THE WOODCARVERS

Gazette
Published by the British Woodcarvers Association Volume 3 - Issue 3 Winter 2013

Interviews:
Lora S. Irish
Bob Mau
Nic Westermann
Anna Casserley

Reports:
Zionshill 2013
The Les Owen Cup
European Woodworking Show 2013
Woodfest @ Hatfield Forest 2013

Features:
Why Carve?
Some Thoughts on Membership
Ancient Stools at Bradfield Wood
Carving Together: Chris Pye & Carrie Camann

ISSN 1753-3651 £3.50

(Free to BWA Members)
Join the BWA

Rockport Green Man by Chris Pye 9 771753 365012

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NOTICES EDITORIAL
Welcome to the Winter In thinking about
Applications for the post of issue of The Woodcarvers paper and wood and
National Membership Secretary Gazette. The cold weather sustainability, I have
is upon us and Christmas created a BWA group
Notice is hereby given that Roger Timms has resigned is just around the corner. fund with The Woodland
from the post of National Membership Secretary as of Hopefully, you will find Trust. If any of you wish
27th November 2013. Roger’s term of office would have some interesting articles to make donations to the
expired at the AGM in May 2014, so Lyn McCraken has to read within these pages Woodland Trust to plant
volunteered to be Acting Membership Secretary until the to pass the long winter new trees, please visit
nights. http://dedicatetrees.
AGM. The National Committee and the Membership
com/FundPage.
wish to thank Roger for his service in the position of aspx?id=101265
Membership Secretary and would like to thank Lyn for I have been asked about
the facts of recycling the The fund number is
volunteering to stand in his absence, until the AGM. 101265 and all of the
gazette (should you want
to). It is printed on paper money goes to The
The National Committee are looking to elect a new Woodland Trust. You
Membership Secretary at the 2014 AGM. We would like from responsibly managed
forests and is recyclable. can download and print
to call for nominees to the post. The term of office is a contribution form from
for three years (after which time you can stand for re- The cover is laminated
though and this may not the gazette website: www.
election for subsequent terms if you would like to do so). thewoodcarversgazette.
The position requires attendance of National Committee be recyclable. I haven’t
quite worked that out co.uk
meetings (twice annually) and AGM and the management
of membership renewals and applications. yet though because that
would mean the cover of Again, please don’t hold
nearly every magazine out back from making any
If you would like to stand for the position of National comments, criticism or
Membership Secretary, please email the chairman Mark there is not recyclable.
suggestions (my email
Davis (chairman@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk) address is on the back
or write to him at the following address: Mark Davis, 63 I have put up a poll on the
gazette website where page). The Woodcarvers
High Street, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4ES. You will then Gazette is your magazine
be sent an application form. Please let the Chairman know you can cast your opinion
as to whether anything so your opinions will be
that you would like to stand by the 15th January 2014. taken into account. Don’t
needs to change with
the printing to make the forget to keep the photos
For any membership queries, please contact your regional and articles coming in as
leader in the first instance. Lyn McCracken’s address is 23 gazette more ecologically
responsible and well!
Rowden Hill, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2AQ
sustainable. I hope that
most of you keep your I hope that this issue is a
copies of the gazette or good read and that you all
pass them on rather than enjoy it. All I shall say now
BWA AGM 2014 recycling them though. is have a Merry Christmas
Weekend of 17th & 18th May The poll is on www. and a Happy New Year!
thewoodcarversgazette.
The AGM next year will be hosted by the Shropshire region co.uk
and will be held at the Mary Webb School, Pontesbury,
Shropshire. I have had many article
submissions for this issue
Shropshire is situated centrally and is easily accessible with again, which is really great.
good rail and road provision. It is a beautiful part of the I hope I have included
country in the spring so why not take the opportunity to most of them. I have
come and meet old friends, make new ones and swap reduced the typeface
ideas with like-minded people. Bring the family along… slightly to pack as much as
there are many things to do and see. The tourism website possible into this issue. I
has a wealth of information. hope that everything is still
legible to you.
Look out for the application form and programme in the
next issue. Jason Townsend
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 OUT & ABOUT
Sarah Lawrenson, has kept an eye out
and found this giant beaver: Carved with
a chainsaw I presume, which is by the
Beaver enclosure over at Martin Mere,
near Southport. As you can see its size
is demonstrated nicely by my 7 year old
son, Nathan! Sadly, we didn’t get to see
the real beaver - he was fast asleep!
David Brown came across this
frog while walking in Loggerheads
country park, Mold, Flintshire

Sue Curtis came across these

carved united hands while at
Gretna green

Janet and Alan Robinson recently visited

the Rickmansworth Aquadrome. Much
to their delight they came across this
carved wooden bench. Unfortunately,
there was no plaque to indicate who had The Editor came
carved it. across this Oak
Seesaw at Coe’s
Meadow in Bulmer,
Essex. There was
sadly no indication
of who carverd it.

By Sarah Lawrenson
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 Test Valley Borough Council
Community Woodfair 2013
@ Zionshill
If You Go Down To The Woods For the Soap carving we give the Rake and Broom making, Hurdle
Today… You’ll find an awful lot children half a bar of Sainsbury’s making, Tent Pegs and Hedge
more going on than a Teddy Bears basic, a paper plate, a couple of Laying. In another area there is
Picnic! The Test Valley Borough wooden tools and a few wooden Woodcarving, Pole Lathe Turning,
Council Community Woodfair has templates or ready carved exam- Bush Craft, Chainsaw Carving,
been running since 2000 and has ples to look at. Mums and dads Spoon making and Conservation.
taken place every year since, ex- sit down too. Out come Rabbits, Not forgetting of course; Camp-
cept last year, with The Hampshire Cats, Dogs, Mice, Alligators, Cars, fire Skills, Pot making, Stories from
Woodcarvers attending every Boats, Butterflies and everything The Green Man, Face Painting,
show. you can think of, plus a few more. Birds of Prey and a few more.
Once set under way by our stal-
wart club members anything can
happen. At the end of the day we
had used 240 half bars of soap
and could have easily got through
a lot more if we had been willing
to stay until well after dark.

Part of our display

The greatest thing about the day –

it’s all absolutely free!

Club Secretary Stuart Lumsden, sets to

work on his Rabbit

Allan Meechen starts people off on their

soap carving
The Woodfair is held throughout
the woods at Zionshill Copse
Local Nature Reserve, near The Hampshire Woodcarvers
Chandlers Ford. As you follow display, as well as showing our
the footpaths through the woods best carvings lovingly made over
you will find, in small clearings, all several months (or years!) also has
sorts of displays and activities that one of our annual competitions,
are wood and woodcraft related. where we ask the public to vote
Many of these are hands on activ- for the winner. In January we are
ities aimed at the children and at all given a block of Lime 6” x 4” x
Despite a light shower the kids stuck to it
the end of the day they go home 4” and asked to produce a carving
proudly clutching bird boxes, to a given theme. This year we
willow baskets and animals made chose Cartoons and Caricatures.
from sticks and carved from soap. All carvings are placed together,
given a number, and the public are
asked to vote for their favourite
carving. The winner was Michelle
Day with her carving of Dougal
from The Magic Roundabout.
Mum lends a hand...

Other displays at the event include

Some of the soap carvers the traditional Coppice crafts of By John Tybjerg

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 An Interview with Lora S. Irish
Lora S. Irish is an accomplished American years ago, I discovered
Woodcarver and the author of many that this is one craft
books including Classic Carving Patterns. that has no gender bias.
In fact, I have never
Should I be calling you Lora or found any prejudgment
Susan? of an artist’s work
I get that question a lot so I will share based on their sex,
with you the long version because it is a educational or cultural
wood carving story: background. In wood
carving my work was
As I stood in the kitchen doorway with accepted as is and
my packed bags at my feet and my judged for its own
college admissions letter in hand, ready quality and merits,
to start my freshman semester at the it stands on its own.
University of Maryland, my Dad lovingly Even my Dad who had
told me, “You don’t have to do this, I can wanted me to become
get you into a good nursing school or a secretary, even
secretarial class!” Women could pursue though I still cannot How did you get into carving, is
employment as teachers, nurses, or office spell my way out of a paper bag and there a family history of carving?
workers or express themselves artistically would never have considered teaching There is a long history of arts and crafts
through any needle art or home art, but me woodworking, was thoroughly in my family background. My parents
at that time it was not yet acceptable delighted that I had started woodcarving. came out of the coal mining culture of
that she purposefully pursue being a West Virginia, USA, pre-WWII, where
professional working, independent The carving communities have carried store-bought items were considered
woman. this open-arms acceptance right out onto luxuries. They, as I, were raised with
the internet, where you are as likely to the Do-It-Yourself attitude long before
I was a young, aspiring art student when see a new carver’s basswood block wood being a DIY junkie was trendy. So every
American society thought that women spirit walking stick receiving equal acclaim imaginable craft and art form was a
who attended college only wanted to and praise to that which an Old World common occurrence around the house
earn their “Mrs.” Degree. Women were style, trained carver receives for their - Mom did quilting, sewing, pottery,
just breaking through the gender barrier, intrigue, 4” thick oak acanthus leaf mantel knitting, and all of the needle arts. Mom
yet still expected to get married, have piece. just turned 88 this year and decided that
and raise children, and keep house. One she was ready to learn another new
college professor told me specifically So when Taunton Press offered me my craft so she has taken up silk ribbon
he resented women in his classrooms first book contract for Classic Carving embroidery.
because we were stealing some man’s Patterns, it was published under my full
opportunity to a higher education. name, Lora S. Irish. I no longer needed My Dad was an avid antique gun buff,
to hide the fact that I was a woman who specialized in Civil War muskets
Art galleries would not review or jury a to be able to pursue my passion as a which required months of intense
woman’s work because they did not want professional. In woodcarving I had found restoration. The wood stocks and pistol
to invest time, space and money into a home where I was accepted for what grips of those antique firearms often
promoting someone that was destined I did and a craft where I could flourish needed to be replaced which gave Dad
to leave the arts to go become a mother. without any limiting constraints simply the opportunity to hand carve designs
So like many of my predecessors through because I was female. into the walnut gunstocks (his preferred
history, I discovered that if I submitted wood species).
my work under my initials only – L. S. I will add to this that I am out of the old
Irish – I could get my work reviewed culture of West Virginia where in the It was at the end of my Dad’s life that I
without prejudice. I remember first coal mining families, a child’s first name began woodcarving. Dad had been bed
hearing the quote ‘For most of history, is your Christening name and used for ridden for several months and I would
Anonymous was a woman’ by Virginia formal, legal, or professional purposes. visit for a few hours when I could to give
Woolf in freshman year of college. A child’s second name is their ‘call’ name my Mom a break in his caretaking. To fill
or ‘friend’ name – it’s the name Momma those hours, I brought my carving tools
When I entered the craft fields after used when she called you to your chores and wood and would sit by his bedside
college, I quickly learned that most or the dinner table. And where if your quietly chipping away as we talked.
hobbies were no different than Momma called you by both names as Dad had given me my first tool set the
the arts and were stereotyped by Lora Susan! you knew you were in deep previous Christmas. As I worked Dad
gender. Women quilted and men did trouble. So you will see me sign my would give me instructions and directions
woodworking, women knitted and men name on my websites and publications for the cuts and strokes I was making into
did leather carving. under Lora, but everyone in the carving the wood. I often look back at that time
community just calls me Susan. and admit that while I was to one holding
Yet when I began wood carving about 25 the wood and chisels, my Dad was the

