Wood Chippers Wood Carving Club

08/30/2026

Hello Friends! September is at hand! Here is our carving schedule this month: Monday September 14, 21, 28 6:30-9:00 p.m. and Saturday September 19 10 a.m.-12 noon.

I've received communications of interest this past month: 1) Southwest Florida Wood Art Exposition & Competition is January 8 & 9, 2027. go to swflwoodartexpo.org for info. 2) The National Wood Carvers Association is announcing their 3rd Annual Christmas Ornament Competition. Check out chipchats.org for details.

For wood carving beginners, we offer a series of 4 projects, selected so that each can be completed simply, with 1 knife. They are whittled in basswood and painted with acrylics. They can also be left natural with a spray finish, wax finish, etc.

08/24/2026

Terry finished his elephant. He subsequently released him to the African Savannah. Lol. (Thanks for the assist ChatGPT.)

07/25/2026

Hello Carving Friends & Non-carving Friends! Hoping you are staying cool, and for those in the north country, we hope the smoke is not too bad.

So, I am trying to get out ahead of things a little bit. Here is the August Wood Chippers' schedule. As usual, we will meet at Crafty Cottage, 1047 Laura St, Casselberry, FL 32707. Mondays August 10, 17, and 24, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Also Saturday August 29, 10 a.m.-12 noon. (I am picking the last Saturday as I will not be able to meet the last Monday of August.)

As previously noted, I have been focusing on finishing off Santa decorations and wood spirits. Presently, I am working on painting or applying natural finishes. Terry has been working on his bull elephant with deer antler tusks. Sally has been REALLY busy with her Domino Players and her sea horse -- and she has a full time job! Phew! (Get you a pic of Sally's sea horse next time. Thought I'd got one, but didn't.)

07/17/2026

07/16/2026

I recently created a "mixed media" piece (carving & turning) for my daughter's 50th birthday. It is a "Jam Keeper", all created from the chunk of black walnut branch shown. The walnut was a piece harvested many years ago on the Case Family Dairy Farm in Canandaigua, NY. (I was the 4th generation, growing up there.) The turning was done on my Dad's 1932 Craftsman wood lathe with original Craftsman quarter horse motor. The bowl exterior is finished with Watco semigloss spray lacquer. The interior of the bowl and the spoon are hand rubbed with plain food safe mineral oil. The hand carved "bird k**b" is a familiar "comfort bird" pattern reduced to a size appropriate as a bowl lid k**b. The handcarved spoon was adapted from a standard tea spoon tracing. I am hoping Megan enjoys this "new heirloom" as much as I did crafting it!

07/07/2026

Hello woodcarving friends. The Wood Chippers will meet in July as follows: Mondays 7/13, 20, 27 6:30-9 p.m. and Saturday 7/18 10 am - 12 noon.

Just as a reminder to newbies, we have a series of projects introducing you to the wood carving journey, if interested. Pictured are some examples of those introductory projects. You need but 1 knife, a thumb guard, a cut resistant glove, a leather strop and a cutting board of of some kind to do these and similar projects.

05/30/2026

HI FOLKS. I AM EDITING MY EARLIER POST AS I GAVE OUT WRONG DATES! HERE ARE THE CORRECTED DATES. June is nearly upon us. Here is our schedule for the month. All sessions at Crafty Cottage 1047 Laura St, Casselberry, FL. Mon 6/8, 15, 22, 29 6:30-9 pm. Also Sat 6/20 10-12 noon. Got questions? Call or text me at 407-280-4268.

Meantime, a few pixs...

04/28/2026

Ok friends! Lots to share. 1st. May carving club schedule will be a bit different. So mark your calendars if you have not already done so. We will meet: Monday May 4 & 25 @ 6:30 pm. + Saturday May 30 @ 10 am. Meetings will be at the Crafty Cottage, 1047 Laura St, Casselberry, FL. Now for cool stuff. Our youngest members, Eva & Elizabeth just finished some more pieces. Dean took his owl on the road and won some ribbons! Johny has rejoined us. (Welcome back Johny) Check out the photos.

04/10/2026

Sally has done a great job on this burly Viking. (Hope he wards off evil spirits, Sally! Lol)

04/09/2026

Seems I am always running to "catch the bus" ... in this case, the calendar. So, hang onto your hats folks. I am giving you a 2 month schedule - April & May! Month of May will be different because Dianne Adolfi Case & I will be visiting Florida's west coast for a couple weeks. So, mark your calendars accordingly, please.

Our club meetings will be: Monday April 13, 20, 27, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. & Saturday April 18, 10 a.m.-12 noon.

In May: Monday May 4 & 25 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Also, we will meet Saturday May 30th, 10 a.m.-12 noon. (Of course the 25th is the end of the Memorial Day Weekend - just you don't pencil in a conflict.)

All meetings at Crafty Cottage, 1047 Laura St, Casselberry, FL.

NOW, I want to show off some members' creations. So, Terry has been working with antlers of assorted deer species to create a variety of captivating miniatures. Sally showed off a couple of her own miniatures. While Dean took a class & produced a very nice small Santa ornament. Nice work, friends!