I borrowed this flyer from the Wood Bee Carvers site. If your in the neighbourhood drop by and take in the show and some of the local flavour. I sure did enjoy my visit to Ohio. I'm sure they will welcome you there as well.

Happy New Year.

I hope everyone was able to spend some quality time with their families. Time is precious as we all find out when a deadline approaches. I realized exactly one week before Christmas that I had promised to make all the Christmas gifts for the children this year. Amazingly enough I finished one carving and had three others in completed enough stages to hand out as recognizable gifts. Since than I have completed two more and by the first Saturday meeting of the year they will all be done. You have to come to the meeting to see them at Show and Tell.

That meeting is at 10 AM Saturday morning. January 7, 2012 at the Seniors Center on Cyril St in Abbotsford. Don't forget the Presidents challenge this month is any carving that you have done in the past or are working on now.

President's Challenge January and February

Enough with the turkey already! Back away from the table. Put down your fork and your carving tools and go for a walk. We all need to exercise so this month I will give you a break and a head start. The break for January's Saturday meeting all you have to do is bring a carving and you will be eligible  for the President's Challenge draw. The carving must be carved by you at some point in your career even if you had help. All other carvings are welcome to be shown. So the table should be full to the edges with all kinds of carvings.


The head start.  For the February President's Challenge carve something with a triangular block of wood for example a Mark Gargac style elf or some other face or subject like turtles on a log etc... If you don't have access to a triangular block of wood give Larry a call and he could sell you one for a reasonable price.

Have fun!

Women in Carving

Sandy Czajka 2nd Best of Show 2010

Carved by Terry Brasher

Desiree Hajny

Sandy Czajka multi talented

Sandy on web TV

Sandy's Second best of Show 2011


I want to celebrate some of the great women who carve that I have had the privilege of meeting and learning from. I hope that everyone takes inspiration from these great carvers as individuals who have been creatively inspired to carve to the best of their abilities.

OutWestWoodCarving: The Dayton Artistry In Wood Show

If you follow Lynn than here are the results for his work at the show this year. I had the privilege to attend the banquet and I watched as Lynn went to receive his award. I do believe he had a lump in his throat and a watery eye. Or was that the epoxy shining?

OutWestWoodCarving: The Dayton Artistry In Wood Show

Artistry in Wood, Dayton Ohio

Ron Ryan Award to Lynn Doughty 

Artistry in Wood 2011 under 2 inches

Best Carving Show I have ever been to. I feel like a kid in a candy store. So much to see and so little time! The Dayton Carving Club members have made me feel totally at home. There are so many talented carvers at the show who I have only ever just read about and seen via the internet. And yes it is still true I have not met a carver I did not like. Lynn Doughty won some nice blue ribbons for his carvings and than they presented him with the Ron Ryan Award at the banquet. He was visibly moved. I just think it was time for him to join those elite people who have given so much of themselves for this wonderful hobby. It could never be a job in my eyes even if I made money at it. Joaney wait till I show you what I got at this show!  To check out more about the Dayton Show and Club with Pictures of last years winners go to http://www.daytoncarvers.com/daytoncarvers.html .

Katsina Dolls

Hopi Katsina, Heard Museum, Phoenix Az

It is real inspirational to go somewhere and see someone else's culture and carving. These photos don't even begin to show the skill and talent that went into these carvings. I read three books on the subject of Katsina dolls while in Arizona and I feel like I had a five minute exposure to the subject. I don't have a desire to make my own Katsina carving but between these carvings and all the other sculptures in many different mediums we saw while on vacation it has inspired me in my own work. Enjoy. Don't forget to carve a hand or a pair of hands doing or to doing something for the Christmas party challenge.

Hopi Katsinam, Heard Museum, Phoenix Az