CLUB NEWS ROUND-UP

       “Carve A Pencil” winner at the Club Meeting, April 16, was Gale Terrell.  Gale turned his pencil into a chain.  Only the writing tip and the eraser end were left to tell you it was once a pencil.  The decision was made by Club members voting on all the pencils submitted for the competition.  In the photo, we see Judy Suit and Linda Mensching studying the entries, while Emil LeBeau waits his turn.  In the back ground, Bernie Budzinski puzzles over his decision.  People had much fun in this whimsical carving assignment.  The whole affair was the brain child of Don Stansfield.  He even provided the pencils.
Click on the picture to make it larger.

       Tony DeVita is asking for carving donations for the Club to sell at our Show in August.  Along this same line of thought . . . Is there a “club project” like the watch dogs, where we all carve our own versions of the same subject to sell at the Show?  Maybe we could carve some extras of the little pieces we’re going to give to hospitalized kids.  Those are really nice, and can be finished as pins or as Christmas tree ornaments.  They’re quick, easy, and fun to do.

       More about our Club Carving Show - There are a few positions open for helpers on the Club Show on August 16..  If you are invited to participate, don’t be bashful about saying, “Yes.”  No experience is necessary.  Everything is explained for you.  And your assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Jim Griparis designed and made a really nifty podium for our Club.  Here is what it looks like in service with President Bob Hallstrom.  

      Carve-It-From-A-Ball competition is on again for the Club Show this year.  If you had trouble making a round ball to carve, Don Stansfield has some ready-made 4" balls.  Every one is guaranteed to qualify for the winning carving!   Don has these at the Wednesday morning carving sessions - only $9 each.  The rules are the same as last year.                                                                                                                 Click on the picture to make it larger.

      Special E-mail from Mary Lou DeVita, somewhere in the Mediterranean - -

        Linda Sonneson, Macktown Living History Foundation, suggested that the Blackhawk Woodcarvers might want to hold a business meeting in their Education Center ... with our program for the month being a guided tour through the Macktown Village restoration area.

      A telephone interview with Chris Willock of Woodcarvers Warehouse in Minnesota, brought the good news that  Stubai Carving Tools are once again available here in the USA on a regular basis.  He reported they had some difficulties with representing Stubai because of the terrible drop in value of the US Dollar against the Euro, as well as certain conditions with the supplier.  Willock had some special meetings with factory reps last January, and all the troubles were solved.  Woodcarvers Warehouse is again stocking some of the most popular items. Any special orders will come in to Woodcarvers Warehouse in their regular monthly shipment.

        Some of you will recall that your Newsletter editor ran into a dead end last November when he tried to buy a couple of Stubai palm tools for his wife’s Christmas present.  Every store which listed itself in magazines or in the Internet as selling Stubai said they no longer could sell that brand because of pricing, reliable availability, or other problems.  Those problems are all solved, and Stubai is once again available on a regular and reliable basis.

        Frankie & Bob Feirn (old members) were at the business meeting, and announced they had a “van load” of cottonwood bark they were giving away.  For free.  To anyone interested.  They are planning to sell their home up here, and living in the Southwest full-time. They say that there will probably be lots more “stuff” to sell before they move.  Like wood, more bark, carving supplies, etc.  They promised to let us know details.

       Rock Valley College Center for Learning in Retirement will have two woodcarving classes next Fall, both taught by members of the Blackhawk Woodcarvers Club. There will be the regular eight-week fall session on Introduction to Carving Wood, taught by Gordon Moscinski.  Students will learn about different kinds of wood; the importance of keeping carving tools sharp; and different ways to use a carving knife.  They will carve a miniature duck, a caricature of a dog, small cowboy boot, stylized Santa Claus.  Some of these projects are challenging, all are fun.

          For the second carving course, Bob Hallstrom and Don Stansfield will be teaching a five-session sequence that will meet Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 M , starting September 11, 2008.  Students will each carve a Christian manager scene with Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus in a manger.  All on a base that resembles a classical stable floor, with a Star of Bethlehem to shine above.  Hand-carved.  Out of wood.  In past classes, some students have on their own, gone on to carve animals to add to the scene.  This particular project has proven to be extremely popular with every carver who has tried it.

