Blackhawk Carving Club
Rockford, Illinois 61109
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Blackhawk Woodcarver

Volume XVIII, Issue 1, January 2011

Our Carving Club ended the year of 2010 with another really great Christmas Party. The hall was overflowing with people, and Gemuetlichkeit was everywhere! Again, the affair was wholly free for all members and spouses/friends, because expenses were paid by Wednesday morning Coffee Donations.

The basic menu was the same as last year: scrambled egg/sausage casserole, ham, and beverages (coffee, tea, & juice). Complete place settings were provided. To this were added "Dish to Pass" donations. There was a huge fruit bowl, a pot of chili beans, cakes, cookies out the wahzoo, and assorted candies. Two welcome somewhat different donations this year were hash brown fried potatoes, and Swedish Fruit Soup.

A special attendance prize gift was awarded to the Guest whose birthday was closest to the Party date. This was a Club coffee mug fitted out with a packet of special flavored coffee and chocolate-coated coffee-bean candy, all done up in cellophane and tied with a ribbon holding a hand-carved Christmas tree ornament.

carving party 1 carving party 2

carving party 3 carving party 4

carving party 5 carving party 6

carving party 7 carving party 8

carving party 9

CONGRATULATIONS to the new Club Officers. The slate as proposed by the Nominating Committee was elected by unanimous voice vote at the December business meeting. Best wishes for successful terms gentlemen! And many thanks for accepting the responsibilities of serving the Club.

NEW CLUB DIRECTORIES fresh from the printer list all current members. Get your copy from a Club Officer.

IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED that a new office of Program Chairman be added to the existing staff of Club Officers and Chairpersons. This would assign the job to one person for the year, and hopefully relieve our Officers of what can be a tedious and worrisome task.

In years past, the Club had field trips to some interesting places and members were exposed to different kinds of sculpture art. These trips included an on-site lecture about the Blackhawk Statue, an operating art brass foundry, and a sculpture exhibit in the Oregon Library, to name just a few of the experiences. Many of our Members have not had learning opportunities like these.  Then, too, there are the programs for our monthly business meetings as well as subjects for the quarterly carving projects. Who would you nominate for this important job?

SNOW BIRDS - Be sure the club has your correct alternate address for the Newsletter. In the meantime, while you’re gone, you should know that you will be missed. There is always conversation about where you are; what you might be doing down there; and (most important of all) when will we get you back again. We truly miss your company.

CHOLULA HOT SAUCE wooden bottle stoppers are now a national carving craze. There are several Cholula Whittle-Off competitions held nationally, sponsored jointly by Cuervo International, the maker of Cholula hot sauce; the California Carvers Guild; and Rosa’s Cantina. Because of the popularity of this activity, the Cholula people have replaced their original hardwood stoppers with basswood.

This all started (as you may imagine) out in California. A group of carvers from the CCG was sitting in Rosa’s Cantina restaurant waiting for their food, and started carving the wooden bottle stoppers on the hot sauce bottles on their table. The finished stoppers were left in the bottles on the tables for other diners to enjoy.

The contests are standardized with a 2"x2"x4" piece of basswood for each carver and a time limit of 105 minutes. Reminds one of the 4" Ball and the 2" Cube competitions, doesn’t it.

FOUR CARVERS from the North Suburban Carving Club are sponsoring a benefit show in February at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL, February 26 & 27. It’s called Winter Wood Wonders Festival This is an exhibition ... no competition, no ribbons or prizes ... this is for wood art only ... no crafters allowed. Exhibitors are encouraged to sell their works.  A $3 donation is requested for entrance. There will be attendance prizes and a silent auction. All proceeds, beyond actual expenses, will go to the Armed Forces Veterans at Hines VA Hospital, to Windy City Veterans, and to Wounded Warriors.

COMMUNITY SERVICE -

BOB HALLSTROM & DON STANSFIELD are conducting the "Beginning Woodcarving" class at CLR Rock Valley College this semester. See "Carving Classes" for details.

ROGER BENEDICT is teaching how to relief carve a portrait at CLR Rock Valley College. See "Carving Classes" for details.

BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Because of the Party Meal, all committee reports were dispensed with. The slate of Officers for 2012 as suggested by the Nominating Committee was presented and elected by acclamation.
Officers and Fununctionaries for 2011
  President - Gary Lundquist
  Vice President - Bob Capion
  Secretary - Steve Terrill
  Treasurer - John Skaggs
  Membership - Dona Wisner
  Librarian - Bernie Budzynski
  Webmaster - Gordy Moscinski
  Newsletter - Bernie Budzynski

SHOW AND TELL

There was a most impressive display of humming birds that had been done under the tutelage of Bob Capion. Also of special note was the Farm Play Set by Gordy Moscinski, that featured a large cut-away barn and an extensive set of critters ... all made especially suitable for a young child’s play.

