Heritage Vacation Homes Blog
At Heritage Vacation Homes, we believe the best trips start with a beautiful place to stay and local knowledge to guide the way. Our luxury homes in Cannon Beach and Arch Cape are designed to bring people together along one of the most stunning stretches of the Oregon Coast. Through this blog, we share our favorite beaches, seasonal traditions, and hidden coastal gems. Think of it as your insider guide to exploring the coast beyond the typical travel lists. We hope it helps you discover new places— and create lasting memories along the shore.
Follow along as Josh Blewett transforms a cedar log into a breathtaking sculpture
It all started with an idea we couldn’t shake—a powerful image of a mother whale pushing her calf to the surface, all taking place on the fireplace in The House at Arch Cape. We brought this vision to artist Josh Blewett, and he brought it to life in the most incredible way. Using a chainsaw, Josh transformed a massive cedar log into a dynamic sculpture full of movement and emotion. He began by carving the rough shape, then slowly revealed the fine details with smaller saws and carving bars. Watching the process unfold was like watching the story of our sculpture emerge from the wood—cut by cut, layer by layer. With every pass of the blade, Josh shaped not just the form, but the spirit of our whales. It was truly a journey in creativity and craft, as “First Breath” was born.
1. The Vision
When we brought our idea to Josh—a sculpture of a mother whale pushing her calf to the surface—we weren’t just thinking of art. We were thinking of the humpback whales we’ve watched so many times off the coast of Maui, where another Heritage Vacation Homes condo sits. Every winter, these majestic creatures migrate from Alaska to the warm Hawaiian waters to give birth and nurture their young. The mother whale gently pushes her calf to the surface for it to take its first breath. That powerful, nurturing moment—of a mother guiding her calf upward—stayed with us. We wanted to capture that emotion in wood. Josh immediately understood. With his chainsaw and artistic vision, he set out to turn that idea into something tangible, something that honors both the beauty of the Pacific, the deep connection between mother and calf, and the shared beauty of our homes.
2. Choosing a Log
We walked slowly through the yard, weaving between rough-cut cedar logs laid out in the open, each one sun-bleached and full of character. No towering trees—just solid, grounded pieces of timber, waiting. We paused at each log, studying the grain, the size, the curve—looking for the one that felt right. Some were too narrow, others too twisted. Then we saw it: a strong, straight log with just the right length and subtle details in the grain that hinted at movement. We could already picture the mother whale within it, her calf rising at her side. That log didn’t just seem like a choice—it felt like discovery.
3. Roughing in the shape
After helping Josh choose the perfect cedar log, we returned each week to watch the rough-in stage take shape. Using bold, confident cuts, he began to carve the sweeping form of a mother whale, saving just the right blocks of wood to eventually carve the calf and the tail tips out of. Though still blocky and raw, the early outlines hinted at the grace to come—a powerful beginning to the 9-foot sculpture that would one day hang above our fireplace.
4. The details emerge
Each week, we’d stop by the workshop, eager to see what new details had emerged from the cedar. It was incredible to watch the transformation—how Josh, with just a chainsaw and a vision, could bring such life to the wood. The once-rough log slowly became something more: the textured barnacles on the whale’s head, the curve of a fin, the gentle arc of a tail. With every visit, we were more amazed by Josh’s creativity and skill, watching in awe as the sculpture took shape before our eyes.
5. The staining
The day finally arrived to begin staining the sculpture—a moment we’d been eagerly awaiting. As the rich finish soaked into the cedar, the natural grain came alive, revealing swirling patterns and warm tones that had been quietly hidden in the wood. With each brushstroke, the whales gained depth and character, their forms now glowing with the beauty of the grain, ready to take their place above our fireplace.
6. Hanging the sculpture
Hanging the 9-foot whale sculpture over the fireplace was no small feat—it took scaffolding, precision, and a strong crew from Coaster Construction to make it happen. Carefully coordinated, the team worked together to lift and guide the massive cedar piece into place, steadying its weight and aligning it just right.
7. “First Breath”
Heritage Vacation Homes Blog
At Heritage Vacation Homes, we believe the best trips start with a beautiful place to stay and local knowledge to guide the way. Our luxury homes in Cannon Beach and Arch Cape are designed to bring people together along one of the most stunning stretches of the Oregon Coast. Through this blog, we share our favorite beaches, seasonal traditions, and hidden coastal gems. Think of it as your insider guide to exploring the coast beyond the typical travel lists. We hope it helps you discover new places— and create lasting memories along the shore.