for that special someone ?
... or to memorialize anything your heart desires in solid wood ?
... or to really impress somebody with the most perfect, and thoughtful gift ?

well... seek no further !

one thing my years have taught me is that rarely are good things cheap, or cheap things good.
sometimes you've got to dig a little deeper.
that's when you need to find a source that can help deliver what your own two hands may not be able to. a source that can help your ideas unfurl into the three dimensional.
that's when anybody who knows where to go, calls on the vlervinator !
we know him in our forum as vlervatron, but bobby duke is so much more than his goofy handle on the BLBC boards will lead you to believe.
he is truly a gifted artist.
faster than a speeding bullet...
more powerful than a locomotive...
able to leap tall buildings in a single bound...
he's supersculptor !
this dude can flat out deliver the goods.
my story begins this past summer.
after being married for too many years to count on three hands, you kinda run out of great ideas for that awesome birthday gift for the other half.
i found myself in no different position than the rest of you in that regard.
so i did what any real man of genius would do... i summoned the great spirit of vlervatron to help me realize something i had thought would be the perfect gift for many years now, but something i could never trust anyone to deliver.
as it turns out, my children's mama is a great lover of those cheese puffs of the sea, the manatees.
many years ago, we had shared a real cool experience with some wild ones in the warm waters of the great state of florida.
the entire experience touched her deeply, and she still keeps a toasty place in her heart for those gentle giants.
so basically, anything "manatee" delivers like a two out home run in the ninth inning with the game on the line as far as she's concerned.
i had an idea for a graceful representation of one for quite some time now; envisioning it as a fine wood sculpture atop her doll cabinet. certain that it would make her smile every time she saw it.
... and then it happened. i found out bobby was a sculptor.
sure as a pile of flies flies to a pile, bobby and i got together on an idea (mine) and a price (his) and the deal was done.
fast forward a bit over a month later, and i'm goin' from zero to hero just for making that call !
did i mention the dude was talented ?
i'll let this picture tell the rest of the story.

http://www.reptileradio.net/reptileradio/picture.php?albumid=464&pictureid=3430

so if you ever need something like this, or want that which you can't find anywhere in wood, give the vlerv a shout.
hand crafted excellence for when nothing else will do.
integrity too...
a pleasure to deal with.
thanks bobby duke for a great transaction,
ck

That is a beautiful piece! Congratulations ck on the perfect gift idea, and to Bobby for a fantastic job!

Bobby, that's INCREDIBLE!!! :yes:

ck, has the wife seen it yet? :rolleyes:

That is a beautiful piece! Congratulations ck on the perfect gift idea, and to Bobby for a fantastic job!

Bobby, that's INCREDIBLE!!! :yes:

ck, has the wife seen it yet? :rolleyes:

thanx sara.

yeah quigs, she's got it, and she totally loves it.
bobby hooked me up, he's a real class act.

ck

I'm somewhat partial to the Dugongs but that sure is one sweet sea cow!

I'm somewhat partial to the Dugongs but that sure is one sweet sea cow!

dugongs rock too !
sure wish humans didn't knock off the stellars... would be pretty cool to get to see one in the flesh.
humans suck,
ck

Very cool.

Dan

Bobby that is beautiful artwork .

Thanks CK for the very kind words. You also were a pleasure to do business with. I'm glad she likes it! Thanks everyone.

Bobby, you definitely have talent. I can do a lot of things in wood, but carving isn't one of them. Congratulations. :yes:

Wow, it looks amazing!!!

Deffinitely a great talent! & What a great gift too :) ~

Great work Bobby and good looking out for the mrs. brada! :cheers:

Beautiful piece of work.

Thanks CK for the very kind words. You also were a pleasure to do business with. I'm glad she likes it! Thanks everyone.

you're welcome.
it was a lot easier for me to hold up my end of the bargain (commitment to remunerate...) than it was for you.
it's very easy to deliver the groceries under sunny skies. it's when in the midst of a storm that a man is truly tested, and his mettle can better be judged.

to make the story a little longer... bobby endured considerable misfortune in his pursuit to deliver this piece. though frustrating, and costly, he kept his word and his schedule. as some of you know, wood, like people, can be fickle. that which we can see on the outside isn't exactly indicative of what's going on inside. also like people, until you get closer to the problem brewing inside, you really don't know it's there.
i saw the real bobby duke during the length of this transaction, i cannot express enough how appreciative i am of his effort and resolute nature.

all stroking aside, if you ever need anything special made from a piece of wood, don't hesitate to call bobby. the dude delivers better than the US mail. even if it's just for an applique to personalize your favorite piece of furniture. you won't be sorry.
ck

Bobby,

I looked at your work and I am very impressed. Have you ever done anything like this?

http://www.chessusa.com/miva/graphics/23-V17/23-V17_6_large.jpg
http://www.chessbaron.co.uk/gallery/XX2009/XX2009_3_lg.jpg

High-end chess pieces are typically carved out of Ebony and Boxwood, have leather pads on the bottom and are double- or triple-weighted with lead.

Bobby,

I looked at your work and I am very impressed. Have you ever done anything like this?

High-end chess pieces are typically carved out of Ebony and Boxwood, have leather pads on the bottom and are double- or triple-weighted with lead.

Those are beautiful! I haven't carved any chess sets like that yet, and the main reason is I don't own a lathe, witch is what I would need to make pieces like that. But hopefully in the future I will have one.