The Blackhawk Woodcarver

Volume XXV, Issue 5      May 2020

Blackhawk Carving Club

We will not meet again until further notice.

Peterson Meadows, 6401 Newburg Rd, Rockford, IL 61108. We normally meet from 8:30 to 11:00 am for open carving. Business Meetings are the third Wednesday of the month. Friends and spouses of carvers were welcome to come to meet and visit and carvers are encouraged to bring in finished carvings for “Show & Tell” the third Wednesday of the month. Our mailing address remains P. O. Box 8285 Rockford, IL 61126. 

Presidents Report  May 2020

We last met as a club in early March 2019. For the past month and a half we have been unable to meet at Peterson Meadows due to concerns over spread of COVID-19 virus. This is expected to continue through May and likely beyond. Bob Matthews continues to stay in touch with Peterson Meadows each month regarding our safe return to meeting there. Your Executive Committee, along with Bob Matthews, Membership Chair Chuck Drewes, and Editor Gordy Moscinski are continually monitoring the situation and will keep you informed and notify you when we are able to meet again as a group.

Meanwhile, I am equipping all of my human carvings with face masks.

Your Executive Committee does continue to stay in touch and continue its work – as brief as it is. Our Treasurer Larry Stenzel continues to provide us with periodic detailed financial reports. “We continue to be solvent.” Minimal, if any, financial activity has occurred. I have prepared a proposal for the club as follows:

“I propose that all 2020 annual club memberships be extended through 31 December 2021. This proposed action is only applicable to the 2020 membership. This means all paid memberships for the year 2020 which currently is for only the 2020 calendar year would be extended to include the 2021 calendar year. This extension would include all current paid 2020 members and all who would join and pay the current membership fee during the 2020 calendar year. Any person who joins in 2021, including former members, would be required to pay the membership fee for 2021 and would only be entitled to that years membership. All persons desiring to be a club member in 2022 would be required to pay the membership fee.

There are at least a couple of significant reasons for this proposal: 1.) the club financial reserve is very healthy and can easily withstand the lack of income from 2021 dues; 2.) the COVID-19 virus has and will continue to adversely impacted our ability to meet as a club in the fashion desirable for the formation of the club and membership in the club; and 3.) this proposal does not give any “free” membership to any person.”

Tyrone Johnsen

Blackhawk Carving Club Minutes April 2020

 A meeting was not held, therefore no minutes.

Sick Call

Louis A. Jurisch, 78, of Marengo passed away Thursday, April 9, 2020 at home following a long illness. He was born March 3, 1942 in Cleveland, OH, the son of Louis and Elizabeth (Nagy) Jurisch. In 1964 he married Carolyn Muth in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Louis was a scientist, teacher, woodworker, carver, & avid gardener. Louis is survived by his spouse of 55 years, Carolyn; four children, Tony (Melissa) of Hillsboro, OR, Eric (Sophia) of Corona, CA, Heidi (Brian Barnes) of Anchorage, AK, and Karl (Lindsay) of Lakebay, WA; four grandchildren, and many nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Arthur. A memorial gathering and interment will be held at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Marengo-Union Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.marengo-unionfuneralhome.com.

Activity Schedule

The following shows and classes are for the information that we have at this time.  Due to the Covid situation, these activities are being cancelled or rescheduled.  Please check the website of these club activities for the latest development.

  Keep sending  pictures for Behind Closed Doors

 Deadline for news for the next newsletter is June 3, 2020

Mid-Wisconsin Chippers Woodcarving Club

The Mid-Wisconsin Chippers Woodcarving Club at the Oshkosh Convention Center rescheduled their show for Sunday July 12th.

A wonderful day is being planned including:
“How to Get Started in Woodcarving” Presentation
A Pyrography Demonstration
Chainsaw Carving
Carving Tool Sharpening by Denny Neubauer of Denny Tool fame.
Carving tool vendor
County Line Products (Uncle Al’s Basswood} wood vendor
Competition will Judge entries from 26 categories for Master, Open, Intermediate, Novice and Youth Skill Levels
Our latest Woodcarver patch

 

Wisconsin River Woodcarvers       Stevens Point, WI

Featured Carvers:
Vic Hood and Gregg Thompson

Also Featured:
We are also featuring supplies from Hummel Carving Company, Beloit, WI, and Moore Wood and Roughouts.
Free demonstrations throughout both days, and 2 sessions of free kids’ carving!
We have an awesome RAFFLE!

