SawyerStump

Artist Bio

2011-09-02T00:35:00.000-07:00

I do believe sooner or later our gifts find their way to us. I discovered mine in my youth, however, at the time I didn't know it. Born of Bavarian ancestry with woodworking in my blood,I have always held a love for trees. I've always been intrigued by the many different varieties and the pattern of their grain formed by time.

I remember as a child getting my first pocket knife. In the summer I would spend my days hiking in the local forest carving into the branches. One day as I was taking off the bark on a twig I was holding, I realized it looked very much like a duck. As I whittled away the excess wood and revealed the feathered creature I was ecstatic. That duck was my first carving.

When I was much older I was looking at a screwdriver with a wooden handle. I found myself looking at the grain as I had so many years earlier. I picked up a knife and began to carve... Today I have found a new niche with a chainsaw. My wife Joan paints them and gives them the finishing touch that only she can lend to my talent. Our passion continues under the name of Sawyer Stump (Saw-Your-Stump).

Most Recent

2011-09-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

Summer 2011

2011-07-14T00:34:00.000-07:00

Going North

2011-06-22T21:45:00.000-07:00

Carving on the Commons 2011

2011-01-13T17:40:00.000-08:00

Time	Saturday, June 25 at 10:00 am - Sunday, June 26 at 5:00pm

Location	Cooksville Wi 11245 N Webster Evansville, WI

Created By	Thomas Weiss

More Info	We have the capacity for 25 carvers. Auction: Everything carved at the event will be auctioned on Sunday and proceeds on each item will be split 50/50 between the carver of the item and Cooksville Community Center. Carvers can sell items on Saturday that they bring with them. No Sunday sales. Admission: $3 per person each day. Free admission after 2 on Sunday, assuming auction starts at 3 to encourage attendance at auction. Friday night potluck will be at Weiss's. We will not be providing lunch for carvers Sat. and Sun. this year. Carvers will be asked to limit carving to Friday 10-5; Saturday 10-6; Sunday 10-3.

Cooksville Fall Festival - 2010

2010-09-30T21:03:00.000-07:00

Fall's Bounty - Cornucopia

Harvest Troll

Apple Pickin' Time

Easing Into Autumn...

2010-08-22T00:55:00.000-07:00

Everyone must take time

to sit and watch the leaves turn

Elizabeth Lawrence

The lazy days of summer are drawing to a close and hints of autumn are in the air. Here and there you can catch a glimpse of green leaves giving way to red as the shadows grow longer and the sun casts a golden hue that frames the world in a perfect light. Here at Sawyer Stump we will welcome autumn with the...

COOKSVILLE FALL FESTIVAL
Sunday, September 12th

Stop by to see the latest fall offerings, take a carriage ride through historic Cooksville, and savor a delicious home cooked meal prepared by members of the Lutheran Church. There will be games for the children and the sale of arts & crafts, collectibles, antiques, produce, and fall mums. The event begins at 11:00 AM with proceeds benefitting the Cooksville Lutheran Church. We look forward to seeing you! Until then, enjoy the photos of this summer's artistic accomplishments. Tom & Joan

Carving on the Commons Event in Cooksville

Under the Light of the Moon

Badfish

Rough Waters~Mountain Man

"Big Blue" Heron

Putter Boy

Goin' My Way?

Bobcat Mascot - Barton School

Case Eagle

Gleaming Black Coat

Sleeping Rail Bear

Planning Break

It Pays to Plan = End Result

2010-06-15T18:50:00.000-07:00

A RECENT CARVING COMPLETED IN FULTON

Carving on the Commons

2010-05-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

Mark Your Calendar and Come Join Us

in quaint, historic Cooksville for

Carving on the Commons!
June 26th & 27th, 2010

As the event draws near, excitement builds! The sign leads the way, having been prominently placed on the common in anticipation of this fun and phenomenol weekend. We look forward to seeing you there!

Charming Cooksville

2010-04-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

Eagle done in Red Elm

2010-04-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

Carving on the Commons
June 26 and 27

Come to Historic Cooksville Wisconsin for this first annual chainsaw carving event. Carvers at all levels will be attending this event hosted by Sawyer Stump to benefit the Cooksville Community Center.
An Auction will be held Sunday June 27 at 3 pm. Come and enjoy this two day event and watch high performance carvers create astounding works of art.
Cooksville is located just 6 miles south of Stoughton Wis. on highway 138 and 59.
See you there!

2010-02-07T06:22:00.000-08:00

Follow our live carving via the following link
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sawyer-stump-chainsaw-carving

2009-12-27T18:31:00.000-08:00

Carvapalooza

2009-12-27T18:06:00.000-08:00

The time for the annual Carvapalooza Carvathon will soon be here. Hopefully it won't be the adventure I had last year getting there with a busted transmission. This years dates will be March 2-7. There will be about 30 carvers from around the world all gathering at Jamie Doerens studio 20 miles north of Green Bay on Highway 41 (exit Sampson Road) in Abrams Wis. This is a week of dedicated carvers working at various levels of their art, from novice to master all carvers are welcome! This year the event will be open to the public. Look forward to seeing you there!

