Mystic Carvers Club, Inc

Wood Carving

About

The Mystic Carvers Club started in 1979 when a small group of carvers got together to carve at least once monthly in Mystic. As our group grew and the subject matter became more diverse, we moved to the Quiambaug Firehouse in Stonington. We meet 9AM to 3PM the last Sunday of each month.Many people think they lack the skills to carve but,
if you can peel a potato, YOU CAN CARVE!Our membership consists of master, intermediate, & novice carvers. Often we get vistors who would like to learn to carve but have no experience. We help new carvers with projects and loan them the necessary tools to use.Each month an experienced carver volunteers to be a Novice Leader. The leader chooses a project & provides wood for the project for a minimal cost of $1 to $5. Most of these projects can be completed in a few hours
with instruction from the Novice Leader.

Monthly Meetings

  • Sunday, April 26th

  • Sunday, May 31st

  • *Sunday, June 14th

  • Sunday, July 26th

  • **Sunday, August 30th

  • Sunday, September 27th

  • Sunday, October 25th

  • ****Sunday, November 22nd

  • ****Sunday, December 20th - Christmas Party

*Due to Stadtlander Woodcarving Class
date changed from June 28th to June 14th.**A Carve In - open to the public & other
clubs in addition to our regular meeting***Due to Thanksgiving, date changed from
November 28 to November 22nd****Christmas Party Fun & Potluck
Due to Christmas, date changed from
December 26th to December 20th

classes

MAY 2026
Mike Bloomquist & Harold Kaltenbach
WoodCarving Class
May 16th & 17th
Location: Beckish Senior Center
188 Route 66, Columbia, CT 06237

JUNE 2026
Stadtlander WoodCarving Class
June 26th at 4:30PM
June 27th & 28th at 9AM
Location: Quiambaugh Fire Company
50 Old Stonington Rd, Stonington, CT 06378

HAROLD KALTENBACH WOOD CARVING
CLASS DESCRIPTION

Cottonwood Bark Fairy House
Must bring your own tools

MIKE BLOOMQUIST WOOD
CARVING CLASS DESCRIPTION

Wood carved moving automaton of either a Mouse, Bear, Santa, or Angel
Must bring your own tools

STADTLANDER WOOD CARVING
CLASS DESCRIPTION

2-1/2 Days of Fundamentals of Relief Carving with a choice of designs to create a relief carving in basswood using knives and gouges. Each student will need to pick and choose their relief project(s) (shown on pages 1-7.) *It may be possible for students to carve variations on most of the projects.See listing of relief carving projects on website

Class will cover:
Layout, Design, Theory of relief and perspective, Sharpening, Using knives and gouges, Detailing, & Finishing techniques

Tools & Equipment: Each student will be expected to furnish his/her own tools and equipment.

LIST OF ITEMS TO BE PROVIDED BY STUDENT:

  • A. Lead pencil & large rubber eraser

  • B. Carbon Paper (8-1/2” X 11” sheet)

  • C. Masking tape

  • D. Non-slip pad (available at most grocery stores)

  • E. Used Toothbrush

  • F1. Six inch straightedge (plastic or steel)

  • F2. Twelve inch ruler

  • G. Sandpaper: (60, 150, 240 grits) (He will have available)

  • H. Sharpening stone, leather strop, and compound.

  • I. Overhead table lamp (depends on classroom lighting)

  • J. Carving gloves (especially if carving eggs.)

  • K. Finishing materials (He will have material available)

For Scenic Reliefs - Flat Pieces & Brown Eggs

  • · Burnt Umber or Raw Umber Artist Oil Paints

  • · Various colors artist oil paints for scenes with color

  • · Turpentine (Odorless preferred-Turpenoid)

  • available at art stores

  • · Paintbrushes or Sponge Applicator

  • · Minwax paste wax specially formulated for dark surfaces

  • · Soft clothes for applying paste wax

For Scenic Reliefs - Eggs

  • · Acrylic Paints

  • · Boiled Linseed Oil or gel varnish

  • · Paintbrushes

For Human Reliefs - Natural Finish Version

  • · Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane-Satin (brush on)

  • · Odorless Paint Thinner

  • · Paintbrushes

For Human Reliefs - Painted Version

  • · Miscellaneous Paint Brushes Various Sizes

  • · Minwax water based stain clear decorator tint available at Home Depot, Lowes

  • · Acrylic Paints (Liquitex, Delta Creamcoat, JoSonya, or Windsor and Newton brands)

  • · Folkart Blending Gel (Walmart, Michaels) *optional

  • · Deft satin polyurethane spray

  • · Krylon 1311 matte spray *optional

L. Knives and Gouges needed (Preferably sharpened prior to class):

  • Basic Standard carving knife Murphy Brand or other Catalog # Murphy 101or102

  • 1/8” (2 mm) flat gouge, bent - Catalog # Ramelson 2120

  • 3/8“ straight fishtail skew - Catalog # Ramelson 2150

  • 3/8” wide, # 3 shallow gouge

  • 1/2” wide, # 3 shallow gouge

  • ½“ wide, # 7 gouge

  • 5/16” wide deep gouge - Catalog # Ramelson 2520

  • 1/16” (1mm) wide deep gouge - Catalog # Ramelson 2710 or dockyards

  • 1/8” (2 mm) wide deep gouge - Catalog # Ramelson 2720 or dockyards

  • 3/32” (2 mm) or 1/16” (1 mm) wide V tool - Catalog # Ramelson 2800/2810

  • 1/8” or 5/32” wide V tool - Catalog # Ramelson 2820/2830

L2. Supplementary (Larger Projects & Human Relief

  • Detail carving knife (Murphy Brand or other)

  • 3/16” wide V-tool

  • ¾” wide #3 gouge

  • ¾” wide #7 gouge

  • 3/8” wide #9 gouge

  • ¾” wide #9 gouge

  • 3/16” wide #11 gouge

  • ¼” wide #11 gouge

Concerning the knives needed:
The descriptions listed are those that Stadtlander would like to see used, but in no way are absolutely necessary to complete the projects. Many of his students have used close approximations that work just as well. He prefers to use the palm type gouge, but longer handle gouges are acceptable. Gouges may be of the bent, straight, spoon, or fishtail variety. He will have these available for sale during the class for any students who desire to purchase them. See catalog.

LIST OF ITEMS THAT STADTLANDER WILL PROVIDE:

  • A. $20.00 worth of boards, eggs, or roughouts for each students use during class

  • A1. There's a charge for additional boards, roughouts, or eggs not used during the class

  • A2. One free pattern supplied with each board, roughout, or egg purchased

  • B. Sharpening System during class hours

  • C. Work holding devices for larger projects; students are welcome to bring their own if they have them

  • D. Paints/solvents used for projects created during the class

LIST OF ITEMS THAT STADTLANDER WILL HAVE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE:

  • A. Carving Tools

  • B. Other Miscellaneous Carving Supplies, Boards, and Patterns

Also, if you want any extra blanks or supplies for yourself,
let Ed Ertle of the Mystic Carvers Club know. He ask Stadtlander to bring them.
Stadtlander carries a lot of items, and they all can’t fit in his truck.
He will have a limited number of extra blanks and supplies for the class.
See www.stadtlandercarvings.com for most of the items he offers.

retreat

SEPTEMBER 2026WoodCarving Retreat of New England
Hosted by CT Woodcarvers
September 18-21st
Location: Wisdom House
229 E Litchfield Rd., Litchfield, CTClick link below for more information

Contact

If you are interested in more information,
please reach out by filling out the form below.