Blackhawk Carving ClubThe Blackhawk Woodcarver
Volume XXX, Issue 4
Presidents
Report April 2025
The meeting was called to order by
president Tyrone Johnsen at 9:30am with 26 members present.
The minutes from the April business
meeting were read by secretary Jim Foster with no corrections or additions
noted.
In the absence of Treasurer Larry
Stenzel, president Tyrone reported the club finances are solvent and stable.
He also noted we have accepted four new club members in the past month.
Vice-president and program organizer
Richard Brittnacher discussed the need for new ideas and suggestions on
carving related topics. He also asked members to consider volunteering to
make presentations.
Don Stansfield challenged the
membership to create an Independence day themed carving for the June
meeting. He passed out copies of his suggested guidelines.
A motion to adjourn was received and
seconded at 9:48.
Rick presented Show and Tell items
by 7 members.
Gordy brought in a few of his "Chip
Chats" magazines that all had references to Blackhawk Woodcarvers past
carving shows.
After the meeting, Nick Scheuer gave
the membership an excellent and well received presentation on his process,
materials and procedures for carving song birds.
Tyrone Johnsen
Secretary
Report for March 2025
The meeting was called to order by
president Tyrone Johnsen at 9:30am with 26 members present.
The minutes from the April business
meeting were read by secretary Jim Foster with no corrections or additions
noted.
In the absence of Treasurer Larry
Stenzel, president Tyrone reported the club finances are solvent and stable.
He also noted we have accepted four new club members in the past month.
Vice-president and program organizer
Richard Brittnacher discussed the need for new ideas and suggestions on
carving related topics. He also asked members to consider volunteering to
make presentations.
Don Stansfield challenged the
membership to create an Independence day themed carving for the June
meeting. He passed out copies of his suggested guidelines.
A motion to adjourn was received and
seconded at 9:48.
Rick presented Show and Tell items
by 7 members.
Gordy brought in a few of his "Chip
Chats" magazines that all had references to Blackhawk Woodcarvers past
carving shows.
After the meeting, Nick Scheuer gave
the membership an excellent and well recieved presentation on his process,
materials and procedures for carving song birds.
Respectfully submitted by secretary Jim Foster.
A little
humor
1. Why did the woodcarver break up
with his girlfriend? Because she just couldn’t handle his chiseling ways!
2. What did the woodcarver say when
asked how he’s doing? “I’m on the cutting edge of my craft!”
3. Why did the woodcarver never get
lost?
Because he always knew how to carve
out a path!
4. Why did the woodcarver become a
musician?
Because they wanted to play the
basswood!
Speaker Nick
Scheuer
Nick Scheuer presented why and how
he carves Song Birds; along with some tips!
Future
Carving Shows
April 26 —
Westby, Wisconsin. “Karve in 9” in Westby High School Gym,
206 West Avenue So; 10am to 4pm. Admission is free. Call Steve at
(608) 769-8498; or email John Sutton at lbarnfarms@gmail.com.
May 4 — Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
49th annual Mid-Wisconsin Chippers Woodcarving Show. Competition &
Sale at Oshkosh Convention Center, 2 North Main St.; 9am to 4pm. Free
parking. Admission $5 (12 and younger, free, Email Dick Krummic at
rkrummick@att.net; website: midwisconsinchippers.weebly.com.
September 13 — Janesville,
Wisconsin. Rock River Valley Carvers19th annual show and sale at Rock County
Fairgrounds, Craig Center, 1301 Craig Ave.; 9 to 4. Free admission
(donations appreciated). Brad Crandall (608) 931-0188,
bwkicrandall@gmail.com; or John Raisbeck at jkraisbeck4@gmail.com.
September 20-21 — Stevens Point,
Wisconsin. Wisconsin River Woodcarvers host 21st annual show, competition,
and sale at Holiday Inn. Contact Jerald Trzebiatowski (715) 310-9900,
jeraldt@gmail.com; or Ron O’Kray (715)570-2534.
