Ralph Rosignol from Florida (remember the canes for Vets from last summer) will teach a class on how to carve a Totem Pole.  (miniature, I believe).  The Classes will be June 20 and 27.  The cost is $35 which includes both the class and the carving blank.  See Steve to sign up.  Bob Hallstrom may have more information.
 
Carving Show

Minutes of the regular monthly business meeting of the Blackhawk Woodcarvers; held on May 16, 2012 at 3818 Eleventh Street, Rockford , Illinois.

The meeting was called to order at 9:01 AM by President Steve Terrill.

Minutes for April 18, 2012 read and approved.

Treasurer’s report given by John Skaggs. The balance in checking and in savings .  Report approved.

Dona Wisner was not available, due to attendance at a funeral in Wisconsin. No Petty cash and no membership report resulted.

Web Master, Gordy Moscinski had no report. Web site is www.blackhawkcarving.com.

Bernie Budzynski, Librarian, encouraged use of the library and indicated that the available DVD players are user friendly.

Old Business:

President Steve Terrill acknowledged and thanked Don Stansfield on behalf of all of us for his class on carving a Scotty Dog. Several finished Scotty Dogs were displayed on the Show and Tell table. Based on the decision of two impartial judges, a certificate was issued for pick of the litter.  This was awarded to Jerome Mais. In addition to the certificate, Don Stansfield gifted Jerome a choice of his pick of Denny Neubauer tools.

Additional acknowledgement and thank you extended to Denny Neubauer, who was gracious enough to teach a couple of impromptu Little People classes on Wednesdays.

New Business:

Reminder that the MD walk scheduled for May 19th with registration at 9:30AM  and the walk at 10:30AM at the YMCA Lodge.

The Midsummer festival at the Swedish Historical Society is scheduled for June 16 from 9AM to 2PM. Exhibitors are needed. Registration fee of $50 is due by May 18 (Friday).

Exhibitor contracts available, contact Steve Terrill. Each display area is 10 x 10. Gary “Swede” Lundquist needs volunteers for the soap carving tent. If you are willing to help contact either Gary or Bob Hallstrom.

Ralph Rossignol, who is visiting from Florida, will be teaching how to carve a small Totem Pole. The charge is $20 for the class and $15 for the blank, giving a total cost of $35. The two class will be held on June 20 and 27. The contact person for this event is Bob Hallstrom

President Steve Terrill officially thanked Wes Englund for truing up our paper grinding and buffing wheels and installing the guards so that a knife cannot be buffed in the wrong direction. After assessing our sharpening setup; he recommends we purchase a more sophisticated sharpening system. Roger Benedict knows of a system that might be a step up from our current one. It is a RPM system and he will check on the size to see if it will fit in our cabinet. Roger agreed to accept the task of finding a replacement system, whether it is this one or another. 

President Steve Terrill advised that he is investigating the possibility of staging a carving show at Severson Dells this winter. He will keep us apprised of any and all developments.

Motion regarding Membership directories introduced by President Steve Terrill. It was resolved that next year there will be no cost to the members for said Directory. If you need one this year the charge is $2. The Secretary, Rosalie Wesley has a supply for sale.   

Tony Valdez’s wife, Nikki, fell, broke her hip and had hip replacement surgery. She is recuperating. Get well card will be sent.

Don Clark, who lives in German Valley, will be relocating to Arkansas in the near future. He is having a moving sale on May 17, 18 and 19th.  Wishing you well card to be sent.

Don Stansfield announced that the Blackhawk Woodcarvers 18th Annual Woodcarving Show will be held on August 18, 2012 at 11AM to 4PM at the Tebala Shrine Temple, 7910 Newburg Road in Rockford, Illinois. Sign up sheet will be passed around for the workers needed to make this event a success. Brochures were distributed to all present. Items are still needed for the door prizes and raffle. Direct your inquiries to Don Stansfield.

Roger Benedict advised the group that Uncle Al is retiring. Uncle Al had been our wood supplier for a time. Now the go to guy will be Ray Henry from Armstrong Creek, Michigan. Ray is located 80 miles further north than Al and that will result in an increase in shipping charges.

Ted Faber has a lathe for sale. He is unsure of the manufacturer, but if you are interested he has pictures of said item. Included with the lathe are the bench and appropriate tools. The price is $150 firm. Contact Ted if you are interested. His number is 815-637-9971. 

Show and Tell

Larry Christensen carved two palm sized cowboy busts. According to Larry the two guys he created are cowboys down on their luck and feeling down in the dumps.

Mark Boyd is a wood turner and carver. Using a Walnut base rolling pin; he then laminated it with a combination of more walnut and some purple heart and aspen. For added emphasis he employed the skills of Bob Coleman, who carved a wood spirit into the creation.  This is one of the club show raffle items.

