For a number of years, he concentrated on realistic wildfowl carving for which he has been awarded many ribbons for his works. In 1993, Carl won the World's Wildfowl Carving Championship at the Novice Level with his miniature Eastern Screech Owl in the red morph.

On a return trip from the World's competition in 1999, which is held each year in Ocean City, Maryland, he stopped in Corning, New York to tour the world-renowned Corning Museum of Glass. So intrigued by that visit, he signed up on the spot for his first of many courses in the art form of lampworked, or flameworked, glass at The Studio, the instructional facility of the museum.

Primarily, he creates ornate glass beads that become the focal point in jewellery. His work also includes paperweights, marbles, vases, and other small-scale glass objects.