Blackhawk Carving Club
Rockford, Illinois 61109
Home January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 Newsletters 2014

(p) The Blackhawk Woodcarver
           
         Volume XXII, Issue 7,  July 2015

Presidents Corner

Friends,

Members of the Blackhawk Carving club occasionally receive phone calls from various organizations in the community requesting a “woodcarving program.” Club members have suggested that we should be more deliberate in how we respond to these requests.

The officers of the club met, developed a procedure, and presented it at the club meeting on June 17th.  So, if you receive a call requesting the club to present a carving program, please use the following outline.

When getting a call requesting a program:
1. Get the information concerning the request- (Organization's name, caller's name and phone number, etc.).
2. Inform caller that the request will be presented at the club's next monthly meeting to determine if it is something we can do, and also if there are members available to provide the program.
3. Give the information to the club president who will present it at the next meeting for discussion and decision.
4. The person(s) who will be providing the program will then be in contact with the organization's caller.
5. Or, if we decide not to do the request, the member who received the call will inform the caller that we cannot do the program.
6. This will not include Soap Carvings Program requests. Refer those requests to Gary Lundquist.

Gary Curl

July Birthdays
(that we know about)

5  Ed Vitell
6  Randy Gilley
7  Dona Wisner

CLUB OFFICERS       (815 area code)
President - Gary Curl 
895-5106
Vice Pres. - Frank Lay, 677-1190
Treasurer - John Skaggs, 547-6951
Secretary - Martha Fitch, 399-2453

COMMITTEES   (815 area code)
Librarian - Dawn Rozanas—229-8996
Show Co-Chairmen - Gary Curl 
895-5106, 
Elaine Terrell 765-2886
Webmaster - Gordy Moscinski, 874-7978
Membership  - Chuck Drewes, 316-0398
Newsletter Publisher, Gary Johnson 399-1697
Newsletter Editor, Gordy Moscinski, 874-7978
Photographer - Larry Clark, 262-9982
Historian - Elaine Terrell 765-2886
Programs—Bob Matthews 544-2359 & Denny Neubauer 515-508-9524
Petty Cash—Dona Wisner
Christmas Party -
Rosalie Wesley
Picnic -
Tony Devita

Soap Carving –Gary Lundquist

Club Activity Schedule

June 3 - open carving
June 10 - open carving
June 17 - open carving & meeting
June 23 - Club Picnic at Bauman Park In Cherry Valley
June 24 - open carving

July 1    open carving
July 8   open carving
July 15   open carving & meeting
July 22   open carving
July 29   open carving

August 5  open carving
August 12 
open carving
August 15  Blackhawk Carving Show see carving show
August 19  open carving & meeting
August 26 
open carving

September 2  open carving
September 9 open carving
September 16 open carving & meeting
September 23  open carving
September 30  open carving

October 7   open carving
October 14  open carving
October 21  open carving & meeting
October 27   open carving

November 4  open carving
November 11  open carving
November 18  open carving & meeting
November 25  open carving

December 2  open carving
December 9 open carving
December 16 open carving & meeting
December 23  open carving
December 30  open carving

 

Minutes of June 17, 2015

Blackhawk Woodcarvers Club Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 9:05 am by John Skaggs.  (Pres Cary Curl and VP Frank Lay were excused).

Chuck Drewes gave a membership update.

Martha Fitch read the minutes of May 20th.  No additions or corrections given.

John Skaggs gave the Treasurer’s report.

Dona Wisner was not in attendance so no Petty Cash report.

We were unable to get the items for the raffle, so no raffle was held.

OLD BUSINESS

Club Picnic  --- We are meeting next Tuesday (the 23rd) at 3 pm.  Be sure to sign the list if you are attending.   You need to bring your own meat, plates and utensils, plus a dish to pass around.

Carving Show  --We hope you are working on items that can be entered as we would like to have one entry from each Club member.  All levels from Novice to Master can be entered. 

A sign-up sheet was passed to ask members to volunteer for different tasks that need to be done to set up and work during the Show.  Remember we need to donate items for the raffle.  Further information is coming.

