By Karen Olson House
A “miracle”
Whether the piece is wood or clay, Mike’s body of work reveals remarkable range. He believes it’s because so many different people, each with his or her own ideas, have requested custom work. He credits Danny with sprouting a lot of the pot ideas, saying it’s sometimes hard for him to come up with his own because of the head injury.
He particularly likes working with cypress knee wood, because its odd shapes inspire him. He took Best in Cypress Knee Carving from the Orangeburg County Fair’s show for his carving of an elegant, long-faced lady with tan lace fanned out between her skirt’s folds. He carved her from wood his neighbor had next to her fireplace, lopping off two side pieces and making her two Santas in exchange.
Other awards include honors three years in a row for the competitive, national Annual Santa Carving Contest sponsored by Woodcraft stores. His humorous 2005 entry, titled “Santa’s Last Stop” shows a slim Santa, rolling his eyes heavenward, grasping a walking stick and pulling a small sled with a few toys left. The civic-minded owner of the McDonald’s in Wadesboro erected a large cabinet to show off local art and displays several of Mike’s pieces, including “Santa’s Last Stop.”
Producing versatile pieces has been a learning experience for Mike. “It has been a struggle, but it does seem like it comes natural to me,” he says.
He typically works about 10 hours a day in his workshop. “I think that’s what’s helped me so much. I stay with it every day,” Mike says. His grandchildren sometimes sit by him, coloring pictures as he works. Habit-forming, he calls it, and relaxing. “I don’t think about nothing except that piece of wood that I’m carving.”
Brenda calls it a miracle, his carving, and notes how fortunate it has been that the Beachums had talents that were instrumental in helping Mike with his own.
She also credits prayer. “Mike prayed that his life would have meaning. He thinks God has blessed him with this. Every time Mike does a piece, he wants to give God thanks for allowing him to do that.”
The couple, who will celebrate their 35th anniversary this month, has few of Mike’s pieces in their own home, “because everything he makes has sold,” says Brenda, laughing. But the two small, roughly carved swans are still there, where it began anew.
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