Watch the fine print with FEDEX

Learned a very expensive lesson, FEDEX will NEVER get my business again. Used FEDEX to ship a piece of artwork to my customer in Vancouver. Packed in 3/4" plywood to ensure no problem. Guess what - FEDEX destroyed it! They somehow managed to totally destroy the piece, admitted it was their fault and that they would compensate for the damage, just send them an invoice for the amount of the damage done. Sent them an invoice for $2000 which was LESS than what the amount charged to the customer. Total about face - offered me a $100. Told them bluntley that they could stick the hundred bucks where the sun doesn't shine. WHAT AN INSULT! Their come back was that the shipment was not insured so the maximum that they feel obliged to pay is $100. In other words, if you want ship by FEDEX, you need insurance just to make certain that they do the job you pay them to do. I can only imagine what it would be trying to collect from this lying outfit. I caution all artists to be most careful, there are a lot of other couriers who actually do the job you pay them to do without destroying the shipment. Would I use FEDEX again? NEVER NEVER NEVER AND I URGE YOU TO DO THE SAME. The big print giveth and the small print taketh away. Big guys win again, little guy looses. FEDEX you screwed up and got away with it. I HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT FEDEX - NEVER USE THEM AGAIN.

SOAPSTONE CARVING AT PIGEON LAKE

Join in the ART WALK on the Boardwalk August 6 between 11 AM and 3 PM at the Village at Pigeon Lake. I will be there doing soapstone carving demonstrations in conjunction with the Blue Heron Artisan Gallery. Should be a fun filled day in this very active community. See you there!

Big Commission Completed

These pieces are off to Vancouver and from there will probably go half way around the globe as Goldcorp uses these as special awards for their minesites.

Repair the Giraffe

It's not a perfect world and once in a while things just happen as with this giraffe that fell on the concrete floor.  With some epoxy, crazy glue and experience from having done this before, I was able to fix it so that it did not land up on the scrap pile.  No need to fret, just get back at it and do what you know what to do!

HAPPY SOAPSTONE CARVERS

Great group of participants at our Soapstone Carving Class at the Devonian Botanic Gardens this weekend. People came from as far as Calgary and Bonnyville to join with the group to make soapstone bears. Everyone had a good time, excellent results and a time to share with old friends and make new ones. Though the class was filled to capacity it was not short on enthusiasm and talent! (Next class is in May)

BLUE HERON ARTISANS OPENING AT PIGEON LAKE

If you are in the Pigeon Lake area you must stop in at the BLUE HERON ARTISANS in the Village at Pigeon Lake. This is a new venue that has been added to the places who will have my sculptues for sale. They are opening Mar 22nd - just in time to get ready for the busy spring and summer seasons. Their website should be up within days. Best of luck to all the artists in this popular resort area which is open year-round!

SOAPSTONE CARVING REGISTRATION UPDATE

Soapstone Carving classes are filling up very quickly, some of the classes are fully booked and only the Refresher Course on May 22 and the Carving Festival July 1-3 have a few spots left. These are the last courses that I will be conducting, if you want to particpate in this fun activity then I would suggest that you register ASAP with the Devonian Gardens as this may be your last opportunity!

SENIORS CARVE SOAPSTONE BEARS

Wednesday Feb 16th, Bonnie and I spent the afternoon with a number of the seniors at the Good Samaritan Residence in Spruce Grove. This was our second time carving with them so it was a lot of fun and gave them something different to participate in. They treated us to supper at the end of the day with everyone talking about whose bear was the best! A fun afternoon.

CARVING FESTIVAL AT DBG - JULY 1,2 & 3 2011

You asked for it and now we have it! A three day carving festival at the Devonian Botanic Gardens. Starting on Canada Day July 1st and continuing on Saturday and Sunday, this will be a great chance to meet with other carvers and finish up some of those left over projects or start some new ones. I plan to have hundreds of pounds of stone on hand to choose from - soapstone, serpentine, alabaster, chlorite and whatever else is available. SPACE IS LIMITED - if you are interested I would suggest that you register early to ensure a spot. This will be the LAST course that I will be holding in the Edmonton area, time to start putting some of the tools away and just maybe work more on being retired. We plan to sell our place here and move to the Okanagan. I will also have some equipment/files/tools for sale. To register or more details contact Emma at the DBG 780-987-3054 ext 2226. Some of the details are yet to be worked out but this will be an outdoor event and held rain or shine. Let's make this a success and an annual event!

NO MORE SOAPSTONE CLASSES AFTER JUNE

The news is out, we plan on moving to the Okanagan later this year and have a lot of work to make that change happen. As a result, the classes scheduled at the Devonian Botanic Gardens this spring/summer will be the only classes and the last classes that I will be instructing. I have made committments up to the end of June and will NOT be doing classes after that time so if you want to take a class I suggest the you go to the DBG website for information, dates and registration. This will end my teaching of soapstone carving in the area, it has been a great experience. Over the years I have had the great pleasure of sharing soapstone carving with close to two thousand particpants and now it is time to move on to other things. Thanks to everyone for your kindness and friendship!

ALBERTA CRAFT COUNCIL STAFF enjoy carving soapstone bears Sunday Jan 30th

Fun filled Sunday Jan 30 with the staff of the Alberta Craft Council. Everyone participated and everyone turned out a materpiece! Something we wanted to do for a long time and Sunday was the day. Great day with lots of fun - when you are at the Alberta Craft Gallery ask them about their bears - maybe they will have their own exhibition!

THE 16% EXHIBITION

THE ARTS NEED YOUR HELP! Please join the "I support the arts" campaign.

The Alberta government cut $5.5 million of 16% of the entire resources of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. The Craft Council lost $37,000 (16%) from its 2010-11 core grant. The Craft Council Board has decided to demonstrate this cut as visibly and shockingly as possible with the "The 16% Exhibition".

The Alberta Craft Council has prepared a number of post cards to be sent to the Alberta Government - Premier Stelmach and MLA's. A picture of the soapstone bear that I carved was selected as one of the images to be shown on the post cards.

Wellspring Edmonton Fund Raising Art Auction

Wellspring Edmonton is a new cancer support centre that is being established in Edmonton, it is an effort of which we are most supportive and to this cause we are donating this piece of sculpture for the fund raising art auction to be held this coming Feb 5th at the Enjoy Centre in St Albert.

This piece is 8 in tall, marbled Brazilian soapstone and appropriately the first sculpture that I have carved in 2011. Hope that it finds a good home.