Artistic processing of birch bark is one of the types of folk decorative arts, which has preserved to this day the traditional techniques and methods of processing natural material.
Due to its remarkable properties (strength, flexibility, resistance to decay), birch bark has long been widely used in everyday life. All the various birch bark products of the peoples of Russia can be divided into three groups:
1. Things made from a whole piece of birch bark, the simplest in shape: checkmans (wide and low tetrahedral open dishes), bodywork, dials.
2. Wicker products of various shapes and sizes: small salt pans, huge shoulder bags, wicker shoes, etc.
3. Stitched products, the most complex and laborious: beetroot, boxes.
The ways of decorating birch bark products are also diverse: scraping and engraving, embossing and carving, painting with paints.
Familiarization of children with the artistic processing of birch bark, practical training in their technical methods of this craft is quite accessible at home, and not only in places where folk crafts function, but also where their influence does not extend. The main thing is to have an adult nearby who either knows how or wants to learn this craft and pass on at least a spark of his passion to the child.
For a slotted ornament, birch bark is required to be even, smooth, without knot holes, sagging and growths. Let's say right away that birch bark can only be harvested from trees that have been felled during planned felling. Growing trees for harvesting should never be used: removing the bark leads to the death of the tree.
Birch bark in its qualities is different. According to the observations of birch bark specialists, its quality depends on: the age of the tree; from the area where the birch grows; from birch health.
On young birch trees (3-4 years old) there is no birch bark at all. On birch trees 15-25 years old, the birch bark is thin, clean and soft. On very old birch trees and near the butt, birch bark is sometimes with outgrowths, cracks and dark dashes. The best birch bark is on medium birches, 75-100 cm thick in girth.
From birches growing in too damp, swampy places, the birch bark turns out to be fragile, with roughness, with many small and large dashes.
In open sunny places, birch bark is of little stretch, fragile. It is better to take birch bark from birches growing in moderately humid places, in moderately shady forests.
Birches affected by diseases, insects, fungi give very poor birch bark. Good stuff give perfectly healthy trees, and at the same time the birch bark must be removed at a certain height from the ground.
Birch bark is removed from trees in various ways, depending on the purpose: with narrow ribbons; sheets or plates; cobbled together.
For slotted birch bark, you will need sheet or layer material (it is most easily removed from tree trunks).
A birch bark incision is made along the entire smooth part of the trunk; the edges of the cut are slightly bent with a knife, and then all the birch bark around the trunk is removed by hand. If there are thick branches on the trunk, then the birch bark is removed with frequent (small) plates, which can be used on small products.
Birch bark for elegant, artistic products should be stored especially carefully. For this purpose, you need a cool, dry, darkened room. Birch bark folded in damp rooms becomes covered with mold, which causes dark and whitish spots to appear on it. From sun rays after 4-5 days, the color of the birch bark deteriorates, it becomes reddish. From prolonged lying in the light, the birch bark becomes completely white. All changes in the color of birch bark are accompanied by a deterioration in its strength, flexibility, and extensibility.
For storage, fold the birch bark into bundles and lay them between two boards, pressing them on top with a load so that the birch bark does not twist.
The technique of carving on birch bark is not particularly difficult. Carving tools are simple and can be made at home. To work, you will need the following: knife-cutter; awl (blunted and polished); ruler, square and compasses for marking the picture; lining board on which carving is performed.
The main tool for carving birch bark is a knife. This is the same knife that we used when making wooden marquetry sets, decorating boxes.
The manufacture of birch bark products consists of: a) preparatory operations; b) the process of cutting the ornament; c) installation, in which a birch bark strip with a finished cut-out ornament is connected to the surface of any product.
Preparatory operations consist in the stratification of birch bark, in cutting it into strips, plates, blanks, in removing the outer layer and exfoliated pieces, in marking the pattern of the ornament.
Birch bark taken from a tree can be quite thick, and for carving work, thinner plates (0.5-0.8 mm) are needed, which can be cut without much effort. To get the bark of the desired thickness; she is loosened. Immediately after being removed from the tree (until it has dried out), the birch bark is relatively easy to delaminate. And the dried birch bark must first be steamed in hot water for 3-4 hours and only then stratified. In this case, use a wooden knife. In places where one layer "sticks" to another, it is convenient for them to separate the layers without fear of damaging them.
The inner side of the birch bark is called the front side, and the ornament is cut on it. The outer white layer is cleaned with sandpaper.
