Capital City Carvers

Show & Tell 2005

The winners of the Show & Tell drawing for 2005 were: Lee Roberts ($50); Irwin Jahns ($25); and Harold Goodale ($10). Congratulations!

Craig Kittendorf photographed all the monthly entries and has put together a visual show of our work. There will be a special presentation of the show at the January 30 meeting. Thanks for all your work, Craig.

The only way to win is to enter. Bring your newly finished carvings to the first meeting of the month and put them on the show & tell table. Carvings must have been completed in the last 2 years and never shown before. This is a great way to share our work with each other.

Cypress Knees Available

Barbara recently received a new shipment of clean, ready to carve cypress knees. They range is size from 8 to 18 inches and cost roughly $1 per inch. The knees are suitable for a wide range of human or animal figures. Planning and carving a cypress knee is very creative--no pattern to follow, although resource material is helpful. Contact Barbara to purchase a cypress knee and turn your creativity loose.

Using Wax to Finish Carvings

Two products readily available in catalogs of woodcarving supplies include Briwax and Renaissance Wax. The latter is an expensive, clear, micro-crystalline wax polish that also works well on stone and is often used on marble sculptures. Briwax is much less expensive and comes in a range of colors from clear to a dark oak. It can be used over paint (test first) or on bare wood. The darker colors will give an antiqued look to a finished piece.

One product is terrific to bring out the color in cottonwood bark. Howard Feed-N-Wax is a combination of beeswax, carnuba wax and orange oil.

Bartley Gel Varnish comes in clear satin or semi-gloss. The Bartley Gel Stain comes in a wide range of colors and can be used to create an antiqued look. The Bartley products seal as well as stain and finish the wood. They can be applied more than once to achieve the look you want. Look for them at Lowe's or Home Depot.

Some of these products are combustible and their vapors harmful. They should not be used in living areas. Read the directions and follow carefully for good, safe results. (BMann)

Woodcarving Shows

Time to hit the road! Here's the line-up of Florida shows.

Jan. 14 - Port Orange. Friends Wood Carving Show at Port Orange Recreation Dept., 4655 City Center Circle. 9 to 4. $1 admission. Displays, sales, vendors, door prizes, & demos.

Jan. 15 - Melbourne. Space Coast Woodcarvers' show & sale at Eau Gallie Civic Center, 1551 Highland Ave. 10:30 to 4. $2 donation.

Jan. 21-22 - Ft. Myers. Southeast Woodcarving Exposition at Harborside Convention Center, Edwards Dr. and Lee St. 10 to 4. Admission $5; two-day pass $7. Lots of vendors.

Jan. 21 - Port Charlotte. Culture Center Woodcarving Show, 2280 Aaron St. 10 to 4. Vendors, displays, demos.

Jan. 28-29 - Seminole. Suncoast Woodcarving Show at Seminole Recreation Center, 9100 113th St. North. Sat. 10:30 to 5, Sun. 10:30 to 4:30. Vendors, displays, sales.

Feb. 4 - Ft. Myers. Caloosa Carvers show at Salvation Army Center, 10291 McGregor Blvd. 9 to 2. Admission donation, door prizes, carving supplies.

Feb. 4-5 - Port St. Lucie. Treasure Coast Woodcarving show and competition at Port St. Lucie Community Center, corner of Port St. Lucie and Alroso Blvd. Sat. 9 to 5. Sun. 9 to 4. Admission $3.50. Seminars both days.

Feb. 9-20 - Tampa. Florida State Fair woodcarving exhibition/competition (cash awards).

Feb. 18 - Arcadia. Peace River Woodcarvers' Show.

Feb. 25 - Sebring. Highlands Wood Carvers show and sale at Sebring Civic Center (just off downtown circle near library). 9 to 4. Admission donation. Seminars.

Mar. 4-5 - Hudson. Calusa Wood Carvers show and sale at Veterans Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Rd. Sat. 10 to 4. Sun. 10 to 3. Donation $2. Vendors, hourly demos, door prizes.

Mar. 10-11 - Tavares. Lake Wood Carvers competition and show at Lake Shrine Club, St. Rt. 19 at old Rt. 441. 10 to 4. $2 donation.

Mar. 18-19 - Lakeland. Ridge Woodcarvers' show, sale, competition at Lake Mirror Auditorium, 121 S. Lake Ave. (off E. Main St.). 10 to 4. Admission $3. Supplies, equipment, demos, door prizes.

Mar. 25 - Spring Hill. Weeki Wachee Woodcarvers show and sale at Senior Citizen Center, corner of Toucan Trail and Susan Dr. Tool and wood vendors. Door prizes. $1 donation.