24
Dec
HOLIDAY GREETING ~ 2019
Ornaments carved at Christmas time are to bring Love, Joy, Peace, Hope with the celebration of Noel and of course Santa. The ornament gallery that follows are those carved for 2019.
Author Archive
30
Dec
THE HELVIE CONNECTION
The four photographs above represent the most recent carvings done for Helvie Knives to add to their collection and their generous charity project.
Don Worley carves in a delightful and whimsical style that is not only eye catching but is also instructive in an inspirational manner. Years ago, he introduced his “No-See-Ums” that became a favorite carving project among carvers ~ Recently he introduced his “Biker Dudes” that had the same appeal to carvers both in classes he taught and those who followed his self-published book.
The photographs in this gallery are of carvings on display and for sale at Peter Engler Designs, 201 S. Commercial St. Branson, MO. When Peter was alive, he purchased several of my carvings in 2005 and periodically my Hog Heaven Pig seeds. Recently owner Mary Bowman honored me again with the purchase of several carvings to have available at the new location of the store in old downtown Branson.
20
Nov
CHALLENGE
The two antique pocket knives in the photo above represent the important role the common pocket knife has played in the journey of wood carving for the Wood Bee Carver. Both knives were made by the Challenge Cutlery Company over one hundred years ago. The top knife is called an “Office Knife” and the second knife is called a “Jack Knife.” It is this Jack Knife that became a “challenge” to begin the serious endeavor of carving. Almost every boy and many girls growing up in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s carried a pocket knife which was occasionally used for whittling activities.
The photo above is entitled “The Journey” by Ivan Snyder. I first met Ivan last year at the Buckeye Woodcarving Round Up near Piqua, Ohio. He was sitting in my informal class of carving small figures concentrating of facial features. After a while he showed me a few of his small carvings that jumped right up and shook my hand. They were alive with imagination and personality and as I got to know Ivan more during the next couple of days of class we became kindred brothers of miniature carvings. Below are photos of the carvings he showed me.
The “Shorties” above are two and half-inch tall creations of Whittling Jim Hecker. Jim is a carving friend who lives in Elk River, MN. We first met at the International Congress of Woodcarving in 2009 and have maintain mutual friendship through emails, Facebook, two more meeting at International Congress and a couple of times in conjunction with the Dayton Artistry in Wood show.
A carving of a Civil War artillery officer with a cannon mounted on a butternut base with four carved plaques on the side panels of the base depicting significant benchmarks of employment career became a retirement gift. The carved soldier holding binoculars standing beside a cannon were symbolic of retirement from the military with a carved plaque showing the Army logo as the recipient’s first career. The remaining bank logo plaques depict the three banks served during the second career of the retiree.