A blank corresponding to the shape and size of the objects that they want to decorate with slotted carvings is placed for cutting on a backing board. On it, with an awl along the ruler, the main articulations of the pattern are applied: borders, central field. Then a floral pattern of the central field is applied. To do this, the easiest way is to take a tracing paper with a drawing drawn in advance, put it on the workpiece and transfer the drawing to the birch bark with a hard pencil or awl. If it turns out to be not noticeable enough, you can additionally circle it with a blunt awl, removing the tracing paper.
Ornament cutting process. To acquire birch bark carving skills, simple exercises should be done, first performing simple drawings.
To do this, on scraps of birch bark unsuitable for high-quality products, several parallel lines are drawn with an awl at a short distance from each other. In these strips, such simple elements as rhombuses, triangles, ovals are cut, most often used in borders (1, 2). Then you should move on to a simple floral ornament (3, 4, 5). The most common element of floral ornament is the shamrock, framed by a semicircular stem. To successfully cut a floral ornament, you need to learn how to perform this element in isolation or in a simplified floral ornament. Only after the primary carving skills have been developed and the hand gains some confidence, you can start cutting any finished composition. After the pattern is completed, its main motifs are finished with a “drawing” and a small cut: small cuts on the berries, leaves are drawn with an awl, imitating the pattern of plant veins.
All this gives the drawing greater liveliness, expressiveness and completeness.
Mounting. A birch bark strip with a carved ornament is traditionally glued into smooth recesses on the walls of the decorated object. Such a complication of the technology of decorating products is explained by the need to protect soft and eventually becoming brittle material from breakage. The surface of the recess or the entire product is pre-tinted, which gives a beautiful combination of the cut birch bark pattern and the background of the product. For the same purpose, colored foil can be used: it is first glued onto a birch bark strip with a cut-out ornament, and then glued into a recess on the product. The work is varnished (except for recesses), but the carved birch bark is not varnished, it must retain its natural color.
In contact with
Traditional Russian folk art craft carvings on birch bark, fame to which was brought by the masters of the Shemogodsky volost of the Veliky Ustyug district of the Vologda province of Russia.
Shemogodskaya slotted birch bark is perhaps the most famous birch bark craft in Russia. He is also famous abroad. The fishery got its name from the Shemoksy River, which flows into the Northern Dvina below Veliky Ustyug.
unknown , CC BY-SA 4.0By 1882, 168 people were engaged in thought in the Shemogodsk volost of the V. Ustyug district. Here is what was written in the Essay on handicrafts of the Vologda province:
“The best borage in the village of Kurovo-Navolok. They make extremely elegant beetroots to order.”
This refers to products decorated with slotted birch bark: tueski, dishes, gloveboxes, pencil cases, travel boxes and other products. An elegant floral ornament carved by the craftsman adorned the walls and covers of the items. Birch bark on a dark or golden background looked like an expensive material. Naturally, the products were attractive to the buyer.
From the book "Good Craft" by A.V. Shutikhin, from the site Northern birch bark
The history of the fishery
In 1918, carvers from the village of Kurovo-Navolok united in a cooperative artel (in 1935 it was renamed the artel "Artist").
On Shemoks there was another artel, created in 1934 by Nikolai Vasilyevich Veprev. It was called "Solidarity". The best carvers were invited to this artel, who tried to preserve the traditions of Shemogod carving.
Casket, early 19th century Tues, late 18th century unknown , CC BY-SA 4.0 In the war and post-war years, there was a carving workshop at the Shemogodsk Furniture Plant. In 1964, the production was considered unprofitable, both artels were closed, and the craftsmen were fired.
Great efforts were required to restore the Shemogoda carving. This happened in 1967, when a workshop for the manufacture of caskets, tuesas and other products decorated with slotted birch bark was established at the Kuzinsky Mechanical Plant.
Tues. Detail. XIX century. Shemogye, Velikoustyugsky Uyezd. Birch carving. Timing. unknown , CC BY-SA 4.0 After the unsuccessful "innovations" of the 1950-1960s, the fishery began to actively develop again. In 1981, the Veliky Ustyug Patterns art and production plant was created, continuing the traditions of openwork knitting.
Growing demand
Due to the great demand for products, the craft has been constantly expanding. Not only men worked, but also women and children. November 21, 1908 in the village. Pogorelovo, a peasant craft school was opened.
