Horsing around

LYNNWOOD — One hand sits comfortably on Mike Holmberg’s hip, while the other moves quickly but steadily back and forth, holding gently a fine dusting brush, stopping only long enough for his keen eye to inspect the work and peel more of the 23 carat gold.

The gilding process is just one of the somewhat tedious things Holmberg does in his Lynnwood home’s workshop, but Holmberg doesn’t mind, after all — he’s creating heirlooms.

For the past six years or so, Holmberg has been creating life size, custom made carousel horses out of blocks of bass wood.

No power tools need apply. All of his work is done by his steady hand whether it be with a carving instrument, sand paper or a select paintbrush, Holmberg uses his wands of wizardry to make these magical art pieces.

Holmberg said with classical music playing in background his mind wonders and he easily gets lost in the carving.

“The next thing you know it’s midnight and I’m standing in a pile of wood chips,” he said.

It all starts with a visit to a amusement park carousel or a picture in a book. Holmberg traces his horse out ahead of time on very large paper then carves pieces of the head, body and limbs that he then glues together. “The body is hollow,” he said.

So far, all Holmberg needs to do to sell one of his creations is leave his garage door open while he’s working on one of these wonders.

Holmberg and his wife Peggy have lived in the house behind the workshop for about 40 years and raised their three sons there. Now their seven grand children look forward to visiting grandpa and riding the horses.

Carousel horses are unique “because they’re built skinny in the middle so kids can ride them easily,” he said.

The house and workshop are located on a sharp, busy corner of Locust Way in the unincorporated Lynnwood area. When he has something to sell or is just in the mood, Holmberg puts out his handmade large, colorful, striking “A” board sign to attract passers-by.

“It’s fun to do and a lot of people like to stop and see what’s going on,” Holmberg said.

“That’s how I sold this one,” he said pointing to the large carved raw wood shell of a horse. Holmberg said he sold it to a Shoreline man who wasn’t in any hurry for it because he plans on putting it into a house he is building.

Holmberg said it’s good he’s not in a rush because work like this takes time, especially on his schedule.

Along with his special hobby, Holmberg owns a screen printing equipment business.

Holmberg said he got started painting in the late ’50s and early ’60s when he could be found painting pin stripes on cars. That led to sign painting. Later he worked for Boeing, making its model airplanes. He has also taken his screen printing business to the Czech Republic to start a business there when “the wall came down,” he said.

He admits he would like to be doing this hobby full time. He believes that if he were, he could build a large carousel horse in about three months. Doing it on stolen moments like he does now, it takes about a year.

Along with the three life size carousel horses he’s made and sold he also builds and sells several smaller carousel horses, rocking horses and different types of heraldry such as coat of arms and shields. He alsomolds and designs his own crosses.

While his original works have been for private buyers so far, he has restored some pieces in the public sector.

Folks driving by aren’t the only ones who marvel at Holmberg’s work. His neighbors are fans, too.

“It’s been a real pleasure to go down the driveway and see what Mike’s working on,” said neighbor Bruce Johnson. “It might be the only way to slow people down on that corner too,” he laughed.

Bruce Johnson and his wife Carole are also the proud “parents” of one of Holmberg’s three life-size horses called “Sweet Face.”

The Johnsons had been admiring her for months watching the blocks of wood painstakingly be transformed into the fantasy animal by Holmberg. They said they discussed at length whether they wanted her or a smaller carousel horse.

Bruce Johnson said his father has liked carousel horses since he was very young.

“(My dad) has started on a small one but hasn’t finished it,” Bruce Johnson said, “so I understand and appreciate what Mike is doing.”

Then, one day Carole Johnson told her husband, “We don’t need to worry about which horse we want now, because they both sold.”

Unbeknownst to Bruce, Holmberg and Carole had something up their sleeves.

About eight months later, Bruce was given a big 50th birthday party and was surprised with the gift horse.

“I was flabbergasted,” Bruce said.

The life-size, colorful, “sweet faced” horse was presented on a handmade base and included a pictorial documentation of the piece from start to finish, something he does for all of his customers.

For Holmberg, delivering Sweet Face was a bitter sweet moment.

“It’s always really hard to let them go,” he said about selling the pieces he has created. But at least Sweet Face is close— “I can go and visit,” he said.

Carole Johnson said she can’t get enough of Sweet Face’s eyes and the fine detail of the horse.

“Just look at that face— look into her eyes, it really is a sweet face,” Carole Johnson said pointing out the shadowing detail of the horse’s muscles, ears and muzzle.

“Mike’s an absolute perfectionist in everything he does,” she said.

The horses range in price from $1,500 to $15,000. Heraldry pieces and the crosses range from $150 to $1,000 depending on detail. To learn more about Holmberg’s woodworking go to www.horsechisel@aol.com or call him at 206-715-8131.