This is a willow stick collected in a manner to create an unusual shape at top. Willow is great to collect and make into walking sticks do to their tendency to grow great long straight branches.

You will notice that I cut the hiking stick above the "Y" of the branch. This was done to give me several options in finishing the stick. The bend makes a great place to carve an eagle head and the twig can be tail feathers. Another option is to use the twigg as an elephants' long trunk in a carving. In addition, I can use the curve as a mount for a brass hand.

The point is that when you self collect walking sticks look at the branches in various ways to get an idea of what to create. You can use rope to weave patterns on the stick (great way to store energency line), use a wood burning tool to draw an image on the walking stick and even carve teh wood walking sticks.

Have a great week!