Products with slotted birch bark mainly went abroad. In the USA, glove boxes and cigarette vending machines were fashionable. France and Germany also used products from the Shemoksy River.
The revolution of 1917 had little effect on the work of the craftsmen.
unknown , CC BY-SA 4.0 The Soviet Republic needed a hard currency to boost the national economy. In 1918, the handicraftsmen of the village of Kirovo-Navolok, on the initiative of the master A.V. Veprev, united in the Shemogodskaya cooperative production artel.
The list of manufactured products was long: handkerchiefs, glove boxes, tobacco boxes, tea caddies, work boxes, boxes with sliding lids, cigarette machines, book boxes, octagonal and pyramids.
unknown , CC BY-SA 4.0 In 1928, the representative office of Gostorg planned to sell birch bark products in Germany for 5,000 gold rubles. And in 1930, the All-Russian Union of Industrial Cooperation undertook to export birch bark products worth 10,000 rubles in gold to Kustoexport.
The production of Shemogoda birch bark products continued until the industrial cooperation was liquidated in 1960. Now the Veliky Ustyug Patterns factory continues to work with birch bark.
Description
Ornaments of Shemogoda carvers, called "Birch bark lace", were used in the manufacture of caskets, boxes, tea caddies, pencil cases, tuesov, dishes, plates, cigarette cases.
unknown , CC BY-SA 4.0 The pattern of Shemogoda carving consists, as a rule, of a creeping stem with elongated leaves and spirally twisted branches. At their tips are round rosettes, berries, shamrocks.
Often, masters introduced geometric patterns from circles, rhombuses - “gingerbread”, ovals, segments into floral ornaments. The composition was built on the principle of clear symmetry. They completed the drawing with a border of leaves, triangles, wavy lines, mesh.
unknown , CC BY-SA 4.0 Images of birds or animals, architectural motifs, and sometimes even scenes of walking in the garden and drinking tea can be inscribed in this ornament. Another characteristic feature this carving are frames with geometric ornaments surrounding the picture.
Shemogoda birch bark carving
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Useful information
Shemogod carving
Shemogodskoe - rural settlement as part of the Velikoustyugsky district of the Vologda region, the name comes from the Shemoksa River
WHERE COULD I BUY?
You can view, select and purchase products of Shemogoda carving in online store "RUSSIAN CRAFTS".
I.A. Veprev
The most famous master of this craft was Ivan Afanasyevich Veprev. It was his products that gained great fame and brought glory to the Shemogoda birch bark.
The master had ten medals and diplomas of various exhibitions and fairs, including the medal of the World Exhibition of 1900 in Paris.
In 1882, at the All-Russian Industrial Fair, his products were awarded a prize and completely bought by the imperial court. They were very expensive: from 5 to 13 rubles. apiece, while the earnings of peasants engaged in beetroot fishing, according to F. Arsenyev, amounted to 16 rubles. for 6 winter months.
Stepan Bochkarev
The names of many talented craftsmen are associated with the history of the craft. In the State Historical Museum there are signed works by the Veliky Ustyug master Stepan Bochkarev. These are caskets and snuffboxes of the first half of XIX century with scenes on the plots of Aesop's fables, with images of animals and architectural structures.
Technology
The main contours of the image are applied to the prepared birch bark plate with a blunt awl. Then, with a sharp knife, cut out the pattern and remove the background. The silhouette ornament is decorated with small cuts.
Embossing is applied to birch bark with the same blunt awl. After that, a birch bark plate was glued onto a product, usually made of soft wood (aspen), sometimes the background was tinted or colored foil was glued.
From metal to bark
It is very difficult to draw a chronological boundary for the transformation of a peasant craft into a craft.
The first mention of birch bark things as a commodity we find on the pages of the travel diary of a retired second major, Peter Chelishchev, who visited Veliky Ustyug in 1791.
This laconic evidence suggests that in the 18th century this technique decoration objects made of birch bark in the peasant environment was still predominant due, first of all, to the lower labor intensity of the creative process, although the existence of the production of things decorated with cut birch bark is not at all excluded.
This conclusion is not contradicted by the few, miraculously preserved items with carved birch bark, dating back to the second half of the 18th century, the origin of which researchers associate with Veliky Ustyug.
On the example of the decorative solution of some of them, the connection of carved birch bark with the art of cut iron, which flourished in the city during this period, is clearly visible.
