32nd Annual Woodcarving Show and Sale
May 7 & 8, 2011

The North Arkansas Woodcarvers' 32nd Annual Show and Sale was held May 7 and 8, 2011 at the Baxter County Fairgrounds in Mountain Home, Arkansas. 61 carvers, guests and vendors came to the Ozarks to exhibit, compete, demonstrate, visit and sell their carvings/wood turnings/carving supplies. More than 142 ribbons, plaques and awards were presented including 51 cash prizes throughout the weekend. The competition's judge, Janet Cordell, carefully scrutinized the 225 carvings entered for judging from the 46 categories. Janet was assisted by NAWC club members Roberta Dulaney, recorder; Debra Bergum, photographer; Gary Smith, announcer; Dick Dulaney, carving entry table; Norm Rutledge, carving entry handler; Bonnie Davis, Kathi Clark, and Sandy Smith, show coordinators.

Barb Edelbrock and Deen Shirkey arranged for coffee and for club members to bake tasty treats for Saturday morning. Ray and Deb Moffet with help from John Siebrandt worked the entrance table making sure that everyone visiting the show was warmly greeted and received a door prize ticket as well as a People's Choice Ballot. Admission for both days was free, but donations are always greatly appreciated and "encouraged". Paul and Mary Baumann did a wonderful job selling tickets at the raffle table. Terry & Judy Balcom, Paul & Mary Baumann, Tom & Janet Cardwell, Barb Edelbrock, Marge Clements, Rod Engle, Dick Lucas, Jackie Miller, Ray & Deb Moffett, Burl Moore, Red Murr, Bob Schaffer, Curt & Deen Shirkey, John Siebrandt, and Marty Wells handled the club and door prize tables selling carvings for charity, T-shirts, mugs, hats, NAWC patches, memberships, etc., and coordinating the drawings for the hourly door prizes.

This year the NAWC club membership created a beautiful "Flora Quilt" and a "Wildlife Lamp" to use as their 2011 raffle projects. The drawing for each of these works of art will be in December. The "Quilt" consists of twenty 4" square relief carvings of anything "flora", and the lamp has fourteen "Wildlife" blocks. Sid Edelbrock did an excellent job engineering, assembling and finishing the quilt and the lamp. The lamp's shade is made from lamb skin. Carvers for the "flora quilt" squares were: Bob Axle, Paul Baumann III, Deb Bergum, Kathi Clark, Jim Clements, Dick Dulaney, Barb Edelbrock, Sid Edelbrock, Betty Gregory, John Gregory, Lynda Heydt, Arlene Lesiak, Don Lesiak, Jackie Miller, JoAnne Moore, Lucia Pairolero, Norm Rutledge, Curt Shirkey, Deen Shirkey, Sandy Smith. Carvers for the "Lamp" blocks were: Paul Baumann III, Kathi Clark, Dick Dulaney, Sid Edelbrock, Tom Higgins, Skip Janecek, Arlene Lesiak, Norm Rutledge, Curt Shirkey, Sandy Smith, and Steve Wagner.

Additional raffle items included a carving bench and a magnifier lamp donated by Dolores Hale, and a chain sawed bear carved and donated by Troy Sutton. The winner for the carving bench was Stew Blain, Norm Rutledge won the magnifier, and Jay Kelly took home the chain sawed bear. Much interest was generated for all of our raffle items, shown by the number of tickets sold for each. Many thanks to the kind and talented carvers that donated their time and carving skills to create the raffle and door prizes.

Three carvers volunteered their time, shared their knowledge and demonstrated their skills in showing all that were interested how to change a piece of wood into an artful masterpiece. Demonstrators were: Frank Nixon (wood turning), Albert Gargione (power carving) and Kevin Walker (relief carving).

Saturday evening's banquet dinner/auction was held at the Elks Club with approximately 81 people in attendance. A Chinese auction offering tools, carvings, books, and many "interesting" items were set up and the participation was wonderful. Plaques were presented to competition winners in attendance. Dick Todd cut and finished the wonderful walnut bases for the plaques and the engraving on the plaques was provided by The Locker Room, a Mountain Home sporting goods shop. The Chinese Auction was magnificently run by Kathi Clark and the tickets were drawn by Charlie Bailey. There were many happy recipients of the prizes of the Chinese Auction. This auction is used to generate funds for next year's show. Sincere gratitude goes to all club members and non-members that collected/carved auction items and door prizes; to John Uelmen for donating a box full of his carvings to help our cause; and to Dalene Berke for the stack of local area gift certificates for the banquet's door prizes.

First place Best Of Show honors went to B. David Duncan of Harrison, AR; second place Best Of Show, Debra Bergum, Lakeview, AR; third place Best Of Show, Kevin Walker of Rudy, AR. Best Table Display and People's Choice honors went to Kevin Walker of Rudy, AR.