6
one doing the woodcarving by using my What aspects of woodcarving are sticks, or fishing sticks long before he
hands as his carving tools. you most passionate about? discovered he could use a harder stone
I love teaching, especially over the to chip away a soft stone to create a line
It was during this time that I began the internet where I can share lots of photos, or shape.
patterns and drawings for the manuscript, step-by-step instructions and talk with my
Classic Carving Patterns, later published students as we work through a project. Perhaps to distinguish his hunting spear
by Taunton Press. I would work up the Teaching has always been a passion from another man’s spear he may have
rough drafts of the designs at home, then for me, in that it lets me share my love cut thin lines or patterns into the wood
bring them to my father for his review. for this craft. I focus on the newest shaft or burned geometric patterns into
Dad would look over the roughs and beginner carvers or pyrographers, with the wood with a flaming stick; the start
point out areas that needed to be refined an assumption that this project may of pyrography. We can date the earliest
to make the final carving more powerful. be the first time they have ever held a surviving wood carvings to circa 4000BC
bench knife, chisel, or wood burning tool. with the wood carvings discovered in the
The day that Dad passed away, Mom There are many carvers with skills far Great Pyramid of Giza, which show a
brought out Dad’s carving kit, full of superior to mine that teach and share the well-developed, very advanced skill level.
years of tool collecting - bench knives, advanced techniques. But every carver
gouges, chisels, riflers and files, rulers, must start with that first carving block or Since that first stone tool maker picked
strops and rouge. She sat the tool box plaque blank and have that first time using up a piece of fire wood to test the
in front of me, saying that Dad had their tools. For me, they are the most sharpness of his cutting tool, man has
specifically wanted me to have his kit. I important person in the room, reading enhanced his woodworking with carvings.
cried. That kit is a family treasure and the magazine or book, or on the message We have carved our door lintels, our
today I still use my Dad’s bench knife boards. If I can share the basics and the weapons, our coffins, our food bowls,
with wonderful memories of those last foundation techniques with them, I know our tools, and our wooden jewelry
special hours together bent over a small that they will come to love this craft as I with patterns and designs from the very
basswood block, working out how to do. beginning of man’s history.
curve an eye or indent the nose bridge of
a wood spirit. Do you think that woodcarving is Woodcarving is an old craft that just one
becoming more popular? or two generations ago we would have
What was the first thing that you Wood carving is most likely our very first learned from our parents or grandparents
carved or whittled? art form, prior to the millennia-old stone as an everyday household skill like
Like many brand new carvers, my first Venus figures and most likely appeared sewing, cooking, or hunting. So I don’t
attempt at carving was a terrible but total soon after man discovered fire and how think I would refer to the current interest
thrilling disaster. My Dad, knowing that to create cutting tools from stone chips. in wood carving as being a craft trend or
he was passing away, had begun to give Sadly there is no physical evidence left for as becoming more popular. I believe that
away some of his woodworking tools this hypothesis for the simple reason that wood carving is experiencing a revival
and equipment, much of which went to wood rots. Yet, I can imagine our early because of the new access to techniques,
my husband. In one of the boxes was ancestors sitting beside the fire using tools, and patterns made available
a stack of vintage Wood Magazines. their stone chip cutting knives to carve through the internet and book publishing.
Looking through them, I came across an the points of their spears, food gathering
article on how to carve a realistic feather.
Having read the article and knowing
that I could accomplish the steps, I went
to my kitchen drawer and got my best
potato paring knife, then went off to the
workshop and found an end scrap of
2x4” white pine, and started carving.

I was so very proud. It was terribly thick

and rough, the v-cuts were wobbly, and
I had had to sand vigorously to get a
semi-smooth finish, but I had carved a
feather! Of course, I showed Dad and
his response was a simple “Uh-Ah?!?”
On Christmas day, a few weeks later,
there was a present under the tree for
me from my Dad - a wonderful set of six
beginner’s carving tools, a bench knife,
a three piece chip carving knife set, a
strop and rouge, and a small assortment
of basswood blanks. When I thanked
Dad he just grinned and said he thought
I might do a little better with the ‘Right
Tools’.

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 What grandfather would have taught you background and I am working towards cowboy 3D character, and next week you
while whittling away an hour or so on the a more open use of other crafts to might be working on a full, life-sized bust
back porch is now a ‘click away’. enhance those designs in my carvings. of your granddaughter – anything goes in
woodcarving.
So in my opinion when someone takes Do you have a favourite wood to
up their gouges and chisels they are not use? Are there any artists or craftsmen
pursuing something that is new, trendy, Basswood – Tilia - also called Linden that you find particularly
or culturally popular – instead they are or American Lime is my favorite, with inspiring?
adding their personal works to our very butternut - Juglans cinerea – also called There are many great wood artists
first art form which may span nearly the White Walnut, a close second. Both are that have spent years developing their
whole of human history. excellent fine grained woods for relief techniques. Their work is breath-taking,
carving and whittling projects. Basswood outstanding and important to our craft
Where do you find your in particular has a very tight fine grain because they show the height of our art.
inspiration? with a clear white coloring, perfect for But they really don’t inspire or excite me.
Since I focus my carvings for beginning deep undercuts and thin, smooth-lined
carvers I tend to go fairly traditional in detailing. It ages to a nice, soft golden You don’t know the name of the carver
subject matter for my blog projects. patternation over the years if you use an that truly excites me – the person that
Farm and barn landscapes are always a oil finish or it easily accepts full coloring really gets me revitalized in this craft - and
favorite as is any wildlife scene. Today and shading with either oil or acrylic neither do I. That carver, whoever she
the greenman, wood spirit, and classic paints. Since basswood is the primary or he is, is sitting at their kitchen table
cathedral gargoyle are popular subjects. wood for a new carver here in the States, opening up their very first set of carving
I also love traditional furniture accents I tend to use it exclusively in my projects. tools. A friend has told them they need
such as the acanthus leaf scroll or oak some sharpening tools so they ordered
and acorn garlands. I think that it is easier Why do you practice the art of a strop and rouge off the internet, and
to learn a new craft if the subject matter woodcarving? they visited their local hobby store to
is something that you would like to work Woodcarving is truly a hands-on art purchase a few packs of basswood
on. form. Our carving woods are warm and blanks. Maybe they have a magazine a
gentle to the touch - clay or metal tend to friend lent them, maybe they picked up a
After more than 25 years in this art, I find be cold and hard. Wood is comfortable book on wood carving at the library, or
myself mixing arts and craft processes and comforting to hold and work. Unlike maybe they found a free project on the
with my carvings. I am using pyrography oil painting or drawing where your net. They are ready to try their hand at
as a tool for fine line detailing and for thin pencil or brush keeps you away from the this craft.
undercuts in my relief carvings. A scroll canvas, keeps you at a distance from your
saw, band saw, or even coping saw allows creation, woodcarving puts both hands They don’t know yet which is the gouge
me to break away from the rectangular right into the action of creation. You and which is the chisel. As they work
shape of a pre-routed plaque and adds don’t need any special place or a heavy their first wood spirit face, the cuts will
dimensional impact along the outer edges investment of tools to work this craft. be rough and ragged, the face will be
of my work. There are many painting A good quality bench knife, a block of slightly lop-sided, and the detail lines will
techniques that not only add coloring wood, and the back porch steps will get be wobbly. When you look at the piece
but also add a touch of surprise when you started. you will still see the block shape of the
the viewer realizes that your work is wood because they don’t know how to
not resin, ceramic, or stone but painted There is no limit to the style of carving round off the sides yet, but they’ll learn.
wood. you can do, the subject of your works, or
the number of wood species you can use. When they finish that first work they are
So most of my project patterns come Today might be a basswood relief plaque anxious to post it to a message board
out of historic, classic, or traditional of a flying goose, tomorrow it might be a or forum they discovered or they are

