Nature's Wonderland Carvings
Woodworking, Sculpture

Transcript

James Miller: My name is James Miller. The name of my business is Nature's Wonderland Carvings. Yes. Everything is done with the chainsaw. I've got a few tools that I use from time to time, mainly like a drill or a dye grinder. But I got tools specifically made just for the carvings. You know, a special tool made to put in eyes with a dye grinder. I would say most of my work is about 95% done with the chainsaw.

I do a lot of custom work actually. I carve people’s pets. I actually just carved a French bulldog yesterday for somebody. I go to a lot of festivals and fairs and competitions. Just started doing competitions last year, so I really enjoy it putting on a show for people. We are, instead of, you know, sculpting, you think, you're adding something and, you know, making it, you know, making a piece that, with this it's all just stone. So, we're taking what we don't need away and then finding all the details.

VO: James's discovery of chainsaw carving wasn't just a new hobby. It was needed.

JM: Basically what got me into it was in 2011, my dad passed away. He was 47 years old and nine months later my baby brother at 22 years old, had overdosed and he passed away. I needed something. I needed something, there was something missing. Me and him was very close. I decided my dad had some old firewood saws, so, you know, growing up, we cut firewood. I think I started running a chainsaw when I was about maybe I was less than ten years old. but, you know, I was just making straight cuts, you know, cutting firewood, cause that's. That's what we burnt. And he had some some tools that that he had left behind.And so I decided to give it a try. And so I started that in  2012. And, you know, I gave it a try. It was very therapeutic. Gave me something to do, something to keep my mind busy. In 2017  I was able to get back into carving around August of 2017. So I just started competing last year.So I went to two competitions last year. I think 40, 45 other carvers there. So the awards was auction based. Whoever had the highest auction I got a plaque for the highest auction at that one, auction total, and also people's choice.

VO: James didn't stop there. He continued to honor his family and loved ones with his abilities.

JM: So last year,  in June, I was invited to this competition called Master of the Chainsaw. My grandparents, which they,  pretty much helped raise me. My grandma had been sick for the last few years. And, you know, she always loved my carvings. In June, she passed away and she was looking forward to me going and doing this competition. And I almost backed out of it just because it had happened and the competition was like the next week. I almost sent a message to back out of it,

But then I was thinking, you know, she was very, she was looking forward to me going and doing it.So I just I went ahead and went on with it and ended up being the 2022 Master of the Chainsaw. You know, won the whole competition, which is is a very major competition on the East Coast.

Yeah. Yeah. I just told everybody she was with me the whole time and, you know, got me through it. The guys that I competed against, they had been long time carvers. That's their profession. I was the only one there that was, that it’s not my profession. So it was kind of Nice to be able to go there and be able to bring home the trophy.

VO: James Miller is the definition of resilience and strength. We're very proud to have him here at Eventeny