NEW - Summer Picnic - As reported in the Meeting Minutes, the annual summer picnic has been changed from September to June. Tony DeVita has already reserved the shelter in Sinnissippi Park for us on Tuesday, June 2. - from 4:30 until 8:00PM. If Tony runs true to form, he will probably be there earlier than that, just to get the charcoal going! This is a half-potluck supper. That is to say, bring your own meat to cook on the Club charcoal fires. Also, bring a dish to pass, and your own table service. (Plates, flatware, napkins, etc.) The Club usually supplies beverages. Other details will be reported as they are developed.

Lost & Found - Neither the two plastic food containers nor the Henckels kitchen knife left after the Christmas Party were claimed during January. They’re in the Library cupboard for now.

New member, Mary Wilder, works with the bird rehabbers at Hoo Haven Wildlife Center near Durand, Illinois . Mary says that Josh Guge will be conducting a 4-hour session on bird carving at the Center on June 6 from 9AM to 1PM. Class size is limited to 12 carvers, but if there is a significant number of others, there can be a second session. Cost is $50 plus materials. Bring a sack lunch. Mail your reservation with $20 check (non-refundable) made out to Fins & Wood. For mail address or other information, call Hoo Haven at 815-629-2212, and talk to Karen Herdklotz. (You may have to leave a voice mail, but she will call you back.)

Local Carving Show @ Burpee Natural History Museum features wildlife. (What else?) Lots of fish and birds, among other things. See the listing under CARVING SHOWS. Going on now through April 1. Many thanks to Marian Michaelis at Burpee for the news.

Woodcarving is fun! - The Blackhawk Woodcarving Club has gotten so big, so fast! There are lots of interesting new people and lots of different personalities. This is good: it make the Club stronger, and variety makes it so much more interesting. Wood carving, by nature attracts really nice folks who are really interesting.

Coffee is served - every Wednesday at carving. Bernie Budzinski and Dona Wisner have taken the coffee maker out of storage and instigated a new coffee program. Dona has been making coffee, and setting out the paraphernalia that goes with it on a side table by the Library cabinet. Donation is a quarter. The first two times they did it, they used coffee we had stored in the cupboard. Not so good! Elaine Terrell said no fresh coffee has been bought since . . . ? Maybe 6 or 7 years ago? Bob Hallstrom has brought in a supply of fresh coffee ... thanks, Bob. Dona took the coffee maker home to de-lime it, and that helped, too. Lisa Hanus treated us with a big batch of her home made cookies. Thank you, Lisa, they were delicious!

Big Woodcarving Show - The International Woodcarvers Congress, sponsored by Affiliated Wood Carvers, convenes every June down in the Quad Cities. This may well be the biggest and best carving shindig in the world! It is really a grand affair. There are carvers from many, many states, and several other countries too. World-renown artists. The cash prizes total thousands of dollars.

This has been held in a fairgrounds for some years, but this year they moved to the new Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center at 2021 State Street, Bettendorf, Iowa, 52722. That’s easy for us Blackhawk Woodcarvers to get to. Besides the competition by international carving artists, there are one-, two-, and three-day carving seminars taught by some of the best carving teachers known,

The affair is listed later in this Newsletter under both CARVING CLASSES and CARVING SHOWS. There is too much detail for us to put it in this Newsletter. I think some of the classes fill up pretty fast. If you are the slightest bit interested, you would be well advised to call now and get the full packet of information. The whole deal is run by Carol & Larry Yudis of The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, Iowa, 52722, 800-397-2278.

Did you know? . . . During the chariot race in Ben-Hur, a small red car can be seen in the distance.
 

Tony Valdez did this statue of Moses for a St. Chad’s Episcopal Church in Machesney Park.

  Click on picture to make it larger.

BUSINESS MEETING

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Gary Lundquist, Secretary

Secretary’s Report - Minutes of the December meeting were read and approved as read.

Treasurer’s Report - was read by President Hallstrom, and approved as read.

Membership Report - Dona Wisner announced two new members: Mary Wilder from Byron/Leaf River specializes in carving animals, and showed several dogs carved out of different woods. Leon Linderoth of Roscoe has paid his dues for the year, but was not present at that meeting. Dona also introduced visitor Steve Terrill from Davis Junction, who was invited by Gordy Moscinski. Steve is planning to enroll in Gordy’s Introduction to Woodcarving class at Rock Valley CLR.