8
taking it to their local Senior Centre to was completely my fault. I was working carved duck decoy … or how I learned
show off what they have done. For many fast to finish a relief before a publishing that I have to wear shoes while carving
of them this is their first arts and crafts deadline and had allowed my tools to … or even share with you how some
in many decades. For others it is their pile up on my work table. Because I had of my carvings end up as very fancy
first art ever. They are so proud of that dropped them randomly on the table a firewood kindling and how my family
rough and tumble wood spirit and they few had become covered with the chips sends them on to an honorable funeral
have every right to be. You see, they created during the rough out stage of pyre… nor about my son telling me
just made SOMETHING GREAT out of the carving. As I was reaching across the there were wood chips in his macaroni
NOTHING! They made a piece of art table my hand caught the edge of a chisel and cheese! No, I don’t think I will share
that is all theirs. No matter what they and sliced open a long cut down the those tales here – GRIN!
have carved they have added a little piece center of my finger.
of themselves to our art’s history. You can find out more about Susan and
Do you have a favourite subject her books at either of these websites:
With just a few more projects you will for your carvings? ArtDesignsStudio.com or LSIrish.
never know that they are a Newbie, we I think that I am a binge carver when it com
progress so quickly in this hobby. And in comes to what subjects I am working.
a few months they will be offering advice, Where many carvers choose a particular Some of Susan’s in-depth tutorials:
ideas, and sharing techniques with the genre like Santas, cowboys or duck
newest carvers on the web or in their decoys, I am a relief carver and can chose Canada Goose Relief Carving at http://
carving club. This is the wood carver from a wide variety of themes, topics, lsirish.com/tutorials/woodcarving-
that inspires me. This is the post of any and subjects – landscapes, portraits, folk tutorials/woodcarving-projects/
forum that I always click on and that art, wildlife. I have an open palette of beginner-projects/releif-wood-
always makes me smile. I know when I possible relief ideas. With an average carving-canada-goose-project-
see that very first carving, the many years project taking about two or three days part-four/ is a 27 page posting on our
of joy that are ahead of them. They, of work, I might do several plaques that blog with over 150 step-by-step photos,
those newest crafters, are the future focus on one topic – one flying goose, and free download patterns.
of woodcarving and I am inspired by one goose in the pond and one goose on
their courage and creativity to take on a nest. Tiki Chess Set, Beginner’s Carving
something totally new and challenging. Project at http://lsirish.com/
tutorials/woodcarving-tutorials/
Where do you do most of your woodcarving-projects/beginner-
carving? projects/tiki-chess-set-beginners-
Oh, my family jokes that they can always carving-project/ This free online
find me by following the trail of wood project is a thirteen page posting on our
chips throughout the house! I have found blog with full step-by-step instructions
my wood chips in the couch cushions, and a free download for the patterns
under the throw rugs, in the clothes used.
washer and lint tray of the dryer, and
even in the bed covers. When I turn out Basics to Painting your Wood Carvings
the pockets of my blue jeans you can at http://lsirish.com/tutorials/
hear the chips rain down onto the floor. coloring-your-project/basics-to-
painting-2/ You can see samples of the
I often carve at my studio table. As a classic American ice fishing decoys in this
relief carver I prefer a standing position I am a whittler in my three dimensional in-depth free tutorial on our blog.
where I can center my hands over the work, often using precut basswood
work with the board locked to the table blocks. I love wood spirits, character By The Editor
edge with a bench hook or bracing table. carving, and trick carving like the ball in
During the evenings, after the studio has cage or the chain. Last year I tried my
closed, I can easily move my carving into hand at ice-fishing fish decoys which are
the living room. With a heavy terry cloth
towel to catch the chips and protect my
legs I can work off my lap. For larger
delightful small 3D folk art carvings. I
started with a simple, smooth bodied
minnow design and before I knew it I had
POLL
works I have a sturdy kitchen chair that over forty finished decoys with painted
has a very level seat that I use as a small bodies and copper fins. Even more There is an online poll about the
carving bench. I set the chair on non-skid recently I had a little fun with the classic sustainability of printing the gazette.
mats that keep the chair from moving Tiki pattern - That project turned into a Would you like to see the gazette
on my wood floors. I can set my bench complete chess set. being produced on Carbon Balanced
hook against the front edge of the chair Paper? Or would you like the gazette
and work. Do you have any anecdotes about to be printed on recycled paper?
your carving?
I don’t think that where you work is as I don’t think I want to tell you about how Please vote for your favourite at :
important as how you work. In 25 years my husband’s black Labrador Retriever www.thewoodcarversgazette.
I have only once gotten a cut serious puppy, while teething, chewed off the
enough to need stitches and that cut beak of an expensive vintage wood co.uk

9
 This year’s European Woodworking Show carving competition

3
was a great success with over 1500 votes from the public. The

1
competition is organised by the Essex region and sponsored

20
by Classic Handtools. First Place went to Peter Paces and
his King’s Minder winning £750 in vouchers. Second Place
went to Gerry Guiver and his copy of a piece by Grinling
Gibbons, winning him £250 in vouchers. Voting in the carving
competition is done by the public based on the carving that
they’d most like to take home.

Ollie The Otter by Gordon Pringle

Mahogany

Chief Big Jaw by John Wilkins Don’t Lose Heart by John Urbanowski Evening Prayers by Ted Jeffrey
Lime on Mountain Ash Box on Mahogany Teak

Dolphin Tazza by Brian Pitcher

Lime and Cherry

Charlie Chaplin by Bill Cross Frank Sinatra by Bill Cross King’s Minder by Peter Paces
Cedar of Lebanon Lime Lime

Bunch of Grapes by Martin Howells

Alder
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Green Man by Barry Jackson
Lime

Dobby by David White

Lime
Three Graces by Eric Mason
Lime

The Book Keeper by David Colvin

Lime Winter’s Fishing by John Urbanowski
Lime

Texas Longhorn by Michelle Toon

Horse Chestnut and Yew

Wizard’s Wand by Jason Townsend

Steamed Pear

My Garden (linen basket) by Barbara Beard

Lime
Thaxted Guildhall Lovespoon by Jason Townsend
Mahogany

11
 Krakonos by Peter Paces
Penny Farthing by Anthony W. Smith
Lime
Maple, Cherry, Walnut and Lime

Copy of a Small Grinling Gibbons by Gerry Guiver

Lime

Green Youth by Barbara Beard Evi by Bill Cross

Sweet Chestnut Lime

The Dancer by Ken Veal

Lime

Too Many Cooks by John Urbanowski- The Cressing Temple Trophy

Jelutong

Well done to all of the entrants of this year’s

competition!

The European Woodworking Show will be back in

2015, so there’s plenty of time for you to carve an
Leap Frog by Mick Ives entry for next time.
Lime on Mahogany
By The Editor
12
An Interview with Nic Westermann
Nic Westermann is a skilled blacksmith planed surface and shavings. I do carve
and demonstrates hand-forging across bowls and spoons though and recently
the country. He creates some of the I’ve been carving handles for the axes and
best hand-forged knife blades that money adzes that I forge.
can buy. Producing blades for carving
means that he’s no stranger to a bit of Do you have a favourite wood?
woodcarving either. For spoon carving I like green Birch.
Green Lime is far too soft but I do like
using seasoned Lime. Green Ash is nice
to carve for handles and I’ve even made
quite a nice handle from a piece of green
Elm.

What advantage do you think a

hand-forged knife has over a mass
produced knife?
Good question. It’s easier to put a distal think it is seeing a resurgence?
taper on the blade (where it’s thicker There is definitely a resurgence in it,
on the spine and thinner on the tip). It’s there are more people doing it. There
very easy to forge distal taper on but are blacksmiths running a lot of courses
more difficult to grind a distal taper into and a lot of people are having a go at
a finished off-the-shelf blade. I’m not home forging. It doesn’t take a great deal
sure that there’s a massive difference, it of money to get into making small blades.
perhaps has more to do with the heat
treatments. In your opinion, what do you think
is the best method for sharpening
a blade?
I would say that for the final edge, a
How did you get into forging fine Japanese water stone followed by
blades? polishing with a fine stropping compound.
I have been making decorative ironwork I do a similar process on all of my blades
for the last 14 years and you need a lot and they tend to come out sharper than
of specialist tools for that, so I used to anyone else’s. I could probably get an
make a lot of curved and straight chisels even sharper edge if I spent another
(for cutting hot metal). I was working 10 or 15 minutes on each blade with
with Paul Hagen at Westonbirt and he If I can add to that; it’s always an expensive water stone but at the
had a spoon knife and I said I can make nice to have something that moment I have worked out a method
one of those. He said “go on then”, so has been handmade and quite whereby I can produce a quality blade
in the field I went and forged a spoon interesting to meet the person that has a fine edge at an affordable price.
knife, tempered it and sharpened it and who has forged it as well. Do you The other issue is that you can end up
showed him. He said that I could sell a think that the US are better at spending half of your time flattening
lot of them if I started making them. So making knives and the British are them, as much as I love them.
it wasn’t a great leap for me from making better at making gouges?
my specialist blades to making blades I think that is probably true and I’ve What piece of work do you feel
for working wood. He was right and definitely heard that before. In general most proud of?
I started selling quite a lot of them so I think that the Americans are 10, 20 or I think probably some of the axes that
I’ve never gone back to the decorative 30 years ahead of us in knife making and we’ve done this year. We start with a
ironwork. their heat treatments are quite advanced. block of steel and it’s a very raw thing
I think they tend to work with knives forging out in the field in front of a big
Do you think you sell more blades more than gouges and chisels. With crowd of people. The fact that it’s
to Green woodworkers or those the advent of the Internet, all of the something that people are going to use as
working with seasoned wood? information is there, so there’s no reason well rather than being merely ornamental
I think I generally sell more blades to why they should be better than anyone adds to it too.
green woodworkers but it varies from else any more. Obviously, knife making
venue to venue. in Sheffield pre-dates that in America but To find out more about Nic or to
in practice I think because their culture is purchase any of his blades, please go to
Do you do any woodcarving? more into hunting knives, etc. they are a www.nicwestermann.co.uk or email
I do but not as much as I’d like now that bit better at knife making. him from the website if he is out of stock
I’m a bit busier. What I tend to say is that on the item you’re after.
I make shavings: When I make a blade I Do you think that hand forging By The Editor
test it out and look at the quality of the in the UK is a dying art or do you
13
 The European Woodworking Show
21st & 22nd September

201 3
After a quick ‘Google’ I found she would like to have a play with
out that Cupressus Macrocarpa her fantasy character marionette
is a medium-sized coniferous ‘Decay’. See her website www.
evergreen tree, which often praguemarionette.com for other
becomes irregular and flat-topped carved delights.
as a result of the strong winds that
are typical of its native area. It
A Huge thanks go to Ken Veal, grows to heights of up to 40m in
Brian Pitcher and their team perfect growing conditions, and its
from BWA Essex for organizing trunk diameter can reach 2.5m. If
the BWA display of carvings the wood choice was not unusual
submitted for the ‘Cressing enough, Dave went on to show
Temple Trophy’ competition, me the modification he had made
prizes for which were kindly to his angle grinder - an extension
donated by Classic Hand Tools. aided by a length of gutter and a
chair leg! Ingenious!

