Established in 1967, the Santa Clara Valley Carvers (SCVC) is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting the art of woodcarving in the community. We’re a chapter of the California Carvers Guild, a 501(c)(3) entity. Our mission is to learn and share our passion for woodcarving with others. Enjoy our woodcarving newsletter.
We meet weekly in the South Bay Area. Everyone 11 or older is welcome to join us. No prior carving experience is required to participate. We learn, share our knowledge, mentor, and have fun.
2025 Chapter Leaders:
President: Roman Chernikov
Vice President: Jim Phipps
Secretary: Dan Brady
Treasurer and membership: Gary Paulson
SCVC Advisors: Dave Osterlund, Rena Gooding
CCG Advisor: Roman Chernikov
Newsletter Editor: group effort
Chapter Links:
Visit our website: https://SantaClaraValleyCarvers.org
Contact us by email: contact@santaclaravalleycarvers.org
Please contribute to our woodcarving newsletter by sending your content to editors@santaclaravalleycarvers.org before the 25th of the month before publication on the 1st of February, April, June, August, October, and December.
The newsletter is also available as a PDF file: scvc-newsletter-2025-08.pdf
President’s Message
I encourage everyone to participate in the Tri-Valley Carvers Woodcarving Show in Pleasanton next month. This is a great opportunity to meet woodcarvers from all over California, see some of the best woodcarving projects of the year, and learn from others. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, consider submitting your projects to the show competition, volunteering at our club table, or renting a table to display your work. I can walk you through the process; it is easy. You can read about one of the previous shows here.
Please take a look at the upcoming events in our calendar, which includes a special invitation from the Huntzinger family to a memorial event for Alan on August 23. Additionally, we’re hosting our next wood carving merit badge class for scouts on September 18 and 25, with spots available for up to 10 scouts. If you are between 11 and 17 years old, you may register online.
We’ve reached out to a local library and proposed to display our carvings in their glass cases. This partnership may also help us attract new members. We will see how it goes.
Our club relies on volunteers and donations to operate. We’re grateful for the generous donation of tools, wood, and books from Doug Ryan’s family, as well as other donations we’ve received. More on that later. Thank you to all who have contributed!
We’ve been working to streamline our club management processes by switching to web-based collaboration tools. This will help us enhance transparency, share responsibilities, and ensure that multiple people can collaborate and back up each other in every management task, such as club membership/roster and email list subscription management, online payments and banking, newsletter editing, event registration, and online presence management (have you liked the club’s Facebook page yet?). Please volunteer and help us with some of those tasks.
The National Wood Carvers Association (NWCA) organized its Holiday Ornament Campaign again this year, and we encourage you to participate. You can donate carved ornaments by November 1st, and NWCA will distribute them to children’s hospitals. This helps to promote woodcarving to the public, and you may win some prizes.
Woodcarving is not only a creative outlet but also a way to relax and unwind. Joining us at our meetings is a great way to learn, connect with others, and forget the daily routine for an hour or two. Happy carving!
Roman Chernikov, President of Santa Clara Valley Carvers
Woodcarving Meeting Schedule Change
Due to Labor Day, the Adult Recreation Center will be closed on Monday, September 1st. We will meet on Tuesday, 9/2, instead.
Upcoming events
Please review all scheduled events on our website: https://santaclaravalleycarvers.org/events
Join Us on Mondays and/or Thursdays!
We meet in two locations every week to carve together: San Jose and Los Gatos. You are welcome to visit us as a guest anytime during our carving hours to see our projects and the tools we use. Visiting our meetups is an excellent opportunity to chat with local woodcarvers, learn something new about the traditional craft of woodcarving, and even try your hand at whittling something nice.
No previous carving experience is required. Our meetings are very informal and are great for learning both in groups and one-on-one. We mentor beginners.
Thanks to the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council of Scouting America for providing us with a meeting space every Thursday evening, from 7 to 9 pm. We meet on the 1st floor at 1900 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
Thanks to the Adult Recreation Center for giving us a large room to carve on Monday mornings. If you are 55 or older and want to visit us on Mondays, you will need to become a member of the Center ($35 per year). We meet at 208 E Main St, Los Gatos, CA 95030, 10 am to 2 pm. We look forward to seeing you there!
