Do you like my beaver? Haha couldn't resist (I hear Linda chuckling from here). If you are Canadian and roughly my age, I bet you have seen these Al Wolf 'soap stone' statues, hand made... not hand carved. I have a lovely collection & chances are if you ever visited or I visited another country, I gave them as Canadian Gifts... I have the inside know on these gems.
As a kid in school -it was a right of Canadian passage - who remembers making soapstone creations from a bar of soap? I think it was grade 6 or 7.. when kids could be trusted with knives in class (funny not funny). I made a bear (before I liked bears) and treasured it before it disintegrated. You can still buy soap carving kits online, a very relaxing way to pass a few hours with little skill needed. People still carve soap and some is very impressive - here is a fun tutorial on Youtube if you feel so inclined. Soap caved fish. & here's a cute 'easy' hedgehog. You can find all sorts of critters and every level. Definitely a 'cottage craft' for kids this summer!
First, I was amused to read & see them selling for about $40 each (for the small statues) described as 'hand made' or hand carved'.. they are hand made but not hand carved. As a matter of fact the original statue was made from heavy duty plasticine, sculpted like most clay objects, then a silicon mould was made, then they poured a substance that appeared like black rock dust - left to set/dry and then each item was hand sanded and finally rubbed with a furniture wax to give it the gloss/glass/rock look & it was a lot of work... I know. Actually Norm knows. Norms sister Renate was married to Al Wolf & I saw where they made the product myself. At the time Renate asked if Id be interested in creating a sculpture, due to time restraints I did not- too bad, it would have been fun to have my own tiny version. Norm told me of several occasions when he visited his sister & would help out in the shop'. Al also had a brother Edmund & he had a son who created some of the original creations (impressive, even for plasticine). They also made some glued to stone - Purple Amethyst - another Canadian treasure.
At one point -they were in EVERY touristy' shop in Canada... it's kinda sad we don't see them anymore but they are reselling on Ebay - be careful though.. not hand carved real soap stone. It was quite a successful yet demanding business, I do remember them complaining of all the work (as most people do) but I'm sure they did o.k.'. I have a few real hand carved soapstone that my dad did collect, they feel cold & heavy to the touch. I can understand how some would easily be mislead. Anyway, I just unpacked a box that contained several & I thought I'd share. I'll keep a few out but pack the rest away as it can be too much of a good thing! They also make lovely gifts still, to visitors from out of Canada. Anyhow a bit of Canadian Trivia of sorts -lol. I hope you enjoy seeing my collection! It' has inspired me to paint something Canadian today - perhaps a bear or my beaver... heeheehee
Have a creative day!
As a kid in school -it was a right of Canadian passage - who remembers making soapstone creations from a bar of soap? I think it was grade 6 or 7.. when kids could be trusted with knives in class (funny not funny). I made a bear (before I liked bears) and treasured it before it disintegrated. You can still buy soap carving kits online, a very relaxing way to pass a few hours with little skill needed. People still carve soap and some is very impressive - here is a fun tutorial on Youtube if you feel so inclined. Soap caved fish. & here's a cute 'easy' hedgehog. You can find all sorts of critters and every level. Definitely a 'cottage craft' for kids this summer!
First, I was amused to read & see them selling for about $40 each (for the small statues) described as 'hand made' or hand carved'.. they are hand made but not hand carved. As a matter of fact the original statue was made from heavy duty plasticine, sculpted like most clay objects, then a silicon mould was made, then they poured a substance that appeared like black rock dust - left to set/dry and then each item was hand sanded and finally rubbed with a furniture wax to give it the gloss/glass/rock look & it was a lot of work... I know. Actually Norm knows. Norms sister Renate was married to Al Wolf & I saw where they made the product myself. At the time Renate asked if Id be interested in creating a sculpture, due to time restraints I did not- too bad, it would have been fun to have my own tiny version. Norm told me of several occasions when he visited his sister & would help out in the shop'. Al also had a brother Edmund & he had a son who created some of the original creations (impressive, even for plasticine). They also made some glued to stone - Purple Amethyst - another Canadian treasure.
At one point -they were in EVERY touristy' shop in Canada... it's kinda sad we don't see them anymore but they are reselling on Ebay - be careful though.. not hand carved real soap stone. It was quite a successful yet demanding business, I do remember them complaining of all the work (as most people do) but I'm sure they did o.k.'. I have a few real hand carved soapstone that my dad did collect, they feel cold & heavy to the touch. I can understand how some would easily be mislead. Anyway, I just unpacked a box that contained several & I thought I'd share. I'll keep a few out but pack the rest away as it can be too much of a good thing! They also make lovely gifts still, to visitors from out of Canada. Anyhow a bit of Canadian Trivia of sorts -lol. I hope you enjoy seeing my collection! It' has inspired me to paint something Canadian today - perhaps a bear or my beaver... heeheehee
Have a creative day!
