Wood Chips
Newsletter for July 2026
Carving days: Wednesdays 10 – 2pm
Art & Soul, 755 Petaluma Avenue, Sebastopol
Second Saturday Carving/Potluck July 11th, 9-1
Greetings Fellow Carvers!
It’s almost Fair time again! The Sonoma County Fair runs August 7th – 16th. SCW will be on hand to demonstrate carving at a table inside one of the buildings. This is an educational opportunity only, and we will not be allowed to sell except for entered items. (Although you could hand out business cards). I’ll turn in almost everyone’s names so that we can get in the gates with sharp objects. We need two carvers per shift: noon-4pm, (although you are welcome to stay longer if you choose) from August 7th through August 16th. This is always a lot of fun, and hopefully will lead to new carvers, and new members. Although almost all of the shifts are filled as of this writing, I’ll still have the sign-up sheet available on Wednesdays, so don’t forget to check your schedules! You will also receive passes into the fair for participating! If they don’t give us parking passes this year, save your fair parking ticket – they can be used in lieu of the weekly carving fee – a bonus for fair volunteers! Let me know if you can take one or more slots! I’ll be passing (or mailing) out reminder letters and your passes as soon as I have them in hand. FYI, again this year, the ever-popular senior day will cost $5.00.
Online entries close June 30th, get your entries in ASAP!
You get a fair pass ($15-$20 value) for entering at a fee of $5/entry, so you can enter a couple of pieces and break even. And, if you win, there are cash prizes – gravy! Entries are all on line, as is the entry book, and they close on June 30th. So, dust off all that fine work you’ve been doing and get your entries in!
June’s Second Saturday was canceled because of a general lack of interest…There wasn’t a project planned, and we wilted in the hot weather. Oh well, we’ll catch Judy sometime in the future.
Second Saturday for July might be hot, so summer hours, 9-1pm will be in effect. The idea for this month is to carve fat pencils into Uncle Sam in honor of our country’s big birthday. I’m pretty sure that only a knife will be needed, but bring your tools, something to carve if you’d rather, and something tasty to share.
Pyrography group will next be held on Saturday, July 27th, 9am -11am, or 1-3pm, depending on the weather forecast, in my garage. RSVP required as we are only seating 8. I will probably still need help setting up the tables, etc…The June session was held on June 27th. 7 of the 8 spots were filled and we spent an enjoyable two hours, quite comfortably in the garage. Thanks to my fellow burners for their help wrangling the tables!
Nona Estabrook has offered to host the Second Saturday in August We still have Second Saturday hosting opportunities open in September, October, and November. (In December our annual Holiday party/gift exchange will be held.) Let me know if you would like to bravely host any of these. I’ll fill in the gaps at my place, as needed.
Nostalgia: I came across an old photo recently of the evening class at Ellie Nevin’s. I don’t know what year it was, but it sure brought back some great memories! After Ellie retired, SCW took up the teaching mantle and still to this day we follow her process with the penguin, and hummers. She also taught a beginning relief, and a realistic chickadee and always said that when you were done with those four projects you could carve anything. I think that is true.
Pictured: John Braschi, Me, Sharon Terrel, mystery man, Mike Halkovich, Ellie Nevin, Scott Boyle, Vic Whitely, & Doug Steelman. (If you remember mystery man’s name, let me know – it eludes my memory bank) Picture coming soon.
What is every one up to (besides working on their fair entries)?
It seems that many of you, are answering the challenge I issued and are entering at least one piece in the SC Fair. Great effort! If you haven’t yet, you have until June 30th, but you don’t have to turn it in until July 22nd or 23rd, so there is still time!
BTW: I receive a lot of positive feedback on the short essays that people submit from time to time, (which is much appreciated – it’s nice to know that you’re reading this newsletter!) It is always interesting to have others weigh in with their thoughts and processes when designing or choosing a piece to carve. We have a lot of talent in our little group. Anyone?
Paul Marini: “ My pigeon is with Elise now after my third pass at improving it. It may be going back for more painting as I have pretty much decided against a pure white bird, largely because Elise could not create structure on white that was bone smooth without adding other colors. So . . . I am going to cause the bird to be almond colored, a very rare variation that includes white, brown, black and tan coloration on random feathers throughout the body. It just keeps on going . . .”
