A Shoe Found in Junction City Kansas

 Received an email from Joseph that he found this shoe at an estate in Junction City Kansas.  This was apparently a military community adjacent to Fort Riley.

Joseph sent along a number of great pictures for me to share here.  Thanks so much for sharing Joseph and I hope you enjoy the shoe.

 

 

Is There a World for Woodcarvers?

My father had two sons: my brother John and me. He also had three daughters—five children in total! He dreamed of at least one of us staying in the family business that he and his father built. Unfortunately, none of us really saw a life in it that we wanted. I can't speak for everyone, but for me, there was a lot I saw that I didn't like.

Number one for me was that we never had any money. Woodcarving did not seem like a profitable business from my perspective. Dad would get a job and usually get paid half or all before he started work. Then, he'd bust his butt with lots of late nights to get it done. Sometimes, this was demotivating because you get the money, spend it, then the money is gone and you're still working. I'm sure this was because he was trying to cover bills or get groceries for five kids. I wasn't a part of the finance department of the house, so I can't be sure, but I was pretty sure I didn't want to be riding so close to the line.

There was also a lot of uncertainty. Where was the work going to come from? He had a few places he could reliably make stuff for, but the stress of not knowing where the next job was coming from seemed like a lot. Later in life, I learned it was, as I worked a number of one-year contracts. When the contract comes to an end, you're scrambling to find the next one.

Now that I'm 56 having built my own career, I'd love to hit the brakes, slow it down, or pivot out of the career I've spent 28 years building. Looking at woodcarving, it seems like something that there really isn't a market for outside of a hobby. Real woodcarving craftsmanship takes time, and I can't imagine people willing to pay for that time. Back in the '80s, my father would carve a full-sized eagle wall hanging which he sold for about $1,000, which at the time, I felt was not enough. Every feather was detailed, and it was an immense amount of work. Today, that $1,000 would be worth around $3,000. However, I don't think you could survive considering how much work goes into that, so realistically, it would need to sell for around $10,000 to be worth the time that goes into it. I just can't imagine someone paying $10,000 for a life-sized wall hanging of an eagle.

It seems a woodcarver today would need a line of products they can crank out fast, much like Dad and Grandpa had with their shoes. Something they could stockpile and sell faster to allow them time to do the big things like a life-sized eagle. But then, how do you sell them? Have a showroom? Sell to furniture stores? Go to trade shows? Suddenly, the thing I want at 56 to help slow my life down seems to be pretty busy.

Even now, at 56, I'm not sure woodcarving is for me.  Are there woodcarvers out there making it work?  I'd love to hear from you.

A Shoe in St. Louis

 Marcia of St. Louis Missouri contacted me that she purchased on of the Whittlers shoes from a thrift shop.  Made back in 1974 is looks to still be in great shape.  Even still has the laces.  Thank you so much for sharing Marcia!

Carved Urns

 Towards the later part of my father's career he worked with a company making wooden coffins and urns.  Some where made specifically to not have any metal screws or fasteners and instead were made with wooden pegs and glue. Recently a friend of the family passed and they wanted her to be buried in one of these urns.  Luckily they were able to find three.  This example has a rose theme.  I'm sure Mike would be honored to know they wanted to put their loved one to rest in one of his creations, and thank you for the photos.

A Caricature, A Shoe, & More

 I've been really slacking on updating this site and I'm falling behind.  I'd like to start by thanking Myron from Montana for contacting me about some of his collection.  He was also kind enough to sent some to me. So a huge thank you for that.

My father use to carve these greatly exaggerated cowboy caricatures.  While I remember seeing them when I was young I haven't laid eye on any forever until Myron  sent this one my way.  It's named "The Salesman" and is his typical bow legged, bug eyed cowboy I remember.  He would carve them and then paint them with oil paints which seems to be holding up really well after all these years.

The show was one created by my grandfather back in 1968.  Even has a wooden description label which I've never seen before but definitely in my grandfather's handwriting.  

