ST. CHARLES AREA WOODCARVERS

November 2004

 

Club News

The eagle has landed!!!!!!

 

Our eagle has risen again - in John Bouchillon's back yard.  It is atop a 7 foot stump from a dead tree in his back yard.  He cut a slot for the eagle and carved the flag.  It is painted with oil paint and TWP.  John added the feet and then gave it a final coat of  TWP.  John has an open invitation to anyone interested in seeing the eagle - "come out and visit.  We'll do carving."  Great job, John.

The John Engler seminar is Nov 19-21, 2004.  The cost is $75 + blanks.  The roster is quickly filling up so if you are interested, contact Pres. Mitchell. 

Several of our members demonstrated and sold carvings at the O'Fallon fall festival on October 9th.  Everyone had a great time; the weather was nice and there was a fantastic crowd.

Reminder of upcoming shows:  Belleville on November 6th in Belleville; St. Louis Carvers on November 27 in Kirkwood. 

Perhaps you should attend our November club meetings.  It's time to select a slate of officers for next year.  Lack of attendance may result in a nomination.  On the flip side, if you would like to serve, please contact me or Pres. Mitchell.  There is no better way to get to know all of the club members and to give back to the club.  

 

Demonstration

Tristan and his mother attended our last meeting ready to carve.  They attended our 15th annual show where Tristan purchased a knife and carving glove.  Tristan had completed soap carvings of a car and a camera.  After some basic instructions in safety Pres. Mitchell got him started with a couple of rough outs.

                                                                                                                                                                 

Show Case

    

Don and Ann Bosley

Affiliations:  National Wood Carvers Association, Mid America Wood Carvers, St. Charles Area Woodcarvers and Rio Grande Valley Woodcarvers.

Training:  Basically, Don is self taught, but attended seminars and studied under many well known Midwest and Southern craftsmen. Ann began carving when she attended a beginners class while Don was taking an advanced seminar in Texas. They have traveled to all states except Alaska and Minnesota in their RV.

Background: Retired machinist for McDonnell Aircraft Co.  He began woodcarving as a hobby in the 50s and continued as a hobby and avocation after retirement. He has been teaching woodcarving for the past 10 years in the St. Louis area and the Rio Grande Valley.

Awards:  They have entered woodcarving shows and exhibitions all over the Midwest and in the Rio Grande Valley and have won numerous accolades, ribbons and trophies.

Exhibits: They have exhibited at Silver Dollar City, Davenport, Rio Grande Valley Show, Chip O’ Texas Show and various libraries, banks and art shows.

 

 

   

          

 

 

Show and Tell

(click on the pictures for a larger image)

Ray Plodzien carved an Emperior Penguin. 

 Today's lesson in animal science:  After the female lays a single egg, she goes off to sea. The male incubates the egg, keeping it warm on his feet, enveloped by the stomach, in a "brood pouch" for 72 days (during the coldest part of the Antarctic year). He feeds his chick with "milk" produced by a gland in his esophagus; during this time, he loses half his body weight.

 

Bob Craven displayed several of his wooden pumpkins.  Who knows what Bob will pass out to the trick or treaters. 

Mike Kelly is one of our newer members.  He did a great job of carving and burning this shore bird.
Sorry Mike, I lost the picture again.  Look for his carving in next month's issue.

 

Club Poet

Thanks to Jane Smith, one of our club members, for sharing her poem.

GOD’S CARVING

I began as a tiny seedling growing majestically higher

Sun, rain and time allowed me to touch the heavens

My branches fingered out and with the change of seasons my leaves protected God’s creatures that nestled underneath my leafy umbrella

As years passed and my life as a stately tree in God’s forest was soon to end

Wind and rain forced my weakened aged trunk to tumble

I now laid listless on the soil

My leaves became brittle and brown

My trunk once strong and stately now laid lifeless

My thick layer of protective bark was withering from natures weathering torment.

Suddenly one sunny clear blue-sky day

A gentle person strolled into this woods that I call home for over a hundred years

This human stared silently at my sad remains

As he gazed curiously at my lifeless body, he began smiling

He softly stroked my worn tattered trunk

His eyes sparkled with wonderment

He then gently took a large bladed saw and began cutting my trunk

With precision and love he carefully cut my aged wood

And joyfully carried me to his home.

 This artist hands, created by the same God that nurtured me from a seedling and carved me into a magnificent tree,

Began whittling at my once strong stately trunk now destroyed by nature

And this creative carver once again brought beauty back into my body

From God’s loving creation of a beautiful tree

I now became a loving creation of human hands, Hands that were carved,

Carved by God!

 

 

Jane Brown Smith

9/16/2000

 

           Woodcarvers' Ball            

Put a reminder on your calendar for the annual Club Christmas feast - December 1st at the Art Center.  The Club will provide the meat, cheese, drinks, and eating utensils.  Members are to bring a side dish to share.  Spouses, significant others, and children are welcome to attend.  We will also have the ornament exchange.  If you would like to participate in the ornament exchange, bring an ornament or carving that you have made to the ball.  A drawing will be held to exchange the ornaments among those participating.  Send me an email or call if you have any questions. 

The December 15th meeting is cancelled.      

 

Have a Happy Halloween and Thanksgiving.

When you have an item for show and tell, please get my attention before you leave (presuming that I remember to bring the camera).  If you have a digital picture of your work, send it to me for publishing.

Charles W. Sapp

Editor