Bragging -- Sort of!

[philphoto]

My Name is Phil, I have a 4H woodworking club. This year I covered general woodworking, figure carving and chip carving. I work with low income kids that have disadvantaged backgrounds. One of my students this year really found himself in woodworking. John (age 14) has two disabled parents, and not a lot of opportunities. I got a donor that bought basswood, and another that purchased Helvie Knives. I started the class on a project from Woodcarving Illustrated, Fall 2009, Carving the 5 Minute Owl. The boys all made sure I understood it was more like 5 days and a lot of grumbling, except by John. John seemed to bury himself in the wood oblivious of the world - yes even at snack time! You know it is an interest when girls and snacks do not matter to a 14 year old boy!

We decided to enter the county fair and use the format of the article from the Fall 2009 issue. John made 9 owls each at each of the stages of carving. We made reprints of the stages from the magazine, and John assembled the entire work one a wooden display that he also made. I am attaching 2 photos of the "Educational Display" -- The Awards were Blue Ribbon, and Reserve Champion, plus John's display advances to the Oregon State Fair.

John properly accredited the work to the author, and publisher. Notes were on a 4" x 6" card lower left of display.

I will be posting John's other entry in the Scroll Saw forum.
Phil

[Bob K.]

Phil, you should be proud of yourself for being such a great inspiration and mentor for John who has now been bitten by the carving bug and will hopefully turn out to be quite an accomplished carver someday.

[WoodCarverOH]

Phil, That's fantastic! You might just have awakened a future sculptureer who will progress out of the low income bracket and I'm sure he will never forget you got him started. I was in 4H for 12 years as a child and it's a great program. Keep up the good work.

[BrandantR]

What a fantastic kid John must be. You are truely a saint to take children like him and give them something that can give them identity. Thank you Phil and welcome to the forum.

[Sean R]

I think that is just awesome! I hope he sticks with it. At his age if he does he will really be a great carver.
Sean

[Claude]

Congratulations to John for some excellent work! Also, Congratulations, Phil, for being such a great instructor!

Claude

[toycarver]

Yay, love reading stories like this. Congratulations to John, and Thank you for being a postitive influence in these kids lives.

[Riverman]

Hi Phil, yes thank you for being a good instructor and a postitive mentor!
Congratulations to you John that is a great looking presentation and some great carving!!!
Bob

[scooter]

Nice story. Hope to learn of more carvings by your charge...

S~

[Eddy-Smiles]

Congratulations to both John and yourself! He'll never forget the experience or you!