Ann Bruner-Welch Ann is hard at work on the butternut “gal” she started with Vic Hood at Oakhurst. Her husband, Don helped her to make a stand to facilitate work on such a big piece. Will she make it to the Fair this year? Time will tell! Very cool! She is also entering her dreamcatcher.
Ann also shared a rave review on her new STRYI gouges “The blade is amazing! Used it yesterday at my woodcarving group. So sharp!!!!! Easy carving. LOVED IT! Love my new palm gouges. The one wood handle was a little rough, so I sanded it and applied a polyurethane finish.” Sharon Terrel also recently purchased a set of these and is also very favorably impressed. If you’d like a set for your own kit, Ann shared a discount code:
STRYI woodcarving discount code to share: TAKE10OFF . Please share the code widely.
Jo Broussard is finishing painting her awesome dreamcatcher. She doesn’t plan to enter it.
Gabe Shain has several entries including his duck and a hawk in carving, as well as a felted frog and cats. 9 all together as of this newsletter…
Dick & Dave Hensley have each entered at least one thing: Dick’s fine gargoyle, and Dave’s panda pyrography. Nice!
Judy Hess again has an assortment of pieces in a variety of areas: painting, drawing, pastels, Pyrography, and even a woodcarving…
Bert Flack is entering a couple of his signature whimsies and turkish knot rings.
Neil Maloney is entering one of his detailed bark houses.
Marie Hruby is finishing up a display for her first solo hummer.
Wayne Van Hoesen may enter three blind mice…
David Richards hopes to have his barn relief, or his mushroom house relief finished…
John Braschi and Gary Cicchetti are considering their options…a spoon perhaps? Or maybe a critter…
We have a new member – Lizzie Chaniot, loosely related to Jo Broussard has been carving with us for about 2 months now. She is very interested in carving birds, and her second hummer has evolved into a grebe. Welcome!
Theda: I entered a total of ten pieces, previously carved or woodburned and in the woodcarving category, except one… I decided to take on the fair theme (Festivals, Fiestas and Fun) again. I had a plan, a design and had secured the needed wood before I managed to put myself somewhat out of commission by falling…hard to use a bandsaw one-handed, but I figured that there were 7 weeks before I had to turn it in…
Hubby Lee stepped up and used our chopsaw to mill the big plank into a useable chunk and then my intrepid carving BFF Sharon came by and cut out the last piece for my blank. Awesome! By now, sling free (10 days later…) , I was able to use the drill press one-handed and after bank-ifying it, was able to get the blank glued, clamped, and ready to carve. Next, I pressed my belt sander, with its newly replaced belt, into service – starting the rounding process and blending the laminations. I also made a screw stick to use with my desk clamp when I get to the dremel/foredom shaping steps. Its going reasonably well in short spurts…3 ½ week to go. Besides fair stuff, I finished the back side of my cat & mouse relief (below) – just pyrography highlighting the natural grain contours of the bark, and a little embellishment to create a landscape.
Happy July Birthdays to:
Marilyn Calderon
Dick Hensley
Jo Broussard
David Richards
General invite: Should you find yourself at loose ends and in need of carving companionship for an afternoon, give me a call – I am often out in the backyard or the garage manufacturing woodchips… T
Dates to remember:
June 30th Fair entries close at midnight!
July 22nd & 23rd D/O your Fair entries. Noon ? – 7pm, both days***
Saturday, July 27 Pyrography at Theda’s 9-11am. Sign up required, only 8 spaces.
August 7th -16th Sonoma County Fair (save the dates!)
August 22 & 23rd , Redwood Empire Bonsai Show at the Rohnert Park Community Center, 10 am – 4pm both days. 5401 Snyder Ln, RP “Explore the living art form of Bonsai”
September 25-27th – 20th annual Bay Area Makers Faire on Mare Island. Big Fun!!!
Next year:
April 11-17th 2027 18th annual Oakhurst Woodcarvers Rendezvous
For more information contact: Dennis Ciccarelli #209-402-3583 or [email protected]
Or Eric Jensen #559-580-7719 or [email protected]
As always, any comments, classifieds, inclusions or questions may be directed to me at:
[email protected] or (707)291-9031 or (707)578-7710 Theda
Happy carving & Happy 4TH!!!
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