President, Laveta Hilton

Vice-President, Tom Gorman

Secretary, Ellen Clymer

Treasurer, Gaines Burnette

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The next meeting will be:       Tuesday May 8 at 7:00 P.M.

Where:      Mack Love Center

1340 McConnel Drive

Mason Mill Park Dept. of Recreation

Lower Level of Mack Love Center

*******************************Show and Tell**********************************

What have you been working on at home? Bring whatever it is on Tuesday night for show and Tell. Bring something you have finished or a work in progress and tell the club about it.

BE SURE AND WEAR YOUR NAME TAG

VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT

www.atlantawoodcarvers.com

Browse the gallery, check the schedule and explore the links. ***************************************************************

May 8 MEETING

DUES FOR 2012 ARE DUE NOW

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News Letter for May

From the President’s Corner

Nine members of AWC attended the Allen Goodman workshop on caricatures held at the home of Carmen Sanders April, 20, 21, 22. Allen emphasized the importance of sharp tools again and again. He also reminded us that there are times in regular carving when it is necessary to know some chip carving techniques which we applied to the eyes. These knife skills come from practice, practice, practice. From one blank the carvers chose different subjects: civil war soldier, sea captain, Santa, Native America, and Hillbilly. It was a profitable and enjoyable learning experience.

Many of you continue to work on your interest group project while some have run into discouraging challenges. We are still hopeful of seeing some completed projects at our July Ice Cream Social.

Jerry Blake, Lamar Holland, and Gary Elliot recently enjoyed classes in wood carving at John Campbell School. Robert Johnson recently taught a class in turning pens there. Jim LeClaire will be teaching a beginning wood carving class at Highland Woodworking in Atlanta in May and again in August. Check their web site for date and time.

In March we completed two months on a fun carving in the round project of a bark whimsical house night light. Some very interesting and creative structures were the result. Thanks to Lamar Holland and his assistant, Gary Elliiiott for leading that class.

This month we will begin a relief carving with Robert Schrepfer carving a design on the back of a hand held mirror. Those present last meeting chose from walnut, butternut, cherry, bass, or various woods along with a flower design for their project. For those not present there will be some extra blanks and patterns for you. If you do not wish to carve on a mirror, you can do a relief carving on a piece of wood you ordered or one that you will bring. The size is about 6” by 6”. The cost is mirror and blank is $19. The square blank alone is $7. Robert prefers CASH, EXACT MONEY WILL BE HELPFUL.

Here are quotes directly from Robert about Tools for this project: Full size carving tools if you have them, palm size will work also. The majority of the time I use Flexcut, where you can interchange blade in handle. These are the sizes and types that I use, but bring what you have. THEY DO NEED TO BE SHARPENED AND HONED AND READY TO USE.

5/32″ – 3/16″ 45^ V-Tool

3/8″ 70^ V-Tool

1/4″ – 3/8″ #3 Gouge

1/8″ – 1/4″ #5 Gouge

2,4,5 mm Assortment of Dockyard tools (Veiners and “V” tools)

1/8″ – 1/4″ #1 Chisel

Carving Knife

Pencil and eraser

A carvers Bench Hook would be good if you have one (it makes it easier when you’re doing relief carving, that way you can keep both hands on the carving tool).

July 13 -15, 2012 is the time for the Southeastern Woodcarving School in Prattville AL. Sign up forms will be available at the May meeting or go to their web site for class information and registration. One of the teachers there will be AWC member Ginny Gray teaching a class in carving Cottonwood Bark.

Georgia National Fair in Perry, GA is October 4 -5 for us to volunteer as Artists in Residence where we do carving demos these two days. Another option to participate is to be working on a carving you wish to exhibit. These exhibits are taken down to Perry early September.

Tucker Recreation Center is open on Thursday from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM for Open Carving. Many AWC members are present, some in the morning, some in the afternoon, some all day. It is a good place for interest groups to meet, new carvers to get individual help or just to come and carve and socialize.

Check out Atlantawoodcarvers.com for some new photos on the members page.

Come Carve with us on May 8 at our monthly meeting or on Thursdays at Tucker REC.

Laveta Hilton

President, AWC

laveta@mindspring.com