Why We Carve And Do Simple Projects And Videos

[gene-messer]

request
I'm sorry I do not start this letter with your name but, all I can
request


find in the profile I read is Wittler 0507.
Well any way Dear Sir, Let me first tell you what a pleasure it has been to watch such a Talant as yourself work.
I am a disabled Viet Nam Veteran . I had a heart attack back in 05 and in 07 went into the San Francisco VA for open Heart surgery to repair a damaged valve in my heart. Well when I awoke from that surgery I found out that they had screwed up during the surgery . Needless to say this put an end to the life I once knew. I was 60 % disabled from combat injuries before the operation, and now I am hanging on to life from day to day. Up until I found your videos on YouTube I spent my days in front of the boob tube. After seeing your video on carving a little figure I knew I had found something I could do without stressing my body too much. I have started on doing that little figure,it has took a little while because I have had to kind of make my own knife out of an old hack saw blade. . My wife and I now try to get by on my little VA pention and SSI. Out of that I have to pay a mortgage and all the rest of our needs. We have lost everything but the house so far but, we get by with the grace of our Lord.
Enough of me crying in my beer. What I'm writing you about is if it is at all possible can I get a copy of the patterns for the two little dogs you carve on your youtube videos. A friend brought me a couple of peices of basswood 1X6, and if I could get thoes patterns I could give the dogs a try. I carving the little figure from another of your videos right now. I doing it out of Balsa wood that someone gave me, and so far its coming along well. I have to move slowly due to the home made knife. When I was in service I was special forces and was taught how to make a knife. I find though the knife needed for carving is a lot different from a regular knife.
So Dear Sir, If it is possible to send me the patterns you could emai

No matter what I again thank you for the free videos you posted, I'm sure a lot of guys like me have a little more purpose to their lives thanks to you and the other fellows I've seen on youtube.
Sincerly
John Peer

Today I received this letter from a 61 year old Viet Nam veteran and if this doesnt touch your heart .. I dont know what will ..

Folks ! .. This is why simple projects and videos must be done also ..
Iam not trying to be defensive about this .. but we all have to understand that not all of us are blessed with good physical health and mobility .. And the sooner we understand it .. the sooner we understand that carving is a lifeshaver for many people who are disable ..

Yes .. some of us are blessed enough to become professionals and make a living carving .. but most of us arent and usually I dont show any messages I receive about the videos I do .. But this one touched my heart so much ..

I receive so many letters from people like this and it is wonderful
AND Folks ITS NOT ABOUT US .. ITS ABOUT THE WONDERFUL HOBBY WE HAVE FOUND AND SHARING IT WITH OTHERS ..

Thank you so much for this wonderful WCI website and using the videos .. For Tom and Thomas wonderful Beginners Blog and all who have contributed to WCI magazine with projects for the beginner ..

God Bless You All

Gene

[Dan Wegiel]

Gene, thank you very much for posting this wonderful letter and also for taking up your valuable time to make the videos so others can enjoy our hobby. I'm sure you've helped many people like John Peer and truly deserve to be commended. Although I don't know you personally, I've read and viewed hundreds of your posts & carvings and can tell you are a very caring man, my hats off to you. John Peer, I'm also a disabled Vietnam Vet but have been blessed and at least for the time being, able to do almost anything physically. I want to thank you for your service to our country and pray that you improve with each day. God Bless both of you.

Dan

[Buckskin]

From an other disabled vet, Southwest Asia here, that hit home hard. Gene I think I emailed you a few years ago with a not so touching story. But, Gene you, Tom H. and so many others on here have helped me tons. It was your video of the 5 minute wizard along with Tom's article that showed that maybe I could do this. The selfless service you provide is paramount and manifests its self with folks like Mr. Peer and others. Thank you for what you all do in spreading the word and to all my fellow Vets, thank you for your service and sacrifice!!!

[bigEd_H]

What a touching letter, Gene. Thank you so much for posting it here. My prayers go out to John Peer and all other disabled veterans. I really appreciate the service and selfless sacrifice they have made for this great country. I thank you also, Gene, for making your videos. They help so many like Mr. Peer to find something worth living for and help all of us learn how we all can create things with our own hands.

Gene, you and Tom H, Thomp, Arleen and the rest who share your time and talent helping others learn how to carve are all greatly appreciated. It's heart warming to know that you help so many.

Keep up the great work and God Bless,

Ed

[aulddiy]

My thanks go into the shadows compaired with writer of that letter Gene. However I'm grateful to you and others like you on this site for not only putting up with my questions, but answering them. It makes this hobby all the more satisfying.
John

[Iowa Carver]

That's awesome and some very true words Gene. Keep up the good work.

Corey

[Nomad]

Thanks for sharing that letter Gene. Like so many others, I appreciate your videos and the efforts you and others here make to help people get started and enjoy the simple pleasures of carving wood.

As Anatole France once wrote "Put there just a spark. If there is some good inflammable stuff, it will catch fire."

[wildhare]

Gene, Thank you for sharing the very touching letter. Your willingness to share your gift and talents without trophies, awards or pay says it all. You and others on this site so willing to give to others and help them as they struggle to understand the wonders of wood. My hat goes off to you and your free videos. One of your You Tube videos is what originally brought me here to the WCI site. You were positive and made it sound like even I could do it with my limitations.

We need more carvers like you, Tom and Thomp and so many others here so willing to share their gift with others.

Thanks to all the carvers here willing to reach out to beginners and help them reach their goals.
Wanda

[butterfingers]

ditto to all that was said. I too am disabled, carving is what gets me through days that are a little hard to move. Mr. Peer, God bless you and keep you safe. Gene, and all others, thank you for everything you do to help.
Amy

[Eddy-Smiles]

Gene... You're the man! Perhaps someday we'll cross paths because I surely would like to shake your hand! My entire learning curve is and has been based around your old Forum tutorials and your YouTube video's. Thank you for all your hard work and effort in bringing your skills to life for us beginners. To have the foresight to realize that all carvers are not created equal and that each, for whatever reason, has different abilities which need to be nourished and respected is the sign of a true Gentleman!

And John, Frank, and Dan! From a fellow Vet, thanks for your service brothers!