About Us
Mickey started creating hand carved wooden ducks and hiking sticks on a whim in the late 80's in his free time, and ended up creating a full time business for himself and his wife, doing what they love. At that time they were living in their home town of West Bend, WI, but they traveled all through out the state, and even ventured to a few in Florida to sell their beautiful pieces at art and craft fairs.
Each item is hand carved and finished by Mickey and Bonnie in their Kettle Moraine home in Cascade, Wisconsin. Due to the handcrafted nature of the product, no two items are exactly alike. His work has become known throughout the state, and the world, with a few people collecting 100+ sticks they purchased from Mickey.
Each piece is signed, dated, and carved within each stick are Mickey's signature "Happy Hiking Signs". They consist of Two Animal Eyes to watch and protect you, a Sun for good weather, and a Happy and Safe Trail. These Happy Hiking Signs are the easiest way to spot a Mickey's stick!
Mickey's sticks and other handcrafted items are not just beautiful decor, but they are a great asset to have when hiking! They help to improve balance and stability, and even help reduce fatigue and lessen impact on your joints. The ergonomic handle was crafted with comfort in mind, and keeps the hand above the heart, to help with blood flow. Wood hiking sticks are far more durable than carbon fiber, and can be used to help clear your path of leaves, debris, spider webs, etc...
Each item is hand carved and finished by Mickey and Bonnie in their Kettle Moraine home in Cascade, Wisconsin. Due to the handcrafted nature of the product, no two items are exactly alike. His work has become known throughout the state, and the world, with a few people collecting 100+ sticks they purchased from Mickey.
Each piece is signed, dated, and carved within each stick are Mickey's signature "Happy Hiking Signs". They consist of Two Animal Eyes to watch and protect you, a Sun for good weather, and a Happy and Safe Trail. These Happy Hiking Signs are the easiest way to spot a Mickey's stick!
Mickey's sticks and other handcrafted items are not just beautiful decor, but they are a great asset to have when hiking! They help to improve balance and stability, and even help reduce fatigue and lessen impact on your joints. The ergonomic handle was crafted with comfort in mind, and keeps the hand above the heart, to help with blood flow. Wood hiking sticks are far more durable than carbon fiber, and can be used to help clear your path of leaves, debris, spider webs, etc...
Media
The Plymouth Review published an article about Mickeys Hiking Sticks. This is what they had to say:
"While Mickey Beth, a town of Mitchell woodcarver, and his wife Bonnie were selling items at a craft show recently, a customer relayed some exciting news to them. He had recently returned from England and said he had recognized one of the Beths’ handcrafted hiking sticks there. The couple’s meticulously carved walking and hiking sticks are easily recognizable, because they contain three carved markings – the Beths’ “Happy Hiking Signs” insignia. The two circles within circles denote small animal eyes, watching and protecting the walkers and hikers. The sun is a symbol of good hiking weather, and the line encircling the stick designates a happy and safe trail. “Mickey’s” is the name of the Beths’ business, with Mickey carving ducks, loons, walking and hiking sticks, and Bonnie applying the natural, polyurethane finishes. For those who don’t know the difference between walking and hiking sticks, “Walking sticks are shorter than hiking sticks,” Mickey explained. “They should come up to the bone in the wrist to make it more comfortable.
“Hiking sticks are taller, and it’s a matter of preference, as to where the hiker holds onto the stick. This can be any place he chooses,” he noted. “Using a hiking stick takes off 30 percent of the pressure on the hiker’s back.” He uses black-walnut wood for the hiking and walking sticks, as the wood is strong. “I like the way it looks too,” he added. Sometimes a friend provides the wood from a tree he has cut down. For example, “Joanne and Tom Helfert, our friends from Beaver Dam gave us a tree,” he said. “We took the wood and had it cut at a saw mill and then kiln dried it. The wood from this tree has a special meaning for us.” He orders most of the black walnut from lumber companies in Adams Friendship. Mickey carves a variety of 50 tops for the walking and hiking sticks. Among these are: ducks, birds, fish and dogs. “Our walking and hiking sticks have become collectors’ items for many people,” Mickey said. He uses old barn beams that are in good shape to carve the heads. The duck heads on the sticks were the catalyst for his larger handcrafted ducks. “After putting duck heads on the sticks, I carved a duck that resembles an antique, decoy-looking duck,” he recalled. “Then, within the last year, we discovered how to add a colored pigment to the ducks, to bring out the natural grain. This new look is something people have not seen before.” About 10 years ago, Mickey discovered his passion for another craft – writing. “The barn beams I use to carve the duck heads have a very special feeling to them, and that special feeling is what inspired me to write a book,” he said. Mickey added that he and his wife believe wood is a natural gift and that everyone should enjoy it. Thus, in 2001, he wrote and self-published a 35-page, soft-cover children’s book, titled “Happy Wood, Sad Wood.”
