Two area sisters have found a way to carve out some time for each other, and some interesting pieces of art as well.

Bonnie Felt of Hayward and Julie Sorensen of rural Albert Lea enjoy woodcarving. Felt was living in Austin when she took some classes through community education there. &uot;Then I dragged my sister along,&uot; she said.

The two have become members of the Austin Carving Club, which has had a show at the Austin Art Center. They showed at the Freeborn County Fair. Now, they are part of a wood show which opens at the Albert Lea Art Center this weekend.

Felt carves mostly caricatures, &uot;But I try a little of everything,&uot; she said.

Sorensen enjoys carving birds and doing some bark carving. &uot;It depends on what’s being offered,&uot; she said of classes.

Both take classes on carving whenever they can, and try to go on retreat to learn techniques from different woodcarvers. &uot;They’re always willing to have you try something new,&uot; Felt said.

The sisters do most of their carving on basswood, which is what most carvers use, they said. Sorensen has also used some butternut if she knows she’s not going to paint the completed carving.

Felt said she initially got into carving because it would be a &uot;cheap&uot; hobby. &uot;You can make it as cheap as you want,&uot; she said, but added a carver always wants more knives, gouges and V-tools.

Gloves are also important. &uot;Once you cut yourself the first time, you get a glove,&uot; Sorensen said.

Sorensen said her favorite piece is a bust of a mountain man. Felt’s favorite is a stylized cardinal she made in a class taught by a man from Blooming Prairie who has since died. &uot;Otherwise, I try to make a new Santa every year.&uot;

Felt said she enjoys getting together with other carvers. &uot;When you look at carvings, you can tell by the style who carves it,&uot; she said. &uot;No two are alike.&uot;

Sorensen enjoys the carving process itself. &uot;When you get a piece of wood in your hand, you forget everything else.&uot;

Also exhibiting in the wood show are:

– Jon Bera of rural Albert Lea, who specializes in relief carving and woodworking. His work is mainly commissioned, and he’s shown in every state, and has sold items in Germany. He’s been working with wood since 1978.

– Ed and Kathy Cook and daughters Lindsey, Kelly and MaryBeth of rural Albert Lea. The family has been involved in woodworking since 1985. Ed has developed more complicated designs over the years and works with many types of wood including exotics. His specialty is scroll saw works but he also does cabinet and toymaking. His wife and daughters do the finish work and take care of the business end. His works at the art center will feature portraits and nature.

– Vern Breamer of Minnesota Lake, who began doing woodworking in school and 4-H. He’s made many toy cars and trucks for his children. In 1987, he made his first model car a 1915 Chevrolet. In the late 1980s and ’90s, he started making intarsia items. He also likes to scroll saw projects. For the past several years he has cut out Christmas ornaments and them painted them. He still makes toy cars for the Minnesota Lions Hearing Center. The project has expanded, and with the help of the Minnesota Lake Lions Club he has made over 1,250 cars.

– Dean Honsey of Emmons, who first began woodworking with a scroll saw in the 1980s. He purchased a new saw in 1996, then in 1999, built a new building for his woodworking. He’s developed a number of unique basket patterns over the last several years. &uot;I have never considered myself an artist. I’m just a guy who likes tools and enjoys making a piece of wood look like something special,&uot; He said.

– Luis Chamizo of Albert Lea. Chamizo, originally from Cuba, exhibited at the art center in September. He graduated from San Alejandro Technical College in Havana with sculpturing and painting skills. His artifacts and paintings display a clear influence of surrealism and modernism.

The gallery show runs through Feb. 22. Albert Lea Art Center hours are from noon-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. An open house reception, with refreshments and a chance to meet the artists, will be held form 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2. Admission is free.