Newsletter Report - Tod Wisner apologized for the January Newsletter being late. He blamed the holidays. Because our Club has grown so big so fast, lots of us don’t know each other so well. To help solve that problem, the Newsletter staff has started a project to put out a picture book of members. Lisa Hanus is taking pictures of individual members, and gathering some personal info. The sheets will be printed, 3-hole punched, and sent out with Newsletters. One sheet at a time.

Library Report - No report. Bernie’s in Florida ‘til March.

Web Master Report - Gordy Moscinski has now the complete new library list posted on the Club website.

Don Stansfield said Valentine Pins for Kids must be finished and turned in by Wednesday, January 28. He reported that there are already about 75 pins.

The Program Committee for 2009 - is Bob Hallstrom, John Skaggs, Ozzie Webb, and Rich Andersen. Their job is to plan and recruit folks to present programs at our Monthly Club Meetings. Don Stansfield says he will try to have a carving project about once every quarter. The current project is carving a Wood Spirit in a leaf, for a pin. (See THE PROGRAM, below.)

Annual Club Picnic was suggested to be moved from September to June. This would make the two social events more evenly spaced ... Summer picnic in June, and Christmas Party in December. Motion was made, seconded, and carried to do so. Tony DeVita has the same shelter house in Sinnissippi Park reserved for Tuesday, June 2.

Carvings for the Club Show - Donations are needed for the raffle/lottery to help raise money at the Show in August. This is our Fifteenth Anniversary Show, and it should be especially big. To do that, we all have to pitch in. Any kind of carving is welcome.

Carve a knife handle - Denny Neubauer has in the past conducted a class on carving a knife handle. (I think Larry Christensen has such a knife.) Since Denny has been hired to be the judge at our show in August, it has been suggested that he might be willing to teach class on the day after the Show. Sunday. Estimated cost to a student would be $50 for the class, and $20 for a new carving knife with a basswood handle suitable for carving. Interest carvers should get to either Don Stansfield or Bob Hallstrom to let them know. If there is not enough interest, naturally, there would be no class. (ADD A PIC)

New Library Cabinet too small - Yes, the new cabinet is already too full. Bob Hallstrom opines that we should get another cabinet and devote it especially to the sharpening equipment, podium, and the all important coffee pot. And some other supplies that are not part of our Library. Bob will check with Jim Griparis about building another cabinet. (With larger, heavy-duty casters.)

Bob Hallstrom has Club Decals - He had them made up on his own. They are copies of our Club logo. His intention is that every one of us should have one of these decals on our car/truck. Bob is donating these to the Club ... no charge. Get yours and show your support for Blackhawk Woodcarving. Bob also has embroidered Club patches. These are $5 each.

SHOW & TELL

photos by Larry Clark

Larry asked that all "Show ‘n Tell" items be brought up to a table in front for pictures. He arranged this system to make sure every item got photographed. Also, he makes sure that each picture has a nice plain background.

Marshall Field's lovely, modernistic "Jesus on the Cross."  It's more scroll saw than carving, but that certainly does not detract from the beauty!

     Click on picture to make it larger.  

Mary Wilder brought several dogs for "Show & Tell."  These are just three of the little dogs that she showed that were carved from different kinds of wood.

Larry Christensen did these four Santas.  The two on the right are "shelf-sitters."

                            This leprechaun has a lantern to help attack at night.  (by John Skaggs? )

Click on picture to make it larger.

Don Clark's voyageur, with a wee tiny fellow searching by lantern light.  Both in a natural finish.

Carl Hicks has a great talent for realism.  Therefore, good taste lets us show only the backside of this luscious nymph that he carved to top a walking stick.  Customer's orders, of course.

Click on picture to make it larger.

This looks like one of the evil imps that dwell in the netherworld.  He was finished in a ruddy stain, too.  Sorry to say, he's not identified.  (Could this be from Frank Lay?)

Will Rottman did this raccoon some time ago.  The fur is nicely realistic.  And fur is tough.

Don Stansfield chip-carved several of these "Dove of Peace" pins to use as gifts.

Click on picture to make it larger.

