34th Annual Woodcarving Show and Sale
May 4 & 5, 2013

The North Arkansas Woodcarvers' 34th Annual Show and Sale was held May 4 and 5, 2013 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 151 ribbons, plaques and awards were presented including 53 cash prizes throughout the weekend. The competition's judge, BDavid Duncan, carefully scrutinized approximately 206 carvings entered for judging from the 48 categories. John 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 and Sandy Smith, show coordinators.

Barb Edelbrock and Deen Shirkey arranged for coffee and for club members to bake tasty treats for Saturday morning. Arlene and Don Lesiak, and Betty and John Gregory 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". Karen Rutledge, Karen Myers, Jackie Miller, Penny Wells, Mary Baumann, Red Murr, Tom and Janet Cardwell, David Peterson, Bob Shaffer, and Dar Stow did a wonderful job selling tickets at the raffle table. Skip Janecek, Red Murr, and Betty and John Gregory took turns manning the door prize table where drawings were held every half hour. Curt and Deen Shirkey, Marty Wells, Barb Edelbrock, Terry and Judy Balcom, Karen Rutledge, Mary Ragan, Mary Adair, and Pat Walsh handled the club tables selling T-shirts, mugs, hats, NAWC patches, memberships, carvings for charity, etc. Walt Zimmerman was our Saturday evening's Security Guard…many thanks for to Walt for a "job well done!"

This year the NAWC club membership created a beautiful "Seasons Lamp" and a "Wildlife Shelf" to use as their 2013 raffle projects. The drawing for each of these works of art will be in December. The "Lamp" consists of sixteen 4" square relief carvings of the "Four Seasons" (four for each season), and the shelf has fourteen "Wildlife" blocks. Bob Shaffer did a wonderful job assembling and finishing the lamp and the shelf. Carvers for the "Lamp" squares were: Spring - Sandy Smith, butterfly, Paul Baumann III, bird; Arlene Lesiak, fishing fly; Sonia Nelson, fawn. Summer - Karen Meyers, sailboat; Arlene Lesiak, sun; Sid Edelbrock, butterfly; Skip Janecek, hot air balloon. Autumn - Barb Edelbrock, woodburned pumpkins, Curt Shirkey, pumpkin and corn; Norm Rutledge, leaf; Jackie Miller, jack-o-lantern. Winter - Naomi Inglett, snowman; Deen Shirkey, woodburned snowflakes; John Gregory, bear; Lucia Pairolero, inverted snowman. Carvers for the "Shelf" blocks were: Marty Wells, mockingbird; Jackie Miller, swan; Bob Axel, cardinals; Curt Shirkey, squirrel; Arlene Lesiak, lion; Sandy Smith, squirrel; Paul Baumann III, buffalo; Norm Rutledge, Canadian goose, Penny Wells, bluejay; Tom Cardwell, eagle; Sonia Nelson, fawn; Betty Gregory, raccoon; Janet Cardwell, turtle; and Wally Smietankski, eagle.

Additional raffle items included a beautiful crane carved and donated by Dick Dulaney, and a chainsawed bear donated by Michael McGill. Much interest was generated for all 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.

Eight 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: Randy Landen (caricature faces), Frank Nixon (wood turning), Mary Waldeck (relief), Bruce Futterer (flat plane carving), Wanda Harrigan (dolls), Connie Hardt (dolls), Ron Ufkes (wood turning) and Loren Woodard (Santa ornament)..

Saturday evening's banquet dinner/auction was held at the Elks Club with approximately 76 people in attendance. A Chinese auction offering tools, carvings, books, and many "interesting" items was 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 went without a hitch and there were many happy recipients of the prizes. 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/donated auction items and door prizes.

Deb Bergum, First Place Best of Show

Larry Rehma, Second Place Best of Show

Jim Willis, Third Place Best of Show

Norm Rutledge, CCA Award

First place Best Of Show honors went to Deb Bergum of Lakeview, AR; second place Best Of Show, Larry Rehma of
Union, MO; third place Best Of Show, Jim Willis of Kansas City, MO. Best Table Display honors were awarded to Karen and Roland Ellis of Lakeview, AR, and People's Choice honors went to Larry Rehma. The Caricature Carvers of America were represented by Randy Landen and Sandy Smith, and the CCA Award was presented by them to Norm Rutledge of Mountain Home, AR.

Winners of the Open Division competition, listed as category then place won - first, second, third and honorable mention were:

NOVICE DIVISION:
Instructor Assisted: Terry Balcom, Karen Myers, Sonia Nelson.
"In the Round": David Hoblit, Terry Balcom, Sonia Nelson, Karen Myers.
Relief: Karen Myers, Sonia Nelson, Terry Balcom, David Hoblit.
Caricature: Sonia Nelson, Karen Myers, Terry Balcom.
Miscellaneous: Terry Balcom, Marty Wells, David Hoblit, Sonia Nelson.