NEW BUSINESS

Steve Terrill was asking for volunteers to help out at the Swedish Midsommer Fest on the 20 and 21 at the Erlander Museum.  There will be carving demonstrations and soap carving.  Steve handed around a sign up sheet.

Gordy Moscinski requested that someone take photos and write up a few words regarding the event so they can be added to the Newsletter.

Bob Matthews announced that next week (June 24th) there will be a reporter in attendance with a photographer.  The reporter will write an article that will appear in 8 or 9 different local papers, about 2 weeks before the Carving Show.

Don Stansfield has a magazine of carving instruction which would be especially good for a beginning carver.  Don brought in this magazine to give to anyone interested.

Program requests --- The executive committee met to discuss requests from other organizations for Blackhawk Woodcarvers to provide a program for their event.  After discussion, a statement was written by Pres Gary Curl and this statement was read to the membership.  The statement is also included in the Newsletter.

Wisconsin River Woodcarvers sent a letter regarding their show this year on Sept 19 and 20.  Per the discussion, this is a very large show and a number of our members are already participating.  More information is available. 

Motion to adjourn given at 9:30am.

Martha Fitch, recording secretary

Demonstraton:  Denny Neubauer demonstrated sharpening of tools.  Every person has their own unique method.

Reporter at next meeting
Just a reminder that we will have a reporter at our next carving meeting on June 24th.  He will be doing a feature article on the club for publication before the show and will want to talk to you and take pictures.  Make him welcome.  Be sure to come!

Bob

Carving Show August 15,  2015 Update

Carving show committee meeting: We need to collect carvings for raffle. Members please help with donations. Dona Wisner will be happy to take them. Also, we need members to step up to the plate and help with jobs at the show. There will be a sign-up sheet with jobs that need to be filled. Thank You for your help.

Elaine Terrell

Programs by Denny Neubauer & Bob Matthews

We are open to all ideas for presentations after our business meetings each month. The talent of this club is above average compared to many other clubs and I'm sure that any member in our club has something to share that would be beneficial to all of us. If you’re not too bashful and would like to share your knowledge with the club call Denny @ 515-508-9524 or contact me at the meeting. Thanks, Denny

For Sale
Hobby Workbench

European Beech
32”w x 20”d x 33”h
2 vices
In new Condition

$100.00
Don Stansfield

 

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

June 20 & 21
Coulee Region Woodcarver’s Show and Sale at the Norskedalen Nature and Heritage Center.  Norskedalen is located about 3 miles north of Coon Valley, WI.  Take Hwy 14/61 to Coon Valley and follow county road P north about 2 miles then turn left onto county road PI for 1 mile to Norskedalen’s entrance on your left.
 

August 15, 2015 - Rockford, IL
The Blackhawk Wood Carvers will hold its 20th annual carving show at the Tebala Shrine Temple, 7910 Newburg Rd in Rockford, Illinois, 61108. The show is open to the public starting at 10:30 AM until 4:00 PM.

Musky Area Wood Carvers Workshop
August 18-21, 2015 in Boulder Junction Wisconsin
Look on the Blackhawk Carvers Website under Events for a complete list of all the classes and pictures of the project. At www.blackhawkcarving.com

September 15, 2015 The Rock Valley Wood Carvers are having a carving show. The featured carver is Ron Duffy.  Held at the Rock  County Fairgrounds, Craig Center, 1301 Craig Avenue, Janesville, WI 53545.  For more information contact Robin Rios at (home) 608-752-3328, (cell) 812-243-1946

September 19 and 20, 2015 - Stevens Point, WI.   The Wisconsin River Woodcarvers are announcing plans for their 15th annual woodcarving show, which is the “The Largest Woodcarving Show in the State of Wisconsin”.  The Show, Competition and Sale will be in Stevens Point, WI at the Holiday Inn. See more information below.

June 20, 2015 Soap Carving at Sommerfest Erlander Museum 404 S 3rd St, Rockford, IL 61104 9:00 to 12:00am. See See Steve Terrill for details 815-742-7311

Monthly Carving Raffle

Marilyn Thorsen, Franklin Johnson’s sister-in-law, and the widow of Tony Thorsen, has most kindly given these carvings to our Club. Tony Thorsen was an enthusiastic wood carver, and through the years he collected fine examples of the art done by other carvers.  Several of these carvings were done by Canadian carvers.  Others in the collection have no proof of origin.