2009-11-21T18:33:00.001-08:00

We Have Moved!!!

We Moved to a small community inbetween Madison and Janesville Wisconsin

called Cooksville,Its a artisan community and I think our studio will do just fine here ....

2009-11-21T18:30:00.001-08:00

Nativity

2009-11-21T18:22:00.001-08:00

An Attempt to update this blog ,here are some recent projects....

2009-07-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

OK well its only 5 months since I made an effort to post, but I have been busy!!

Since then we have moved to the Madison area and have been looking for a new home,with no luck. But this too shall change as I need to have somewhere to be able to run our business without the neighbors throwing rocks.

Any ways fear not tho as I have been traveling the state and beyond carving. I will continue to widen my client base and take care of our return customers as well.

I want to point out to anyone who has had mold issues with any of the pumpkins sold last year to please contact me as I can either repair or replace them. Regretfully I have not been attending the West Bend Farmers Market as I have been busy ,but may make a visit there this fall(October) so look for me at Tastings.

Carve-A-Palooza 2009

2009-03-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

It is good to have an end to journey toward;
but it is the journey that matters in the end.

- Ursula le Guin

Though our carving activity had taken on a much slower pace due to the long, cold winter, we have shifted gears and become quite busy in preparation for the spring market.

Inspiration can be found all around us, but nothing beats being in the company of fellow carvers. Most recently I made the trip to Jamie Doerens Studio in Abrams Wisconsin for the third annual "Carve-A-Palooza" where a group of twenty other carvers got together and had a week of stress-free carving. The trek to Abrams, however, was a challenge in itself and caught the attention of members of the United Chainsaw Carvers Guild that were in attendance. They found my story to be newsworthy so at their request, the following article was submitted to the United Chainsaw Carvers Guild for inclusion in their next news letter via Mrs. Stump...

***************************************************************************

Here it was! Carve-A-Palooza time! With great anticipation I had been awaiting this day! As I prepared to depart on my trek to Jamie Doeren's studio in Abrams, WI, I felt I had done everything I could to ensure a safe, secure, and successful journey. The previous week I had meticulously gone over my truck from top to bottom: Oil change - Check! Tire Pressure -Check! Washer Fluid - Check! You get the picture. Clear blue skies and bright sunshine were my traveling companions. I was humming along just fine when suddenly my speedometer went down and the tachometer went up. I thought I must have accidentally knocked the shifter out of gear but Noooooo!!! @!*!* , I soon realized that my transmission gave way. There I sat, Sawyer Stump, sad and lonely stranded along Highway41 - just before the Butte des Morts Bridge. Ironically, the name "Butte des Morts" was given to the area by French settlers, and means "Hill of the Dead" in reference to a nearby Indian burial mound. I couldn't help but think how this name now applied to my personal situation. Frustration, devastation, country station! It sure sounded like the lyrics of a sad country song to me! Wallowing in my own self-pity, I dialed 9WW (9-Wise-Wife). At the sound of her hello I quickly spewed my woeful tale and said "I guess I'm coming home" but she wouldn't here anything of it. At the sound of her emphatic "NO WAY" I regained my determination. A short while later I had a tow truck on the way and a rental truck waiting for me.

Three hours later I could finally say that I HAD ARRIVED and boy, am I glad I did! After spending the week with fellow carvers, I left feeling inspired and grateful for the new friendships that I had forged. As for my truck, that's another story.

One good deed deserves another...

1. If you should ever find yourself in need of a tow in the Oshkosh area, I would highly recommend Expert Towing. (920.230.2003) Not only do they provide great service, they're great people!

2. The only rental truck company that allows you to tow a trailer behind it is U-Haul.

Christkindl Market

2008-11-13T07:55:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Proclamation

Inspired by the 700-year-old tradition,
Sawyer Stump will host its
First Annual Christkindl Markt

St. Nicholas Day
***
Saturday, December 6th, 2008
10 AM - 3PM

In homage to our German heritage, we have set aside one special day for the Holzschnitzer (woodcarver) to offer his exceptional, one of a kind artisan pieces. Perfect for gift giving!

The Christkind, ((pronounced Kristkint) dressed in a gold and white robe with a golden crown upon her head will open the Christkindl Markt with her famous decree.

Mark your calendar and plan to join us
for this festive, open air holiday market!

This date coincides with the weekend holiday activities of
"Winter On Main” in downtown West Bend.
http://www.downtownwestbend.com/visitorinfo/winteronmainevents.htm

Full Circle

2008-10-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

“It is only the

Farmer
who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring,
Who reaps a harvest in the Autumn.”
~ B. C. Forbes ~

The frost is on the pumpkin and our warm woolies have found their way out of storage. With the nip of old man winter in the air, the harvest has been gathered, the fields put to bed, and the Farmer's Market draws to a close.