It is possible that the technique of artistic metal processing began to be used and received its new development in another material - birch bark, but it is possible that these two types of punching existed independently and simultaneously.
Shemogod birch bark
The craft originated in the city of Veliky Ustyug, Vologda Oblast, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The ornament of Shemogoda carvers is popularly called "birch bark lace". The trade is associated with the processing of birch bark and the manufacture of caskets, boxes, tea caddies, pencil cases, tuesov, dishes, plates, cigarette cases from it.
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Before cutting out the drawing itself, the contours of the future image are applied to the prepared birch bark plate with a blunt awl. After the drawing is completed, the birch bark plate is glued onto the product.
In the village of Kurovo-Navolok, in 1918, the artel "Artist" was formed, and in 1981 the art and production plant "Veliky Ustyug Patterns" was created, continuing the traditions of openwork knitting.
The art of birch bark carving brought fame to the craftsmen of the Shemogodsky volost of the Veliky Ustyug district. Judging by the early examples of Shemogoda carving that have survived to this day, the influence of Veliky Ustyug cut iron, niello art, and northern openwork bone carving is noticeable.
The silvery-white surface of the birch bark is beautiful in itself, but sometimes it was also decorated with embossing or painting, and through ornaments were carved on it.
The art of birch bark carving brought fame to the craftsmen of the Shemogodsky volost of the Veliky Ustyug district. Already in the XVIII century. the inhabitants of the village of Kurovo-Navolok and neighboring villages located along the Shemoksa River, a tributary of the Northern Dvina, carved openwork patterns on birch bark plates and applied embossing to them. Over time, this type of craftsmanship turned into a craft. In 1791, the famous Russian traveler P. I. Chelishchev wrote about products made of birch bark as a product. At the fair in Veliky Ustyug, he saw in the stalls and "printed beetroots with figurines."
According to the volost, the craft was called “Shemogodskaya” carving.
Probably, one of the reasons for the emergence of birch bark craft in the Shemogodskaya volost was its proximity to Veliky Ustyug, the ancient center of artistic crafts, with which the history of black silver, filigree and filigree, cloisonné enamels, painted tiles, gold embroidery, perforated iron, carving and painting on tree. The period from the 16th to the 18th centuries was the heyday of the local artistic culture, the achievements of which were preserved in the future in the works of folk artisans.
Most Full description The craft was made by F. A. Arsenyev in 1882: “In the Veliky Ustyug district, in 14 villages of the Shemogodskaya volost, there is a production of beetroots from birch bark. In terms of strength and accuracy of work, beetroots are superior to wooden utensils in the sense that they never dry out, they are used in domestic life for carrying milk and for various pickles; large - replace buckets. All borage production is determined in 2800 rubles. recent times began to fall due to a lack of material, and one should not want it to develop, since borage is the cause of the enormous extermination of birch forests.
There are 168 people engaged in borage business in the Shemogodskaya volost, including 110 householders. Earnings are negligible, do not exceed 16 rubles per adult during the six winter months. The best borage in the village of Kurovo-Navolok. They make extremely elegant beetroots to order with a small cut, decorated with multi-colored foil. Sales of beetroots in the city of Ustyug and buyers in all districts of the Vologda province.
Patterns on beetroots are always cut out by craftsmen with a simple pointed knife; some of them are so keen in this business that they compose a pattern right by hand and never go astray in the drawing.
The technique of Shemogoda carving was used in the manufacture of caskets, boxes, tea caddies, pencil cases, tuesov, dishes, plates, cigarette cases. Decorated with carved birch bark, they took on the appearance of elegant, skillfully made products. Openwork ornaments of Shemogoda carvers were called "birch lace".
It is easy to recognize Shemogoda carving by this ornament. The pattern consists, as a rule, of a creeping stem with elongated leaves and spirally twisted branches. At their tips are round rosettes, berries, shamrocks. Images of birds or animals, architectural motifs, and sometimes even scenes of walking in the garden and drinking tea can be inscribed in this ornament. Another characteristic feature of the Shemogoda carving is the frames with geometric ornaments surrounding the drawing.