Meet a New
Member: Wally Schapals
Wally Schapals retired to South
Beloit after retiring from a career in Quality Assurance and Quality Control
producing products for the commercial aerospace, military and medical
fields. He has always enjoyed working with his hands doing Do-It-Yourself
projects at home and building models in many different mediums. One of his
projects was restoring an old Cuckoo Clock. Wally likes working with wood.
He is interested in learning woodcarving to enable him to carve some
birds for a cuckoo clock; and even to make a wooden stein and carve the
decorative outer surface.
Wally and his wife Martha have 3
children, 9 grandchildren, and 2 great grand children.
Their interests also includes square dancing.
Meet a new
Member: Jane McMillan
corporate identity, branding, and
marketing. She has also worked in a variety of teaching capacities. She
likes exploring many artistic mediums. Her favorite has been oil painting
portraits; and recently working with three-dimensional forms. Jane has
provided a couple of her portraits and her thoughts on joining the club.
“I come to the carving group as a
beginner excited to learn, share ideas, and getting to know the community of
wood carvers. In addition to learning the skills of the craft, I am
interested in the tradition and history of handcrafted wooden puppets and
marionettes. It is my belief that telling stories through art holds powerful
possibilities for kindling delightful conversation and bringing smiles to
peoples faces. When not working in her home studio or in the classroom, I
like spending time exploring the great outdoors, observing nature, paddling,
hiking, backpacking, and camping.”
Newsletter
deadline
Keep sending your pictures and
stories by the May 1, 2025 deadline.
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.
Carvers
wanted
Sometimes I get calls from people wanting to have a carving done (for money). If you are interested in any of these contacts, let me know and what kind of carvings you are interested in doing for people. Don Stansfield dchip1508@comcast.net
Facebook
Like us on Facebook “Blackhawk
Woodcarvers”. Many pictures and information.
Want to buy
or sell
If you have anything that you would
like to buy or sell send me an email and I will put it in the newsletter.
Gordy
M
2 Roger Benedict
18 Jerry Robey
21 Bob Matthews
22 Steve Terrill
Committees
(815 area code)
Webmaster & Newsletter Editor
Gordy Moscinski
Photographer, Tyrone Johnsen, 397-9274
Programs, Rick Brittnacher, 608-346-6501
Picnic, Tony Devita
Club
Officers (815 area code)
President, Tyrone Johnsen, 397-9274
Vice Pres, Rick Brittnacher, 608-346-6501
Treasurer, Larry Stenzel, 389-4714
Secretary, Jim Foster, 414-3248
Show and Tell
John Gregory -
Santa & Elf faced
Betty Gregory - Dog
Jim Foster
Richard Prutz
Jim Batchlor
Two plates chip carved by
John Martin as presents for Lynn and Janet. Note the back side and
the woodburned oval “Handcrafted by John Martin”. The branding iron was a
gift from John’s son.
Cross chip carved by John
Martin.
Jerome Mais
Joel Taylor
The Pineapple: by Bill
Aupperle
A Folk Art Symbol of Southern Hospitality
We have all heard how the South is
renowned for its hospitality, but why does the pineapple symbolize
hospitality? How did this fruit become a symbol of welcome?
The first documented European encounter with the pineapple came in 1493,
when Christopher Columbus supposedly discovered pineapples on the island of
Guadeloupe and brought one back to Spain.
Here are a couple of theories…
Some Historians suggest that
European travelers who saw pineapples hung at the entrance of a Caribbean
village, were greeted warmly by the native people.
Some accounts tell of sea captains
who, upon returning from trade routes in the Caribbean, would place a
pineapple outside their homes as a symbol of their safe return
and an invitation to stop by to hear about the voyage.
Whatever the history, a pineapple
hung by the door is a symbol of hospitality, welcome and friendliness.