It is with regret that we say goodbye, for many of you have become dear friends. We will miss the Saturday morning conversations we've shared with you, but we will continue to be inspired by your kind words and compliments.

We will pick up where we left off in the spring. Until then, our wish for you is warm hands, hearts, and hearths.

***
A Prayer in Autumn
For Country Living

Good and generous Lord,
You have once more brought the year
Full ❂ Circle
through planting and growing and ripening
to harvest time and autumn.

We Thank You

for the sun and the wind, the rain and the dew, the minerals of the earth and all the plants that grow and all the beasts and birds of farm and field. We marvel at Your wonderful ways of bringing food from the earth for man's good. Dear God, help us to use Your rich gifts as You want us to. Teach us to share them with our neighbor when he is in need. Make us see, in the marvelous succession of seasons, and in the growth and ripening of our crops, the merciful, generous hand of Your divine providence. Amen.

The Witching Hour

2008-10-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

"Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog"
"Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing"
"For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and babble"
"Double, double, toil and trouble, Fire burn, and cauldron bubble"
~ William Shakespeare ~

H*A*L*L*O*W*E*E*N

...is a sensitive subject for some, but for us it is merely an occasion for amusement. There is an old superstition that if you put your clothes on inside out on Halloween night and walk backwards, you'll see a witch at midnight. In the spirit of providing fun for the Halloween merrymakers, you won't have to go to such lengths to see one! Here at Sawyer Stump, we're surrounded by friendly witches that cast their spells of fun and laughter throughout the day.

Have A Fun, Safe, & Happy

Indian Summer

2008-10-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

“Now Autumn's Fire Burns Slowly Along the Woods”
~ William Allingham ~

It seems that Indian Summer, the gift of sunny, warm weather in autumn that usually arrives after the first frost, has come and gone. As the warm days give way to crisp nights, we’re reminded that the onset of winter is not far behind. Slowly the orange and gold of autumn begins to fade and the market transitions to the red and green of Christmas.

Enjoy the kaleidoscope of nature's color. It's fleeting!

The Toymaker

Autumnal Offerings

The (Three???) Sisters

Aglow with Autumn

2008-09-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

"Sweet and smiling are thy ways,
Beauteous, gold Autumn days."

~ Will Carleton

Welcome Autumn!

That beautiful time of year when brilliant colored leaves drift gracefully one by one from the trees, the air is pungent with the scent of woodsmoke, the sumac shows off its new red coat, and the bounty of the harvest is all around us. At Sawyer Stump, we too have been immersed in nature's bounty. With the onset of fall, pumpkins, apples, sunflowers and more have emerged.

Until now, the days have been filled with the warmth of golden sunshine. Soon there will be a nip in the air and the market will turn towards the thought of Christmas. When the frost is on the pumpkin, watch for snow tipped trees, elves, and other seasonal delights to appear.

Glorious Independence!

2008-07-14T23:10:00.000-07:00

Like most Americans, we celebrated Independence Day with family, friends, fireworks, and a backyard barbecue but in keeping with the true spirit of this American holiday our focus is on patriotism. Last year, beginning with Lady Liberty proudly displaying the American flag, we started a tradition where Tom would create a patriotic carving in the month of July to honor our great country. This year he chose the American Eagle with shield. Following are some pictures of his work in progress with pictures of the finished carving to follow…

2008-05-31T17:39:00.000-07:00

With my most sincere apologies for not keeping this blog updated, We will try to do better from now on!

Monches Farms Holiday Open House

2007-11-26T18:28:00.000-08:00

Sawyerstump will be featured at the Monches Farms Holiday Open House this weekend the 1st & 2nd of December. Sculptures will be available for sale. Hope to see you there!
.
Map of 5890 Monches Rd Colgate, WI 53017-9785, US

11.23.07

2007-11-24T15:57:00.001-08:00

Here are several examples of this year's holiday themed sculptures.

Saint Nick (Roughly 3'6")Close up of Saint Nick
Different types of Christmas trees are available. (Custom orders need to be in by December 15th (Roughly 3-4'h))

Custom Snowmen available (Contact Us (Roughly 3'h))

Waist up Santa (Roughly 3'h)
Christmas elf (In Progress (Roughly 1-2'h))
Large Elf leaning against North Pole with Christmas list. (Roughly 5'6"h)
______________________________________________

Native American sculpture recently completed.

10.14.07

2007-10-19T21:39:00.001-07:00

Sawyerstump was featured at the West Bend Farmer's Market last Saturday the 14th of October. A live demonstration took place at the "Tastings" booth (located at 315 N Main St) . Many of our other sculptures were on display.

10.19.07

2007-10-19T20:59:00.001-07:00

A quick post illustrating some of our latest sculptures.

Sleeping Moon Man
Pumpkins
Lady Liberty

Abraham Lincoln (In Progress)

9.18.07

2007-09-18T11:32:00.001-07:00

Wicked Witch project in progress

Carving of a trapper stalked by a lion and cub. Note the eagle above!
Click on photo for full view.

Article in the West Bend news featuring this project.