The carving technique is not complicated, but it requires strong skills, patience and imagination. The main contours of the image are applied to the prepared birch bark plate with a blunt awl. Then, with a sharp knife, cut out the pattern and remove the background. If you drive the knife at a right angle to the birch bark blank, you will get a clear contour, and if you tilt the knife, you will see a cut of birch bark, the thickness of the material will be revealed, the pattern will become softer in shape. The silhouette ornament is decorated with small cuts. Embossing is applied to the birch bark with the same blunt awl. The finished strip is glued into smoothly cleaned recesses of the products. Many craftsmen tinted the background or placed colored foil under the openwork pattern.
When carving, it is very important to be careful and draw a line exactly according to the pattern, otherwise the desired fragment will fall out of the pattern and the entire plate will be damaged. Experienced craftsmen accurately cut out an ornamental pattern in the traditions of Shemogodya and without preliminary marking of the pattern. But this is only possible for high-class specialists.
The art of birch bark carving, judging by its early examples that have survived to this day, was influenced by Veliky Ustyug cut iron, niello art, and northern openwork bone carving.
The names of many talented craftsmen are associated with the history of the craft. The State Historical Museum has signed works by the Veliky Ustyug master Stepan Bochkarev. These are caskets and tavlinkas (snuff boxes) of the first half of the 19th century. with scenes based on scenes from Aesop's fables fashionable at that time, with images of animals and architectural structures. In the village of Kurovo-Navolok, all the inhabitants of which bore the surname Veprev, an outstanding master of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. was Ivan Afanasyevich Veprev. He is considered the creator of the actual Shemogoda ornament - the very one based on a spiral curl with a round “berry”, reminiscent of carved rosettes on spinning wheels. The works of the master were distinguished by the purity of the carving and the beauty of the drawing. On the lids and walls of caskets with secret locks, he placed hunting scenes, depicted various animals among the forest thickets. It was his work that was awarded a medal in 1882 on All-Russian Exhibition in Moscow and a diploma world exhibition in Paris in 1900
In the second half of the XIX century. birch bark carving was carried out in 14 villages of the Shemogodsky volost.
In 1918, craftsmen from the village of Kurovo-Navolok were united in the artel "Artist". On Shemoks there was another artel, created in 1934 by Nikolai Vasilievich Veprev. It was called "Solidarity". The best carvers were invited to this artel, who tried to preserve the traditions of Shemogod carving. Their products were distinguished by a special purity of execution, a variety of forms and novelty of patterns.
In 1964, the production was considered economically unprofitable, both artels were closed, and the craftsmen were fired. Great efforts were required to restore the Shemogoda carving. This happened in 1967, when a workshop for the production of caskets, tuesas and other items decorated with slotted birch bark was created at the Kuzinsky Mechanical Plant. After the unsuccessful "innovations" of the 1950s and 1960s, the fishery began to actively develop again. In 1972, the Vologda Department of Local Industry decided to create a team of birch bark carvers at the Veliky Ustyug factory of artistic brushes. The training of young carvers in the complex language of the art of slotted birch bark was entrusted to A. E. Markova. This is how it started new stage in the history of the fishery - its true revival.
In 1981, the Veliky Ustyug Patterns experimental factory was opened in the city. Since that time, A. E. Markova has been working as part of a creative team created at the factory. The master's products are increasingly being shown at various exhibitions, they are acquired by museums in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vologda, Suzdal, Veliky Ustyug.
"Slavic culture"
Birch bark is birch bark, which is unique natural material. Lovely birch - decoration of Russian forests, the personification of youth and chastity
Among the endless vast world of plants of the Earth, only birch has a snow-white bark.
Birch bark has a peculiar structure. Its surface layer is highlighted in white.
It is followed by the thinnest numerous yellowish layers that make up the so-called birch bark - a durable, flexible, rotting material, a unique natural formation. 
These properties have put birch bark in a number of vital materials for humans. Black tar was driven from birch bark, light boats, roofing for huts,
they wove bast shoes and waders, jackets and caps, bottles and inkwells, horns and pipes caressing the ear.
Liquid substances such as milk, sour cream, cedar oil, various animal fat, honey, salted fish and much more were stored in specially made boxes and boxes. 
Birch bark tuesas are like a thermos: sour cream does not turn sour in them, fish does not freeze in winter, and does not deteriorate in the heat.
All these products could be stored indefinitely, because birch bark has excellent bactericidal properties. It is no coincidence that the air in the birch forest is several times sterile than in the operating room. The seams in the products were sealed so tightly that they did not let moisture through.
Specially processed birch bark was used to make bags, clothes, shoes,
which in their qualities are not inferior to leather products.
