“Wood carver, spinner to exhibit at craft show” from the July 7, 1964 Door County Advocate
Wood carver, spinner to exhibit at craft show
By KETA STEEBS
When prize winning author Quentin Reynolds started out as a cub reporter his editor told him, “The pay isn’t much but you’ll meet a lot of interesting people.” An axiom which holds true today.
In interviewing just a small smattering of those Door County artists and craftsmen whose work will be exhibited at the annual “Arts & Crafts Show” sponsored by the Door County Historical Society at Gibraltar high school July 17-19, this writer spent a most stimulating and informative day.
Woodcarvers, dollmakers, tapestry weavers, wool-spinners, painters and sculptors abound in a 20 mile radius of each other. Name a craftsman, any craftsman—Door county has what you’re looking for.
But first, let me tell you about my woodcarving friend. His name is Ernest Rosengren, a transplanted Swede and former Chicagoan with twinkling blue eyes and a zest for life, now living in Baileys Harbor. His hobby won’t bankrupt either Spode or Dresden but he, does turn out a mighty, attractive dinner plate—guaranteed not to crack, chip or break—carved from the wood of a plum tree stump.
He also makes (painstaking and mostly by hand) Locust-wood coasters, Maple candle-sticks, Basswood trays, White Ash benches, Cherrywood tables and “Andy Gump” ashtray stands out of anything handy. He refuses to work with anything but native Door county wood and is an authority on every known specimen. His spiral candlesticks, hand etched in their natural finish, are made from wild Black Cherry and Yellow Plum tree woods, beautifully grained and, as he puts it, “A sin to stain.”
A versatile designer, Rosengren’s original, hand-carved chairs are improvisations of three basic styles. One, a comfortable, arm-chair is as graceful as it is sturdy. This particular model, he smugly regarded as his own novel creation until he watched a recent television program commemorating the life of William Shakespeare. There was the Bard of Avon, big as life, sitting in an almost exact duplicate of Ernest Rosengren’s chair. Some woodcarving Englishman beat Ernest to the punch 400 years ago.
To most people, trees are shade in summer, fireplace-wood in winter and something pretty to look at in spring and fall. To Rosengren, they are more interesting than people and much easier to work with. Locust, he says, is the most difficult of all woods to carve and maple, especially sugar maple, the easiest. Basswood, Linden and Wild Black Cherry rate high on his list of favorites but in a pinch he’ll use a weather beaten pump handle.
Samples of the above mentioned items will be shown at the exhibit and discerning spectators will appreciate the tender, loving care invested in each piece. Those who don’t care two hoots about wood carving will enjoy passing the time of day with Ernest — he’s an easy man to talk to. You’ll enjoy your visit.
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Now, for my wool-spinner!
If the customs inspectors at Ellis Island had tended to business a few decades ago you’d miss seeing Mrs. Nicoli Nelson of Ellison Bay demonstrate her prowess at the spinning wheel.
This century-old wheel, belonging to Mrs. Nelson’s mother and illegally brought here in the bottom of a clothes chest is still in A-1 condition and under Mrs. Nelson’s expert guidance perfectly spins home grown wool into yarn.
Mrs. Nelson, who will exhibit her skill at the show, explained that when her family left their native Norway, stringent immigration laws prohibited bringing over anything but necessary clothing — and not too much of that. Her doughty father realized that without a spinning wheel, the clothing they did own would be irreplaceable. He cannily constructed a box big enough to hold both his wife’s wheel and the family’s wearing apparel. If found, it would be confiscated but he still had nothing to lose and thanks to a benevolent providence and inefficient officialdom he won. The spinning wheel now occupies a place of honor in Mrs. Nelson’s home.
Spinning virgin wool into practical yarn looks easy when Mrs. Nelson does it. She learned, as a young girl, to pull the strands firmly yet evenly thus eliminating unsightly lumps. Now, she ruefully said “lumpy yarn is popular so I’ll have to learn all over again.” (It may be tough for an expert to spin lumpy yarn, but I’m sure I’d have no trouble.) From this smooth, sturdy yarn, Mrs. Nelson knits her husband’s stockings and from the carded wool makes enough batting for at least two, warm, yet lightweight, quilts each winter.
According to Mr. Nelson, there’s no wool like homespun. He says, “Factory wool is so highly processed all the heat is taken out.” He’s been wearing hand-knit, homespun stockings for over 60 years now—so he should know!
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Next I’ll tell you about a dollmaker and her versatile husband.
CRAFT SHOW EXHIBITORS — Woodcarver Ernest Rosengren and wool spinner Mrs. Nicoli Nelson will exhibit their crafts at the historical society’s show at Gibraltar high school July 17-19.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
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