February

WOW What a weekend!  If you have read the schedule of shows in this blog you know that last weekend was the first show put on by the Coastal Bend Woodcarvers in Aransas Pass, Texas.  All I can say is that they really started out with a bang.  Phil Roets and all the members Coastal Bend Woodcarvers did a wonderful job on their first outing.  Oh yes there were glitches but nothing that was not easily over come.  There were almost 30 participants displaying their work, with over 230 works of art for the Judge to look at.  Needless to say the judge, Danny Reb, did not get through in the time alloted for judging and had to continue into the second day.  He really had a tough job as the level of carving was outstanding.  The level of traffic for the show was great as over 1100 paying guests visited the show.  The vendors had a hard time keeping up with their customers.  The venue for the show was outstanding, there was a lot of room, participants were not crowded and there was ample room for visitors to move around and see all the displays without being crowded.  When you plan for shows for next year be sure to consider this show, there is plenty of RV space as well as reasonable motel accommodation.  To say nothing of the great seafood available, cannot beat ocean fresh shrimp and fish .

Not only did I enjoy the show but we had 3 days of carving classes following the show.  There were 10 or 12 instructors teaching carving in almost anything you would want to carve.  Plans are to increase the number of classes next year.  I taught a full-bodied elephant and had great students, including an 89-year-old “young lady” that put us all to shame for her vitality.  After the 3 days of carving in Aransas Pass I traveled to Round Rock Texas where we carved for another 3 days with some of the Austin carvers.  Again it was the full-bodied elephant.  After 9 days on the road I was glad to get back home.

Now the problem is to get some sticks turned and head blanks cut out for the Eagle Cane Project.  I had turned some in January and they are gone.  I have a club waiting for 11 kits to carve.  Must close and get on with the project.

Walt

Advertisement