Marc and Carol Stoecklein of Renfrew have been creating unique Santa Claus figurines from blocks of wood for about 25 years. Marc, a horticulturalist by trade, first started carving as something to do when business slowed at the couple's nursery during the winter. The Stoeckleins' work has grown in popularity over the years through word of mouth, and some of the figurines have found homes across the world.

PENN TWP — The shelves in Marc Stoecklein's woodworking shop are filled with his art projects, but most abundant of all are the Santa figurines.

Stoecklein is known for his meticulously detailed Santa carvings, all of which he etches by hand from blocks of wood ranging in size from palm-sized scraps to stout and heavy logs.

"All you need is your imagination and a sharp knife," said Marc, who first purchased a set of tools, a knife and a woodworking book about 25 years ago.

After visiting Tennessee, he was inspired by wood carvers in the Ozark Mountains.

Marc and his wife Carol ran Stoecklein's Nursery for about 30 years, and Marc took up carving during the winter as business slowed for the season.

He put down the hobby for a while, but picked it back up about 15 years ago.

"I made them for Christmas presents and gave them to friends and family one year," Marc said. "Then they wanted to give them as gifts, so I made some extra ones, and it took off from there."

Marc has a natural talent for woodworking that came through right away, Carol said.

"It's like he was born to do this," Carol said. "He came home with the book and got started and was innately good at it."

Marc spends a few hours each day in his bright and airy shop, where the floor is blanketed with curls of wood from his works in progress.

"It allows me to relax and meditate, sort of," he said. "It allows me to think."

With different sized knives and chisels spread out before him, he sits at a small table near the window to chip away at his latest pieces.

"I like to make them for people who enjoy them," he said. "I give a lot of them away."

Carol uses a bandsaw to cut blocks of basswood or white pine into odd-sized chunks to jump-start Marc's creative process.

"If I'm just looking at a square block, I don't see anything," Marc said.

If inspiration fails to strike, Marc sets the block aside and moves onto the next figure.

"I might do two or three other carvings, and then it'll hit me, what it should look like," he said. "My goal is to be somewhat abstract and fun."

Marc starts with the face and then roughly sketches what he wants. After that, he rarely picks up a pencil again.

When Marc is finished carving, Carol decorates the figures with oil stains and paints.

"A lot of people use acrylic paint on wood, but I like to use the stains," she said. "It lets the wood show through a little bit."

Every few years, when they accumulate enough figures, the Stoeckleins set up a booth at the Harmony Museum's annual Weihnachtsmarkt Christmas market.Most of their business comes from word-of-mouth, and the Santa carvings have traveled all over the world, Marc said."People come to the show and send it to somebody for a gift," he said. "So we have Santas in places like Japan, Finland, Antarctica and Germany."They call their operation LittleWood Carvings, which is a play on their last name, Carol explained.In German, Stoecklein loosely translates to "little twig" or "little stick."Some carvings turn out better than others, Marc said, and it seems that the most unusual-looking ones are often the most popular."Those are always the first to go, the ones you don't think will sell," he said.The individual nature of each piece is one of the things Carol finds endearing."The faces look similar but are really different, from the slant of the mustache to the shape of the nose to the way the whiskers are flowing," she said.Carving provides a creative outlet for Marc, a horticulturalist by trade, when he is unable to work outside during the colder months."If I can't be creative, I'm not happy," Marc said of his hobby. "That's what it gives me."Making the carvings for people who enjoy them is satisfying for Marc, who is quick to downplay his woodworking skills."Everybody's got a talent, it's just a matter of finding it," he said. "Everyone has a gift, so I'm not special."Still, Carol said she has enjoyed seeing the artistic style develop over the years.Dozens of carvings are displayed in the shop, and countless others have a permanent place in the Stoeckleins' home."Some of them, I keep out all year," Carol said. "They're little works of art."

Marc Stoecklein carves a Santa in his woodworking shop in Renfrew. Marc does the designing and carving, and his wife Carol does the decorating, using stains instead of acrylic paint.