Question for Carving Clubs

[Jim Hiser]

Hi folks, I’ve been a member of the forum for awhile but have not been very active. I want to change that this year and to stare I would like to ask a question about ideas for carving club meetings. I am fortunate to belong to a couple of clubs and we are always looking for ideas for small projects to carve at our meetings or ideas for programs. I would like to hear what other clubs do. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Jim

[kdispoto]

Jim,

Greetings - Ken here from the "Jersey Hills Wood Carvers" (www.jerseyhillswoodcarvers.com) located in northern NJ. You may recall we met during your Santa bust class last summer.

Aside friom being a member, I am also their newsletter editor. My newsletter has been a favorite item of the club members.

Basically our club is a hands-on (carving at tables - rather that just show & tell) carving club. From what I can tell, members prefer to bring in their own unique projects. I've only been with the group for just over a year so during that time I've heard no one express a desire to do a group project.

I suppose a group project could work, but sounds like there could be a lot of obstacles involved; such as skill levels, time allotted, absentees, putting someone in charge to name a few.

Good luck with your club and this idea – I’ll be watching what others have to say as well.

[Jim Hiser]

Hi Ken great to hear from you. We have done many different small projects like the 5 minute owl, face on the corner of the stick, different facial features things like that. It always goes over well at the one club and they are always looking for new ideas. The other club carves through the week and likes to have programs at the meetings. So any ideas for either are appreciated.
Hope to see you in Honesdale
Jim

[Donna_T]

Good to see you back and hope you can be more active. Having interesting club activities and programs is always a challenge. I did our newsletter for 15 years--and was secretary for that period, and was in charge of workshops and activities. Now I'm treasurer and not nearly as active because of work responsibilities.

Once a month, we have a business meeting for the first 15 minutes. Members try to take turns having a small carving project that can be finished in a few hours--1-3 usually. But, from time to time, we take on a project that might be a 5-6 hour project to 2-3 days. For instance, we did a little bird (about 2 inches) and the club member who led it provided the cutouts, and had 3-4 finished ones in different finishes--natural, cardinal, bluejay, bluebird, etc.), and we carved on one for the remainder of the club meeting (from 7 to 8:30 pm). I did Mark Gargac's pierced santa face last year, furnished the cutout and had a 4-step sample of the progression of the project--cutout, pattern penciled in and carving started, carved and cleaned up, and fully finshed. We've done a scarecrow on a small dowel rod for a houseplant decoration, shelf sitter, relief, Christmas ornament, ....well you get the picture. If the project takes a lot of wood, whoever leads it figures out the cost and members chip in for the cost of the cutout.

Most of the rest of the time, everyone just comes and carves on their project. If someone wants help, they ask for it. For the past month, we've had a couple of members who want help learning how to do animals and fur, so I've been trying to do that, although I can do it, I'm not much of a teacher!!

Hope that gives you some ideas. It's always great to hear what other clubs do.

Donna_T

[cb1959]

Our club has simular projects as Donna's has. We are now doing a cowboy, assisted by one of our carvers.. In the past we have had 2 day woodburning classes, relief carving with John Engler and flat plain carving with Bruce Futterer.But what really seems to work is the mini classes tought by members. Recently we had a cardinal class and a chickadee class. We meet twice a week and small projects go fast. Once a month we have a business meeting and have had in the past a program by someone from the outside. Getting these programs has been difficult for several years due to cost of getting someone to come in for the 1 hour program. I think one of the best features of a club is the fellowship. We seem to visit sometimes more than carve. Another feature is the great way members are willing to share their "secrets", most are proud of achievments and share willingly. Also there is the looking out for others, especally when they are sick or going through some treatment.
If you have several people with simular interest, get going. It will build.
Charlie

[cgm]

Hi Jim, I met you at the show in June. I sat and watched as you did the caricature face.
I don't belong to any clubs, none close by. For me this forum is the next best thing. Lots of friendly people and lots of knowledge is shared
It was good meeting you at the show and it is good to see you are going to be on here more.
Carl

[gtech]

I joined a new carving club (started a bit over 1 year ago) this year and have a meeting every 2 weeks. But it seems that people have so many different interests that it would be difficult to find a project to fit everybody.

Many like relief carving, we are only 2, sometimes 3 doing caricatures, one carves animals, and a few are trying to find what they would like to carve and are still real beginners.

What I do is I bring some wood carving books with me in case someone needs ideas.

Gilles

[Jim Hiser]

Carl nice to hear from you, Are you going to be at the Lancaster County Show this year? I am planning on having a table so be sure and stop by for a visit.
Jim

[Jim Hiser]

Donna, Charlie and Gilles, thanks for your comments. The one club we carve at every meeting usually something we can do in 1 - 2 hours, if the project is a little larger we may work on it 2 different meetings. This helps the members try some different things ex: I mostly carve caricatures but because of the small projects I have sampled relief carving, chip carving, stylized bird, etc. The main problem we are having is coming up with fresh ideas so I appreciate the projects that have been suggested. The other club I am involved with likes to have a program at the monthly meeting so we are always looking for subjects to offer up. We are very fortunate in our area that we have a lot of talented carvers so we usually don't have any cost associated with the program; once again it's the fresh ideas. This particular club also hosts 12 - 13 weekend seminars a year and has open carving on each Tuesday eve so that's why we do the programs at the monthly meeting.
Sorry to be so long winded but I appreciate the comments
Jim

[cgm]

Hi Jim, not sure if I will make it this year. If I do I will be sure to stop by your table.
I'm about 200 mile west of you.
Carl