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Completed 1500’s Nutcracker

Mar 04

The 1500’s Nutcracker has been completed! It turned out wonderfully. The finish is spot on and looks completely seamless. It was quite an exciting piece to work on and it is nice that it has been restored to it’s original form. The bird was completely missing except for remnants of little bird feet and Brandon designed the bird to be correct for the nutcracker, carved the new bird and finished it to look like it had always been there…

Here are some before pictures..

1500's Nutcracker Before

1500's Nutcracker Restoration

And here is the completed nutcracker.

1500's Nutcracker Completed Restoration

This nutcracker will be an amazing addition to it’s home at the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum where it is now currently displayed.

Brandon will be working on to a couple new restoration projects that I will be posting about real soon. We are also working on a few different projects too……

If you want to see some of Brandon’s restoration projects (before and after pics) and also his original nutcrackers and other works, you can check out our fan page on Facebook and look through the albums. It’s nice to see them in one condensed area. While you’re there make sure to “Like” our page, it will make me very happy. 🙂

Posted by admin in Home, Restorations 0

1500’s Nutcracker Restoration Update

Feb 21

The restoration of the 1500’s nutcracker is almost complete. Brandon has been working on making the bird tie in seamlessly to the original piece and it is looking spectacular. It needs to be textured a bit and finished to match the piece and it will be good to go. Here are some updated pictures of the piece.

Arlene is thrilled with the progress and is excited to get it back to the museum to show off this spectacular nutcracker.

After this restoration is complete Brandon has a few more restorations in the line up.

Also, check out our Facebook fan page for updates and check out the photo albums of past works. Just click on the Facebook badge in the sidebar and it will take you directly to it!

Posted by admin in Carving, Home, Restorations 0

Happy New Year! The Completed Seahorse Nutcracker

Jan 01

Happy New Year!

The Figural Seahorse Nutcracker is complete! I think this is my favorite nutcracker Brandon has created to date. This nutcracker is an Ardoria Studios Original design. It is wonderfully detailed and the finish makes it look like an aged nutcracker. Brandon also made a shell stand specially for the nutcracker.

This nutcracker is being placed on Ebay for auction. Click on the link to check out the auction.

I will be sad to see this one go but I am happy that friends and family were able to see it this holiday season. I just loved it on our mantle, it looked wonderful!

Posted by admin in Carving, Home 1

My New Blog!!!! And Nutcrackers Listed On Ebay

Dec 28

Happy December! We are making some changes at Ardoria Studios. I have changed my blog to BrandonEtto.com to make it easier for people to find me and my work. It should be easier to remember. We are keeping Ardoria Studios and it is going to have some interesting changes in the future too. But for now check out the new blog. It is still in transition as there are some technical things I need to work out but all the old blog’s content can be found here now.

With the holidays being just around the corner and I have listed the 2nd Skull Nutcracker of the new design on Ebay. He needs to find nice home to spend the holidays.

I have also listed a Vintage Ibex Nutcracker on Ebay too.

December looks like it is going to be a busy month. I have a couple interesting restorations I am working on and will be posting about them soon.

Posted by admin in Carving, Home 0

An Exciting Restoration Project

Dec 04

A few months ago Brandon was contacted to do a restoration for Arlene Wagner. If you are not familiar with Arlene, she is not only the founder and curator of the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, author of The Art & Character of Nutcrackers but also has her new claim to fame….She was the first guest on the new Conan O’Brien show, Conan.

: Arlene Wagner and Conan

Back to the nutcracker…..The nutcracker she is having restored is a remarkable piece. It is dated approximately to the 1500’s. She wanted to restore this nutcracker by adding the bird that is missing from his hat….