Lenka’s marionette ‘Decay’

The carvings on display up for

the public vote were amazing.
“How did they carve such intricate
detail?”, “How can we possibly
choose just one carving?” and
“The standard is most impressive”
are just a few of the comments
I overheard. Well done to
Michelle Toon with Orlov Toon (on lookout duty!) everyone who submitted an entry.
Dave Johnson with his modified angle grinder Of course, they were anonymous
Arriving on Sunday afternoon I entries so I can only pat the
was met with a warm welcome Michelle Toon’s meerkat is BWA on the back as a whole for
by Dave Johnson of the growing up fast! Orlov (as I like our fantastic work! They were
Gloucestershire region. He to call him!) began life back in indeed awe-inspiring and made
was angle grinding Cupressus the summer at the Cowper and me feel proud to be a part of this
Macrocarpa, commonly known Newton Museum BWA event. At association.
as Monterey cypress, (a species Westonbirt, he had taken on a
of cypress native to the Central personality. At Cressing Temple Our thanks must go to the
Coast of California). he proudly displayed his meerkat organisers of the European
‘lookout’ skills, whilst Michelle Woodworking Show, Mike
talked to the visitors! Hancock and Joy Allen of Classic
Hand Tools. We all look forward
It was lovely to catch up with to this event so much and never
Lenka Pavlickova again, with her underestimate the amount of
hand-carved marionettes. She is planning that would’ve gone into
so busy touring the world with it.
her creations. My daughter was
thrilled when Lenka asked her if By Paula Noble
Cupressus Macrocarpa
14
I attended this year’s show on and is maintained by volunteers.
both days and found it a very
interesting experience. I had
not previously been to any
of the EWW shows but I am
currently living only 10 miles
from Cressing Temple, so I had
no excuse for not going. The
venue itself is wonderful and I some of the veneers up for sale
have previously had a stall in one
of the barns as a member of the There was quite a lot to see at
Essex Guild of Craftsmen. The this year’s show. There was a lot
site was purchased by Essex to buy as well but sadly for me, I
County Council in the 1960s, had no spending money. There
having been previously looked were several people chainsaw
Tim Atkins hard at work
after by the farmer who owned carving and the marionettes that
the site. It was originally a large Paula has mentioned. There were
farm complex, owned and run by lots of people selling wood, tools
the Knights Templar. It was the and finished products. Some of
monks of the Knights Templar that the wood up for sale was really
constructed the two barns. They interesting. Even if I had the
also built the deep and amazingly money though, I wouldn’t have
well constructed well (which was fancied my chances getting any
actually used by the farmer until home on my scooter though.
mains water was connected in the
mid-20th century).

Bert Miles with his portable carving table

Some of the many stalls outside

The food & drink was popular The Chelmsford Marquetry

group had a display and
The two barns are of particular demonstration on the go. Some
interest to any woodworking of their creations were really
student. They represent the wonderful. Maybe at the next
oldest standing wooden barns in show there will be competitions
Some of the Marquetry on display
Europe. A close runner-up to the for Woodturning and Marquetry
title is Grange Barn, a few miles too? Nic Westermann was also
down the road at Coggeshall. The demonstrating his smithy skills
barns date to the 12th century by creating an axe head over the
I believe and have been dated weekend. Overall, it was a great
to this period first by the style turnout and a good weekend.
of carpentry techniques, then
dendrochronology and then radio
carbon dating. The site also The Chelmsford Marquetry Group at work
features a number of other old
buildings, including the grain store
where the Carving Competition
was held. A walled garden dating
to the 17th century also survives There were some wonderful artisan creations By The Editor
15
 The Les Owen Cup precision in selecting the winner. The
winner received the highest number of
points and by far the most number of 1st
Every year, the Ox & Bucks region have place votes.
an exhibition of their work, complete
with at least two carvers demonstrating The winner was ‘My Garden, a view from
on their latest project. Thanks to the a window’ by Liz Aylyard. Liz also took
assistance of Abingdon Town Council, second place with ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
we were able to have the use of the Third place went to ‘Hippo’ by David
Community Shop. Part of the exhibition Bourne.
are the projects completed by our
members over the last year, with 23 on A view of the exhibition
display. Overall there were almost 60
carvings on display, from the very large to many, many complimentary remarks in
the very, very small. our visitors book.

The carvings completed this year, were I am delighted to say that every carving
competing for the Les Owen Cup. received votes so every carving was
This is in memory of Les, who had just appreciated by a voter. Fish by J. Wheeler
retired and always wanted to take up
woodcarving. He had only just joined us The annual event is a very worthwhile
when he went into hospital for a minor effort by all of the members of the
operation and sadly did not recover from club, from first-year beginners to the
the anaesthetic. His wife presented his experienced carvers (the later always
tools to the club; members purchased giving great encouragement to the
them and decided to purchase a cup in newcomers).
his memory to be competed for each
year.

Dolphin by J. Damarell
Alice in Wonderland by Liz Aylyard
Octosquid by Brian Eastoe
After a successful annual BBQ, we now
The public were asked to vote for the Our club is blessed with several excellent
look forward to our Christmas Dinner
carving that they liked best by completing carvers and it was acknowledged by
together with our partners. It is here
a voting slip. Voters were asked to assign the visitors who clearly recognised the
where Liz will receive the well-deserved
three points to the carving they thought subject matter, design, techniques and
Les Owen Cup.
was the best, two points for the second
best and one point to the third best. The
winner is the carving that has the most
points.

Hippo by David Bourne

Over our six-day exhibit, we had almost

1,000 visitors, with over 650 of them
voting. We also collected five new
My Garden by Liz Aylyard
members to the group and received By Brian Eastoe
16
 BWA North Wales & Borders
Carving, Craft, Pyrography and Toy Making
A Most Welcome Visit all in one place
The club meeting of the North Wales and Borders branch
of the BWA on the 28th of September would normally have
been a hands on day, but this one was different. We started
by setting out the tables in a more festive mode than is usual,
plus several on which to display our prize pieces for the
competition we had planned.

The home for all your power carving and

pyrographyy supplies.
Eileen & Annie Lewis or
As agents for . .
Today we were playing host to Meriel and her friends who and .
are members of the not too far away Shropshire group, and
a friendly bunch they were. The day was spent socialising to name but a few.
and comparing the pieces of work we had all brought along We can offer you the best solution to your
for the competition. This took the form of voting for
which piece we would most like to take home with us. The needs.
standard was such that making a choice from the variety of Be it our enormous range of pyrography
carved pieces on show made it very difficult, and even if I had
been given a lucky dip, I could not have been disappointed tips, or our range of rotary burrs in all
with my selection. different types, Carbide, Diamond, Ruby,
Vanadium Steel etc. and a whole range of
shank sizes from 1/16"(1.6mm) -
1/4"(6.4mm)
We have it covered.
So why not visit our website, or give us a call.

Everyone say ‘cheese’

We had all been advised not to bring any lunch with us as

there was to be a buffet, and what a buffet it was! Goodies
galore, enough to rival our Christmas bash, finishing off with
Eileen’s pièce de résistance, her special trifle so heavily spiked
with sherry that second helpings are advised; the traffic police
have been put on high alert.

I look forward to the

reciprocal visit Meriel said
they are planning, but I should
imagine their thoughts will be
more focussed on next year’s
AGM of the BWA. They are
to be the hosts and having met A Family business, giving family service and family values
some of the people who will
be involved, I think it safe to Brenda Morris holding her Order online at
say that everybody who goes carving of a little boy weeping
will be sure of a warm in the ‘Naughty corner’ www.woodworkscraftsupplies.co.uk
welcome and an event to or phone on
remember. By Ron Cannell
01633 400847
Woodworks Craft Supplies, P.O.Box 102, Caldicot NP26 9AG 17
 CARVING TOGETHER soon to follow; in 1992 he published the
first of countless articles on woodcarving
and, not long after, the first of 8 books.
Chris Pye & Carrie Camann
These two very different types of carvers
met during the summer of 2008. After
a few years of not carving at all, Carrie
was encouraged by a fellow woodcarver
to take a class with Chris. “I had no idea
who Chris Pye was but the thought of
spending a week immersing myself in
carving was irresistible” and the rest, as
they say, is history. Married in 2009, they
live today in deepest Herefordshire, on
the border of Wales.

And work alongside each other..

They share a studio in their home and, at
times, collaborate on designs. “We both
look forward to spending time together
in the studio, says Carrie. We are
absolutely focused on our own carvings
but the quiet awareness of someone
else working away is both inspiring
and comforting”. Although they rarely
carve on the same piece, they do take
Photograph by Richard Greatrex
inspiration from one another. “The early
If you’ve been carving for a while, you US, she primarily carves simply for the design stage is as important as the actual
probably know of Chris Pye. He’s the love of carving. Her family and friends carving”, says Chris. “Sometimes we toss
Master Carver who writes all the books have often benefitted from her craft and ideas and sketches back and forth and
as well as articles in Woodcarving recently she’s donated several carvings to after a while the right design emerges and
magazine. But you might not know that charitable auctions. speaks for itself.”
5 years ago, while he was on his annual
teaching gig in the USA, he met another Chris, on the other hand, has been a
woodcarver, Carrie Camann, and they professional carver for over 35 years. He
teamed up to form a partnership - in actually began a career at medical school
more ways than one! but fortunately for us jumped the track
and found his calling in carving wood.
Two different carvers meet… “The first time I picked up a carving
Carrie has been carving since she was 20. gouge, it was as if I’d been doing it all my
Besides her professional career, raising life.” After ten years of carving, Chris
a son and various other artistic pursuits, broadened his scope to include teaching
woodcarving was something she fitted and he soon discovered that he had a
in when she could. “Woodcarving is gift for communicating the craft. “I had
like an old friend; we’re always happy a family to support and commissions
to spend time together.” Although her and gallery sales were just not reliable
work has been shown in galleries in the enough, so I kept teaching.” Writing was

Snail by Chris Pye, carved from Lime Woman in the Wind by Carrie Camann, carved
from Yellow Cedar

18
Chris works primarily in Oak and Lime,
not surprising for a traditional English
carver. Carrie is more familiar with
American varieties: Cherry, Maple,
Walnut and Cedar. She started her
training with Native American Carvers
working with bent knives and green Alder
wood.