The last two pieces are Br'er Bear and Br'er Rabbit from the Disney film Song of the South. They have no signature which is strange and I don't recall my father or grandfather ever doing them.  I asked my mother about them as well and she doesn't recall them.  However Myron is certain they were made by them.

I'll try to get some better pics of them and post in the future.  Thanks again Myron.

Some New Shoes Emerged

It's been a quite couple years, with everyone dealing with the covid epidemic and so forth.  I hope everyone is staying safe and health.  I recently received an email from Lindsey sharing a nice story regarding a pair of shoes with an unusual signature on them.

She writes, "I have a nice story you may enjoy about what I believe are shoes carved by your father or grandfather. My grandmother passed away from cancer 2 years ago at age 93 and among her things were a pair of carved wooden shoes. She made a point of sitting my mom down and telling her their story.

My grandmother had lived in England for 10 years starting in the late 1960's and developed a very close friendship with a woman there. When she returned to the US she bought the shoes as a pair and sent one to her best friend overseas. More than 40 years later when her best friend passed away the friend's daughter carefully packed the shoe up and returned it to my grandmother to be a part of the pair again. For a long time, my own best friend was living in Germany and I had decided to mail one of the shoes to her, but then a sudden change of plans had her move back to the US before I got a chance.  I'm holding onto them for the right circumstance to separate the pair again."

What a nice story.  Exciting to hear some have traveled to Europe.  Usually my grandfather would sign his The Whittler and my father would sign his Chip.  So it's interesting so see them signed Bordwell.  First one I've seen this way.  She's shared these pictures.  Thanks Lindsey!

A Complete Pair Found in Peoria

I was contacted today be Inez who said this pair was found in Peoria Illinois.  The bottom says The Whittler '71.  Wow, 1971 pretty amazing.  So glad to see that his creations are still out there and being appreciated.  I hope you enjoy your pair of wooden shoes Inez and thank you for sharing the pictures with everyone.

Another Shoe Found in Branson Flea Market

Brian a woodcarver from the Ozarks found a shoe in a Branson flea market signed "The Whittler" and bought it.  He searched the internet and found this blog and found it was made by my grandfather.  We shared a few emails and he sent these picture over.  Thanks Brian.  I'm glad to see the blog is working.

Some Kind Words From Iowa Tom

On the Wood Carving Illustrated forum there was a post from a man named Tom acquiring some of pieces of my grandfather's.

"Hi Chad, I was very happy to see your almost year old posts about your grandfather and father. I'm a proud owner of two pieces that your grandfather made. I have a horse head that we've named Ol' Brownie' and two morel mushrooms together on a base signed by 'The Whittler '73' on the bottom with a pencil.

We've had Ol' Brownie since probably the late '70's. He sets on the wall on our main level. The mushrooms is on my desk at my office. We might have paid $50.00 for Brownie from a local contractor that needed a few bucks to pay bills. I found the mushrooms on EBay 15 or 20 years ago when I was looking for more pieces that your grandfather made. If memory serves, it was in Ohio and they wanted $600.00 for it. I didn't buy it then and about a year later paid 'em $100.00. I was, and am, happy to have both pieces.

He didn't get much money back then for his work. He would sell some to the local auto dealer for no much and the auto dealer would take the pieces out to Montana and resell them and made a large profit of you grandpa's work,

The bank in Hartwick, IA had several pieces of his work there and I stopped there once to see them. Alan Knaack (raised in Vinton) was the head banker there at the time.
I think he's retired and might still live in Grinnell. I'll bet he would have pieces of your grandpa's work at his home.

I would dearly love to have a large relief carving piece that he made. I'm from, and still am, in Vinton, IA and worked at a local gas station in the 60's here and your grandfather and his family (Your dad was probably quite young then.) would stop there, especially on their way to and from Texas in the winter and Minnesota in the summer. They did live near Vinton in earlier years. Seems like they would build log cabins and live there a while and then move on, or so the story goes.

