Woodcarving classes offered by Tri-County Whittlers and Woodcarvers

Joanne Badovanic from Lockwood and Tom Beck from El Dorado Springs demonstrate their carving crafts. --submitted photo

The Tri County Whittlers and Woodcarvers is offering a free basic four-week carving class, beginning on Oct. 6. There is no charge for the classes, but there is a cost of $45 for the set of tools, sharpener, and cutouts for the classes; $20 must be paid at the time of sign-up for the class with the remaining $25 to be paid the first night of the classes. The class size is limited to 10 students and the class will run from 7 to 9 on each of the four nights. Classes will be held Oct. 6, 13, 20, and 27.

Student will be taught how to sharpen their tools, make basic cuts, how to do basic relief and in-the-round carvings, and finishing hints will be included. Participants should have three or four complete projects at the end of the classes.

Tri-County Whittlers and Woodcarvers meet every Tuesday night at the Nevada YMCA and members offer support, help, encouragement, and fellowship for fellow carvers of all skill levels.

In addition, the club will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this winter. Members come from a 35-40+mile radius and include the basic geographic areas of Barton, Cedar, and Vernon Counties, although members regularly come from nearby Bourbon and Crawford Counties in Kansas and Bates County in Missouri. Membership in the club is a mere $5 per year.

Tri-County Whittlers and Wood Carvers do two service projects each year. They carve projects to be donated to their host institution, the Osage Prairie YMCA, for their annual holiday auction, which for the past two years has been a complete, hand carved nativity set. They also carve a walking stick that's auctioned internally at their Christmas holiday dinner in December. The proceeds of this auction go to a charity of the purchaser's choice.

Mark Barnes of the Pittsburg, Kan., area is president of the club, Karin Haverstik of Moundville is secretary, and Jim Summers of El Dorado Springs is treasurer.

Any person interested in the classes may contact either Larry at miloacres@yahoo.com, Donna at dcthomas@hotmail.com or (417) 448-4560, or Karin at (417) 922-3452 to get information and/or to sign up for the classes.

Persons wanting to sign up for the classes should contact one of the above or send their complete contact information (name, address, and phone number) and $20 deposit to Donna Thomas, 20767 East K Highway, Nevada, MO 64772.