The "old masters" are still at it in Pecatonia with chain saws, mallets and chisels. The seven-foot tree trunk will never be the same with the likeness of a proud Native American emerging. The effort under the direction of the Terrell's has many workers and advisors. Let's hope it is the workers who are getting it done. Word on the street is that Marshall continues to search for the correct file to sharpen his chain saw.

Several ideas were kicked around about carving subjects for the business meetings; ideas are needed.

Richard Andersen---showed a poster of a Studley Tool Chest and explained his plans to make a frame to mount the poster. By the way, Rich is a aficionado of collecting very very old tools.

The old man, Vincent, slowly crawled out of bed to make some coffee and look forward to his young friend's weekly visit. This was a special morning being the first day of spring's glory of wild flowers and singing of birds about his log cabin. Vincent knew that having Jerome visiting him today would add much to his ailing health on this beautiful spring day. Today will also celebrate many years of living in the woods that has created his "wise man" image of an old master carver of the valley. It was the youthfulness of Jerome that encouraged Vincent to look ahead for another day.

In the early morning dew Jerome set out to see his best friend Vincent. Today he had a wondering question if where things came from. Vincent would know all the answers he told himself. It was just in a matter of minutes that Jerome would be bouncing about the log cabin with his many questions, and Vincent engaged in laughing and forgetting his troubles.

"So if the carving wood comes from a tree, where did the tree come from?" asks Jerome. He continued with out stopping-----"If the tree comes from a timber, who was the man who chopped it down, who mined the iron to make the ax, who pulled the tree to the saw mill, and when and where was it sawed, how many boards were sawn from the tree, which board was used for your carving, and how did the piece of wood get to you Vincent?"

Poor Vincent had never before had so many questions asked of him, and knowing Jerome's' questions were practically unanswerable he just stared at Jerome in wonderment. But in he was clever enough to know that after a few minutes of serious thoughts he could answer with his wisdom------"When I consider the carving wood in my hands I think only of what is possible from this piece of wood. From nature's earthy surroundings a personal feeling takes over my carving that may say something to your questions. As I carve a subject there is this feeling of returning life to the wood. The smell of the wood with the visual and audible senses of chip removal makes me aware of my appreciation of a tree. Sometimes with joy of carving there is sorrow in knowing that a tree was once majestically a gift of nature in an unknown forest. Cut down by an unknown logger and mysteriously a piece of a branch finds its way to me. Thus, I attempt to return beauty to the wood that once was inherent in the tree. I know in my heart this is the covenant of carving." cr

Keep your tools sharp

Roger Benedict

July 17^th---Carving after the business meeting. Final planning and confirming all details of the show shall be covered. Bring your tools and something to carve.

November 20^th---Robert Kerwin will present his unique designs of boxes having many secrets.

August 4----Blackhawk Woodcarvers annual show and competition at Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Rockford, IL. Contact Roger Benedict (815) 397-8910

September 9^th---Capital Area Carvers of Wisconsin 19^th annual carving show & sale at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Monona, WI. Contact Bob Newbegin (608) 334-1490

Rock River Valley Carvers 2^nd annual show at Craig Center Rock County Fairgrounds Janesville, WI. Contact Jim Trumpy (608) 752-8139

September 18 through 21----Gathering of Carvers (GOW) at Somonauk, IL Registration for classes is now open, contact Bob Mau. Have 16 instructors, over 35 seminars, hosts are Joe and Sharon Dillett

September 29^th---Badger State carvers Fall Show at Mount Mary College 2900 N. Menomonee River Parkway Milwaukee, WI.

October 28-29---Wheaton, IL North Suburban Carvers 27^th Artistry In Wood exhibition and competition in DuPage County Fairgrounds. Contact Terri Pijut (847) 458-2919

Our 13^th annual show is on Saturday, August 4^th Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden. Early registration is on Friday afternoon, August 3rd from 2:00 to 6:30 pm. Also on Friday afternoon we will be finalizing the tables' set-up; any volunteer help will be appreciated. At this time you can set up your display table. The doors will be open on Saturday, show day, at 7:00 am. We encourage carvers to come early to register their carvings, because the judging begins at 8:00 am.

While three of us were sitting and carving on a bench at the annual Gathering at Mack Town historical site, a Gathering volunteer brought up a subject about a Mack's family baby cradle that is needed for the historical Mack's renovated house. Apparently the original cradle is privately owned, and the historical society wanted a duplicate built to exacting dimensions and type of wood. Immediately Bob Hallstrom and I volunteered Rich Andersen for this request, because of Rich's known woodwork related to the past. After a few months and many hours of craftsmanship work, Rich had completed an exact copy of the original cradle made from walnut-----beautiful and beautiful to say the least---congrats Rich.

WOODCARVING WEB SITES

www.carvingcompanion.com

www.woodburning.com

www.chippingaway.com

www.chrispye-woodcarving.com

www.diamondd.org

www.carvingpatterns.com

www.womeninwoodworking

www.SmokingMountainAmerica

The Blackhawk Woodcarvers was founded in 1993 and has a goal of preserving and encouraging the art of woodcarving. Membership is open to anyone having any skill level of carving, including those who have never carved and want to learn about carving.