Two New Blackhawk Woodcarving Members were introduced at the business meeting, April 15. Shirlee Calvert and Jack Basford stood to be recognized with hearty applause from the other members. After which, they joined in with everyone else on Gordy Moscinski’s feather project.

Library books and other materials are intended to be out for short loan times. Say a few weeks. If they are out longer, it keeps other Members from using the material. Remember, this is a "loan" and not a gift for an indefinite time. It really should not take more than a week or two to get all the goody you need for your project out of a book or video.

Roger Benedict taught relief carving this Spring for the Center for Learning in Retirement at Rock Valley College. The whole class worked on the same project . . . it was a quaint shoreline scene with rocks and a lighthouse.

Click on picture to make it larger

Class photo. Left to right, front row - Larry Clark, Jack Basford, Dave (?), John Skaggs, Gary Lundquist, Steve Williams. In the back row: Dave Meyer. Roger Benedict (Teacher), Jerry ( ? ), Will Rottmann, Marj Simonds, Judy Suit (Facilitator), Bob Hallstrom,, Don Clark.

Gordy Moscinski told your Newsletter that the DeKalb Park District was holding some interesting carving classes in April. Classes were taught by woodcarver George Tolliver. He had separate classes for Caricature Profile Carving; Woodcarving For Beginner & Beyond; Wood Feather Carving; and a special Walking Stick self-directed project. These were all held Thursday evenings (April 16-May 14) in the Sports & Recreation Center in DeKalb. This sounds like a pretty nice program. Unfortunately, news reached us too late to make our April Newsletter. If anyone is interested in knowing about any future classes, call Colleen Belmont, Program Director for the DeKalb Park District at 815-758-6663.

This Eight-foot Bear is in the back yard at a home on Lawson Avenue, here in Rockford. Carved from a stump. Who carved it?

Our Carving Show - is August 15. This is NOT too far off to start thinking about what you will give to the Raffle. This is our best fund-raising opportunity, and we must make it good. A club runs not only by fun and fellowship. It needs at least a modest amount of cash. How many carvings can you contribute? Five? Seven? Ten?

It’s also appropriate to be planning your display table. Items to show. Carvings for sale. Work-in-progress. Table cloth - round or rectangular? (Ask about table sizes.)

Then, too, will you be having anything in the competition? Is it ethical to use a piece done in a commercial carving class? Even though you may have done it all yourself?

Stir up your creative molecules and design your entry for our "Four-inch Spherical Carving Challenge." Entries will be judged at our Annual Carving Show, August 15, 2009, at the Tebala Shrine Center. Rules are simple. See your March Newsletter for the five rules. Ribbons and cash awards will be given for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd Place. The cash prizes will be $50, $30, and $20, respectively. Get a head start on making a sphere, roughouts are available from Don Stansfield for $9 each.

Thank You, Nancy Peters for bringing in the information on two special carving/camping events.

GOW 2009 (Gathering Of Woodcarvers) - Sept 29 - Oct 2, Sandwich Fairgrounds, Sandwich, IL. This is only about 55 miles southeast of Rockford, as the crow flies. Over 40 carving seminars available during the 4 days will include relief, caricature, flat plane, chip, busts, wood spirits, birds, Santas, bark, "and much, much more." Instructors include Ol’ Don Burgdorf, Floyd Rhadigan, Sharon Bechtold, and other illustrious, nationally known carvers. Always a great time, with lots of carving and lots of fun. Camping, potluck supper, and other fun stuff.

Registration - http://www.camperjohn,com/gow
Camping Reservations: Sandie Bergdorf
Class registration - Bob Mau.
Facilities & food - Joe & Sharon Dillett (815-498-9290)

First Annual Indiana Woodcarvers Summer Camp - August 20-23, Bremen, IN. More than 20 instructors (no instruction fees), camping & carving fun, door prizes, food, SPAM carving contest, crafts for non-carvers. See their club website for details. www.counciloakwoodcarvers.com. They have done a good job there. Or call -

Either - Marcia Yrineo 874-204-2858; Jay Weidler, 574-936-9805;

IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN EITHER ONE OF THESE EVENTS, PLEASE

KEEP THIS ISSUE OF YOUR NEWSLETTER FOR REFERENCE.

Elaine Terrell says,

"Golf is a lot like Taxes . . . you drive hard to get to the green, and then wind up in the hole."

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Gary Lundquist, Secretary’s Report - Read, and approved as read.

Treasurer’s Report -Read, and approved as read.

Membership Report - Dona Wisner reported two new members: Don Christenson and Shirlee Calvert. Don was at the meeting and was introduced to the Club. Shirlee was not attending that day.

Newsletter Report -(the Newsletter IS the report).

Library Report - Bernie’s back from Florida. After inspecting the Library, he reports members are doing a pretty good job of maintaining the books and videos and returning them to the Library. (Though there are a couple who may be keeping things a bit longer than desirable.

Web Master Report - There is reference material on the website for painting feathers.

President Bob Hallstrom reported on -

The Macktown cottonwood tree to be available for bark.

The need for Halloween and November angel pins.

A request for carvers to demonstrate at the Macktown Founders’ Days.

Bob also reported on progress of the Sight & Hearing quilt. There is discussion on subjects appropriate for quilt squares. There are several squares finished or in process, but several more are still needed, and unclaimed.

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 0945

Click on picture to make it larger

Here are four very lovely sculptures done by Bob Hallstrom. I believe these are the products of his recent trip to Bronson.

This relief rose blossom was done by John Skaggs. John also did the "super-polished" spirit face probably in black walnut - right, John?

