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Woodworkers invite others to join them at Sanford Senior Center
Margaret Wilson, right, works on a wood carving while a piece by Carol Cheesbro, left, is displayed on the table during a regular gathering of wood carvers Tuesday, Sept. 7 at Senior Services of Midland County’s Sanford Activity & Dining Center. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)
Bill Stasinski works on a wood carving in his signature style, which features miniature houses stacked upon one another, during a regular gathering of wood carvers Tuesday, Sept. 7 at Senior Services of Midland County’s Sanford Activity & Dining Center. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net) 18
DAVE SHANE
For the Daily News
A dedicated group of woodcarvers meets twice a week at the Sanford Senior Center, and they are happy to welcome newcomers who have never carved before, but would like to give it a try.
It doesn’t matter what your skill level is if you want to join the group — or if you have any skill at all as the group has a tradition of helping others learn the craft.
Willie Stewart, a 74-yearold member of the Midland Woodcarvers, is an accomplished, award-winning carver. He got his start more than 30 years ago with the help of fellow members.
“We got started in the winter of 1989. My son and I were looking for something to do,” Stewart told the Daily News.
They attended a once-aweek class for a couple of months and enjoyed the creative hobby. Within a few years, both Willie and his wife, Barbara, their son, Wesley, and daughter, Tanya, had all become woodcarvers. Stewart said. The club can provide wooden blocks and the tools to give it a try.
“We usually have knives and gouges to use and get started, and we will show them the tricks,” he said.
Stewart said woodcarvers enjoy the creative side of the hobby, and there are different types of carving to try — relief carving, chip carving and caricatures.
Willie admitted he is a pretty accomplished carver, but he has been surpassed in skill by both his wife and son.
“(Barbara) is faster and does better work than me. She’s won many contests. And our son is even better.”
Wesley, who is now 50 years old, makes walking sticks and canes that he can sell online for up to $200.
All of them learned from local experts and have traveled around the Midwest and Canada attending shows, competitions and seminars.
The elder Stewart, who is a former Dow Chemical Co. engineer and the Lee Township treasurer, said it can be a rewarding hobby.
“When you design something from scratch, and put a lot of time into it, it’s quite absorbing. But it’s relaxing, too,” he said.
Wood creations are often later painted to look more realistic.
“A realistic bird or fish, you can put in 40 hours of carving and 40 hours of painting,” Stewart said. “You can get pretty sophisticated.
“My son made a squirrel that looks so realistic, you want to pet it — it’s amazing.”
He said newcomers to the group should find it a nice, relaxing atmosphere, with no pressure.
“For some of us, it’s the highlight of the week just to get out with some folks with a similar mind.”
Both Willie and Barbara Stewart are officers of the local woodcarving group. They can be reached at 989-687-2536 for more information.
