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Blackhawk Woodcarver Blackhawk Woodcarvers at Kenrock Community Center 3218 11th Street, Rockford, IL., Volume XVIII, March 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Blackhawk
Woodcarvers Carving sessions
every Wednesday 8:30-11:00 am
(Visitors always welcome) |
On January 21h, we began our Gold Finch Bird carving session - expected to last between 5 and 6 weeks, which includes burning and painting the feathers and mounting the completed bird to your choice of mounts. There were a total of 18 participants, and our own
Bob Capion provided a video assist to Bob Mathews, our instructor. This video system is really helpful to a large class, and it may be something our club could consider acquiring at some future date - that's when we're really financially solvent. A Bass- wood blank was provided, and the first session involved rounding and shaping the body of the finch. . The class includes a homework session to be completed prior to our next carving session.I counted a total of 41 club members present, and I tried to hand out our newsletter to the attendees but failed miserably. - only 24 newsletters were given to the 41 attendees. I suppose it would be easier to
provide the newsletter to our readers if I knew and recognized them. I'm trying; but for a guy whose biggest lifetime failure was the remembering and associating a particular face with its own face-its going to be a long time process. I would appreciate any and all suggestions to assist me in my distribution of the newsletter which provides quick delivery, minimal expense, and done in a timely manner.Throughout this news letter will be found various tidbits attributed to Larry The Cable Guy. These will be preceded with an *.
* A day without sunshine is like night.
* Have you noticed; on the other hand you have different fingers!
Our second finch caving session involved drawing and carving the individual feathers of both wings. One thing each of the class attendees found out was the fact that EACH
.of us seems to be too gentle when it comes to feather shaping. At the end of the class, we were told to 'sand the feathers smooth so that only the general shape existed - they were to be smooth, yet distinctly shaped.Did you know that 5 out of 4 people have trouble with fractions?
And while we're on the subject of math, another couple
of Cable Guy words of wisdom: 42.7% of all
statistics are made up on the spot (I always thought it was 62.4%!) 99 % of the
lawyers give the rest
a bad name. And ... Remember, half the people you know are below average.
February 10, I counted a total of 16 Gold Finch carvers today. The video screen provided by our fellow bird carver
Bob Capion, as usual, was a great help. Homework assignment is to 'burn' the feathers on the blank, and be prepared for mounting the legs and placing the eyes. We'll be painting the bird if time permits. As a participant, I’d like to state that our instructor is doing a fantastic job, and patience with our class members closely resembles that of Jobe!There was an additional 13 carvers present
. Our challenge carving project is called a 2" cube - anything you choose to carve as long as it fits into a 2" cube; and one of our members has chosen a definitely unique approach to this challenge. Rather than give away his project, I'll just say that John Winter's challenge project is unique, definitely unique, and really shows his capabilities for outside the box solutions when solving a specific challenge.We were given a "stylized bird" carving project for an outside project at last month's meeting. All club members who received the blank are to bring their finished 'bird' as a show and tell for our next meeting, as well as any other carving project completed.
Remember, half the people you know are below average. (Another cable guy 'truth'!) Or .•• He who laughs last thinks slowest. And, for those of us who are at that age, Depression is merely anger without the enthusiasm!
One of his best! The early bird may get the worm; but the second mouse is the one who gets the cheese in the trap!
You all know that light travels faster than sound. Perhaps that's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
We've been carrying on about birds, so the following poem may apply:
AN ORIOLE
Today I found an Oriole,
And as near as I could see,
It was just about as dead
As an Oriole could be.
I wondered why such beauty
As that little bird possessed
Should be taken from us
And laid so soon to rest.
Just how it died. I do not know.
Perhaps no one could tell
But had It been a Big Black Crow
T'would had the self same smell.
Andrew Wilson 1934
BEFORE I START, THERE IS ONE RATHER DISTURBING ITEM WE MUST ADDRESS!