Gary Lundquist carved this Santa Clause with the quizzical expression. Nice face, Gary. Gary also did the intricate/endless swirl in butternut. Everyone should recognize this as one of Marshall Field, Jr.’s tricky little projects.

Click on picture to make it larger

Here is another of John Winter’s wonderful fantasy canes. This has a C-clamp for the handle, tightly gripping a wood block with John’s brand wood-burned on the side.

Gordy Moscinski conducted a class in feather making. How to carve, paint, and burn-in details of feathers. An assortment of blanks were furnished - carvers chose the one feather style they wanted to do. Then, went back to their seats and carved the feather. Gordy had one whole row of tables set up with wood burners. After we carved our feathers, we all took turns burning in the fine details. Then, there was another row of tables all set up with paints and paint brushes for us to finish our feather. At each step of the way, Gordy was there to advise and guide us. Many of the members had a head start, because they had previously taken Gordy’s woodburning class at Rock Valley CLR. For many of us, this Wednesday morning feather class was our first experience with woodburning, and some of us didn’t even know what questions to ask.

It was really interesting, and folks agreed that it would be nice to have a bit more time on the project. Even if it were only one more hour. Especially, if you wanted to do the feathers as pretty as Gordy does them. Didn’t finish painting your feather? Go to the Internet: www.blackhawkcarving.com. You will find color pictures and the complete recipes for paints used on each of the different feathers that Gordy had us carve in the class on April 15.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

"Pins for Kids" is a continuing program where our members carve pins for children who are in the hospital over one of three special holidays - Christmas, Halloween, and Valentines Day. Pin designs are appropriate for the specific day, of course. Hearts and flowers for Valentines Day, Jack O’Lanterns for Halloween, and angels for Christmas. Blanks are now available for Jack O’lantern pins for this year. Be sure to get yours early.

We have a special request from Rockford Memorial Hospital. They want angel pins for a special group of parents who are grieving the loss of a child. This will be for a date in November. For this year, they want about 150. Gary Lundquist has already cut out a whole bunch of blanks. Let’s all dig in to help out on this new project. Don Stansfield has designed several variations. Bob Hallstrom has the blanks.

Don’t forget to honor the Blackhawk Woodcarvers that serve their community in other ways. For example, some teach woodcarving for the Center For learning in Retirement at Rock Valley College. Roger Benedict has been teaching Deep Relief Carving for a few years already, and Gordy Moscinski has been teaching Beginning Woodcarving at Rock Valley since "forever."

Besides the Rock Valley CLR classes, we have been called on to provide speakers/presenters for various groups’ meeting programs., as well as helping the Boy Scouts of America. Tony DeVita and Marshall Field, Jr. Have been conducting a soap carving class for Cub Scouts for the last few years, and we also work with Scouts to help them earn their Woodcarving Merit Badge.

Tell your friends about the public services we do, and ask them if we might be of service to their organization?

Center for Sight & Hearing wooden quilt - There are six squares done. Ozzie Webb, Roger Benedict, and Tony DeVita are working on squares There are sixteen needed altogether.

SICK BAY REPORT

John Winter had quite a spell of being "under the weather’ during February and March. He was finally admitted to the hospital for a gall bladder operation. Successful. He’s back carving now, but still recuperating. Slow but sure. We’re pulling for you, John.

"George Washington never told a lie. But then, he never had to file Form 1040."

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

This info is copied from other sources. Classes may or may not be filled. Be sure to check for yourself. We have no reasonable way of knowing any details other than those shown.

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.

August 20-23, Thurs - Sun, Bremen, IN. (That’s about 10 miles south of South Bend, IN) Council Oak Woodcarvers sponsor the first Annual Indiana Woodcarvers Summer Camp. Many instructors, no fees. Check out details on the club website www.charteroakwoodcarvers.com, or call Marcia Yrineo at 574-204-2856.

September 28 - October 3, Sandwich, IL - Gathering Of Woodcarvers (GOW) Sandwich Fairgrounds. Bob Mau 630-536-4253;  www.camperjohn.com/gow.

June 20-21, Coon Valley, WI - Lloyd Thrune Woodcarving Show at the Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center. Contact Tom Ladwig 608-582-4353.

June 25 - 28, 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.

August 13-23, Des Moines, IA - Mid-Iowa Woodcarvers Assoc sponsors and demonstrates at the Iowa State Fair. Peoples’ Choice Contest. Dorcas "Dee" Wolfe515-244-4428.

August 15, Rockford, IL - Blackhawk Woodcarvers 15^th Annual Show & Competition. 3^rd annual Spherical Challenge competition w/cash prizes. Supplies, food, ribbons. 11AM - 4PM. Admission: $3, children under 12 free. Tebala Shrine Center, 7910 Newburg Road, 61108. Contact Don Stansfield, 1508 West Lincoln Blvd, Freeport, IL, 61032, 815-235-0075.

September 27, Utica, IL - Valley Carvers 21^st annual judged & juried show and sale. Starved Rock State Park Main Lodge, 9AM-3PM. Bob Wills, 190 West Willow St., Coal City, IL 60416; 815-634-3086.

October 24-25, Wheaton, IL - North Suburban Woodcarvers’ show, DuPage County Fairgrounds. www.northsuburbancarvers.org.

CIRCULATION STATEMENT: This issue of the Blackhawk Woodcarver is mailed to 64 paid-up members, 12 Friends of Blackhawk Woodcarving Club, and 9 public relations copies to other carving clubs. Total circulation = 85. We send all copies of our Newsletter out USPO, First Class, to assure the greatest possible benefit to all.

                                  Click on picture to make it larger