       Macktown Living History Foundation once again took advantage of Blackhawk Woodcarvers to add atmosphere during their annual Gathering at Macktown pioneer re-enactment in Winnebago County’s Macktown Forest Preserve at Rockton, Illinois.  The event took place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (April 25, 26, & 27).  Woodcarvers were placed strategically around the grounds at Macktown to add “color.”  What is fun about taking part in the event is that one gets to dress up in period frontier costumes of the mid-1800's and “invent” a personality for oneself.  Then you act out that personna with every visitor who might stop to chat with you.  It’s like acting in a stage play, only there is no set script.  You are “writing” your own script as you go along.  You never give your correct name, only the stage name you have chosen for yourself.

        Visitors to Macktown Information & Museum Center are greeted by a unique wall display behind the receptionist.  A grouping of three old photographs of the very old limestone Whitman Trading Center at Macktown, arranged around a handsome relief carving of the trading center.  The handsome carving was created and donated by Blackhawk Club member Don Clark.  Carving Club members may not know that Don is also a Re-enactor.  He participates in several of these events each Summer.
                                                        Click on the pictures to make them larger.

        Stephen Mack’s babies slept in a cradle made of boards from local black walnut trees.  The original cradle is in the Rockton Historical Society Museum in Rockton, Illinois.  Blackhawk Woodcarver Rich Anderson created this exact replica for display in the Stephen Mack home.  Rich was provided with black walnut planks sawn from local timber, just like the original cradle.  He had to cut planks to size; plane them to the correct thickness; and finally, craft this little piece of historical furniture.  The final finishing  was done by Linda Sonneson, a member of the Macktown Foundation.

                                  Click on the pictures to make them larger.

        Here is the cradle as it sits in the corner of the bedroom of Stephen Mack and his wife Hononegah..

        Linda Sonneson shows off what they call “one of the most prized possessions” in the Stephen Mack home.

       Linda points to a bullet hole that was in the tree from which this cradle lumber came.

       Boy Scout Carving Merit Badge - Blackhawk Carving Club member Marshall Field, Jr., has been testing Scouts on the Wood Carving Merit Badge for years.  For any carver who might be interested in helping Marshall, you can get up to speed with the Merit Badge Manual in our Club Library.

      With Ray Olson back from Florida, work can resume on the ten-foot-tall Indian carving at the Winnebago County Fairgrounds in Pecatonica.  The Chief is being carved from the “stump” of an old cottonwood tree on the Fairgrounds.  The tree had died.  They cut it down, but left this huge stump.  One of the engineer members of our club calculated the raw stump at over 3,000 pounds of wood.  At least half of this ton-and-a-half has already been reduced to chips!

        Elaine Terrell Show & Tell Friday, April 25, for the FORIFF Club of Belevidere.   Elaine was the after-dinner program.  She showed her pine needle baskets as well as some of her chip carving work.  Besides displaying and lecturing on the two subjects, she also demonstrated the crafts.  A lively question and answer session followed Elaine’s presentation.

      Tom Backer is back with us after his surgical visits to the University Hospital in Madison for surgical exchange of the heart pacemaker recently installed in a Rockford hospital.  First, there was the exchange of the right machine for the wrong one.  Then there was the re-attachment of a control wire that had slipped away from a vein.  He will be taking things pretty easy for the next month or two, but at least the Doc is letting Tom drive a car on his own.

      Elaine Terrell’s oral surgery turned out OK.  Besides the stitches, there was a bone graft as well!

        Especially warm welcome to our new friends who have joined the Blackhawk Woodcarvers since the last Newsletter. These are pretty nifty folks, you will agree as you get to meet and visit with them.  ( Because we have been getting quite a few new members lately, I may miss a name.  Please don’t let this slip ... call me up, and call me down on this.)

         Lonnie Hayes, the flute maker, has figured out how to make these Indian Native American Flutes efficiently.  He has made several such flutes, and his experience is quite interesting.  Ask him about it.

          Bob Capion carved a beautiful flute, and went on to INLAY copper decorations.  Exactly like the Indians did.  He even researched flute construction and sound theory on the Internet.  Then, built a working flute from PVC tubing.  Wow!

