Sunday, November 13, 2011

The Northwest Wood Carvers Assn. Show and Sale

Grip All Jaws went to the Puyallup Show. That's what everybody calls it around here. The good news is that is was held in the restaurant building of the Washington State Fairgrounds. The bad news is none of the eateries were open!
This was a juried show as well as a having vendors of tools, supplies, and accessories. For example:
Drake Knives had a booth next to ours and they always do pretty well at these events. Gil makes really exquisite knives and palm chisels.

In the second picture, he has just reshaped and sharpened a tool for a customer. Gil and Bonnie are great people deal with and have a great product. If you carve, you can't do better than a Drake Knife.

Pat McCune and Cecily Bishop were carving Northwest Native works with traditional-style tools. Pat is carving a Thunderbird mask from a large piece of Red Cedar with a traditional hook knife.
One of the Best in Show winners was this Orca Moon Mask by Shannon Finch of Fife, Wa. The circle was about 24 inches across and the white pegboard doesn't do it any justice but it was a beautiful piece. 
John Nickerson of Graham, Wa. glued actual walnuts in between the top and bottom layers and made them the feature ring of this turned bowl.
Bob Harkness was the featured artist this year. That stage coach diorama was amazingly detailed!
R.P. Myers demonstrates the Orbital Holding System to a young couple at our booth. As evident by these two folks, people really enjoy talking to R.P. and he enjoys talking to people. As it turned out, she was the carver and bought an Orbital. Thanks, you guys and happy carving!

The weather for the weekend was not the best - it rained. But, of course we realize this is the Pacific Northwest. Look for us at the Coastal Carvers Show in Lincoln City on the beautiful Oregon coast. That's coming up in January.
Come by and say hi!