Blackhawk Carving ClubThe Blackhawk Woodcarver
Presidents
Report
February 2026
Starting February 4th,
our members have the opportunity to learn about, carve, and paint a
traditional Swedish Dala Horse following the leadership of Gordy Moscinski.
January has been cold with wind and
snow! It resulted in reducing the number of members at our weekly sessions.
Only a dozen made it to the monthly meeting and Show & Tell. It also caused
us to reschedule the panel discussion to this month.
Following our monthly business
meeting and Show & Tell on the 18th of February, we will have a
Panel of four of our members share with us their experience and thoughts
belonging and participating in other wood carving clubs. Some brief
information on the experience of these members follows:
Tom Houlahan, who is our newest
member, joining us last Fall. Tom has been carving for about forty years.
Initially, Tom belonged to the North Suburban Woodcarvers (Chicago) during
the 1980s. Later he moved to Beloit, WI and joined the Rock River Valley
Carvers of Wisconsin (Janesville) for nearly twenty years. During this time,
he also belonged to a chip carving club in Monroe, WI.
John and Betty Gregory have been
members of our club these past three years. They moved here from Arkansas
where they were involved in the North Arkansas Woodcarvers for about twenty
years. Prior to that they lived in Kenosha, WI where John initially got
involved in wood carving.
Gordy Moscinski has been involved in
our club since the beginning in which he was the
founder. He initially got involved in woodcarving in the 1970s. He has been
teaching wood carving since the 1980s. Gordy spends his summers in northern
Wisconsin where he is involved in the Lake Tomahawk Carving Club.
These four members have considerable
experience and talent in carving. Three are fairly new to our club; but all
have considerable experience in wood carving clubs. You will also learn they
have club experience from varying points of view.
I hope you will join us.
Tyrone Johnsen
Secretary
Report for January 2026
The meeting was called to order by
president Tyrone Johnsen at 9:34 with 11 members present.
There was no Business Meeting
in December due to the Christmas brunch.
Larry Stenzel reported the
club finances are solvent and the 1st rent installment has been paid.
Tyrone reported the Christmas
brunch was a success and everyone enjoyed the Bucket raffle was well
received. Plans are in progress for the same format for the 2026 party.
Gordy Moscinski announced
that he will be teaching a Ddalo Horse carving and painting class here at
the meeting facility. It will begin on February 4th.
Tyrone discussed the plans to
have various members volunteer to speak to the club about their experiences
with other clubs they have belonged to. He also encouraged everyone to
share their personal profile as related to their carving journey and include
it in the newsletter for all to enjoy.
There was a short show and
tell do to the low turnout and the weather.
The there was a motion to
adjourn and seconded at 9:54.
Respectfully submitted by Jim
Foster
Quote of the
Month
Wood is silent, but when it is
carved, it speaks!
Rockford
Furniture Industry
History buff Roger Benedict is
presenting an intriguing story of the Rockford Furniture Industry.
This is at Midway Village Museum on a Sunday afternoon:
February 15th at 1pm; $8 for seniors and children
This is a fantastic story that began
in the 1870’s and lasted nearly 90 years as a major industry in Rickford.
By establishing this local productive industry credit is given to the
Swedish men immigrating from Sweden. Also presented are
the aspects which created Rockford growth and jobs and new supportive
industries. However, there were key factors in the 20th
century causing Rockford furniture factories to decline and cease
operations.
Roger is looking forward to seeing
you!
Dala Horse
Class
Gordy Moscinski
is teaching the dala horse class. It started February 4th and will continue
until everyone is finished.
A little
humor
What did the wooden sculpture say to
the chisel? "You really bring out the best in me."
Why don't woodcarvers ever get lost?
Because they always follow the grain!
What do
you call a woodcarver who tells great stories? A whittle comedian!
Focus on a
Fellow Member: Jim Foster
Jim Foster has been a club member
for a dozen years. He has been the recording Secretary for the club these
past two years. The following, in Jim’s words, is meant to let other members
of the club know him better:
“I (Jim Foster)
retired from Caterpillar on November 1st, 2013 after 40 years. My last job
at Cat was as the Process Maintenance General Supervisor in Aurora.
I have always
enjoyed "whittling"; but only to the level of making pointed sticks and
slingshot forks. I wanted to seriously learn the craft, so I began
looking for a group and/or a club to join. After a Google search, I found
the closest club was the Blackhawk Woodcarvers Club of Rockford. I live in
Mendota which is an hour drive. So in January of 2014, I came to a meeting
and decided to become a member.
I enjoyed the club format and
took several classes from members and at other places. I have spent some
time wood burning, chip carving, relief carving, and character carving. I
love carving small 4 & 5" people; but I have also carved many small animals
and other subjects. I watched dozens and dozens of YouTube videos in my
journey to become a woodcarver! I carve nearly every day. Sometimes for only
an hour and sometimes for several hours! I give most of my carvings to
friends and family: but have sold a few through an art gallery in Lake
Mills.
I have a
dedicated carving station in my basement shop. My wife and I have a mobile
home on Rock Lake in Lake Mills, WI where I can sit outside on my deck
overlooking the lake and carve all summer. I keep a carving bag in my
car at all times and sometimes find a quiet park bench or picnic table and
make a few chips!”
Jim Foster
We hope that others will share their
stories also!
Blackhawk
Carving Club Website
Just a reminder that on the
Blackhawkcarving.com website you can see past newsletters etc.
All the way from day one.
Www.Blackhawkcarving,com
Newsletter
deadline
Keep sending your pictures and
stories by the March 4, 2026 deadline.
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.
Carvers
wanted
Sometimes I get calls from people wanting to have a carving done (for money). If you are interested in any of these contacts, let me know and what kind of carvings you are interested in doing for people. Don Stansfield dchip1508@comcast.net
Facebook
Like us on Facebook “Blackhawk
Woodcarvers”. Many pictures and information.
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
February Birthdays
(that we Know of)
26 Gordy Moscinski
26 Ray Pederson
31 Scott Grey
Committees
(815 area code)
Webmaster & Newsletter Editor
Gordy Moscinski
Photographer, Tyrone Johnsen, 397-9274
Programs, Rick Brittnacher, 608-346-6501
Picnic, Tony Devita
Club Officers
(815 area code)
President, Tyrone Johnsen, 397-9274
Vice Pres, Rick Brittnacher, 608-346-6501
Treasurer, Betty Gregory, 708-8626
Secretary, Roger Benedict, 988-3314
Show and Tell
Gordy Moscinski carved and painted
these dala horses
The Christmas figures and the two spoons are by
Don Stansfield.
The miniature watercolor is by Larry Stenzel.
