Very nice Phil! I think you've nailed the concept.
If you don't mind, I'll offer a few suggestions, mostly on style. As all of this is subjective, feel free to ignore some or all of it.
First, on the top hat. To give it more flair, I like to narrow the hat around the band and have it flair out towards the top. Gives the illusion of a wider brim without having to use a wider blank. Rather than cut a groove for the band of the hat, try using a little paint for the band.
Second, I like the little snowman, but I'd get rid of the bottom tenon. It almost looks like a fourth snowball on the bottom. Additionally, I wonder how it would look if the inner snowman was larger so that it was the same proportions as the outer man. Sized to only give maybe a 1/8-1/4" gap between the two. It might be a pain to get right, but might be an interesting look.
Third, I really like what you've done with the finial itself, but something doesn't quite "fit" between it and the snowman. Maybe it doesn't need a finial at all? Or maybe if the finial tapered more on the bottom half to a finer point?
Don't know if anything I've said is right or wrong, but if nothing else might give you some things to think about as you further develop your design.
If you don't mind, I'll offer a few suggestions, mostly on style. As all of this is subjective, feel free to ignore some or all of it.
First, on the top hat. To give it more flair, I like to narrow the hat around the band and have it flair out towards the top. Gives the illusion of a wider brim without having to use a wider blank. Rather than cut a groove for the band of the hat, try using a little paint for the band.
Second, I like the little snowman, but I'd get rid of the bottom tenon. It almost looks like a fourth snowball on the bottom. Additionally, I wonder how it would look if the inner snowman was larger so that it was the same proportions as the outer man. Sized to only give maybe a 1/8-1/4" gap between the two. It might be a pain to get right, but might be an interesting look.
Third, I really like what you've done with the finial itself, but something doesn't quite "fit" between it and the snowman. Maybe it doesn't need a finial at all? Or maybe if the finial tapered more on the bottom half to a finer point?
Don't know if anything I've said is right or wrong, but if nothing else might give you some things to think about as you further develop your design.
