Don Worley taught a class on how to carve his NO SEE-UMS to members of the Miami Valley Wood Carving club members in Middletown, Ohio in January, 2009. The three No See-Ums in the photograph are the ones I did in his class. No See-Ums are fun carving subjects that become addictive in that one leads to doing another and then another. Read the rest of this entry »
Norb Hartmann, a long time wood carving friend from Fairfield, Ohio gave this laser engraved plaque to me as an ongoing sharing of good humored fun. He is like the “good humor bandit” who likes to sneak up on you with a special act of friendship and tattoo his generosity on your heart. Read the rest of this entry »
DERBY DINGUS McGee is an original carving by Lynn Doughty. My wife, Frances, gave me this carving as a gift this Christmas. What a pleasant surprise. In other years I received two lumps of coal, but this year I received a “Doughty.” Am I a good boy or what?
Gifts are special and some are more special because they continue to give. Love is a gift that keeps on giving. Friendship is a gift that keeps on giving. Memory is a gift that keeps on giving. Woodcarving is a gift that keeps on giving. Combining all of these becomes yet another gift that continues to give. Read the rest of this entry »
This FRIENDSHIP CARVING TREE contains carved wooden ornaments collected over the years. Each one contains a memory of the person who carved an ornament as a way of remembering those who decorate our lives with friendship. Each represents an unique style of creativity that can only be demonstrated in the individuality of personality of the carver. Each ornament has a story to tell of the generosity of friendship which like all Christmas memories is a sentimental journey. Read the rest of this entry »
No See-ums were created by Don Worley of New Carlisle, Ohio in early 2008. He has taught several classes on these fun caricature carvings as well as numerous individual carvers. Don has been active in the Dayton Carvers Guild of Ohio and has been co-chairman many years for the annual Artistry in Wood. He is my good friend and a friend to carvers near and far. Read the rest of this entry »
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL VENDOR is a play on the title of an old James Garner movie, “Support Your Local Sheriff.” The reason to support your local vendor is because of the labor of love these dedicated servants of woodcarving generously give to the woodcarving community.
Dick and Barb Belcher are in their thirty second year of providing a most valuable service through their Belcher Carving Supply. LLC. They have available at several wood carving shows almost anything any carver would want and need and if they do not have it, they will make every effort to find what is requested. Through their catalog, email R1Belcher@aol.com or by phone 937-845-0346 Dick and Barb await the opportunity to be there for any carver’s needs. Read the rest of this entry »
The cartoon character Papa Smurf was carved for Wayne Shinlever, a good wood carving friend from Knoxville, Tennessee. Before he retired as Deputy Sheriff his nickname “PAPA SMURF” was given to him. This particular carving is wearing a star to indicate the Deputy Sheriff motif. Papa Smurf stands four inches tall and is two inches wide. The coloring is done with artist oil paint thinned with boiled linseed oil.
Wood carvers are some of the best folk one will ever meet and some very good friendships occur through woodcarving activities. Perhaps it is because wood carvers share that special bond of creative energy that not only carves wood but carves a special place in the hearts of friends. Such a friendship produces good humor and playful kidding along with the mutual encouragement in the art of carving friendships. One such example of this kind of friendship was bestowed upon me as “an honor” long to be cherished in the form of a “relief sculpture” as only Norb Hartmann can do, which he has done for many people.
This “relief sculpture” is a depiction of how The WOOD BEE CARVER looks when he participates in wood carving shows with bib overalls, bow tie with tails and a black derby hat (an outfit worn since 1976 and somewhat of a trademark). The likeness is uncanny but what makes it even more special is the labor of love and friendship that went into the carving and all the while Norb and his wife Mary Ellen were chucking at the fun they were producing. Read the rest of this entry »