Baltic IOV 56 bark carvingcastle carvingchurch carving

barn carving face carving

carved bottle top carved monkeys santa carvedcarved fisherman

carved 2 inch cubes carvings

carved hummingbirds carved fish

carved neckles carved humming birds

carved childrens farm carved mice

bark carving

village painted

carved egret

CLUB ACTIVITY SCHEDULE -

Business Meetings & Special Events -

ð January 19 - Business Meeting, Quarterly carving project
ð February 16 - Business Meeting
ð March 16 - Business Meeting
ð April 20 - Business Meeting, Quarterly carving project
ð May 18 - Business Meeting
ð June 15- Business Meeting
June ?? - Club Picnic
ð July 20 - Business Meeting, Quarterly carving project
ð August 17 - Business Meeting
ð August 20 - Blackhawk Carving Club, Show & Competition @ Tebala Temple
ð September 21 - Business Meeting, Wrap-up report on the Annual Show
ð October 19 - Business Meeting, Quarterly carving project, Select 2012 Nominating Committee
ð November 16 - Business Meeting, Announcements: Club Member of the Year, Slate of officers nominated for 2012
ð December 21 - Christmas Party, Brunch & Swap Meet, Election of Officers

CARVING CLASSES -These are classes within a short drive time 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.

February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7 & 14. Rockford, Illinois, Bob Hallstrom & Don Stansfield will teach Class #15, "Beginning Woodcarving," at CLR, Rock Valley College, 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon. $25 plus about $30 for materials. RVC Bell Bldg, Rm 2, 3350 No Bell School Rd. 815-921-3931

January 7-10 - Bettendorf, Iowa, "Realistic Bird Carving" with Bob Guge. $270 includes tupelo cutout, eyes, and small study cast. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.

January 14-17, Bettendorf, Iowa. This is a power carving class requiring grinders, goggles, and a dust collector. "Carve & Paint a Trigger Fish" or a fish of your choice. Josh Guge. $255 includes tupelo cutout, eyes, and study cast. Call Bob at 224-629-0581 for details. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.

January 28-30, Bettendorf, Iowa. "Intaglio Relief Carving" with Greg Wirtz features a Santa Claus, but other subjects are possible. $160 includes wood for one project. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.

February 16 & 17, Bettendorf, Iowa, Classic European Carving a "Man In The Moon" relief carving with Helli Mayr, using ONLY chisels & gouges. (No knives allowed>) $180, plus $30 to Helli for the blank in genuine Austrian Tyrolean Pine. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.

February 18-20- Bettendorf, Iowa. Classic European carving of a "Face In The Sun" 1 ½’ deep by 11" wide relief carving with Helli Mayr using ONLY chisels and gouges. (No knives allowed.) $360, plus $30 directly to Helli for the cutout of genuine Austrian Tyrolean Pine. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.

February 25(eve.) - 27 - Bettendorf, Iowa, "Carving Little Whittles," Scandinavia flat plane carving with Harley Refsal. $120 plus $9 - $15 for each cutout used. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.

March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, April 5 - Rockford, Illinois, Rock Valley College CLR, Roger Benedict will be teaching a class "Carve Your Profile In Relief." Classes are three hours, 9AM-12, once a week for six weeks. $25, plus $12 for a board. RVC Bell Bldg, Rm #2, 3350 No. Bell School Rd. Call 815-921-3930 for more details.

March 4 - 6, Bettendorf, Iowa, "Power Carving A Moose Antler" with Kirt Curtis. A dust collector is a "must" for this class. Also, a Foredom or similar tool will be needed for hogging out part of the antler. $235 plus cost of an antler @ $25 per pound. (Or bring your own.) The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.

April 29 - May 1, Bettendorf Iowa, Realistic "Native American" bust (about 7"x7"x13") carved with Marty Dolphens. Cost $185 includes butternut roughout. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.

May 27-29, Bettendorf, Iowa, Medium/Middle Relief Carving with John Engler. Pre-stenciled blanks will be available on a wide variety of subjects. $185, plus cost of blanks @$30 - $35 each. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.

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

February 28(10-5) & 27(10-4) - Winter Wood Wonders Festival, 4051 East Main St., Pheasant Run Resort, St. Charles, Illinois. For more details, go to Internet site www.WinterWoodWonders.com. Or call Sandy Jennings at 630-206-9384.

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