On the back of Brownie is a newspaper print in the Des Moines Register about the big totem pole they was making at, and for, the Iowa State Fair one summer. If I remember correctly, there was a grocery store chain on the west coast named 'Totem' and they made Totem Poles for each store. There might have been some stores in Alaska also.

A very talented local carver here in Vinton, Brian Parr, knew your father and has spoken very highly of him and his talents. You are blessed to have had such talented ancestors."

Thanks for your original post. I'm glad to be able to share some memories.




Thanks for the post Tom. Thanks for the story and glad to hear you enjoy his work.

Original Post

Totem Pole & Other Pieces

I'm very very sorry but I lost track of who sent me the following pictures. Please message me and I'll give credit.

Here we have a lazy Susan with an acorn and oak leaf design.  I distinctly remember this growing up or at least one like it on my grandparent's home.

Next is the mule deer buck relief carving post previously but in this photo it is in my grandparent's house.  Really cool for me to see this one.  That was a long time ago.

Also sent along was a few more picture of the totem pole at the Iowa State Fair and one with The Whittler posing along side a different totem pole.

Richard Bordwell's  Debbie contacted me and shared some photos of a shoe and a Spanish cart created by the Whittler. She also shared a Christmas postcard showing Richard carving a shoe.

Thanks for sharing these and the kind words Debbie.

Sage Words

My grandfather and father were woodcarvers.  It wasn’t their hobby, it was their only source of income.  I grew up helping out whether I liked it or not.  So when I became an adult I ran away from it as fast as I could.  All I saw in it was a lot of work and little money.

Now that I’m older I’m finding you can’t really run from it.  The yarning to make things and have a shop of your own seems like the greatest thing ever.  Woodshops feel like home and I really feel I screwed up and lost something.  I’m financially more stable than my father and grandfather were but I’m less rich.

Cattail Clock

This beautiful clock was created by my father as a gift to my mother.  Mike constructed it from walnut and added the workings and glass.  The clock had a lovely tone and had to be wound with a key once a day. It would chime the hour and then a subtle chime on the half hour.

Unfortunately my brother and I hit it with a ball and it fell from the wall, never worked again.  Whoops.  Yes we got in big trouble but it stayed on the wall to this day.

Mike created many panels and carving in various clocks, especially grandfather clocks. One I remember in particular was a grandfather clock that had a male deer jumping over a log on each side.  I believe this was sold from Krauss Furniture in Amana Iowa.  If anyone has seen this clock I would love a photo to add to the web site here.

Horse in a Barn Door

This was one of those pieces my Dad and Grandfather often did.  They were in my parents house and grandfather's house and because you saw them so much they became invisible.  I was recently sitting at my mother's and realized I never added the piece to the web page.

This is one my Dad created.  It was carved in basswood I would guess then painted with oils.  I don't think many wood crafters mix media like this but it was something Mike and Richard did often.

I've also included some detailed shots for a closer look at the work that went into this.  Notice the wood grain carved into the door from and the wooden walls and beam in the barn background.  The latches and square nails were also carved.  Even the stack of straw in the background has texture.

Really an amazing relief carving.

More Boots This Time From Josh

Joshua sent me a few shot of the boot he owns.  Seems pretty similar to mine.  Really great example.  Thanks a lot Josh.

Happy the Cowboy

Here is one I didn't know my brother had.  Happy the cowboy was in my house most of our lives.  So he must have been created back in the 70s.  He's a little dusty these days but you can still see the oil paint is still pretty vibrant.

Happy and I had a bit of history because as a young boy I accidently broke it.  I busted his legs off at the knees.  I tried to cover my tracks and just glue it back together but Dad noticed.  Caught! He then took it and fixed it properly.  I couldn't even see where the break was.

One can assume he was named happy because of the bottle in his hand or maybe because of his simple look ignorance is bliss.  Either way glad to see he's still around.