There are at least two (2) library
books missing. Both have been missing for quite some time, and we're pretty sure they were borrowed, and the borrower forgot to sign them out. Our library is for all club members, and has been painstakingly cataloged by our own Bernie Budzynski; and all that's necessary for use is that the proper card be signed, dated, and most importantly, the borrowed material be RETURNED IN A TIMELY MANNERI Our president Gary has a need for one of the absent books, and promised - At least this time - to forgive without incident the return of the errant books. The next time; however, he promises to not be so lenientlllFebruary 17th:
I counted 41 attendees which included a new prospective member, and a supplier of wood, and both wereBUSINESS MEETING
: The meeting notes made in the January Newsletter were accepted as presented in the newsletter.Treasurers Report:
We're solvent at this time. There was a rather prolonged discussion following the proposed budget made by the volunteer committee, and I guess the basic result of this discussion was that we attempt to keep a detailed documentation of monies - both in and out - and relate same to our proposed budget. The ultimate goal of this is to assist an appointed committee at year's end to provide a better road map for future budgets and expenditures.Petty Cash:
As of this date, we have some money in our coffee/cookie coffers. We also have two pots of coffee brewing during the meetings. Again, and I know I speak for all club members, Dona, keep up the good work!Membership:
We have 79 active members, and 21 associate members. Our mailing lists also include some 'friends' of the club, prospective members, some suppliers etc. So I usually make 125 to 130 copies of theWebsite:
Gordy reported that the website was current, and there were no additions.We were to have some discussion for a
portable sound system, Don Stansfield reported that he has a friend who is working on a proposal for us; however, he states that a portable system (self contained) has inherent problems with sound and that in all probability the proposal will be for a plug-in system. It should be ready for discussion at some future meeting.Our room hosts have requested that our club members use ONLY the designated facilities as male or female, and they are not interchangeable. They further requested that upon leaving our meetings, tables and GRAY chairs be aligned for their lunch program
.Cub Scout Soap Carving
: Dates are still pending and we're looking for a few more volunteers.SHOW 'N TELL!
Don Stansfield
showed a scroll saw heart that took long enough to make that he had trouble focusing his eyes for quite a while. His intricate box was both colorful and unique.John Winter
displayed his version of a chainsaw - unique, clever, and brought a smile to all who saw it. He made it from scrap materials he picked up while cleaning his work shop - quite an imagination John-!Dick Anderson
showed a few photos of his antique tool collection.Bob Mathews
showed a life size bird of prey that looked as life-like as a photo.Bob Capian
showed his version of his stylized bird - a robin with young showing in a nest (modified square base that was given to us)Roger Benedict
showed a stylized woman torso showing that he doesn't only carve in relief.Jerry Mais
showed two stylized birds -one was a stylized heron-like bird in a marsh (very graceful) and the other was a painted version of our hand out bird.Rosalie Wesley
showed an Indian maiden she purchased in the South West.Brian Steder
showed pictures of a newly acquired table saw he got as an EBay purchase. .Jayne Pheiffer
displayed a small clock in a carved wrist watchband. Very unique!Gordy Moscinski showed a bucket and a love spoon.
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WANT ADS:
Don Christenson has a 4 1/2" joiner for sale. It has a additional set of cutters, and he says its like new. $100.00. He lives on Barnum Road - give him a call if interested.
Roger Benedict has a 'like new' Dremel Scroll Saw - two speed, with a 16" throat; and he has many extra blades. It's a Model #1671, and he's asking only $75.00!We had a visitor,
Dell Lore, who sells wood carvers supplies especially various types of wood. He specializes in Bass, Catalpa, Butternut and some others. His phone number is 815-938-2263. He also plans to be in our area fairly frequently. On this date, he offered a 10% discount if two items were purchased.I'm still not able to print photos, but I'm still trying to learn, and I'm getting closerll
COMING EVENTS;
The following list of coming carving events has been gleamed from various publications, and the editor strongly recommends that if interested, please contact those designated for further information- especially to see if the class is full, to locate lodgings, and to make sure the event is still being held.
(Not listed in any particular order)
March 20-21: Wisconsin:
March 27-28: Wisconsin:
Northeastern Wisconsin Woodworkers Guild Show, Sale and Raffle, Green Bay. (Southwestern High School: 1331 Packerland Drive. Sat. & Sun. 9:30 am - 5 pm. Free Admission. Contact Jane Alesch 905-468-0132April 10: Indiana
. Raintree Woodcarvers Show. Muncie, IN: Delaware County Fairgrounds; 1210 N. Wheeling Ave. 10:00 am - 5 pm. $3 adm. Contact Jay Kokena 765-354- 9102.
