The Blackhawk Woodcarver
In 2013 I carved a bird for my sister and her husband.
But let me start over at the beginning.
A number of years ago my
brother-in-law, Paul retired from the Army and he and my sister moved to
Divide Colorado. They moved
into a beautiful environmentally friendly home that Paul had designed.
It’s in the mountains with a view of Pikes Peak from their front
window. On a visit to there
home, I had noticed a unique bird there that I had never seen before.
It was a large bird, slightly bigger than Robin but smaller than a
Crow. It has a black head and
chest with a vivid iridescent blue body and tail.
I was told that it was a Stellar Jay.
I learned that the
species was unique to the upper levels of the Rocky Mountains in the United
States and Canada.
A couple of years later, I thought it would be nice to do a carving of the
Stellar Jay for their home. So
after researching information about the bird, I carved two.
One as a practice bird for myself and one for them.
In 2013, I completed them, I gave one to Paul and Joanne for their
home and one I kept. I
brought it into the club for Show and Tell in 2013.
I entered it in the Clubs Show that fall and received a second place
award . Which brings us to
today. Joanne and Paul stop by
for a visit last weekend.
Joanne had brought a BIRD along as a thank you for the Stellar Jay.
It’s a colorful whimsically quilted bird.
As she said, I am not a wood carver, I am a quilter.
It’s a great gift and has found its place among my carvings.
Its was so nice to be remembered.
So ---- Let the chips fly and see you at the club!
Jerome Mais
Blackhawk Carving Club
P. O. Box 8285 Rockford, IL 61126
Open Carving every Wednesday (8:30-11am).
Ken Rock Community Center (Sacred Heart Academy, Multi-purpose room)
3218 Eleventh St, Rockford, IL 61109
Business Meeting; third Wednesday. of the month. Friends and spouses of
carvers are especially welcome to come to meet and visit. Carvers bring in
finished carvings for “Show & Tell.”
Club Activity Schedule
July 5
open carving
July 12
open carving
July 19
open carving and meeting
July 26
open carving
August 2
open carving
August 9
open carving
August 16
open carving and meeting
August 23
open carving
August 30
open carving
September 6
open carving
September13
open carving
September 20
open carving and meeting
September 27
open carving
October 4
open carving
October 11
open carving
October 18
open carving and meeting
October 25
open carving
November 1
open carving
November 8
open carving
November 15
open carving and meeting
November 22
open carving
November 29
open carving
Musky Area Wood Carvers Workshop
August 15-18, 2017 in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin. Teachers include: Wes Spadgenske, Dan Haack, Bob Harris, Echo Keller, Sophie Kubisiak, David Kublank, Gordy Moscinski, Denny Neubauer, Elaine & Fred Stenman, Greg Wirtz, James Thalacker, Dorthy Huse and Lee Belanger. For the full layout go to muskyareawoodcarvers.com
The Woodcraft Shop, Bettendorf, Iowa
Josh Guge,
realistic bird carving and painting.
Friday to Monday: September 15, 16, 17 and 18, 2017 –
$270.00 + a $20.00 material fee.
For more information call toll-free 800-397-2278 or go to
www.thewoodcraftshop.com
Rock River Valley Show
The Rock River Valley show in Janesville.
Applications for a table are available.
The show will be Saturday September 9 from 10-4.
See Jerome Mais for applications.
July Birthdays
(that
we know about)
3 Patti Small
5
Ed Vitell
6
Randy Gilley
7
Dona Wisner
17 Steve Johnson
21 Tod Wisner
22 Jerome Mais
22 Bob Coleman
Blackhawk Carving Club Minutes June 2017
Minutes of the regular monthly business of Blackhawk Woodcarvers; held on
June 21 2017 at 3218 Eleventh Street, Rockford, Illinois.
Jerome Mais opened the meeting at 9:05.
Jerome started with an announcement that Sue Meyer of Fairdale, IL called
and indicated she had a large Cottonwood tree down and wanted to know if we
needed some bark. Tony and
Jerome went down and stripped a lot of wood off the tree that was over 10
ft. in diameter. They gave that
bark at the last meeting (6-14-17).