Woodcarving Display Case: Simple Whittling
Our club’s display case at the Adult Recreation Center lobby is currently featuring whittling projects, highlighting the art of carving with just a knife. The collection includes pieces contributed by Dan, Darryl, Dave, Gary, Herb, Roman, and other talented members, showing a range of simple whittling projects.
We regularly update the display case with new themes and carvings, and this latest exhibit is a great example of our members’ creativity and skill.
See past photos of our display case here.
Name Badge Workshop
Our January name badge carving workshop was a success, with many members learning new skills to create their personalized name tags. The workshop covered topics such as font selection, letter transfer, attachment methods, finishing options, and, of course, carving techniques.
As seen in the photo, the workshop sparked creativity among our members, resulting in a diverse range of unique name badges. Some are rustic, some are painted, some are carved, and some are whittled. We look forward to wearing our new name tags to future meetings and public events!
A Warm Welcome to Our New Members!
We are excited to introduce the newest additions to our woodcarving community, who joined us in June and July. We’re pleased to have you on board and look forward to sharing our passion for woodcarving with each of you.
Dawn Anderson (left photo, joined in June) has already made a great start by carving and painting her name badge. Dawn is currently taking woodworking classes and exploring whittling and chip carving projects.
Lindy Herrera (right, July) is a familiar face, having first joined the club in 1994. After a brief hiatus, she’s back and actively attending our meetings. With extensive woodcarving experience under her belt, Lindy enjoys whittling spools and working on various small projects.
Xiaohan Ma (left, July) has quickly grasped the fundamentals of whittling, mastering several key cuts. He’s currently working on a pumpkin carving project, an excellent way to learn about carving with the grain.
Terry Davis (right, June) is making rapid progress, having started with small whittling projects and now learning the basics of silver wiring techniques under Gary’s expert guidance.
Rafael Morales (left) joined us in July. Rafael has dove right into woodcarving, starting with a pumpkin carving project, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Our evening meetings have provided him a chance to unwind and learn a new skill while avoiding rush hour traffic.
Leo Shebalin joined us in July after attending our chip carving demonstration at Woodcraft in San Carlos earlier this year.
Guest Carvers
Patrick Huang, although only with us for a short time before relocating for college, made a lasting impression by carving two pumpkins from a single piece of basswood. We hope Patrick’s experience with us will spark a long-lasting interest in woodcarving.
Tom Stripling recently visited us to exchange ideas and explore tool maintenance techniques. He also brought a collection of his carvings, and those were impressive. It was great to discuss wood carving, share tips, and learn from his experience.
Woodcarving as a School Project
We had a special visit from a young student and his parents, who stopped by our club meeting to learn more about woodcarving for a school project.
Roman Chernikov shared his knowledge about the history of woodcarving with them and answered their questions. He also demonstrated whittling and chip carving techniques, and showed them various tools. The boy and his parents took notes and asked questions. We hope his school project was a success!
Woodcarvings Spotted
We share photos of woodcarvings discovered in unexpected or everyday places, such as carved welcome signs and wooden sculptures in local parks! Please follow these steps to participate:
- Take a photo of a woodcarving you’ve noticed in a public place
- Send the photo, along with a note of where you found it, to our newsletter editors at editors@santaclaravalleycarvers.org
We can’t wait to see what you’ve spotted!
Spotted by Nitin Varshney: Red Boat, Elliptical, Yoke by Dean Mclwain (July 2025)
Of all places to encounter craftsmanship, a hospital might not be the first that comes to mind. Yet tucked into a quiet corner of the Kaiser Santa Clara facility, these elegantly carved pieces stood out like a breath of fresh air. Surrounded by sterile walls and clinical routines, these carvings offered a moment of unexpected beauty. Even in the most unlikely settings, creativity continues to carve out its space.
Spotted by Nitin Varshney: Giant Carvings & Chainsaw Art (Summer 2024)
While on our road trip from San Francisco to Mount Rushmore, we discovered this not-so-hidden gem.
Tucked away in the scenic Black Hills of South Dakota, in the charming town of Keystone SD, Dahl’s Chainsaw Art is a roadside treasure where brothers Jarrett and Jordan Dahl, known locally as the “Carvers of the Hills”, transform massive Black Hills pine, cedar and cottonwood into towering bears, buffalo, freedom eagles, thrones, gateway arches and more.