When: September 19, 2020 – 9am to 5pm, September 20, 2020 – 9am to 4pm
Event Schedule-TBD

Where: The Holiday Inn, 1001 Amber Avenue, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54482

Admission Prices: Admission is $5.00. (Attendees 12 and under are free)

Questions? For more information, contact: Ron O’Kray, 715-341-2214, 715-570-2534(cell) or Greg Wirtz, 715-423-0471, 715-323-2035(cell).  WisconsinRiverWoodcarvers.org

 

Affiliated Wood Carvers Classes at the Congress 2020

Affiliated Wood Carvers Classes at the Congress 2020         Cancelled

5 day classes: Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19                   $265
   Jim Thalacker                   Trout (golden or rainbow)
   Janet Denton Cordell           Human figures, animals
   John Engler Relief carving and painting
   Vic Hood Carving a bust in butternut
   Alec Lacasse Realistic bark carving
   Jim Trumpy Full size blue jay
   Dylan Goodson Relief scene or realistic figure

3 day classes: Wednesday, June, 17 to Friday, June 19 $159
   Dave Stetson Caricature heads
   Debbie Edwards Realistic wild life
   Bruce Shostak A beginners intro to woodcarving
   Carole Jean Boyd Singleton Cypress knee
   Michele Parsons Intro to Pyrography (woodburning) landscapes
   Ryan Olsen Caricature carving
   Jan Jensen Old world chip carving

2 day classes: Monday, June 15, Tuesday, June 16 $106
   Carol Leavy Holiday ornaments
   Jan Jenson Old world chip carving
   Ryan Olsen Caricature carving
   Michele Parsons Intro to Pyrography (woodburning): wildlife

1 day classes: Saturday, June 20 $53
   Denny Neubauer Knife making -  only 8 students
   Michele Parsons Intro to Pyrography: leather
   Ryan Olsen Caricature carving

Affiliated Wood Carvers, Ltd., Jackson County Fairgrounds, 1212 E. Quarry St., Maquoketa, IA 52060.   www.awcltd.org   WoodcarversCongress@gmail.com

 

U.S Bodgers Ball and Greenwood Festival

The 2020 U.S Bodgers Ball and Greenwood Festival will be held Friday June 26 thru 28, 2020 at Grundahl Park in Mount Horeb, WI.  (A Bodger is a craftsman who turns wood into chairs, bowls cups, and spoons, traditionally doing their work in the woods.)  More information on Facebook: US Bodgers Ball and Greenwood Festival.

 

Caricature Carving Class with Wayne Laramore (CCA Member)

$125.00 Plus roughout. July 18 and 19 at 9:00 to 5:00.  Place: Bill Mitton’s house 22911  94th Ave N. Port Byron, IL 61275.  Any Questions call 309.235.9105.

 

ROCK RIVER VALLEY CARVERS of WISCONSIN, INC.

15th Annual SHOW AND SALE

 Saturday, September 26, 2020  9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

 FEATURED CARVER  Ernie Tucker
FREE ADMISSION

Carvers, Vendors, Chain Saw Carver, Demonstrations. People's Choice Awards, Raffle

 

Rock County Fair Grounds  Craig Center, 1301 Craig Avenue, Janesville, WI. 53545

People’s Choice Competition

All entries for People’s Choice must be at the display tables no later than 8:30 AM

There will be FOUR categories: NOVICE, INTERMEDIATE, OPEN, and PYROGRAPHY.

If you have won a blue ribbon in a category, you must advance to the next category.

 All tables must have table coverings to the floor, preferably with skirts, plastic or otherwise. All tables are 6 foot in length.