Tina Lesnick of Eagle River provided the illustrations. Each illustration depicts smiling faces on the trees for the happy times, and frowning faces for the sad occasions. “The trees are sad when they are cut down, but they are happy again when they are used for a good purpose, like for the walls in a house or in a barn,” Mickey said. “Sad logs on the bottom of rivers and lakes can become happy again when they are recycled.” Mickey dedicated his book to their dog Annie, a Springer Spaniel who passed away after the book was published. The Beths sold their book at craft shows and donated some copies to schools. Mickey has enjoyed working with wood since he was a student at West Bend High School and took a woodworking class. “Ten years later, I started carving on my own,” he said. The couple began their business in 1989, when they were residing in West Bend. Then, in 1996, they moved to Minocqua and continued their craft endeavors there. The Beths moved into a log house in the town of Mitchell four years ago and sell their items there as well as at the Ice Age Center near Dundee and at a variety of annual craft shows."
Outdoor Wisconsin February 2020
Bill Benson, owner of Benson's Hideaway on Long Lake in Dundee, WI was featured on Outdoor Wisconsin for his iconic UFO Daze festival. Mickey carved a one of a kind UFO stick for Bill, which was one of his prized possessions. The stick is featured in a photo on the episode which can be viewed here. The photo can be seen at the 16:15 minute mark. Sadly Bill's stick was recently stolen. If anyone knows of it's whereabouts, it's return would be greatly appreciated. No questions asked. You can contact us, as we'd love to reunite Bill with his stick!
WISN 12 Milwaukee St. Patrick's Day Parade
"While Mickey Beth, a town of Mitchell woodcarver, and his wife Bonnie were selling items at a craft show recently, a customer relayed some exciting news to them. He had recently returned from England and said he had recognized one of the Beths’ handcrafted hiking sticks there. The couple’s meticulously carved walking and hiking sticks are easily recognizable, because they contain three carved markings – the Beths’ “Happy Hiking Signs” insignia. The two circles within circles denote small animal eyes, watching and protecting the walkers and hikers. The sun is a symbol of good hiking weather, and the line encircling the stick designates a happy and safe trail. “Mickey’s” is the name of the Beths’ business, with Mickey carving ducks, loons, walking and hiking sticks, and Bonnie applying the natural, polyurethane finishes. For those who don’t know the difference between walking and hiking sticks, “Walking sticks are shorter than hiking sticks,” Mickey explained. “They should come up to the bone in the wrist to make it more comfortable.
“Hiking sticks are taller, and it’s a matter of preference, as to where the hiker holds onto the stick. This can be any place he chooses,” he noted. “Using a hiking stick takes off 30 percent of the pressure on the hiker’s back.” He uses black-walnut wood for the hiking and walking sticks, as the wood is strong. “I like the way it looks too,” he added. Sometimes a friend provides the wood from a tree he has cut down. For example, “Joanne and Tom Helfert, our friends from Beaver Dam gave us a tree,” he said. “We took the wood and had it cut at a saw mill and then kiln dried it. The wood from this tree has a special meaning for us.” He orders most of the black walnut from lumber companies in Adams Friendship. Mickey carves a variety of 50 tops for the walking and hiking sticks. Among these are: ducks, birds, fish and dogs. “Our walking and hiking sticks have become collectors’ items for many people,” Mickey said. He uses old barn beams that are in good shape to carve the heads. The duck heads on the sticks were the catalyst for his larger handcrafted ducks. “After putting duck heads on the sticks, I carved a duck that resembles an antique, decoy-looking duck,” he recalled. “Then, within the last year, we discovered how to add a colored pigment to the ducks, to bring out the natural grain. This new look is something people have not seen before.” About 10 years ago, Mickey discovered his passion for another craft – writing. “The barn beams I use to carve the duck heads have a very special feeling to them, and that special feeling is what inspired me to write a book,” he said. Mickey added that he and his wife believe wood is a natural gift and that everyone should enjoy it. Thus, in 2001, he wrote and self-published a 35-page, soft-cover children’s book, titled “Happy Wood, Sad Wood.”
Tina Lesnick of Eagle River provided the illustrations. Each illustration depicts smiling faces on the trees for the happy times, and frowning faces for the sad occasions. “The trees are sad when they are cut down, but they are happy again when they are used for a good purpose, like for the walls in a house or in a barn,” Mickey said. “Sad logs on the bottom of rivers and lakes can become happy again when they are recycled.” Mickey dedicated his book to their dog Annie, a Springer Spaniel who passed away after the book was published. The Beths sold their book at craft shows and donated some copies to schools. Mickey has enjoyed working with wood since he was a student at West Bend High School and took a woodworking class. “Ten years later, I started carving on my own,” he said. The couple began their business in 1989, when they were residing in West Bend. Then, in 1996, they moved to Minocqua and continued their craft endeavors there. The Beths moved into a log house in the town of Mitchell four years ago and sell their items there as well as at the Ice Age Center near Dundee and at a variety of annual craft shows."
Outdoor Wisconsin February 2020
Bill Benson, owner of Benson's Hideaway on Long Lake in Dundee, WI was featured on Outdoor Wisconsin for his iconic UFO Daze festival. Mickey carved a one of a kind UFO stick for Bill, which was one of his prized possessions. The stick is featured in a photo on the episode which can be viewed here. The photo can be seen at the 16:15 minute mark. Sadly Bill's stick was recently stolen. If anyone knows of it's whereabouts, it's return would be greatly appreciated. No questions asked. You can contact us, as we'd love to reunite Bill with his stick!
WISN 12 Milwaukee St. Patrick's Day Parade
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