Marshall Field, Jr's intricate fancy work is familiar to anyone who's been a Club member for a while.  Work like this is Marshall's specialty, and he does it so well.  He will use almost any kind of wood : cherry, limewood, mahogany, black walnut, butternut - you name it, he's probably carve one of these little darlings in that wood.

THE PROGRAM

The program for January was the Quarterly Group Carving Project. This time it we were to carve a small pin of a Wood Spirit. Don Stansfield brought and passed out cut-outs of a small maple leaf. He also provided a drawing, a multiple-step instruction sheet, a colored picture suggesting colors, and pins for the backside of our carvings. There is to be a contest to choose the "best" pin at a future business meeting. Don announced that Bob Hallstrom will be the judge, and pick the "President’s Choice."

COMMUNITY SERVICE

"Pins For Kids" - Bob Hallstrom explained for the benefit oh new members that the Club has this ongoing program to carve pin/ornaments and give these out to kids in local hospitals for Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas/Chanukah.

Gary Lundquist made these micro-miniature heart-shaped cheese dip bowls.  Excellent craftsmanship is apparent when you check the thickness of one ... very thin and nicely uniform throughout.  Finish is natural.

                                            Click on picture to make it larger.

Carl Hicks has carved many Valentine Pins for Kids.  This photo shows just a few.  It may not show up too well in the picture, but each pin has a relief carving of a bird as seen in its natural habitat.  Mallard is flying over a marsh, goldfinch is eating seeds on a thistle, red-headed woodpecker hammering on a tree branch, wood duck perched in a tree, and a cedar waxwing eating a juniper berry in a juniper tree (Eastern red cedar).  These are really amazing.  You should see them up close, they're absolutely great.

Click on picture to make it larger.

Ozzie Webb is shown here working on his third square for the Center for Sight & Hearing all-carved quilt.

SICK BAY REPORT

John Winter was down with what John Skaggs had reported was a "bad case of flu." Wrong diagnosis, and not much help. John came back to carve Wednesday, January 26, but felt pretty punk. Reports to be really tired most of the time . Left early.

Tony DeVita is having some health problems. The doc says they’re not too serious, and are easily controlled with a modest medication. The bad knee is something else. Tony is having knee replacement surgery the first week of February.

Tom Backer managed to come in to carving on Wednesday, January 14, when it was about Zero outside, the snow was deep, and the wind was blowing hard. Weather was so bad, that only 11 members showed up that morning. But Tom made it.

John Wacker’s gall stones are acting up again. He’s under special diet orders from the doctor, and reports that Elena is happier now that things are under control.

CLUB SCHEDULE

ð February 18 -
ð March 16 -
ð April 15 - Quarterly carving project
ð May 20 -
ð June 2 - Club Summer Picnic
ð June 17 -
ð July 15 - Quarterly carving project
ð August 15 - 15^th Anniversary Show & Competition at Tebala Shrine
ð August 19 - Business meeting & Show recap
ð September 16 - Select committees for nominating Club Officers for 2010, and choosing Club "Member of the Year"
ð October 21 - Quarterly carving project
ð November 19 - Recognize Carver/Member of the Year and Nomination of officers
ð December 16 - Election of Officers and Christmas Party & Swap Meet

"A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption."

- from Gary Lundquist

CARVING CLASSES

February 10 thru March 10 (Tuesdays) - Rockford, IL, "Woodburning For Beginners" taught by Club Member Gordon Moscinski, Rock Valley College Bell Building, corner of Bell School Road and Spring Brook Road, Tuesday mornings, 9:00 - 12:00, $20. See Gordy or call 815-921-3931 for details.

February 17, 18, & 19, (Tues - Thurs) Bettendorf, IA. Classical European Carving using only chisels and gouges, with Helli Mayr. 31" x 7 ½", Classical Green Man Door Topper, $265 + $30 for blank in Tyrolean Pine. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

February 20, 21, & 22 (Fri - Sun) Bettendorf, IA. Classical European Carving using only chisels and gouges, with Helli Mayr. 31" x 7 ½", Classical Green Man Door Topper, $265 + $30 for blank in Tyrolean Pine. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

February 25, 26, & 27 (Wed night - Fri) Bettendorf, IA. Harley Refsal will teach Scandinavia-style flat plane carving of a Woodsman with Backpack, Snowshoes, & Axe. He will also have an assortment of other cutouts from patterns in his books. $100 + $9 - $15 for cutouts, depending on subject. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