They even carved a giant Bigfoot statue recognized as the world’s largest. A truly remarkable find, this unexpected stop became one of the most memorable parts of our summer adventure.
Spotted by Debbie Mize:
Left photo: totem pole at the Wildlife Rehab in Oregon: Eagle, Bear, Fish
Basswood Group Order from Heinecke
We are planning a group order of basswood from Heinecke Wood Products. The company provides basswood of excellent quality and can cut and even laminate pieces to any size.
The SCVC club will cover shipping costs up to 1/4 cubic foot per person; this perk is available to club members who have paid their 2025 dues. If enough carvers are interested in participating, we will place the order in a week (August 11).
If you are interested, please contact us with a list of sizes you would like to get by August 10th. We will consolidate the list and get the quote. Before ordering, we will share the prices for your items so you can confirm your final order details. When we receive wood, you can pay and pick up your boards at our meeting locations during our regular hours. We expect cash or checks.
Example: thickness X width X length – count
1.5 x 2 x 6″ – 3 pieces
3/4 x 3 x 12″ – 3 boards
1 x 1 x 12″ – 2 pieces
Donations to Santa Clara Valley Carvers
We’re grateful for the support of our community!
Books and Tools from Doug Ryan’s Family
A huge thank you to the family of Doug Ryan for their generous donation of books and tools to our club, as well as other local woodturning clubs. Doug, a skilled woodworker with an impressive home shop in Santa Clara, passed away in May 2025, leaving behind an incredible legacy.
After contacting us, his family allowed us to collect some of the woodcarving tools and books from his estate, which we’ll treasure and put to good use. Some of the books are related to woodturning and woodworking, and will be passed to other local clubs soon: West Bay Woodturners, Silicon Valley Woodturners, and Bay Area Woodworkers Association.
Basswood and Butternut from Pranay Agrawal
We appreciate Pranay’s donation of basswood and butternut, featuring pieces in various sizes, including a large 2x7x12″ block (seen at the bottom left in the photo). This fresh wood is a joy to carve, and we’re planning to offer it to members at a discounted price.
Wood Finish from Mike Campi
Thanks to Mike for donating three cans of assorted stains. Although not new, these stains are perfect for experimenting with different finishes and creating unique effects. As a bonus, they’re available to members for free! If you’re interested in trying them out, please reach out to Mike to arrange pickup.
What’s on the Workbench?
As we continue into the summer season, our woodcarvers remain busy showing their creativity and skill. Here’s a look at some of the exciting projects our members have been working on lately.
Dave Osterlund
David carved a 9″ (23 cm) tall fisherman from basswood. The fish was carved separately and glued to the body. This project shows David’s attention to detail and skill with the medium.
Another impressive piece is an intricate spoon carved from butternut, demonstrating his ability to craft beautiful and delicate items. It is ~12” long.
David’s carvings have gained popularity online, with thousands of views on Reddit! Didn’t you know? Our club has its own SCVC Reddit account, where we share our woodcarving projects. Check it out and see what the online community thinks about our carvings!
Pranay Agrawal
Pranay’s latest carvings are three walnut spoons and a uniquely shaped apple wood spatula. His talent for carving functional utensils from various woods, including green wood, is on full display. Great job, Pranay!
Pranay’s tip: remove most of the material while the wood is green, then add final touches after it has slowly dried to minimize cracking and warping.
Connie Wilson
Check out Connie’s latest carvings: two adorable gnome heads. Connie found these fun projects simple to carve, as the hats and beards cleverly conceal the hard-to-carve details: eyes, mouth, and ears.
The gnomes are currently unfinished. We’d love to hear your thoughts: should Connie paint her gnomes or keep them in their rustic form? Please share your opinion in the comment section of the newsletter; thanks!
Dan Brady
Dan carved a butter spreader from basswood (see details on our recent workshop) and decided to decorate the handle with checkering, thanks to guidance from Gary Paulson, an expert in gunstock checkering. As they worked together, they found that checkering is more challenging on softer woods like basswood, but with the proper technique, it can still produce great results. One photo shows Dan (left) and Gary (right) discussing the topic. Also, you may see the checkering tool up close.