Bernie Budzynski had two items completed out of basswood. Both items were on an oval base and both were of state birds: the Cardinal from Illinois and the Mocking Bird from Florida. He used colored pencils for color and applied no finish.

Frank Lay was gifted some unique wood. One was a y piece from a tree and the other a fragmented piece. To Frank’s eye, what he called “the busted off piece” looked like a wing. Frank combined these pieces with several others and the result he called a bird. A really strange bird.

Lonnie Hayes carved an elk out of a single piece of basswood except for ears, which he attached.

Dave Meyer carved two items: a Lion Clock and a chip carved cross. For the clock,he used an antique stain and finished with a satin polyurethane. The inspiration for the cross was an Ash Wednesday church bulletin he got in Florida. To highlight the cross, he used a glossy finish. 

Larry Stenzel used power tools to create a piranha and a trout out of cedar. The smooth surface of the fish was achieved by numerous hand rubbing of sandpaper.

John Skaggs carved two items while in Florida. The driftwood face was made from wood found in Florida and the chip carved wood box with the sliding lid. According to John, he had a lot of time in Florida and these were the results.

Roger Benedict carved a relief of a Glade Fern. While researching ferns, Roger discovered that glade ferns are indigenous to the northern states and part of Canada.  Roger has been carving this fern for months. It has been his Wednesday project.

Tony DeVita carved a holder with an exaggerated nose for his lovely wife’s glasses.

Wes Englund carved two canes and assembled them together. Created a fancy stand from lathe turning, finished with Minwax and wax on top of it.  It was mighty fine.

John Winter created a hinged wood trivet out of a single piece of wood. He encountered numerous obstacles among the way. In preparation for this project, he hummed and hawed for two hours. He purchased a new knife, which he immediately snapped the end off of (this was not intentional). He learned that all cuts must be precise and achieved the cuts to his satisfaction. He also learned that oak is cut across the grain. Gave a word of caution if anyone else tackles this project - do saw cuts first.

Carol Behning carved a practice face out of basswood that came out very nice.

Ted Faber completed a relief carving of Jesus and a cross from the stages of the cross while in Florida.  He mounted it in a frame with a plain black background.  It looks very dramatic with the frame to set it off.  What he learned was not to mount his carving with rubber cement as it will slide off in the warmer weather. 

The Scotty Dog was carved, completed and displayed by: Bunny Nordheim, Wes England, Elaine Terrell, Gale Terrell, Carol Behning, Don Clark, Marshall Field, Jr., Lee Thomas, Nordine Bolstad and Jerome Mais.

All looked like Scotty Dogs.  Colors varied from black to white to grey. Finishes ran the gamut from black marker, black wax, shoe polish to linseed oil & stain. Some eyes were carved and some were colored stick pins.
   
Larry Christensen                                Bernie Budzynski        Bernie Budzynski
   
Frank Lay                                        Lonnie Hayes                Dave Meyer
   
Dave Meyer                            Larry Stenzel                            John Skaggs
 
John Skaggs                                     Roger Benedict
 
John Winter                                        Carol Behning       Wes Englund                            
    
Ted Faber                                            Tony DeVita

 Bunny Nordheim, Wes England, Elaine Terrell, Gale Terrell, Carol Behning, Don Clark, Marshall Field, Jr., Lee Thomas, Nordine Bolstad and Jerome Mais.

CARVING  SHOWS -
Shows within 3 to 4 hours one-way drive time of Rockford will be listed as they become known.

June 9-17: Maquoketa, IA

International Woodcarvers Congress, Jackson County Fairgrounds, Maquoketa IA, Enter Carvings June 9-10; Seminars June 11-15; Contact (563)-5052700 or (563)-676-8264; www.awcltd.org

August 18:  Rockford, IL

Blackhawk Woodcarvers’ 18th Annual Show/Competition and 2” Cube Carving Challenge at Tebala Shrine Temple.  Contact Don Stansfield, 1508 W Lincoln Blvd., Freeport, IL 61032; (815) 235-0075.

 

September 15; Janesville WI

Rock River Valley Carvers of Wisconsin hosts its 7th Annual show/sale at Rock County Fairgrounds, Craig Center, 1301 Craig Ave.; 10am-4 pm.  Free Adm.  Contact Jim Trumpy (608) 752-8139;  rockrivervalleycarvers.com

 

September 30; Utica IL

Valley Carvers’ 24th Annual Show and sale at Starved Rock State Park Main Lodge; 9-5.  Free Adm.  Contact Bob Wills, 190 W. Willow St., Coal City, IL 60416; (815)634-3086.

More listings are available in Chip Chats!

Letter from Mary Ann of MDA:

Dear Blackhawk Woodcarvers

                Thank you so much for your support and kind donations towards Louie Cowan and his quest to fight back against muscular dystrophy.  We will be thinking of you and your support as Louie walks at the MDA Muscle Walk on May 19th. 

                Towards a Cure, Mary Ann and all of MDA