February 27 & 28, & Mar 1 (Fri night - Sun) Bettendorf, IA. Harley Refsal will teach Scandinavia-style flat plane carving of a Woodsman with Backpack, Snowshoes, & Axe. He will also have an assortment of other cutouts from patterns in his books. $100 + $9 - $15 for cutouts, depending on subject. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

March 12 thru April 9 (Thursdays), Rockford, IL = "Seashore Relief Carving" taught by Club Member Roger Benedict, for intermediate and advance woodcarvers, Rock Valley College Bell Building, corner of Bell School Road and Spring Brook Road, Thursday mornings, 9:00 to 12:00, $20, plus $10 per board used. 815-921-3931 for more information.

March 13, 14, & 15 in Decorah, Iowa - Harley Refsal will teach Scandinavian Flat Plane Carving class at Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum, 502 West Water St. Class starts 6:30 PM on Friday, runs thru Sat & Sun. Diane Weston, 563-382-9681. (Don’t have any other specifics yet.)

March 14 - 15, Sat & Sun, Bettendorf IA - Dream Catcher Gourd with a Background Silhouette, and/or Penguin Gourd with Gold Leaf. Wood burning, carving, painting, & gold leaf - by Sara & Larry Cornwell, $135 plus $25 materials fee. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

April 3 - 5, Fri - Sun, Bettendorf, IA - Realistic Polar Bear Scavenging In A Dump with Kirk Curtis , power tools & hand tools, special fur texturing technique, $260 + $30 blank, The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

April 25 - 26, Sat & Sun, Bettendorf, IA, The Art of Pyrography, with Gen Grayling with different instruction projects graded for beginners and advanced wood burners. $110. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

April 7 - April 28, Freeport, IL, Brad Gusloff teaches a class on carving Wood Spirits in found wood Tuesdays @ 6 - 8 PM. Oakdale Mogle Center. Sponsored by Freeport Park District, class #730-1, must register by March 24, 2009. Call 815-235-6114 for details.

May 29 - 31, Fri - Sun, Bettendorf, IA, Low Relief Carving Embellished With Woodburning, Elaine & Fred Stenman, 2-stage work to determine skill levels, elementary work for beginners, more detailed work for advanced students. Carving, sanding, wood burning, painting, $145. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

June 22 thru June 26, Mon - Fri, Bettendorf, IA, International Woodcarvers Congress seminars. 26 separate classes. Some one-, two-, and three-days. Six are even 5 days. Teachers from Austria (Europe), Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida. Carol & Larry Yudis of The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, Iowa, 52722, 800-397-2278.

- from Gary Lundquist

CARVING SHOWS

February 1 - April 1, 2009, Rockford, IL, Wildlife carvings exhibit, Burpee Natural History Museum, 735 North Main Street. Please call 815-965-3433 for times.

February 7-8, 2009, Cedar Rapids, IA, Woodcarving Show & Competition, Longbranch Hotel & Convention Center, 90 Twixtown Rd NE, Sat 9 - 5, Sun 10 - 4, free admission, contact Maurie Vandewalle 319-377-6520. Cedar Valley Woodcarvers.

March 2 - 3, Bloomington, IL - "Sculptures in Wood" sponsored by Corn Belt Carving Club, Challenger Learning Center, cornbeltcarving.org.

March 21-22, Plover, WI, Wisconsin River Woodcarvers’ 9^th Annual Show, Competition, & Sale, Elizabeth Inn , I-39 + Hwy 54. 9:00-4:00 both days. Adm $2.00. Ronald O’Kray, 715-341-2214.

April 18 - 19, Waterloo, IA - Northeast Iowa Woodcarving Show, Waterloo Center For The Arts, neiwcarver.org.

June 24 - 26, Bettendorf, IA - International Woodcarvers Congress competition & show. Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center, 2021 State Street. Carol & Larry Yudis of The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, Iowa, 52722, 800-397-2278.

- from Gary Lundquist

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CIRCULATION STATEMENT: this issue of the Blackhawk Woodcarver is mailed to 45 paid-up members; 4 prospective members; 12 Friends of Blackhawk Woodcarving Club, and 4 carving magazines. Total circulation = 65. We send all copies of our Newsletter out USPO, First Class, to assure the greatest possible benefit to all.