1.   Each piece was carved with a phrase or adage about house or home.

2.   Early pieces were intricately carved with cactuses, horses heads and horseshoes.

3.   For a whimsical touch, he carves other pieces of melons into classic vegetable shapes like beans, potatoes, carrots and celery.

4.   Jessica Lowrie designs Web sites, and so does Joseph Chiffriller, who still carves decorative pieces on the side and sells them on the Internet.

5.   No ornately carved mantel pieces.

6.   Siebenmorgen carves each piece with hand chisels and a small power tool.

7.   They sharpen knives and axes, carve pieces of wood and mend clothing, garments of wool from home and animal skins from their travels.

8.   Though the pieces are studiously carved, Siebenmorgen prefers a certain lack of surface polish to his final product.