Blackhawk Carving Club Rockford

The Blackhawk Woodcarver

Blackhawk Carving Club

We meet every Wednesday at 9:00 am until 11:30 at the Ken Rock facility at 625 Adams Street, Rockford, IL. KenRock is located in the area of Rural and North 2nd St.

Presidents Report May 2026

We are blessed to have another new member. Welcome Dave Suedbeck!

You members make our club! Each of us is an individual with various experience, knowledge, talent, creativity, and interests; but we all share an interest in wood carving. Our club of over 40 members, represents various experience levels as well as specific interests within woodcarving. We are a welcoming club! Some of us are extroverts and some have more introvert personalities; but we all are willing to share our experience and knowledge with others. That is what a club offers in our social environment.

Recently, we had a club “class” in carving and painting a “Dala” horse. Member Gordy Moscinski led this “class” in making a Swedish classic. Gordy’s Swedish heritage was likely a factor, but his love of woodcarving and helping others shown through. New member Dave just completed the CLR “Beginning Woodcarving” class also taught by Gordy. This month, member Tom Houlahan will lead us in Chip Carving. I believe he has 16 members signed up; consisting of both fairly new and experience carvers and chip carvers. There will always be other members working on projects such as figure/caricature carvings, birds, and even pyrographics.

We meet regularly once a week on Wednesday mornings. A club of this size needs an indoor facility to accommodate us. Through the years, Ken-Rock Community Center has provided this. We pay a modest “rent” (donation) each year. Our cost does not come close to covering the cost of having the building open for our use. In addition, our annual membership dues do not fully cover the rent/donation. But, we have again achieve a financial equilibrium with the additional funds raised through our annual Christmas Party raffle.

You make our club! Your dues, and raffle contributions allow us to continue as the Blackhawk Woodcarvers!

Thanks to all you members! You make our club work!

Tyrone Johnsen

Secretary Report for April 2026

Blackhawk April 2026 minutes

Blackhawk Woodcarvers monthly April 15,2026 meeting was called to order by President Tyrone Johnsen at 9:30 am. Attendance was 20 members and a CLR carving class had six students with instructor Gordy Moscinski.

Minutes read by Roger Benedict were approved after a minor change

Treasurer Betty Gregory was absent. Her email and Tyrone’s paraphrasing report show we are financially sound and 41 members have paid their dues.

President report: Christmas party is set for Wednesday December 9^th. Welcome for two members who we have not seen for a while; Carol Behning and Joel Taylor. Always a pleasure to see familiar faces. Membership is on the calendar year and are due by January of the new year. This was in answer to Tony Devita’s question. And Tony suggested members contribute photos of their workshop with a concentration on the workbench to show typical clutter. A good response by Tyrone was to include those “home-made” devices to enhance one’s carving work be added, and perhaps for show and tell such as an example of John Skaggs chip carving device that was on hand.

Old business: Tom Houlahan will begin his chip carving class on the first Wednesday on May 6^that Kenrock, lasting four weeks. Basic chip carving requirements to be covered and all carving skills are welcomed--- coaster patterns provided. Later this fall at CLR Tom will also be conducting classes in chip carving, more later for this subject. Leon Saul, a CLR carving student, showed a carved upright figure of his grandfather who was carved by his cousin.

Adjourned was moved and seconded at 9:40am.

Show and tell: Six members showed and discussed their carvings. Most interesting was by Scott Grey who showed a lizard carved into a very hard driftwood. He purchased it in Seattle in an antique shop---too bad we don’t have any information because it was exceedingly clever how the carver utilized the wood for the effect of the lizard. Of course, other members’ show and tell carvings were gifted with cleverness. By the way Jim Foster’s continued carving of little people must be part of a massive number of little people carvings on hand, just ask him.