At the monthly meeting raffle tickets will be sold for $1 apiece or 6 for $5.  A great bargain for such wonderful pieces.

 

TOP NOTCH

  Larry Clark captures the essence of the carver’s art in his photographs. As a carver is only as good as his tools, so with the photographer. Being mentored by his Aunt Mary E Trosper, a professional photographer, Larry learned the importance of good equipment.

  As his proficiency progressed, Larry replaced the trusty Canon AE1 film camera with the Canon Rebel, because this film camera included auto focus. When the Rebel went digital so did Larry’s choice. Needing more bells and whistles, his latest acquisition is the Canon EOS 60D. This one is digital, auto focus, movie capable, able to switch from compact storage to san high speed and is 16GB. Why do you need to know this?

Top notch photographer plus top notch equipment equals top notch pictures.

  As club photographer, Larry takes the show and tell photos, new member pictures, annual Woodcarving show and more. Carving is an art and not a haphazard event for him. If he digitally records the stages of a carving, he can recreate said

carving, improve said carving and teach another what he has learned.

  Having carved for more than 20 years, this founding father is an accomplished carver. Chip carving is not his forte. It is a precise art and does not satisfy his creative need. It is the unexpected that gives him a feeling of accomplishment. Case in point, one day Larry decided to carve a duck sized wooden oval. It started out as an ornery old man, but it was opening day for the Cubs and as Larry watched the game - he

carved. The carving evolved. The face became deeper, a cap was added as was a smile. The carving is now a rendition of Randy Hundly, catcher for the Cubs.

Rosalie Wesley

 

Blackhawk 21st Annual Carving Show       
August 15, 2015

Current Publicity Information June/11/2015
6/10/15 Agreement with Rock Valley Publishing  (Cost $223.20)
Reporter (Bob Baglemann) is scheduled to visit our club on 6/24/15 to take pictures and interview club members.  The objective is to write and publish a feature article about our club to be published before our show.
For the 2 weeks before the show, we will have an advertisement running in all of the Thursday weekly newspapers listed below.  The ad size is 2”x4” 2 column wide with a yellow boarder.

Included in:                                      Feature Article         Advertisement

Rockford Journal                                       X                            X

Post-Journal                                              X                            X

     (Loves Park and Mach-Park)

Herald                                                       X                             X

     (Rockton, Roscoe and So Beloit)

Gazette                                                     X                             X

     (Winnebago, Pecatonica, Duran, Seward, German Valley, Westlake)

Tempo                                                       X                             X

     (Byron, Monroe Center, Stillman Valley)

East Zone Shopper                                                                     X

     (Boone and Winnebago Counties)

I’m planning to make an appearance with Doug McDuff at radio station WBEL.  Working to set a date in late July or first part of August,. I have an appearance scheduled with Andy Gannon on WIFR on August 12th.  I will be bringing examples of our work.  Rock River Times is in the progress of an organizational change, however they agreed to run an add before the show.  Still working on more contacts

Bob Matthews

Show and Tell pictures by Larry Clark, comments by Martha Fitch

 cardinal 

Bob Matthews brought in a pair of cardinals, carved in basswood and mounted on a piece of a branch.

 

Bunny Nordheim brought in 2 story telling sticks, 1 long and one short.  They are carved from apple wood branches.

 

Dave Meyer brought in a relief carving of clematis flowers and leaves, carved in basswood.

 ship     

Jim Foster brought in a wood burning of a ship and a carved dish shaped like a Crappie.  Carving is in basswood.

fish   fish

Larry Stenzel brought in 2 wood burned fish pictures, framed by white-washed white pine planks.

  

Louis Jurisch brought in a “tweety bird” carved from poplar.

  

Richard Prutz brought in 2 in the round carvings: an Indian chief and “Blackhawk”.   Carved in basswood and painted.

 spoon   

Will Rottman brought in a ornate spoon carved in walnut. 

 

Home / Events / Newsletter / / Carving Show / History / Contact Us