OPEN DIVISION:
Realistic Human Figure (single): Bruce Futterer, Larry Rehma, Dick Dulaney.
Realistic Human Bust (single): Loren Woodard.
Realistic Animal (single): Jim Willis, Larry Rehma, Tom Mayfield.
Realistic Animal Bust (single): Jim Willis, Bridges Dillehay.
Realistic Group: Jim Willis, Dick Dulaney.
Realistic Fish / Marine / Aquatic Life (single or group): Russ Biros, Larry Rehma, Roland Ellis.
Song Bird (single or group): Larry Rehma, James Leifeld, Bob Hays.
Bird of Prey: Larry Rehma, Bob Hays, James Leifeld.
Shorebird: Larry Rehma, Roland Ellis.
Game Bird: James Leifeld, Larry Rehma, Roland Ellis.
Ducks / Waterfowl (single or group): James Leifeld, Bob Hays, Jo McKenzie.
Caricature Human (single): Bruce Futterer, Stan McKenzie, Ol' Don Burgdorf, Bridges Dillehay.
Caricature Human or Animal in a Scene: Randy Landen, Ol' Don Burgdorf, Stan McKenzie.
Caricature Animal, Bird or Fish (single): Jim Willis, Wm. Earl Gray, Bridges Dillehay.
Caricature Bust: Bruce Futterer.
Caricature Group: Bridges Dillehay, Stan McKenzie, Bruce Futterer.
Pyrography - Buildings / Structures: Jackie Miller, Jo McKenzie.
Pyrography - Miscellaneous: Carol Wherry, Jackie Miller, Bruce Futterer, Little Paw Wee.
Driftwood: Wanda Harrigan, Paul Baumann III, Bruce Futterer.
Bark Carving: Jerry Anglen, Monty Anglen, Bruce Futterer.
Relief - Buildings / Structures: Mary Waldeck, Bridges Dillehay, Jo McKenzie.
Relief - Humans: Bruce Futterer, Sid Edelbrock, Roland Ellis, Bob Hays.
Relief - Animal(s), Bird(s), Insect(s), Fish, etc: Roland Ellis, Mary Waldeck, Stan McKenzie.
Relief - Miscellaneous: Deb Bergum, Sid Edelbrock, Mary Waldeck, Bruce Futterer.
Chip Carving / Positive Image/Gouge: Warren Rauscher, Carol Wherry, Bruce Futterer, Scott Powers.
Chip Carving / Negative Image: Carol Wherry, Warren Rauscher, Don Lesiak.
Jewelry: Wanda Harrigan, Jo McKenzie, Scott Powers.
Novelties / Bottle Stoppers: Sandy Smith, Frank Nixon, Connie Hardt, Loren Woodard.
Dolls / Marionettes: Wanda Harrigan, Connie Hardt.
Spoons: Carol Wherry, Little Paw Wee, Bruce Futterer, Connie Hardt.
Canes / Staffs: Little Paw Wee, Stan McKenzie, Jo McKenzie.
Santa Claus: Jim Willis, Bruce Futterer, Sid Edelbrock.
Holiday Items: Carol Wherry, Jo McKenzie, Stan McKenzie.
Mythical & Carousel Figures: Bruce Futterer, Jim Willis, Stan McKenzie, Wanda Harrigan.
Wood Turning - Bowls / Goblets / Vases: Phil Wiles, Frank Nixon.
Wood Turning - Pens: Frank Nixon.
All Other Turnings: Phil Wiles, Ron Ufkes.
Stylized: Jim Willis, Bridges Dillehay, Little Paw Wee, Don Lesiak.
Miniature: James Leifeld, Bruce Futterer, Carol Wherry.
Rough-outs: Jim Willis, Norm Rutledge, Monty Anglen, Carol Woodard.
Instructor Assisted: Sandy Smith, Curt Shirkey, Sid Edelbrock.
Miscellaneous: Little Paw Wee, Russ Biros, Paul Baumann III, Jo McKenzie.

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". Participating carvers were Marty Wells of Gamaliel, AR; Sonia Nelson of Clarkridge, AR; Wm. Earl Gray of Medon, TN; Loren Woodard of Sunrise Beach, MO; Chuck Bailey of Flippin, AR; Stan McKenzie of Rogers, AR; and Bruce Futterer of Russellville, AR. 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, given a block of basswood, and instructed to carve "an animal". Larry Yudis, BDavid Duncan and Tim Heinecke judged the results. First, second and third place winners received a plaque from NAWC, plus a Woodcraft Shop gift certificate and a pen woodturned by Bob Shaffer. Bruce Futterer placed first; Wm. Earl Gray - second, and Chuck Bailey - third. Special thanks go to Larry and Carol Yudis for their generous gift certificate donation, Tim and Robyn Heinecke for the basswood, The Locker Room for the engraving, and Dick Todd for the walnut bases for the plaques.

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, Curt Shirkey, Bonnie Davis, Dick Dulaney, 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 next show. Jim Willis of Kansas City, MO, has accepted our offer to be our judge at the 35th Annual Show to be held May 3 & 4, 2014. See you there! !

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Photos by Deb Bergum