Carl W. Nelson

Dallas County

Jewelry and Wood Work

When Carl studied engineering in college he had classes in drafting, engineering drawing, textile design and textile dyes for his major in Textile Engineering. He did not have any basic art training. Since retiring, Carl changed from working with textiles to working with other material. He likes to “piddle” in his shop where he said “ideas just seem to hit me spontaneously.” Two of Carl’s uncles produced beautiful woodwork and his great grandfather was a master craftsman.

Carl’s materials include deer antler sheds, stones, beads and wood. Some canes and walking sticks that he makes have carved antler handles. “I cross cut a piece of antler to see how it looked, took some wire…made a couple of hooks and made my first earrings. I showed these to my wife, she put them on and told me to keep making them.”