People were able to get all that they wanted.
If someone who got some of that bark was interested in carving
something for Sue, she would appreciate that as she has no idea what
cottonwood bark carvings are like.
Jerome talked with the management at Sacred Heart about the broken door.
He did not know that the door was not fixed.
The building is owned by a different person and they lease the
building so it is hard to track down the actual owner.
Jerome will keep trying to get the door fixed.
Tyrone Johnsen is not present because he is picking up his wife from the
hospital. Her artificial hip
has come apart again and they worked at putting her out to pop her hip in
again and she is ready to come home.
Steve Terrill read the Minutes of the previous meeting.
The minutes were approved as read.
John Skaggs reported on our financial situation.
We continue to be solvent.
Dona Wisner reported on Petty Cash and we continue to have enough money to
buy cookies.
Chuck Drewes had nothing to report on membership.
For all of those who are Veterans he wanted to inform them of the
Vets Roll program out of Beloit.
It is a 4 day all expense paid trip to Washington DC to see all of
the monuments there. There is
an application available on line.
He will answer any questions about the program.
Old Business: Jerome looked at
the Facebook page with his wife’s help.
Tyrone reported to him that we have already had over a hundred hits.
Jerome opened a discussion about the interest in having a Christmas Party
this year. Tod Wisner thought
that it was a fun event. Steve
supported the event and would prefer it at the club where interaction is
easier. Bob Matthews thinks we
should have a party whether it is careered or pot luck.
Don Stansfield has felt our previous parties have been very
successful. He thinks that a
potluck is better than spending money on catering.
Arne made a motion to have a Christmas Party.
The motion was seconded by Tod.
Suggestions include that we have it at the club, that we have simple
coffee cakes and other finger food.
We should bring in older carvings to show spouses what we do.
Volunteers included:
Arne Larson, Jerome and Paula, Tod and Dona, Tony thinks that Pizza should
be included in the finger food category just as long as the sausage has
fennel. The motion passed.
Bob Matthews has information for all who come to Belvidere that Karen has
started driving again.
The meeting was closed at 9:40.
Respectfully Submitted, Steve Terrill, Secretary
Club
Officers
(815 area code)
President - Jerome Mais, 398-7904
Vice Pres. -
Secretary -
Steve Terrill, 708-0471
Photographer - Larry Clark, 262-9982
Membership - Chuck Drewes,
985-8575
Newsletter Publisher, Gary Johnson 399-1697
Historian - Elaine Terrell 765-2886
Programs - Bob Matthews 544-2359 &
Denny Neubauer 515-508-9524
Picnic -
Soap Carving –Gary Lundquis
Francis Hardy art gallery
The gallery is situated directly on the shore of Eagle Harbor and has been a
pillar of the Door County art community since the mid-1900s, providing
visibility in a non-commercial venue to new and established artists who may
or may not have outside gallery representation. Over the years, the
organization has grown from a small, volunteer-run facility to a
multifaceted non-profit organization that draws more than 14,500 visitors
annually, serves over 750 artists and youth each year and manages 75
volunteers.
Passed Treasured Carvings
Again, as a
reminder, I would like to have our club members start bringing in along with
regular SHOW and TELL items, some of your carvings that you have treasured
from the past. We all have
carvings packed away or setting on a shelf that no one has seen for years
except our spouses. I will have
an extra table set up so we can show our favorites on the Wednesdays that we
have our meetings!
Jerome Mais
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.
Deadline for the news for the next newsletter is August 2, 2017.
Show and Tell pictures by Larry Clark and comments by Steve Terrill
Larry Stenzel showed a fish carving that he made and
painted probably 20 years ago.
It is out of Cedar and well painted.
Jerome Mais showed 4 carved Santas, all very different,
out of basswood and painted.
Don Stansfield found a piece of aspen in his waste
bin around 25 years. He made
and painted a patriotic pin with star and stripes fit for the fourth of
July.
Chuck Drewes showed a corvette carved out of Walnut
after a rubber eraser given him by a friend.
It is yet to be finished.