         Dave Meyer took Gordy Moscinski’s class a year-and-a-half ago and visited our Club show last August.  Finally, when he couldn’t control his curiosity any longer, he came in to a Wednesday morning session and joined.

        Karl Sundby is new.  Haven’t had the pleasure of getting to know Karl yet, so can’t comment here.

        Lee Thomas is an old member, but he hasn’t been around too much, and seems like a new member.  Welcome back, Lee.

NOTE: This was the first business meeting on the new schedule of Wednesday mornings.

        President Bob Hallstrom called the meeting to order at Kenrock Community Center Wednesday morning, April 16, at the NEW TIME and DAY.  New members (and visitors) were introduced: Dave Meyer, Lonnie Hayes, Bob Capion, and the visiting Feirns.    Secretary’s Report and Treasurer’s Report were read and approved as read.

        Membership Chairman reported we have over 50 members now, and that’s about a break-even point for Club budgeting.  New members introduced were Dave Meyer, Lonnie Hayes, & Bob Capion.  An interesting side note here is the attendance at this Wednesday morning meeting was HUGE . . . well over forty people.  Previous business meetings attracted on average about 10 or 12 folks.

        Web Master Moscinski presented a run-down of the features available on the Club website (www.blackhawkcarving.com)

Homepage welcomes site visitor and explains what the Club is about.

Events lists carving classes, shows, other clubs, and speakers.

Pictures has pictures of Club members carvings, and of our 2007 Show.

Our Club By-Laws.

       Christmas pins & ornaments for children. This was the carving project of the day.  All members were invited to take part in this project.  The goal is to carve one hundred, or so, Christmas-theme pins/ornaments to be given to kids in the Children’s’ Wards in the three local hospitals at Christmas time.  We got quite a few finished during the meeting, and many more will come in by next week.  Pins are small-sized copies of carved wooden Christmas tree ornaments.  Blanks were made and donated by Don Stansfield.  We each took one or two blanks to carve.  They are so easy to carve, some members took more than that.

      Center For Sight & Hearing carved quilt project seems to be temporarily on hold.

       Gary Lundquist contacted the RRStar about getting listings for our Club in the GO Section.  The response from the newspaper was cool but fair.  They will list us on their web site, and include any special event in the printed paper as appropriate.

      There was discussion about a second cabinet or a new, larger cabinet that can contain our Club library and supplies as well as the new podium.  No decision was made.
 

      Roger Benedict shows a series of heads fastened to a board.  He did these primarily as an exercise in learning.  Looks to me like he had already had learned BEFORE he did the heads.  A self-assigned exercise like this is an excellent way to improve your carving technique.  Just decide on some facet of carving in which you want to improve, and go do it.  It’s not really magic ... it’s just the old, “Practice makes perfect” advice we have all heard for years.                                                                                 Click on the picture to make it larger.

         The April program was a combination of the Monthly Business Meeting; Pencil Carving Contest judging; and launching the Christmas pins for kids project.  We will try to have a club-wide carving project once every quarter. 

NEW Business Meeting Dates -

May 21 - Rich Andersen: antique tools

June 18 - Carl Hicks: hand-carved canes

August 20 - Elaine Terrell weaves pine needle baskets

Judges - Denny Neubauer (the carving tool maker) and Greg Wirtz ( a well-known carver)

Ancient Chinese proverb says, “A wise man stays on good terms with his wife and his stomach.”

        The classes listed below have been copied from other publications, and may or may not be filled.  Be sure to check for yourself.  We have no reasonable way of knowing any details other than those shown.  When we get any news on carving classes from other clubs or from vendors, that news will be passed along to you as quickly as the next newsletter.

       May 16, 17, 18, Bettendorf, IA,  Kirk Davis teaches Realistic Animal Carving, power and hand tool carving, with  pyrography- a black bear and cubs, “burn the fur ‘til it flames” $250 plus blanks.    The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722, 800-397-2278.

       June 21-29, Davenport, IA, International Woodcarvers Congress, AWC, Ltd.  This is a confluence of carving classes as well as a juried competition.  Considered by many to be the best all-around show/school going.  Conducted at the Scott County Fairgrounds, Davenport, IA. PO Box 104 Bettendorf, IA 52722,  563-359-9684; www.awcltd.org

        JULY -  Nothing new in the states close around Rockford has come to our attention.