In ancient times in Russia, birch bark was used in large quantities
for writing. To this day, the writings of the ancient Novgorodians have been well preserved - birch bark letters, which brought to us pictures of the life of that distant time.
Birch bark is one of the most poetic materials of folk decorative and
applied arts. Like clothes, it reliably protects the tree
from various hardships. In spring, on bright sunny days, snow-white
the bark reflects the scorching rays of the luminary. Autumn birch bark "cloak"
protects the trunk from moisture, putrefactive microbes,
in winter - from bitter frosts.
The production of products from birch bark was carried out by masters of many provinces. Slotted birch bark was used to decorate art products.
Each major center for the production of birch bark products developed its own methods of decorating things, in which patterns and ornaments depicting birds and plants were often used.
The master makes all kinds of products from birch bark with the finest carving and embossing, in combination they are harmonious. Skillfully varying the patterns, he makes each object seem to sound in its own way.
Birch bark is a very warm material. Even in a cold room, she feels warm to the touch, because she has a lot of positive energy.
Very often one hears from women who have been working on a computer for a long time that a birch bark rim relieves fatigue, and often normalizes blood pressure.
Each product is unique.
Products made of birch bark are very beautiful - their soft charm with a touch of Russian antiquity makes people long for such objects with all their hearts ...
Slotted carving on birch bark. Master Class
Many people who start working with birch bark are wondering: how to make slotted carving
First, we need a joint knife and a feather knife as the main knives. These are the main knives, and we will use them most often. Professional craftsmen usually use in general, only a pen knife.
We also need a set of chisels for wood carving
Since I used to study wood carving at Tatyanka, I have such a set of chisels.
We also need an awl. The main thing in working with birch bark is that the awl does not scratch it, so take yourself a couple to work with birch bark and blunt / round off a little.
For slotted carving, we need first-class, high-quality birch bark. With a joint knife, it is necessary to remove all growths and stratify the birch bark, removing the white layer. As we remember, birch bark is compressed layers of the thinnest outer bark, so the separation will be easy.
Getting Started
The first thing we need to do is to prepare the drawing that we will cut out. To do this, it is quite enough to print the necessary drawing on the printer, attach it to the birch bark and with an awl (that's why you need a rounded awl) carefully circle the drawing, not pressing hard on the drawing, so that the outline remains on the birch bark.
Carving is another way to work with birch bark. Decoration of birch bark products can be simple and complex compositions; complex scenes include scenes from the life of people, animals and birds, and simple ones include geometric and floral ornaments. In order for the pattern to be clearly visible on a birch bark product, it is placed or superimposed on a birch bark of a different (darker or lighter) shade. A background of brightly colored paper or even foil is also used.
Birch bark carving tools
Knife-cutter is the main tool for birch bark carving. Other tools that are no less important, for example: for marking a drawing, are a ruler, square, compasses, awl. The whole process of birch bark carving takes place on a special board so as not to spoil the surface of the table.
The whole process of making birch bark products consists of three stages: the manufacture of blanks, the manufacture of an ornament and installation (the connection of a carved pattern with the surface of a birch bark product.
Production of birch bark blanks for carving
To prepare a blank for carving, the birch bark must be very well cleaned on both sides and stratified (the optimal thickness of the blank is 2 mm). If the birch bark is very dry, it can be steamed in hot water. Soak in hot water and hold in water for 3-4 hours. After such a bath, the birch bark should be well versed into layers. If, nevertheless, the layer does not stick well from one another, then you can help with a wooden knife. This is convenient and you can not be afraid to damage the birch bark.
Now the birch bark is cut into strips of the desired size.
Making a pattern for carving
Templates are used for drawing. After all, if the pattern is repeated in the ornament, then it is easier to make a template and apply the pattern to the workpiece according to the template.
The carving is usually done on a lining smooth and sanded board (so as not to tear the birch bark, because it is only 2 mm thick). And in general it is convenient.
After applying the pattern to the workpiece, first cut the border, and only then you can proceed to the central part of the pattern.
After the main pattern is cut out, we need to revive our thread - to start cutting. This means making cuts on the berries, veins on the leaves, and the like.
The birch bark carving is complemented by engraving and embossing. Carved birch bark must retain its natural color, that is, it is not varnished.
Installation of the finished product from birch bark
The finished birch bark strip with a slotted pattern is connected to the surface of the product.