Retirement has allowed Skip Waite to finally slow down.

“I used to work seven days a week, now I work five,” he said.

Instead of sales, Waite now spends his days carving unique birds and flowers through centuries old techniques that originated in Eastern Europe.

Waite can be found demonstrating his craft for the next several Saturdays at the The Old Company Store.

“I took up whittling three years ago,” said Waite, who has lived in Marion for more than four years. “[I was] retired, nothing to do, and I was bored to death.”

Waite made some wooden sculptures and tried to sell them online, but found the price point was too high for customers. He did some research on other wood projects and discovered Gypsy flowers. The delicate flowers, originating in the 16^th century, start out as a wooden pole. Using a drawing knife, the artist gently shaves the wood to create the shape of various kinds of flowers.

Taking only 20 minutes to complete, Waite could sell them for a more affordable price. He took them to a few craft fairs and said, “They sold like crazy.”

After mastering the Gypsy flower, Waite did some more research and discovered the Russian bird of happiness, also called the Holy Spirit bird. The birds, considered good luck, are created using green wood that has been boiled for hours.

“You couldn’t manipulate the wood like this if it were dry,” he said.

The bird’s body is carved out of the wood. Using the same block, the wings are cut into a pattern reminiscent of a paper snowflake. With only one-sixteenth of an inch between the body and wings, the latter are thinly sliced so they can be interlocked and fanned out.

The whole process takes eight or nine hours and is done without glue or nails to hold it together.

The end result is always unique, said Waite.

“Each and every one has it’s own personality,” he said.

Aside from variations in the wings, Waite creates different looks for each bird. Some he leaves natural, others he paints, still others he shellacs. Attaching a string allows the birds to take flight.

It took Waite three months to master the technique. He does everything himself, from foraging for local wood to riving, or splitting, the wood.

Almost every bird is for his wife, sort of.

“Every single bird I make, I make them for my wife and I give them to her,” he said.

When he gets ready to sell them, he takes them back.

Recently, he put them on display The Old Company Store. Waite said he wanted his items there because of its stock of unique, artisan gifts. He will also bring his wares to King Richard’s Faire in September. He can be reached at SkipWaite@verizon.net.

These two designs and the many variations he can create with them are enough to occupy Waite these days.

“And,” he said, “they keep me out of trouble."