 Show Chairman(s) — Brad Crandall – (608) 931-0188

bwkicrandall@gmail.com   www.rockrivervalleycarvers.com

 

June Birthdays (that we Know of)

2  Dave Meyer
10  Gary Johnson
18  Jerry Robey

 

Facebook

Like us on Facebook “Blackhawk Woodcarvers”.  Many pictures and information.

 

Door Prizes

Don't forget the Door Prize drawing on First Wednesdays. Bring something you don't need or want anymore, but know someone would be thrilled to win at the drawing.

Want to buy or sell

If you have anything that you would like to buy or sell send me an email and I will put it in the newsletter.   Gordy

 

Passed Treasured Carvings

At our monthly meetings members are encouraged to bring in SHOW and TELL items along with carvings that are tucked away from the past.  Even though you might be tired of looking at them, they may be teaching tools for others. Dust them off, bring them in!

Club Officers    (815 aera code)

Present            Tyrone Johnsen  397-9274
Vice Present    Richard Dumphy   633-9003
Treasurer         Larry Stenzel   389-4714
Secretary         Steve Terrill   708-0471

 

Committees       (815 aera code)

Programs, Richard Dunphey, 633-9003
Webmaster & Newsletter Editor Gordy Moscinski  874-7978
Membership  Chuck  Drewes   985-8575
Photographer  Steve Terrill
Picnic   Tony Devita

A look behind closed doors

Some of my carvings i did. Putting my time to great use.

Thanks Lisa Hanus

 

I haven’t been doing any carving or burning lately but attached is a picture of a carving from a long time ago.  This was started when I was a member of the club back in the 90s and finished when I rejoined in 2011.  It’s cedar.  I don’t think it’s my best carving but it won a ribbon at our show and was the first piece of mine to make it into Chip Chats magazine, so it’s pretty special to me.

Larry Stenzel

 

My first carving was probably about 1964. My mother-in law had a nice set of walnut candlesticks and one burned down and damaged the top of the candlestick.

I told I thought i could fix it and I started by stripping the varnish off of both, then I amputated about two inches of the damaged one at a point where the margin would not be apparent.

I started by turning a blank on a home made lathe.  I had no carving tools but a pocket knife and a gouge or two I made from old files. I had no carving tools until I took a CLR class from Roger Benedict but I've carving in my blood since I was a kid with a pocketknife. 

 

The yellow line is where I cut it off. You can see the wood is not quite the same as the original and the carving is not quite as good but I'm proud of it.

 

I had a machinist at work make me a couple of stainless steel ferrules for the candles to sit in and hopefully prevent anymore damage.  Chuck Drewes

 

Bunny Nordheim carved this from a heart cut out she picked up at the March give away.

Bob Hallstrom This is the fourth cross that I have carved and is the largest. It is 15” high and 9” wide.

 

Since I have some time on my hands these days I thought I'd learn New Testament Greek. Saying this out loud puts me in the bind of actually having to try it. This really is Denny Neubauer's fault. He always says, to get something right you have to do it five times.

That got me to thinking. I took Latin in high school, French, German and N.T. Greek in college. None of those went real well. But, that's only four tries at a language. So, with Denny in my corner, a fifth time might be my bingo. I'm going for the Greek again. They say it's a difficult language, but what the heck I've got time, I'm only eighty.

To ensure that this works I'm telling you here and I've ordered two fairly expensive Greek grammars.

Take care and stay inside.

 

 Gary Curl

 

Gordy Moscinski  This is one of the first carvings that I did.

 

Finished the Screech Owl for my Grandson's birthday.  Here are four pictures from start to finish.  Bob Matthews

Paula and I made these comfort hearts from basswood for our friends in Rockford and Door County as recognizing personal issues with COVID 19.

Roger Benedict

 

A painting by Larry Stenzel

 

A spoon I carved for my wife’s birthday.

Gordy Moscinski

 

Finished project from CLR class.  Martha Fitch

 

Here is a few projects I did. Again, not just carving.

Phyllis Hogberg

 

A big thank you to all who contributed pictures and commentary for this newsletter.  Great job!

Keep sending your pictures by the June 3 deadline.