Dan is also currently working on a neckerchief slide featuring a Celtic knot design in a tube pattern. The slide is halfway done, but we still included it in the newsletter because sometimes it is a learning experience to see the work in progress. Dan is using a real knot as a model; using the model helps to achieve a semi-realistic look.
Gary Paulson
Gary, an expert in checkering, has created a display board featuring various intricate designs to highlight his skill in gunstock checkering. The photo also includes some of the checkering tools.
Terry (left) was intrigued by Gary’s (right) use of silver wire embellishment, a decorative technique used to adorn high-end gunstocks. It is also known as “wire inlay” or “silver wire wrapping”. As seen in the photo, Gary guided Terry through the process, demonstrating how to prepare the silver wire (actually silver ribbon) before inserting it into the wood.
Lindy Herrera
As seen in the photo, Lindy has added her personal touch to two thread spools by carving charming faces on each and has also created a delightful small Santa.
Nitin Varshney
Nitin is currently carving a 4×8” basswood plaque. It features a sweet love message, “Anu, we love you”. The outer edge is cleverly carved to resemble boulders, symbolically conveying that the message is “carved in stone”. It will be a thoughtful gift.
David Clarke
As a skilled woodworker, David has recently started learning chip carving, and the results are impressive. Compared to David’s work just two months ago, his two newly completed practice boards show notable improvements in consistent angles, sharp cuts, and overall precision. It is an excellent example of how dedication and regular practice can lead to rapid improvements.
The photo shows two chip carving practice boards, made from 4 x 8” basswood and featuring a variety of traditional and novel patterns. For those interested in trying their hand at chip carving, the practice boards are available for purchase online at READ N TRY, with a special discount offered to Santa Clara Valley Carvers club members.
Roman Chernikov
Roman has prepared two pumpkin projects from basswood blocks to serve as guides for new club members. Carving a pumpkin is an excellent way to learn how to carve with the grain and practice various knife cuts, making it a good project for beginners. The photo shows the pumpkins with only a few grooves carved, and a whittling knife, demonstrating the steps involved in bringing this classic design to life.
Jordan Makower’s Linoleum Block Prints
In this newsletter section, Jordan shares photos of his latest linoleum block prints, highlighting his skill and attention to detail. Review sketches, carved linoleum blocks, and final prints.
Daughter and Granddaughter
Day-old baby, Gwendolyn. Grandmother, Jennifer. Mother, Rachel.
Leaping Deer
Different techniques were used to show depth as well as trees in the background and foreground.
Linoleum was removed mostly by vertical gouge cuts to suggest distant trees and indicate the wooded environment in the scene.
“Oklahoma” Dream Dance (1958) Camp Tranquility, Earlton, NY
Esther and I were employed by a ‘poverty camp’ in 1958. We were ‘pressed into’ performing “Oklahoma” in their summer barn show. I was a dancer; she was a feisty singer. No one took photos.
Rachel and Gwendolyn
This is a 4” x 5” linoleum block. I’m still trying to light the baby’s face properly. She was two days old when the photo of her and her mother was taken. I searched for that photo, seeking ways to convey delicate shading with this medium.
Waking Lioness
Working on textural shading of fur patterns at different places; fur directions, illumination through the covering bushes, ground shadows, and the areas which are only partially lit in the photo that I’m viewing. After I finish with the cat, I’ll work on the bushes; they will be somewhat muted, so as not to draw attention away from the subject.
Sometimes, before inking a linoleum block to make a print, I rub a pencil over a sheet of paper, covering the block. It gives me clues about areas I may need to enhance before printing. As I look at the uncovered block at this moment, it seems to have a certain quality not apparent in the original photo that I sketched.
Zach & his cat
Heavily carved linoleum grooves in the background won’t show in a final print.
I may make a test print first, to find & correct my mistakes.
I was running out of white paper, and printed this last image on yellow.
The End Grain
We are looking for volunteers. Can you assist with setting up and staffing our club table for a couple of hours during the Tri-Valley Carvers show or the Car in the Park event in September? Or maybe help the club manage our Facebook page? We would appreciate your help and involvement.
If you have comments related to our newsletter, please share them with us by sending your feedback by email or commenting below. Our woodcarving newsletters are free, and you can subscribe online.
Happy carving! See you all at the Tri-Valley Carvers woodcarving show in Pleasanton, CA, on September 13-14!
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