       September 11, 18, 25, Oct 2, & 19 - Rockford, IL.  Blackhawk Carving Club members Don Stansfield and Bob Hallstrom will conduct a class at Rock Valley College CLR, 9 AM - 12 noon.  Students will carve a Christian manger scene with Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus.  The figures will be monted on a carved replica stable floor, with a symbolic star shining overhead Call CLR at 815-921-3931 to reserve your place.

      September 15 - 20, Sandwich, IL Kendall County Fairgrounds, Gathering of Woodcarvers , week-long series of half-day carving classes.  Choose among 15 nationally recognized instructors.  Priced by number of classes taken.  Camping available, Sponsored by The Carving Shop, 645 East LaSalle St., Somonauk, IL 60552.  Joe Dillett, 815-498-9290

These are listings of events for the next few months fairly close to Rockford.

       May 17-18, Bloomington, IL, Corn Belt Carving Club’s “Sculptures In Wood” woodcarving show & sale.  Challenger Learning Center, 2901 East Empire Street.  Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. Noon - 5pm.  Adm. $2, children under 12 free.  Mike Hartzler, 309-662-4276,   www.cornbeltcarving.org

       June 21-29, Davenport, IA, International Woodcarvers Congress, AWC, Ltd.  One of the very best international carving shows and competitions  around. Exhibition Halls at Scott County Fairgrounds, Davenport, IA.   PO Box 104 Bettendorf, IA 52722,  563-359-9684; www.awcltd.org.  (Editor’s note: This is considered by many experienced carvers to be the very best show in the USA.)

        JULY - Nothing new in the states close to Rockford has come to our attention.

        August 16, Rockford, IL, Blackhawk Woodcarvers 14^th Annual Woodcarving Show & Competition, Tebala Shrine Temple, 7910 Newburg Rd., Rockford, IL 61108.  9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Admission $3, under 12 free.  Don Stansfield 815-235-0075.

        Notice to individuals, clubs, and commercial vendors who want to sell or to buy something.  As a public service, this is open to members and non-members alike.  No charge.  As a special added attraction, we will even include any Vendors’ special deals that we hear about.   - -   The only rule is that the item MUST be related to carving.  Mail your listing to Blackhawk Woodcarver, PO Box 15488, Loves Park, IL  61132.

        WANT TO BUY - #11 veiner, 10 mm bent gouge palm tool, prefer Stubai or Swiss Made. Tod Wisner,  815-399-3169

        It is critically important to the success of our Woodcarving Show & Competition that we put some special effort to bring all the details together.  Soon.  After all, the Show is only three-and-a-half months away, and there is still some work to do.  When Don or Bob calls to ask you to do one of the small tasks, please say, “Yes!”  Your Club members will appreciate your efforts.

CIRCULATION STATEMENT: this issue of Blackhawk Woodcarver is mailed to 57 members (don’t ask); eight new carving club prospects; 14 carving tool vendors; and six Friends of Blackhawk Carving Club.  Total circulation = 85.  Club pays only for the actual postage = $34.85.  Some folks like to receive newsletters by E-Mail.  We send ours out snail mail, because of the extra benefit to the Club when a person gets a solid piece of paper instead of some “electronic magic.”

MANY THANKS to all the Club members who bring in news for this Newsletter.  It’s really a great help.  Thank you also for passing along newsletters from other clubs.  It helps to see what others are doing, and how they might be handling activities similar to ours.  The Blackhawk Woodcarver  is not perfect, but we’re working in that direction.

HELP WANTED - There is a job opening with the Blackhawk Woodcarver  for a Photographic Assistant.  We want to hire someone with a digital camera to get timely photos of people, projects, and activities significant to the Blackhawk Woodcarvers.  Talent not necessary - we can train.  All you need is the camera and great curiosity about what’s going on in carving.  We transfer the digital images from your memory card into our computer, and then you’re done.  Quite simple, really.

Socrates queried ...”If man is not supposed to eat animals, why are they made of meat?”