April 10-11: Iowa. Iowa State Show sponsored by Northeast Iowa Woodcarvers. Waterloo Center for the Arts; 225 Commercial Street. Contact Dick Hanson; 319-266-7009April 1
7: Michigan. The Greater Lansing Woodcarving Club's Wood Carving Show, Competition, and Sale. Haslett, Michigan: Haslett High School Gymnasium. 10 am - 4 pm 517-337-0778Your editor has a complete list of
Wood Carvers Congress Seminars, and accommodations for same. I'll include a brief listing of the seminars to 'whet your whistle' if you're interested, contact me or Don Stansfield (815-235-0075) I'll have the complete listing with me at our carving sessions. It also includes living accommodations for your stay.5 day classes
June 14 -18 # Carol Boyd (father Christmas); Fred Cogelow (horse head); Neil Cox (face carving); John Engler (relief carving) Leah Goddard (realist animals); Josh Guge (fish with habitat); Chris Howard (deep face relief); Vie Hood & Terry Basher (mountain man bust); Charley Phillips (relief Iris plaque)# 2 day classes
June 14,15; Phil & Vicki Bishop (character carving) Mike Shipley (country folk carving)# One day classes
June 14 or 15 (painting your carving, and making a carving knife)# 3 day classes
JUlie 16 - 18 (advanced chip carving, character carving, bird carving, shallow relief, hummingbird, and character carving)# 2 day class
JUlie 14 v- 15 (scrimshaw and woodbuming)# 1 day classes
June 14,15,16, 17, & 18 for non-carvers with classes involving pyrography, and crystal bracelet making.AUGUST 21: ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.
BLACKHAWK WOODCARVERS', 16th ANNUAL SHOW, COMPETITION, AND (new this year for them) A 2" CUBE CARVING CHALLENGE. Tebala Shrine Temple, 7910 Newburg Road; 11 am to 4 pm. Admission: $3.00. Contact Don Stansfield, 815-235-0075.A few annual seasonal (March) comments:
Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he was late for an important meeting, and he couldn't find a parking space. Looking up to heaven he said, "Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place, I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of me life, and give up me Irish Whiskey!" Miraculously, a parking space appeared. Paddy looked up again and said, "Never mind, I found one!"
Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and asks the first man he meets, "Do you want to go to heaven?" The man said, "I do, Father." Father Murphy say, "Then stand over there against the wall." Then the priest asks the second man, "Do you want to go to heaven?" "Certainly, Father." the man replied. "Then stand over there against the wall ", said the priest. It's the same thing on down the line until Father Murphy walks up to O'Toole and asks him, "Do you want to go to heaven?" O'Toole says, "No, I don't Father." Father Murphy stammers, "I don't believe this! You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?" O'Toole says, "Oh, when I die, yes! I thought you were getting a group together to go right now!"
Carving meeting; February 24th.
We had 35 club members present, and were almost equally split between our Goldfinch carvers' class and the 'free carvers '. Since I'm a member of the bird carvers I'm most familiar with the proceedings with that session. We spent our time learning how to place the eyes -for future bird carvers, the over sized holes for the eyes are to be located opposite, level and spaced evenly! A workable two
-part epoxy is used for securing the eyes. The putty selected offers ample working time, and smoothes easily using our moistened fingers: We located and drilled holes for the supplied birds feet. Oh yes! Our instructor, Bob Mathews reminded us at least 3 times to be sure to place the eyes pointing towards the outside of the bird! Bird mounts were suggested; and suppliers suggested. Our homework assignment is to be prepared to paint and mount our finished bird.Note: A hair drier; And tooth brush should be included in anyone's bird carving kit. And should be on hand for our last carving session.
Gallagher opened the ,morning newspaper and was
dumfounded to read in the obituary column that he had died. He quickly phoned
his best friend, Finney. ''Did you see the paper?" Asked Gallagher. "They say I
died!" "Yes, 1 saw it!" replied Finney, "Where are you calling from?"
Walking into the neighborhood pub. Mike said to Charlie the bartender, "Pour me a stiff one - I just had another fight with the little woman!" "Oh yeah?" said Charlie, "And how did this one end?" "When it was over," Mike replied, "She came to me on her hands and knees." "Really!" said Charlie, "Now that's a switch! What did she say?" Mike replied, "She said, come out from under the bed, you little worm."
I guess the moral of these excerpts is: If all minorities could look at themselves and laugh without being offended like the Irish do, the whole world would be a much funnier place!
I can't leave off on that solemn note so here's another story about the Irish and their abilities to have a good time - especially with John Barleycorn!
Pat staggered home very late one night after another evening with his drinking buddy, Mike. To avoid waking his wife, Kathleen, he takes off his shoes. He tiptoed as quietly as he could towards the stairs leading to the upstairs bedroom; but he misjudged the bottom step. As he was falling, he grabbed the banister, but in his state, he only managed to spin his body around, and he landed squarely on his backside on the bottom step. He had placed a pint of Irish Malt whiskey in each of his back pockets Oust in case!) And each shattered!