Chris’s astonishingly wide variety of

carvings stands out for their superb
craftsmanship and precise detail. It was
this, and in particular his elegant letter
carving, that earned him a place in the
prestigious Master Carvers Association. Coat rack; a joint project for the grandkids, carved from Lime and Oak

Carrie’s work is more about form; her

first carving, made when she was 17, “When I first arrived in England I 23 different countries,” says Carrie, with
was a small soapstone figure (á la Henry tried being a full time carver. It was an a note of pride.
Moore). Her first woodcarving was a opportunity I’d dreamed about but after
curvilinear abstract sculpture. Many years giving it a go I realized that full time Behind the scenes, Woodcarving
later, her sculptural carvings continue carving was not right for me. I’ve got too Workshops.tv is a job like any other.
to be mostly abstract and her Native many interests for that much focus and “We run it as a business. We have
American bent knives remain among her the pressure to produce was spoiling the clear division of labor and a weekly
favorite tools. joy.” Having eliminated the possibility of business meeting.” Chris carves, and
opening a joint gallery/workshop, they Carrie films and edits. Chris uploads
Their different styles seem to be an still had the question of what Carrie was the videos to the site and replies to
extension of their distinct personalities. going to do. members’ comments while Carrie
writes the monthly Members Bulletin
And create a business together and responds to the inbox on a daily
One evening over a couple of pints basis. Together they alternately struggle
with good friends, they took stock of with the complications of the Internet
their complimentary skills, talents and and are amazed by its capabilities. “For
shared love of woodcarving. One idea a couple of people who are passionate
led to the next, and the next, until: “We woodcarvers, you would not believe
took a giant leap of faith and created how much time we have to spend on
Woodcarving Workshops.” the computer,” says Chris, with not a
little chagrin. Despite the frustrations and
Woodcarving Workshops.tv is a website the challenges Carrie can still say, “It’s
for carvers. Members subscribe to the the best job I’ve ever had and my own
site, which has a video library of well
over 300 individual video lessons. Each
month, members receive an e-Bulletin
informing them of the newly released
lessons plus other relevant information
about the site. This includes among
other things; member feedback, coming
attractions, charitable giving and an
annual tool raffle.

The Internet has opened up an awesome

opportunity for Chris to reach many
more carvers and help them learn to
carve or learn to carve better, and at a
fraction of the cost of traditional lessons.
“Our members are really diverse. We
have total beginners and members who
have been carving for over 40 years. We
have one member who carves on her
tiny balcony in Rome and another in the
States who has just built a 1200 square
foot studio complete with all the bells
and whistles. Our youngest member is 15
Candlestick by Carrie Camann, carved from Lime Elemental Connections by Carrie Camann, carved
and our oldest is 92 and they come from from Lime and Burr Elm

19
 carving has definitely improved just from The Story Goes on…
filming the video lessons.” It’s obvious that Carrie and Chris are
both passionate about woodcarving,
Their joint venture is both inspired not just doing it but sharing the joy with
and inspiring. In addition to making a others. “I can’t count the number of
positive contribution in the lives of their students who’ve told me how therapeutic
members, Woodcarving Workshops. carving is for them. For most carvers, it’s
tv contributes to the planet by planting as much about the process as it is about
trees! Right from the word go, Chris and the finished carving,” offers Chris.
Carrie teamed up with Plant-It 2020, a
US-based, non-profit organization that “The UK is so lucky to have this fantastic
plants trees around the world. “There tradition,” adds Carrie. “And we’re
are so many worthwhile charities that helping to keep the flame of woodcarving
choosing can be overwhelming, but, alive. Well, that’s our hope anyways. In
for us, it made sense to allocate our lots of ways our mission is the same as
charitable giving to trees. If every carver the BWA: we’re dedicated to the love of
planted just one tree a year, we’d be woodcarving. Pure and simple.”
doing the planet a world of good!’ To
date, their business is responsible for
planting over 600 trees worldwide.
Shirt by Chris Pye, carved from Sycamore

& Ca rr ie C a mann
Ch ris Pye By Jane James

New Twig at BWA Rockingham Forest exhibition. 2 members have previously

exhibited at the ‘Al’ Woodcarving
Exhibition, organised by Glyn Mould a
I want to tell you about a new club that by an article in the Spring edition of couple of years ago, so we have already
has just opened. It is a ‘branch’ of the the BWA Gazette, I made 2 individual created a healthy ethos.
Rockingham Forest Carvers, but it’s still tables. It was an expensive project to set
small, so perhaps it is only a “twig”. up - around £18,000 including our shed Everyone has joined (or is in the process
- but it has been worth it just to see the of joining) the BWA. We are combining
On 20 September, an Adult Education enthusiasm of the group. with another newly formed group in
Class was forced to leave their venue Bedfordshire, for Christmas lunch. So
because the premises were to close. we don’t plan to remain at the end of the
A new residence was found with the branch but be part of the main trunk!
Bedford Model Engineering Society, who
had recently installed a new clubhouse.
(See photo) They had been able to
acquire quite a large grant towards the
cost, on condition that it should be made
available to local community groups -
that’s us! Just 10 of us at the moment,
but all very keen. Working together inside

We set out a table with books and

magazines, so members can sit down
with a cup of coffee and browse (see Please help! We really need some more
photo). This encourages the members to Tiranti Woodcarvers’ Vices, so if any
mix very freely, and nearly all the photos members know where I could get some
show people away from their own work second-hand ones, I would be really
The club house
stations, and helping others (see photo). grateful. I can be contacted on bar.
We were most fortunate to have one of We have a great atmosphere, and very beard@btinterent or 01234 743062
the members make us 4 folding benches enthusiastic carvers. Not all carvings where there is an answerphone.
(see photo) and 2 folding tables. Another are of a high standard, but some things
member made his own folding table that are very successful. We are planning
is high enough for his own needs and big to join the main body of Rockingham
enough to share with others. Inspired Forest Carvers when they hold their next By Barbara Beard
20
TIPS Pfeil Carving Tools
Lora S. Irish has the following tips for carvers and would-be- We hold the largest stock of Pfeil wood
carvers alike: carving tools & accessories in the UK.
Over 2000 tools in stock
1. Always have a particular place to lay your tools where Pfeil catalogue on request.
you can clearly see them and where they will not get covered
with your pattern paper or chips as you work. A hidden tool
edge can cut you.
2. Always wear shoes. If you drop a tool it will fall straight
down and your feet are directly under your hands when you Flexcut
Arbortech
are working.
Abranet Sanding
3. Check the sharpness of your tools before you begin any King Arthur’s Tools
carving session. A dull tool is a dangerous tool. Woodcarving Books
4. If your tool grabs or drags during the cut, STOP! Back Auriou Rasps/Rifflers
the tool out of the stroke and sharpen the edge. Don’t try to
push through the cut with extra pressure as the tool edge will Chris Pye shop
slip out. Kirjes Sanding System
5. Remove all of your jewelry before every carving session. Robert Sorby Woodcarving Tools
Your tool can catch a long, hanging necklace or the edge of Norton Sharpening Stones
a ring. Roll up your sleeves so that your wrist and hands can Gransfors Bruks Carving Axes
freely move. Ron Hock Carving Knives
6. Tie your hair up with a band to keep it out of your line Bordet Carving Machine
of sight as you work.
7. If you have long finger nails purchase a set of rubber
CLASSIC HAND TOOLS
quilting thimbles. They protect your nails during carving, and
HILL FARM BUSINESS PARK, WITNESHAM, SUFFOLK IP6 9EW
protect your carving from indents caused from the pressure of Phone: 01473 784983 Email: sales@classichandtools.co.uk
your finger nail tips on the wood.
8. If you use a carving glove make sure that it fits properly. www.classichandtools.co.uk
An over tight or extra loose glove will hinder or restrict your
hand movements.
9. Don’t put total faith in carving gloves as a protection
properly, according to your local laws.
to keep yourself from getting cut. Most carving gloves will
16. As woodworking and scroll sawing is often part of our
give you an extra secure grip on the wood but cannot totally
hobby, keep your studio free of dust and chips. Chips on the
prevent the tool edge from cutting through the glove and into
floor can cause you to slip and dust is always a fire hazard.
your hand. Proper hand positions, sharp edged tools, and
17. Finally, but very important, put your pet cat outside the
carefully thought through cutting directions are your greatest
carving studio. While cats are wonderful companions they
safety protections.
love to perch. Mine - ten total at this writing, which can change
10. Secure your wood. If you are relief carving use a bench
without notice - especially love to jump up onto the table
hook or clamps. The pressure you use in your cutting strokes
to perch right on top of my wood projects, usually as I am
will move even a very large wood blank on the table.
completely committed to making a long, deep cut.
11. Don’t carve unknown wood. Many woods are toxic
and many salvaged woods have been chemically treated, both
of which can cause irritation. If your hands become extra
dry, cracked, or if a rash develops stop carving and see your
By Lora S. Irish
doctor. Some toxic woods or chemically treated woods can
cause lung irritation. A free piece of salvaged wood can cost
you a trip to the Emergency Room.
12. Only use tools designs for carving. Utility knives, razor
blades, and craft knives are not made to withstand the cutting
stroke pressure of wood carving. They can snap or break
easily, causing the knife to slip out of the wood.
13. Don’t pry with your bench knife tip. If the chip does If like me you suffer from sore finger tips
not release easily from the wood, recut your strokes. Prying when sanding or finishing intricate areas
will snap the tip of any tool. of a carving, try using rubber fingertips
14. Take frequent breaks. Stand tall, stretch, take a few sometimes known as finger cones to
moments to re-strop your tool edges. Physical fatigue causes protect your fingertips. Although my
mistakes in your cutting strokes. fingers get a little sweaty, they don’t
15. Remove all staining and painting rags, pans, or papers get sore. They are easily obtained from
from your work area. Place them outside the building. If you stationers or online and they come in
have been using an oil based stain, finish, or paint completely various sizes.
submerge the oily rags in soapy water. Dispose of the rags By Vince O’Donnell
21
 Some Thoughts on members after getting immersed in the
craft.
seeds which may result in someone
contacting us. You might like to do this
Membership Other forms of attracting new members
with old woodcarving magazines that you
have finished with, once you have torn
Any club, whatever its members are include shows and open days. I guess out the articles you want to keep.
interested in, is doomed to fail if it does these bring in both those who have
not constantly have an eye on getting already got an interest in wood and those Then of course there is the local paper,
new members. who only realise what a fascinating area which is often desperate for news items
this can be after seeing the demonstration and even if you haven’t got a show which
The worst attitude to have is one of or going to the event. they can report on, you can send them
complacency. A large, successful club some photos of members whittling away
may have more than enough members to To grab these people, I think it is vital with a few words and there is a good
fill its venue and a temptation is for the to have a leaflet explaining where the chance the item will be published.
Committee to sit back, fold its collective Club can be found, with some phone
arms and metaphorically pat itself on the numbers and email addresses, so that the I’m afraid I’m not on Facebook so I can’t
back for what a good job they’ve done. potential member knows who to contact comment on the worth of that to spread
if they decide to join. It could be months the news, but I have no doubt that as
But beware! before they find that scrap of paper in time goes by it will become an increasing
their pocket and decide to pay a visit, influence for even us woodcarvers. I
All the time, people leave clubs. Some but without the leaflet, the potential new have Twitter hashtag (CarverOfWood),
will move away. Some will regretfully member would have been lost. though have rarely used it - yet - but
pass away. Small tiffs may occur between suspect that this too will become
members within the club. These can Then there are those who seek out an increasingly used form of carving
easily turn into petty feuds long after local clubs because they already have a communication.
the reason for the difference has been keen desire and really do want to join
forgotten. It’s not uncommon for one a woodcarving group, but really don’t The saying ‘There is nothing that
of the parties then TO leave the club in know where to start. The first port of succeeds like success’ is as true for
a fit of pique and sometimes those that call for such folk nowadays is to look on woodcarving clubs as it is for other
remain can become disenchanted or even the Internet of course, and certainly the contexts. Keeping the club successful
embittered. Woodentops has found that it has gained needs a little hard work as well as
a number of new members from those constant vigilance to keep the wooden
Potential new members then come who browsed the Web and found us ball rolling.
along and see a tatty fragmented group there. Again, it would seem vital for every
of cheerless old gits. Do they want to group to have its own accessible website By Clive Nash
join? What do you think! Suddenly, and nowadays, with clear details of who to
possibly very quickly, a once thriving and contact. It seems to me that having a
successful club finds itself threatened with decent website is no longer a ‘nice to
extinction. have’ but a ‘must have’. How I started
I’m exaggerating to make a point but I There are other ways of attracting the Woodcarving
hope you see what I mean. We have attention of this great British public of
to be constantly aware of the need to ours. For example, I have long subscribed
replenish our membership of lively, active to the American woodcarving magazine
I suppose that I have always been an
souls who will contribute to the Club ‘Chip Chats’ which includes a wealth of
admirer of carved wood because looking
and make it a thing that others will be material from American woodcarving
round my home I realise I have lots of
delighted, and hopefully queuing up, to clubs. Each edition has two or three really
it. A carved old chair, a Victorian hall
join. interesting items which I cut out and put
cupboard, carved book ends and lots of
in scrapbook. I don’t want to keep the
Indonesian sculptures I brought back after
So how do we make this image a rest of the magazines, which would only
working in Sumatra.
reality? The best advertisement for a clutter up the house. So I stick a label
club is word-of-mouth. When I look on the front of these old editions saying
round those who have joined the South something like: ‘If you read this and found
East London group, the Woodentops, it of interest, there is a local woodcarving
many are there because they knew group which you might like to visit. You
someone who was already in it. A friend would be very welcome! Please call or
or neighbour invited or persuaded email [the Leader] on…’
an individual to come along and they
became hooked. In my view, word-of- Then, when I next go to the dentist,
mouth is still a very powerful way of doctor or hospital, or anywhere else
attracting new people and should never that has public waiting rooms full of
be ignored. Sometimes such members, six-month-old editions of Hello and
who knew very little about carving Woman’s Illustrated, I leave my old copy
before, become the most enthusiastic of Chip chats in the pile. These are little
Gill carving