Respectfully submitted,

Roger Benedict

Club Chip Carving Class beginning in May

Beginning on the 6^th of May at our weekly club carving session, Tom Houlahan will lead interested members in a chip carving experience. The class will cover chip carving basics and proceed through completed piece(s) suitable as “coasters”. Prior experience is not required

Tom will have available 4 inch square basswood for a modest fee and patterns. Members are to provide their own chip carving or detail knives. Please let Tom Houlahan know if you wish to participate and desire wood blanks so this he can insure sufficient supply.

Classes will be planned to run through May; but Tom will be available beyond that time.

Carving shown are by Bob Hallstrom as examples

Carving Shows

Roger Stegall Character Carving Roughouts and Class

Roger Stegall is exhibiting at the Rock River Valley Carving Show on September 12,2026. If anyone is interested in purchasing roughouts from Roger please come to the show. Roger carves character carvings in the Ozark style. Roger is holding a class on September 13 and 14 in Janesville, Wisconsin . It is also at the Ravens’ Wish in Janesville, Wisconsin. The cost of the class is $140 for two days. Money is paid directly to Roger Stegall at the time of the class. The class is currently full but if you want to be put on a waiting list please contact Brad.

www.midwisconsinchippers.weebly.com

The International Woodcarvers 2026 AWC Congress will be held in Maquoketa, IA from June 15 to June 20, 2026 at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. Contact Diane Colley @ 630-335-4850 or www.woodcarverscongress.org for more information.

The Creede Woodcarvers Rendezvous will be Celebrating 35 Years on July 11 – 15, 2026. Register Mid-January Online @ www.crddedwoodcarvers.com.

The Rock River Valley Carvers of Wisconsin Inc. will be holding their 20^th annual Show and Sale on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Rock County Fair Grounds “Craig Center” 1301 Craig Ave. Janesville, WI. Feathered Carver is Brad Crandall. Free Admission, donations accepted. Contact Brad Crandall @ 608-931-0188 or bwkicrandall@gmail.com or John Raisbeck @jkraisbeck4@gmail.com. for more information.

Wisconsin River Woodcarvers Show, Sale, & Competition September 19 & 20, 2026

The Capitol Carvers of Wisconsin & Badger Wood Turners will be holding their 35^th Annual Show & Sale on Sunday October 25, 2026 at the DeForest Area High School, 815 Jefferson Street, DeForest, WI. Show hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Any questions call, April Bird, CACW President, 608-320-9217.

The Waupaca Area Woodcarvers Club will be holding “Artistry in Wood” Show, Sale, & Competition on Sunday November 1, 2026 at the Waupaca Recreation Center, 407 School Street, Waupaca, WI. Show hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission for Adults is $5.00, Children (Age 1 -16) free. For more information contact Harold Mohr 715-281-4923.

Beginning Carving Class

The Beginning Carving Class was a wonderful experience, offering a welcoming environment for newcomers. Participants achieved very good results, demonstrating impressive progress and creativity throughout the course. This class truly provided a solid foundation for anyone interested in learning the art of carving. Instructor was Gordy Moscinski

Blackhawk Carving Club Website

Just a reminder that on the Blackhawkcarving.com website you can see past newsletters etc. All the way from day one.

Www.Blackhawkcarving,com

Newsletter deadline

Keep sending your pictures and stories by the June 3, 2026 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

Blackhawk Carving Club Website

Just a reminder that on the Blackhawkcarving.com website you can see past newsletters etc. All the way from day one.

Www.Blackhawkcarving,com

Newsletter deadline

Keep sending your pictures and stories by the June 3, 2026 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

Facebook

Like us on Facebook “Blackhawk Woodcarvers”. Many pictures and information.

Want to buy or sell

TOOLS FOR SALE. Most of these have never been used.

Rikon Tabletop Disk/Belt Sander

Micro-Mark Tilting Arbor Saw: Check it out on their website.

Festool HEPA Sawdust Vacuum: Extremely quiet.

Grizzly 9" Bandsaw with Stand

Grizzly 10" Saw with Castors

Grizzly Bench Drillpress

Grizzly Tall Wood Workbench with a Drawer Stack