PLAINFIELD - Sue Orth loves her vintage Sunbeam stand mixer.

The head effortlessly moves up and down. Beaters drop easily with the flick of a finger, the bowl lifts off the turn plate and even the head can be taken off by removing a pin.

Only thing missing? A motor.

Orth carved her mixer from wood - beaters are walnut, the handle is ebony, the stand is butternut and the bowl is cherry. It's one of many remarkable woodcarvings she has created in her 25-year membership of the Northeast Iowa Woodcarvers Club.

Her husband, Romaine, is no woodcarving slouch, either. He's crafted fine furniture as a hobby for many years, and about five years ago found another niche: intarsia. This technique is often described as "painting with wood," except the pieces are carved from various woods and fit together like pieces of a puzzle to form a picture. His current favorite piece is a mule, crafted from walnut, cherry, butternut, cedar and catalpa woods -70 to 80 pieces fitted together in a "painting" that is the spitting image of the mule in Romaine's barn.

The Orths will be featured carvers at the Iowa State Woodcarvers Show, Saturday and Sunday, at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.

"I love carving because you can take your talent is so many different directions, and you may work in five or six different styles when you've been at it awhile," says Sue, who previously taught art at St. Paul's School in Waverly.

Her husband is also retired. "If you need something to do, wood carving is a good hobby," he notes. Romaine describes intarsia as "like putting together a quilt, finding the right colors of wood. The hard part is making sure the grain runs the right way." He usually works from a pattern, and enjoys carving red oak, butternut, cherry and walnut.

Sue's technique begins with making models. "I mold my pieces from clay. That allows me to work out any problems before I ever start carving the wood," she explains. She loves working in butternut because it carves "fairly easily and I love the pretty grain and smell of the wood."

She may lightly sand a piece but seldom paints it because she wants the wood grain to show.

Among her favorite pieces is a cane carved in a 1950' motif - Elvis, poodle skirts, Burma Shave signs and a '57 Chevy, for example. " Windows Into the Past" is a large relief carving featuring the faces of family members, her childhood home and dog. Other prized pieces include a carved halter - complete with linked chain - and showmanship trophy honoring Romaine's youthful prowess as a 4-H'er, and the "Clothes Line." In this large carving, a nine-patch quilt and other clothing flutters and snaps in an imaginary breeze on the clothes line as a woman hangs out the wash. A basket and dog are at her feet.

The couple carves about 20 hours a week, working separately, but discuss their work and ask each other for advice. The bulk of their carving takes place in winter. Summers are devoted to a large vegetable garden and showing Romaine's mules.

They've taught carving classes and won countless ribbons at the Iowa State Fair and other shows.

"It's such a pleasure for us. There are a lot of people who'd like to learn to carve, and I'd say if you can find a beginners' class, jump right in. I hadn't done a bit of carving when I took my first class. Members of the club (NE Iowa Woodcarvers) are so helpful because they want everyone to enjoy the hobby. The state show is a great place to see what kind of woodcarving is possible," adds Sue.

Go & do

What: The Northeast Iowa Woodcarvers 34th Iowa State Woodcarving Show

When: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. next Sunday

Where: Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St.

Details: Admission is free. Raffle tickets will be sold for 40 to 45 woodcarvings donated by members.

Carvings on display will include national champion bird and fish carvings, Santas, caricatures, chip carving, intarsia and relief carving, full-sized carousel figures, Kachina dolls and more. Carvers will answer questions and demonstrate woodcarving techniques. Chainsaw carving will be going on throughout the weekend. Some woodcarvings, tools and supplies will be available for purchase.

Ribbons are awarded in 42 categories. Carvers from 10 to 12 states will be represented.

Refreshments will be available.

Membership information: Contact Mary Lou Snyder, 277-2213 or Richard Hanson, 266-7009.