22
My father’s hobby was woodwork and his persuaded me to join them.
ambition was to make a carved chair for
his local church but he died when I was I then started to go to group meetings
12 and never achieved his ambition. In and started with the usual leaf carved
his memory I thought it would be nice to out of apple wood and really enjoyed
take his hobby up too. meeting other carvers and learning from
them. Since then I have been hooked on
carving and now have about two dozen
chisels and numerous holding gadgets, my
home has even more carved objects and I
have been on two wood carving holidays.
Terry with his dog
With my father in mind I have turned
my attention to an old toy dray I have
inherited from him. Originally it had
wooden barrels on it which unfortunately
have been lost. I think it dates back from
the early 1900s. Recently I thought it
would be nice to make a horse for it
so for the last few months (with help I
must add), I have carved a cart horse to
pull the dray. I must say it has been very
difficult because although finding lots of
photos of cart horses there are never
Derek with his relief carving
photos of the underneath quarters or
Gill and her dray what happens behind the tail! Anyway I
have done my best and the next project I
Years later, as a single mum with two suppose will have to be beer barrels!
young children I went to evening classes
in woodwork. I don’t think I was very
good at it and really relied on lots of help
from the tutor and classmates. I was too
ambitious and spent a whole year making
a captain’s bed for my youngest daughter
which was a piranha pine bed on top of
a wardrobe and desk unit. The ladder
was extremely wobbly but it did work!! Ann with her miniatures
When it was finished, I was realised I
could not get it out of the woodwork
room door, so we had to take it to bits Progress so far on Gill’s Cart Horse
and separate the wardrobe from the desk
and bolt it together afterwards. I suppose
one learns from mistakes, but I do think By Gill Deacon
the woodwork teacher could have
anticipated the problem!

My last project was a very small table Woodentops

which was a sort of apprentice piece
(cabinet makers used to make them to Hever Country Show Laurie with his women
show what they could do when meeting
possible clients). I made the table in Week One of September saw stalwart
mahogany from a recycled bed and Club members help at the Hever Castle
turned the legs out of the bed legs. The ‘Country Life at the Castle’ Show. As
top looked pretty plain and I thought we have come to learn, whenever we
I would like do some carving on it so I have had a stall at a show in 2013, the
bought a small carving set to do it. I then weather has generally not been the best
realised it was far too difficult for me, and and this was no exception, but there was
the table remained unglued. a good turnout and the tent held the bad
weather at bay. As ever we hope the
Years later I was helping on a stall at a event helped to generate a wider interest
craft fair and during a break wandered in and an appreciation of, woodcarving.
into the woodcarving tent where I Terry with his dog again
was collared by a very enthusiastic Photographs supplied by Norman.
Hertfordshire BWA group who By Clive Nash
23
 An Interview with Bob Mau
Bob Mau is President of Affiliated
Woodcarvers Limited who organise and
sponsor the International Woodcarvers
Congress, which this year held its 47th
congress. He’s an experienced carver
who has recently retired from his career
at the FERMI institute where he spent his
time hurling atoms at each other to see
what would happen.

Do you think carving deserves to

be on an equal footing as other
art forms?
Yes and the reason it should be is for a
couple of reasons. Forms like painting
or clay are additive forms of art whereas
woodcarving is a deductive form of art
which is much more difficult, so that on
it own merits it. Secondly there is some Is AWC Limited all about the Do you think more young people
incredible art that comes from carving, Congress? should get into woodcarving?
some that rival the greatest works in Yes, it’s pretty much all about the To be honest with you, I started
any art form. A lot of people paint and Congress. It’s a huge two-week event woodcarving when I was 42 and I wish
their paintings are crude but on some each year, with lots of seminars and over that I had started when I was younger.
level they are considered to be artists 70 different categories for competition There’s a lot of people starting in their
but someone who does world-class entries. 50s and 60s and they too wish that they
woodcarving in many cases is not. A had started younger. My biggest fear
lot of artists see woodcarving as people A lot of BWA members are of is that this is such a good hobby that
sitting around a fire and whittling bits retirement age; do find that is also we need to make sure that it survives.
off of sticks and call it a craft but they true of a lot of US carvers? When I was in high school, you could
probably haven’t seen any really world- There’s always a huge group of people take a metalwork class or woodwork
class carvings. One of the purposes of looking to retire and looking for things to class but because they’re slightly more
our show is trying to convince the world get involved in to stop themselves from dangerous, you see a lot of schools
that woodcarving isn’t just whipping going mad. replacing them with computer science
shavings off a length of wood. classes and computer labs. It’s safer for
the school because you’re much less
likely to get sued but it means that there’s
a whole generation not experiencing very
much woodwork in school. They’re
the carvers of the future, so it’s really
important for carving clubs to reach out
to young people to try and get them
into the loop. Otherwise, when my
generation passes on there’s going to be
a dramatic fall in people woodcarving.