In his state, the pain was not noticeable, and he. managed not to yell; he pulled down his pants, and looked in the hall mirror to see that his butt cheeks were cut and bleeding. He staggered down the hall to retrieve a full box of Band-Aids; and began putting on the Band-Aids as best he could, and covered each place he saw blood. When he was finished covering the blood spots, he hid the now empty box and staggered, shuffled, and stumbled his way to bed. Pat woke up in the morning with a searing pain in both. his head and butt; and Kathleen was staring at him from across the room. She said, "You were drunk again last night weren't you?" Trying very hard not to show any discomfort, Pat says, "Why do you say such a mean thing.?" "Well," Kathleen said, "It could be the open front door, it could be broken glass at the foot of the stairs, it could be the drops of blood trailing all through the house, it could be your bloodshot eyes, it could even be the smell of stale whiskey on your breath, but mostly • . .. it's probably all those Band- Aids stuck on the hall mirror."
March 9
, 16,23,30, and April 6th, our own Roger Benedict will conduct a RELIEF CARVING CLASS , at Rock Valley College - the "Center for Learning in Retirement (Bell School Road). Times for the classes will be between (9:00 and noon each day). A fee of $20.00 ($10.00 paid in class) will cover material costs. Recommended for Intermediate or Advanced Carvers. Phone 1-815- 921-3931 for registration.The information below is copied from other sources, and classes may or may not be filled. Be sure to check for yourself; there is no way of knowing any details other than that given.
March 5 - 7
Bettendorf, IA. Ken Curtis, Polar Bear Scavenging In a dump. The Woodcraft Shop, 2734 State Street. 52722. Call 800- 397-2278 for details - be sure to ask for motel discounts.March 27.,.28 -
Green Bay, WI. Northeastern Wisconsin Woodworkers Guild presents their 28th annual show, sale, and raffle at Southwest High School, 1331 Packerland Dr.; 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Free admission, free parking. Web: newwg.org. Jane Alesch (902) 468-0132April 10 - 11
Bettendorf, IA; Sara & Larry Cornwell; Gourd Carving and decorating. The Woodcraft Shop, 2734 State Street, 52722 Call 800-397-2278 for details, be sure to request motel discounts.April 23 - 25 (tentative)
Bettendorf, IA. Elaine & Fred Stenman, Low Relief Carving, -The Woodcraft Shop, 2734 State Street, 52722. Phone 800-397-2278 for details - be sure to request motel discount information.May 22-23
Bloomington, IL. Corn Belt Carving Club's 10th annual sculptures in wood show, sale and contest at the Shirk Center, Illinois Wesleyan University Campus, 302 E. Emerson St. Saturday 9-5, Sunday 12-5. Admission $3.00: children free with an adult. Contact Mike Hartzler (309) 662-4276; www.combeltcarving.org.May 29-31 (tentative)
Bettendorf, IA. Bob Guge, Habitat Making Class. The Woodcraft Shop, 2734 State Street, 52722.For information, call 800-397-2278 for more information - ask about motel discounts also.June 12 - 20
, Maquokets, IA (40 miles North of Bettendorf) The Annual International Woodcarvers Congress.It's important enough to mention a second time:
** AUGUST 21 - ROCKFORD, IL.
BLACKHAWK Woodcarvers' 16th annual show/competition at Tebala Shrine Temple. Cash prizes: supplies, food. 2" cube carving challenge. Don Stansfield, 1508 W. Lincoln Blvd., Freeport, IL 61032 (815) 235-0075. Our Club Web-Site (www.blackhawkcarving.com) Gordy Moscinski, our intrepid Webmaster.Newsletter Report
: My second and I guess no news is good news. channels.- Ozzie Webb.Library Report:
Please see the discussion above about missing periodical, etc.!Web Master Report
: See other areas of this newsletter.Wood Carving for the Boy Scouts
: the will be a session in early March - this time with Boy Scouts asa opposed to Cub Scouts. Estimated attendance will be close to 35.COMMUNITY SERVICE -
See above for Boy Scout Wood Carvers' Session.
Gary will need several more volunteers.SICK BAY REPORT-
Nothing was reported.
CLUB ACTIVITY SCHEDULE - For 2010
Business Meetings & Special Events –
March 17 - ? (St
. Pat's day wear green.WANT ADS-
Free service for individuals, clubs, and vendors (members and non-members)
. Items MUST be related to carving. Mail your listing to Blackhawk Woodcarvers, Ozzie Webb, Editor, 1810 Midway Dr. Rockford, IL 61103, by third Wednesday of the month for the next months Newsletter. Better Yet! Give your AD to the newsletter editor as a note anytime during our club meetings.CIRCULATION STATEMENT:
This issue of the Blackhawk Woodcarveris mailed to 100 members, 21 Associate members, 11 Friends of Blackhawk, and 12 other carving clubs. Total circulation = 143. We send our Newsletter USPO, First Class, for most benefit to all
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