Winners of the Open Division competition, listed as category then place won - first, second, third and honorable mention were:
Novice - Instructor Assisted: Betty Gregory, Lynda Heydt
Novice - "In the Round": Betty Gregory, Claude Roper, Terry Briggs
Novice - Relief: Claude Roper, Terry Briggs, Linda Heydt
Novice - Pyrography: Barb Edelbrock, Penny Wells
Novice - Caricature: Claude Roper, Lynda Heydt, Betty Gregory
Novice - Miscellaneous: Betty Gregory, Claude Roper, Terry Briggs
Realistic Human Figure (single): Jim Leifeld, Dick Dulaney
Realistic Human Bust (single): Dick Dulaney, Ronnie Still
Realistic Animal (single): B. David Duncan, Denny Villwok, Ronnie Still
Realistic Animal Bust (single): Jackie Miller, Roland Ellis
Realistic Group: Jim Leifeld, Ronnie Still, Roland Ellis
Realistic Fish / Marine / Aquatic Life (single or group): Gary Turner, B. David Duncan, Albert Gargione, Russ Biros
Song Bird (single or group): Neil Nulton, Jim Leifeld, Bob Hays, Jo McKenzie
Bird of Prey: B. David Duncan, Neil Nulton, Jim Leifeld, Roland Ellis
Shorebird: Neil Nulton, B. David Duncan, Charles Wolfe
Game Bird: B. David Duncan, Neil Nulton, Jim Leifeld
Ducks / Waterfowl (single or group): B. David Duncan, Neil Nulton, Jim Leifeld, John Gregory
Caricature Human (single): Wm. Earl Gray, Denny Villwok, Dick Dulaney
Caricature Human or Animal in a Scene: Denny Villwok, Ronnie Still, Stan McKenzie
Caricature Animal, Bird or Fish (single): Kathi Clark, Bob Ryder, Sid Edelbrock
Caricature Bust: Denny Villwok
Caricature Group: Sandy Smith, Denny Villwok, Stan McKenzie
Pyrography: Cathy Still, Charles Wolfe, Jackie Miller
Driftwood: Paul Baumann III
Bark Carving: Jerry Anglen, Monty Anglen, Stan McKenzie
Relief - Buildings / Structures: Kevin Walker, Larry Rustan, Mary Adams
Relief - Humans: Deb Bergum, Sid Edelbrock, Kathi Clark, Cathy Still
Relief - Animal(s), Bird(s), Insect(s), Fish, etc: Jo McKenzie, Kathi Clark, Janet Sutton
Relief - Miscellaneous: Russ Biros, Denny Villwok, Tom Mayfield
Chip Carving / Positive Image/Gouge: Warren Rauscher
Chip Carving / Negative Image: Timothy Higginson, Warren Rauscher, Marvin Bruha
Jewelry: Mary Adams, Jo McKenzie, Kathi Clark
Novelties / Bottle Stoppers: Ronnie Still, Russ Biros, Mary Adams
Spoons: B. David Duncan, Connie Hardt, Jo McKenzie, Timothy Higginson
Canes / Staffs: Mary Adams, Cathy Still, Stan McKenzie
Santa Claus: Chuck Bailey, John Gregory, Sid Edelbrock
Holiday Items: Jo McKenzie, Denny Villwok, Mary Adams
Mythical & Carousel Figures: Dick Dulaney, Jackie Miller, Kathi Clark
Wood Turning - Bowls / Goblets / Vases: Phil Wiles, Ron Ufkes
Wood Turning - Pens: Frank Nixon, Phil Wiles, Mary Adams
All Other Turnings: Phil Wiles, George Marcek, Ron Ufkes
Stylized: Neil Nulton, B. David Duncan, Jim Leifeld
Miniature: Jim Leifeld, Connie Hardt, Stan McKenzie
Rough-outs: Chuck Bailey, Kathi Clark, Curt Shirkey
Instructor Assisted: Sandy Smith, Chuck Bailey, Curt Shirkey
Miscellaneous: Neil Nulton, Connie Hardt, Mary Adams, Stew Blain, Paul Baumann III

On Sunday, carvers got a chance to mingle and catch up with acquaintances until the afternoon. The "Unlimited Hand Tools" Whittling Contest was again a popular event. There were 7 carvers entered in the afternoon's "Whittling Contest". Carvers were given a time limit of 1 hour plus a 10-minute break after the first 30 minutes. Gary Smith graciously agreed to be the contest's announcer and did a spectacular job. The carvers were allowed unlimited hand tools and were given a "bell" blank and were instructed to carve "anything other than a bell". Larry Yudis, Janet Cordell and Dale Heinecke judged the results. First, second and third place winners received a plaque from NAWC, plus a Woodcraft Shop gift certificate. Marty Wells placed first; Chuck Bailey - second and Stu Blain - third. Special thanks go to Larry and Carol Yudis for their generous gift certificate donation, The Locker Room for the engraving and to Dick Todd for the walnut bases for the plaques.

An "After The Show" Woodcarving Seminar with Janet Denton Cordell was held at Debbie Traylor's shop - "Wishes-N-Fishes" and a great time was had by all. Nine class participants carved for three days on a project of their choosing - Woman with Flowers, Running Wolf, Horse Head Bust, Baby Dolls and Woman's Wall Face. Delicious lunches were served in by Debbie Traylor. Special thanks go to Debbie Traylor for the use of her shop and for arranging the daily tasty lunches.

(Pictured l-r: Debbie Traylor, Kathi Clark, Connie Hardt, Deb Bergum, Jerry Marr, Sandy Smith, Bonnie Davis, Dick Todd and Janet Cordell. Unavailable for photo: Cindy Stephens.)

Sincere thanks go to all participants and to the club members and their spouses who graciously volunteered their time to make it all happen. Heartfelt appreciation go to the vendors, businesses, club members, visiting carvers and friends who donated money, merchandise and their time to help make the show a success. Special thanks go to the "sign committee" who trekked through high grasses to set up and break down the club's wooden signs making sure that the public knew when and where the show was to be held. The "sign committee" members were Paul Baumann, Bonnie Davis, Dick Dulaney, Deb and Ray Moffett, Curt Shirkey, and Gary and Sandy Smith. Our appreciation also goes to the members and their spouses who worked behind the scenes on the Friday before the show and then on Sunday after closing to assist vendors and carvers in the unloading and reloading of their products and carvings. And a deep debt of gratitude for those members who took time out to help set up tables and chairs and generally assist us in getting everything aligned just right. Without everyone's generous help and support the show could not have been possible. The Show Committee is already discussing plans for our 33rd Annual Show to be held May 5 & 6, 2012. See you there!

Next

Photos by Deb Bergum