Do you think there is much of

a cross-over between whittling
green wood and woodcarving?
A lot of the time, a person’s first
experience of woodcarving is in cubs
and scouts where they can get a badge in
carving or woodwork. That’s where a lot
of people come from. Our woodcarving
club had shrunk in number quite a lot,
so we attended a carving show and we
offered two free classes and we provided
the tools and the wood. Of the 17 that
signed up for the classes, 9 of them are
still members of our group. In fact we
did it again and we got about another 9
members. Now we’re in the position
24
where there’s about 40 of us and if I’ve got three at home in various stages stopping so I cleaned it up and looked
we get any bigger, we’ll need to find a but I just can’t get into it. at it and said “uh-oh this aint good”.
new venue. In America, we carve a lot Unfortunately, I’d cut a tendon and a
with knives and it’s quite cheap to get couple of nerves. I was doing at least five
started with knives. Once a lot of our things wrong though: I was in a hurry, I
people have got interested in it, you find was pushing too hard, I was not paying
that people start collecting all sorts of attention and a bunch of other things.
gouges and chisels and other tools. If The carving store next door sold a whole
you wanted to start with gouges, it’s a lot load of Kevlar gloves immediately though.
more daunting having to put in two or
three hundred dollars just to start. Do you have any advice for
woodcarvers?
What aspect of woodcarving are I have discovered that one of the best
you most interested in? things that can happen to you is to make
Faces. I’m pretty serious about it and a blunder because I started out with
I often attend sculpting classes where a dog but it ended up being a deer, I
they get a nude model in. It’s a bit changed the design as I went along and
unnecessary for me because I just end up the deer ended up being a better carving
doing the neck up whereas everyone else and a better design than the dog was
might do the whole body. ever going to be. I like to keep about
six carvings on the go at once and one
What is your favourite wood to Have you ever injured yourself of the things that I do if I’m stuck is
carve? whilst woodcarving? put a carving up on a shelf where I can
My favourite is Basswood, with my Oh yeah, I’ve nicked myself a lot of see it and one day I’ll look up at it and
second favourite being Butternut times. I was teaching and using a no.11 know how to progress with it. People
although that is getting harder to come U gouge and pushing a corner of a block are afraid of making mistakes but I think
by now. I did once try some White of wood and as it was getting nearer the mistakes are very important to have and
Oak but was lucky nut to cut myself to edge of the wood, the wood was getting far from being afraid of them, you should
pieces with it and I do use some Black thinner and thinner and all of a sudden welcome them.
Walnut occasionally. I get a kick out of it lurched through and went through my
watching a face emerge out of a block of index finger. There’s a rule of thumb that For more information about Affiliated
wood. Human faces are all so different, when you’re bleeding, you apply pressure Wood Carvers and the International
you could spend all your time carving to stop it. There’s also a little-known Congress, please go to www.awcltd.
faces. You learn muscle structure and rule which is ‘count the number of holes’. org
expressions. I’d tried carving birds and I was applying pressure and it wasn’t
By The Editor

Alston Owl
During the summer, I went to Sharon decided to leave his features proud rather of Colron matt clear varnish before a
Littley’s carving weekend up at Alston than smoothed over, and I also added nice wax polish! He is carved from lime
Hall in Longridge, Lancashire and was some simple feather detailing to his wings and stands five inches tall. He is currently
very pleased with my finished stylised (because before I thought they looked settling in nicely on the top of a corner
owl ‘Spock’. He was based originally on more like penguin flippers!) and indication cabinet and viewing him from below
an article in Woodcarving Magazine by of claws. really accentuates the ‘v’ above his eyes-
Andrew Thomas, issue 133 (which I think hence the name Spock!
was July this year) pages 26-29. Another
of our group, Bill Johnson, had planned
to make this one and once I saw him I
couldn’t resist having a go.

At my son’s insistence he was dyed a

mix of Peruvian Mahogany and Light Oak
As you can see from the end results, with Colron wood dyes, with Humbrol
I changed him to a tooled finish, and enamel gold eyes, then a couple of coats By Sarah Lawrenson
25
 Woodfest @ Hatfield Forest
September 7th & 8th 2013

tent, selling wood from the forest again

which they have each year. In 2012
they felled four trees to sell this year.
One Oak and one Ash which were nice
but they also had a giant example of a Visitors taking a well-earned break
Hornbeam and a giant example of Silver
Birch. The Hornbeam was extraordinary
at nearly 12” in diameter and the Silver By The Editor
Birch must have been a very elderly tree,
having a diameter of nearly 18”. I bought
Revellers outside the music tent

I am a native of North Essex and Hatfield

myself a plank of the Silver Birch which
seems to have some fantastic figure.
BWA Hampshire
Forest has been favourite place of mine There have been a couple of changes
since childhood. About a hundred acres to our monthly meetings down in
now, it was once a much larger Royal Hampshire, financially driven I am sorry
hunting forest. There are many ancient to say. Starting in February 2014 we will
tress there and walking around it is a be meeting at Timsbury, 2 miles north
very pleasant experience. It is managed of Romsey, every month. By opting for
very effectively by the National Trust and the same Hall every month we have
volunteers. A herd of rare-breed cattle negotiated a better deal and cut our Hall
graze alongside visitors to the forest, costs by 10%. Also from next year we
roaming across the pastures between will be charging a fixed payment of £20
copses. Some of the wonderful artisan chairs and tables for
per year for all members who attend
salke
monthly meetings and this will cover all
the Hall costs and Tea and Coffee. This
puts our finances on a more controllable
footing. For full details of the Hampshire
Woodcarvers see the BWA Website.

By John Tybjerg

Querky wood indeed There were a few chainsaw artists with items for
asle
100th Anniversary of
For the past decade or more, the forest
has played host to an annual festival
World War I
of music and woodcraft. Entry is free
except for the car park which is £5 per
car. This year’s Woodfest was a great
success with only a few minor showers
over the weekend. I have had a small
stall there for the last three years,
peddling some of my small woodcarvings.

The atmosphere is really wonderful with A fellow woodcarver

local bands playing in two music tents and
all manner of woodcrafts and associated
crafts going on. A blacksmith was Next year in 2014, the world will mark
demonstrating near the lake and there the 100th anniversay of the start of
were several woodcarvers there with ‘The Great War’. Events across the
stalls. The Uttlesford Badger group had country will be marking the tradgedy and
a stall, campaigning for badger protection remebering those who gave everything
and they had many stuffed badgers that during the conflict. I thought I would
had died on our roads, which helped mention it here to get everyone thinking
educate the children. about things that the BWA and its regions
can do to mark the event.
The coppicing volunteers had their wood Ironwork and coppice crafts being demonstrated By The Editor
26
 Why? that it is a means by which I can flaunt
my ego. “Look how clever I am? I bet
The Sower
you could not do this”. I am willing to
accept that egoism is one of the drivers
Have you noticed that almost all articles in this question but if it was the main one Returning to Fenchurch Street Station
written about woodcarving address two then we are pursuing a huge risk strategy. after a visit to London, I came across four
questions: what (to carve) and how (to I will guarantee that more people are very large relief stone carvings on the
carve). The question which is probably totally unmoved by my work than admire back of the Willis Building in Leadenhall
the driving force of human development it. The proof of this statement is that Street. Fortunately I had a camera with
is almost totally ignored. I first was were this not the case I would be very me and photographed them without
asked why I carved by a seven year old rich. The “I do it for money” argument spending too much time studying them.
schoolboy whose school I was working is inadequate because I was earning far When I downloaded the images I realized
at in Basingstoke. Their school had more when I had a day job and I know they represented the four elements;
recently had a major upgrade which had that even without customers I will Earth, Fire, Water and Air.
meant the removal of a large oak from still carve. The income is a gratefully
the newly developed play area. The received bonus.
headmaster had insisted that the trunk be
put aside during the building phase and Over the years since I was first asked
had then commissioned me to carve it as the question and as a result of being
a bench on the theme of ‘mini beasts’. involved with the development of a
Over the five days I took to do this I lived number of very gifted carvers I am forced
in my caravan on site and would chat with to a final conclusion. The human animal
the pupils during their breaks. They were is innately creative. For some people,
full of questions, most of which I could woodcarving is the means by which they
answer. The first question I got from this choose to express this but cookery,
young man was a standard ice breaker gardening, embroidery etc. are equally The original in stone
“What are you doing?” I explained. valid methods.
The next stopped me dead, “Why?” he Searching the internet I discovered that
asked. It is significant that I remember If this is the case, then it is unfortunate the panels had been carved by James
the moment but cannot recollect my that modern society puts up so many Woodford RA in 1958 for the old Lloyds
answer. I am fairly certain that I replied barriers to the expression of this building in Lime Street. When Lloyds
with some glib get out statement such as creativity. Among these barriers is the moved to their new building in Leadenhall
“your headmaster is paying me to do it” pressure on our time, though I would Street they were rescued and installed in
but the question has stuck with me. Why argue that much of this is self-imposed. their present location.
do I carve? Another is our competitiveness, the
need to excel at everything we do. This
tends to stop us from pursuing something
we enjoy, unless we can be seen to be
‘good at it’. The idea that we have to
be ‘naturally talented’ to be artistic must
defer a large number of people from
making any attempt and the idea of
‘good and bad art’ as presented by self-
Those of us who are involved with appointed ‘expert’ art critics is probably
furniture and architectural carving may be the final deterrent.
able to take refuge in the idea that what
they do is to contribute to the design of a If I am right in this, then the BWA could My woodcarving interpretation is in Lime, about
functional object but for wood sculptors be a major force for good in that it has 14 inches x 11.5 inches (35cm x 29cm) with real
pumpkin seeds.
there is no such excuse. What we do is the potential to destroy barriers. To
a long tedious process which results in achieve this it must maintain a very
something of no practical use, its value is extrovert and welcoming character and By Maureen Hockley
purely aesthetic at best. avoid cliques
and elites of
superiority. It
seems that, not
only do we need
to ask “why do I
carve?” but also
“why does the
BWA exist and
There is, of course, the argument that why do I belong
what we do is actually pointless but if to it?”.
this is the case, how has it managed to
continue since the Stone Age? It may be By Dave Johnson
27
 An Interview with Anna Casserley

Anna Casserley is a Gloucestershire How did you get into

spoon carver, working in green wood. woodcarving?
My parents are both artists so I have
Do you consider yourself a green always been around arts and crafts. My
woodworker or woodcarver? Granddad was a woodworker who used
I consider myself a woodcarver primarily, to produce moulds for casting. I have
I just happen to use green wood. Carving a lot of his old tools. I find that I really
spoons from seasoned wood takes a lot like woodcarving and making things that
longer and is much harder. I can cut out people will use and treasure. One of my
many spoon blanks in a day from a chunk friends said that if you’re feeling tired,
of green wood but for seasoned wood, you’ll always wash up your favourite
I would need saws and it would just take cooking spoon rather than using your
too long. second favourite spoon.

