PRESIDENTS CORNER

The year is rapidly coming to a close. The Holiday Season is upon us, and with it, the hustle and bustle that comes with it. It's a good time to reflect on what the club has done in the past year.  We've grown, considerably, seems like we have a new member every week.  Some credit must go to Bunny Nordheim who seems to bring a new member each week!  In August we had the best Carving Show to date. Well organized, with 300 visitors. A job well done by Don Stansfield. We've destroyed a few bars of soap this past year, also. Many thanks to the volunteers who helped with this. We should also recognize our CLR Carving Class Instructors, Roger Benedict, Don Stansfield, Bob Hallstrom, Gordy Moscinski and Bob Mathews, for introducing wood-carving to others. That promotes the craft and the club to others.

As the year comes to an end, so does the term for the current club officers and a new slate of officers will be installed.  The first couple of months may be a learning period, lets all be supportive during this transition period.  Taking the liberty to speak for the out going officers, thank you for your support during the past year.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and we'll see you next week.  Keep making chips
                              See you Wednesday,

Gary Lundquist

Meet Dan Boon,

Dan is a Midwesterner throughout, being born and raised near Peoria on a farm and living in Rockford since 1973.  Having spent three years in the Army after the Korean War (glad to hear he missed the war), Dan graduated from college with the intention to be a teacher.  After six months of teaching he discovered the small town politics were not his cup of tea, and discovered a career in sales.  He retired from Fed-Ex in 2002, and settled down with his passion for woodworking. 

Woodworking consumed Dan for the last 25 years; however it was the last 12 years that scroll sawing became his pride and joy.  He makes just about anything from a scroll saw such as toys, puzzles, patterns, pictures, signs to name a few.  During this last June, carving was added to his created signs which added another depth and sparkle to his signs.   Today he cleverly combines carved objects within his saw cut signs. 

Don’s other passion is his BMW motorcycle.  Believe it or not, his little dog rides with him.  Of the many interests for Dan, his one leisure pleasure is listening to classical music.  He also loves pecan pie which is the way to his heart upon inviting him to your house. 

(Thanks to ELAINE TERRELL)

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS -

               12/5   - Bob Hallstrom

               12/14 - Don Stansfield

               12/15 - Don Clark

               12/18 - Jayne Pheiffer

               12/29 - Tom Backer

Larry Clark demonstrated an idea from Woodcarver’s Illustrated Holiday 2011 issue.  He has difficulty tying the strings on his carving apron.  He made loops of the ties and took a bungee cord to hook between the loops.  John Winter had the same concern and attached shoestrings to his apron ties and now they are long enough to tie in front.

Larry Christensen showed a happy Abe Lincoln carving and an impish looking Santa. 

Gordy showed 9 pins or ornaments of either Santas or Snowmen and Snowwomen.  He likes the small carvings because they do not take long and he can do several in one night. 

Frank Lay showed a shillelagh he carved out of interesting blond walnut from his backyard.  He left some brown under bark which he mostly peeled off.  He discovered that the brown stain from the under bark will not wash off and it does take about two weeks to wear off.  

Bob Coleman showed a marionette puppet that he has been working on for a couple of months.  He will finish it with strings and a controller.  It is in the shape of a skeleton. 

Louie Jurisch carved and wood burned an Arc that he copied out of Chip Chats several months ago.  It came with the following quotation, “The Saga of Noah Noahson from the far northern tribe of Israel where Sweden is now located tells of his famous saving of the ducks at the time of the Great Flood.  Presented here is an accurate model of the arc he built as described in the Bible, the King Olaf version.”

Roger Benedict presented the report of the Nominating Committee.  For next year, the slate of officers includes: John Skaggs as Treasurer; Rosalie Wesley as Secretary;

Bob Coleman as Vice President, and Steve Terrill as President. 

Roger Benedict and a number of fine woodcarvers; Ray Olson, Bob Matthews, Ted Faber, John Skaggs, Tony DeVita, Larry Christensen, and Rich Andersen were present on Saturday November 12 or 19^th at Katie’s Cup demonstrating wood carving at a Holiday Artisans Market.  Thanks, guys!

The Swedish Historical Society of Rockford would like to than Don Stansfield for conducting a woodcarving class for us. 

Don Stansfield presenting a woodcarving class at the Swedish Historical Society

CARVING  CLASSES -These are classes within a 2 or 3-hour drive of

Rockford.  Be sure to check ahead of time, because some of the classes fill up fast.  For  complete listings in all States, look in the different carving magazines.

Dec 2-4, Betteneorf, IA, Rick Harney will teach “What a Relief it is to Work in Clay First.”

  Learn to model your relief carving IN CLAY before you take tools to wood. $160, some

 special materials required.  Call for more information before registering.  The Woodcraft

 Shop, 2724 State St, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.  1-563-359-9684.

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

January 21-22, 2012: Keokuk IA,

Tri-State Woodcarvers Show and Competition.  Holiday Inn Express, 300 Main St.  9am

-5pm Sat. &  9am-4:30pm   Sun.  Free Adm.  Contact Dave Deming 319-524-6887.

Feb 4-5: 2012, Cedar Rapids. IA

The Art of Woodcarving Show and Competition.  Sponsored by The Cedar Valley

 Woodcarvers.  Longbranch Hotel and Convention Center, 90 Twixtown Rd. NE 9am -5pm

 Sat. & 10am-4pm Sun, Free adm.  Contact Maurie Vanderwalle, 319-377-6520.

Feb 18-19: St. Charles, IL

Winter Wood Wonders sponsored by Owl Hardwood Lumber. Kane County Fairgrounds,

 525 S. Randall Rd.  10am-4pm Sat. & Sun.  $3 adm.

March 17-18, 2012, Stevens Point, WI, Wisconsin River Woodcarvers 12^th annual show,

 competition, & sale, Ramada Inn, 1501 Northpoint Drive, 9AM-4PM, both days.  Call Ron

 O’Kray 715-341-2214, or Greg Wirtz 715-4230471.

March 31-Apr 1, 2012 Green Bay, WI  30^th annual Woodworking Show and Sale.

  Southwest High School, 1331 Packerland Dr.  Free Adm.  Contact 920-468-0123.

April 14-15: Waterloo, IA

39^th Annual Iowa State Woodcarvers Show.  Waterloo Center for the Arts. Noon-5pm Sat.

 & 11am-4:30pm Sun. Contact Roger Beane, 319-283-2688, www.neiawoodcarvers.com.