meet Corey in Basswood 🪵✨ This is the 1x1x4-inch miniature portrait that started as a casual conversation and turned into a beautiful family token.