Where do you do most of your

carving? What is your favourite thing to
I do most of my carving in my carve?
Grandfather’s old workshop at the back My favourite is carving cooking spoons.
of my parents’ house. Although during It’s important to me that people will use
the summer I try to do most of my them rather than making things that are
carving outside though because it can be ornamental or that people just collect.
hot work and the light is better.
To find out more about Anna or to
Do you have a favourite wood? purchase any of her items for sale, please
My favourite wood to carve is definitely go to www.annacasserley.co.uk
wild Cherry. My boyfriend is a tree
surgeon so I am quite lucky to be able to
get hold of a lot of good quality wood.
By The Editor

An Angel is Missing the Kings. I also obtained some sacking

material from a friend and fellow carver
able to do something that everyone could
enjoy.
Until recently my local Church displayed from my Ringwood Carvers’ Group
a small Nativity scene which could hardly which we used to dress the Shepherds. However, towards the end of last
be seen from the back of the room. In addition to the figures, I built a modern year’s festivities our Minister was talking
So, last year I decided to make a larger style stable that was fitted with a light to the children in the service, asking
nativity display. I got the idea from Ted bulb donated by my local electrical shop. whether there was something missing
Jeffrey; who had built a large scene for his Furthermore my neighbour who breeds from the Nativity scene. One little boy
church some time ago and is still used to guinea pigs gave me some suitable fine shouted “Yes! There’s an Angel missing!”
this day. hay to decorate the interior. “Correct” replied Ashley our Minister. I
then asked “does that mean that I have to
I started off by carving eight heads for Once all the figures were dressed they make an Angel now?” and he replied “it
the main characters. Their bodies were seemed to come alive! Our Minister and looks like it Mick!”
built up from scrap wood, with the the church congregation were delighted
height being around 12-14” tall. Wire with the result and I was pleased to be So here we are again, I am currently
was inserted under the shoulders which working away on the design and
could be bent and shaped into arms. The production of an angel to add to the
main challenge I had was trying to carve scene. Given that I have recently and
these heads over time in between other quite suddenly lost my Son; it has been
carvings that I was doing for family and difficult to cope at times, but I have found
friends. solace and support from attending my
woodcarving groups and the friendships
After some searching I managed to find I have formed there. Wood carving also
a lady who was prepared to dress the helps me to cope with my grief and with
characters for me. One of the exciting this in mind I am aiming for our Angel to
parts for me was that I found some be completed in time for Christmas!
orange material with gold fleck running
through it – well this came from a jumper
that belonged to my late wife and was
used in this project to adorn some of
By Mick Martin

28
 Ancient Ash Stools at The purpose of my visit was to see the Stools of Ash before
Ash Dieback Disease becomes the stuff of nightmares and
Bradfield Wood is commonplace in our woods. How much longer will these
ancient stools be around before they surrender to Chalara?
Bradfield Wood in Suffolk is one of the few places where Hopefully some will have an inbuilt resistance but their age is no
traditional coppicing is still practiced on a commercial basis doubt against them.
(albeit by volunteers). Run by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, it has a
recorded history of over 700 years. Amongst the small-leaved
Lime and Hornbeam are huge Oak standards with hundreds of
Ash and Hazel stools.

A large Ash stool with a healthy crop of poles

The middle of this stool died long ago but the size of the stool can be measured
by looking the the surviving parts around the edge For further information please see: www.
suffolkwildlifetrust.org/about-us/gift-your-will/
The stools are the result of hundreds of years of coppicing; bradfield-woods and www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/
cutting the tree back again and again, keeping it alive for longer reserves/bradfield-woods
than it would otherwise live. The Ash stools at Bradfield wood
are of particular interest due to their age which could be up to This PDF is a great read for enthusiasts of ancient woodland:
600 years old or more. They are purportedly the oldest living www.britishwildlife.com/classic_articles/BW1-61-
things in Suffolk. 75%20Discovering%20Ancient%20Woodlands2.pdf

By The Editor

Wooldale Carving Club

At this year’s Great Yorkshire SHow, we held a carving
competition, to be voted on by the public. The best carving
was awarded the Bill Hodgson Trophy. This is the first year
that the trophy has been awarded because last year’s show was
Some of the Hazel stools rival those of the Ash for size cancelled due to the weather. Bill Hodgson was a master carver
and long time BWA member and ran the regional group in York
I took the opportunity to have a wander around the woods in where he lived.
October. The woods have their own visitor centre and toilets.
Most weekends you will find a group of coppicing volunteers
working in the wood or around a campfire. It is a lovely wood
that supports a vast array of species.

Bob Russum presenting Michael Weston with the trophy

Ash trees don’t usually live more than a couple of hundred years without
coppicing By A. Wilson

29
 MEMBERS GALLERY Pet Husky
By David Howard

Carving in the style of Grinling Gibbons

By Chris Martinali

David Howard
carved this Husky
from Lime (shown
with an inset
photo of the
actual dog).

Lion Head
Ballerina
By Dave Lumb
By Meriel Brown

Chris Martinali carved this Gibbons-style flourish

from a pattern in Wood Carving from Lime

Fire Brigade Badge

By Steve Worral
Carved in Lime and modelled from a Male and Female Lion Head carved
brass paperweight purchased from a from Lime
charity shop
Horse’s Head
Wood Spirit By Ted Gordon
By Peter Hayton

Shropshire Loggerheads on Fire

Brigade badge, carved from Lime

Peter Hayton’s first carving. He is a new member

to lancashire and only started carving in the last
few weeks, he clearly has a natural talent Carved from Mahogany

If you would like to submit one of your recently completed carvings to the gallery for the next issue, email
editor@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk or use the form on the website www.thewoodcarversgazette.co.uk
30
 BWA West Midlands See our
Carving Competition 2013
Wildfowl in Relief extensive
I thought that this year’s competition on 18th September
2013, was extremely inspiring. The standard of carving was
excellent and I was very impressed considering that some of
range of Blanks
the carvings were done by newcomers to woodcarving.

The subjects were very varied and well thought out and Lee More Lime
Hale of Winterbourne Gardens (where our club resides) and Blanks on-line
Graham Jones had a very difficult job in choosing the first, in December...
second and third. I didn’t envy them the job of choosing a
winner, because all the carvings, including the ones unfinished, ...up to 100mm
were so good. thick.
They finally came to the decision that John T’s unfinished
‘Swans in Flight’ deserved third place because of the
difficulty and against the grain carving and the depth that had We also stock a full
been achieved in the relief carving, which had it been finished range of Woodcarving
would undoubtedly have won first place. Tools and accessories from many
leading manufacturers...
Nerys’ carving of swans was also unfinished but the quality
of the carving and the design was highly appreciated by the
judges.

The carving by John Holiwell – Owl Landing on a Tree - was

picked out by both the judges as the winning carving very
quickly. They were impressed by the quality of the design and ...plus many more leading brands
the carving, especially the techniques used in the carving of
the tree trunk. Graham said that he would like to know the Newly
techniques that John had used.
appointed
stockist T-7 40th
Anniversary
for
pfeil

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for Life’.
> Rotating base included FREE.
> Elegant graphite grey metallic.

Top quality WE ARE EASY TO FIND: 11/2 miles from the

carving tools M6 J40. Take the A66 towards Keswick, turn
made in left at first roundabout, follow the Brown
Switzerland. Signs to The Alpaca Centre.

The blades Open 8am to 5pm daily. 10am to 5pm Saturday.

Closed Sunday.
All in all the competition was well organised by the committee are forged
and a special thank you to all the competitors for taking the from Chrome
time and energy to complete the carvings. vanadium
alloy steel.
Hope this will inspire the rest of us to enter a carving for next
year’s competition. Available
individually
or in sets.

G&S SPECIALIST TIMBER

See our The Alpaca Centre, Snuff Mill Lane, Stainton,
website for Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0ES.
Tel: 01768 891445. Fax: 01768 891443.
the full range. email: info@toolsandtimber.co.uk
By Ron Bowen

Order On-line at www.toolsandtimber.co.uk

31
 Region Leader Phone Number Email Address
Mid-Thames Roger Edwards 01628 672 223 mid-thames@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Devon and Cornwall Les Wilkins 01548 810 442 devon-cornwall@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Durham & North Yorkshire David Shires 01325 374 686 durham@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Essex Ken Veal 01277 899 684 essex@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Gloucestershire Jean and Maurice Harper 01666 502 010 gloucestershire@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Hamlet Wood, Maidstone Mick Mills 01622 759 313 maidstone@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Hampshire John Tybjerg 01425 470 906 hampshire@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Hertfordshire Stan Kimm 02089 070 378 hertfordshire@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Jersey Eric Payn 07797 729 483 jersey@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Kent, Wormshill David Howard 01227 265 085 kent@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Lancashire Sarah Lawrenson 01772 715 503 lancashire@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Leicestershire Martyn Neal 01162 716 635 leicestershire@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
N. Lincs & E. Yorkshire 0 H Boyd 01652 618 071 lincsandyorks@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
N.E. London & W. Essex Martin Howells 02085 901 824 w.essex@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
S.E. London & W Kent Thomas Young 01689 851 500 w.kent@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Norfolk & Suffolk Belinda Newstead 01508 488 342 norfolk-suffolk@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Notts & Derby Roland Laycock 01623 636 343 nottsandderby@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
North Staffordshire Tom Buttress 01782 533 061 n.staffordshire@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
North Wales Borders Eileen Walker 01352 770 706 n.wales@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Oxfordshire & Bucks Brian Eastoe 01235 203 626 oxandbucks@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Rockingham Forest (East Mid-lands) John Wright 01733 810 312 e.midlands@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Ryedale, North Yorkshire Andrew Clark 01751 473 206 n.yorkshire@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Shropshire Meriel Brown 01743 861 159 shropshire@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Solway Woodcarvers (Cumbria) Clive Firth 01697 331 995 cumbria@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
South Wales Derek Edwards 01639 414 940 s.wales@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Warwickshire Mick Kitchen 01926 843 159 warwickshire@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
West Midlands Tony Newton 01214 411 534 w.midlands@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Yorkshire Paul Schofield 01274 687 492 yorkshire@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk

National Council Office Officer Phone Number Email Address

Chairman Mark Davis 01525 862 489 chairman@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
National Secretary Lynn Kimm 02089 070 378 secretary@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Treasurer Bryan Corbin 01452 698 991 treasurer@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Membership Secretary Lyn McCracken 01249 654 171 membership@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Editor Jason Townsend 07970 535 189 editor@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Regional Liaison Eileen Walker 01352 770 706 liason@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Website Manager Graeme Murray 07748 350 252 webmaster@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk
Publicity Paula Noble 01908 216 925 publicity@britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk

Check out past issues of The Woodcarvers Gazette:

www.thewoodcarversgazette.co.uk/back-issues

Not already a member? Why not join the BWA now

www.britishwoodcarversassociation.co.uk/join-us

32 www.britishwoodcarversassocation.co.uk