The Wood Carvers Roundup in Evart, Michigan started as an idea to create a place for wood carvers and would-be carvers from all over the country to meet others who enjoyed the same hobby, craft or art (your choice) and be able to share ideas and techniques without worrying about how much it would cost. Every attendee went home with something new they had learned and many went home as wood carvers even though that had been the furthest thing from their mind. All went home with new friends.
Workshops started Wednesday morning and by the end of Saturday over 300 carvers attended 30 different workshops led by over 30 volunteer workshop leaders. All instruction was free and the only cost would have been the blank used in the workshop. There was no need to sign up ahead of time; carvers just checked the poster in the morning, chose the class they wanted and went to the class. When finished and if there was time they could then go on to another one.
Some of the many workshop choices were
The Roundup is a place where you
can check out a little bit of all types of carving by trying something
you have never done before. All workshops are open to everyone.
Our carving club gallery now has three 18"
x 24" carved plaques of their logos. Any club with members
attending may carve and hang a plaque with their name and location;
these will be on permanent display inside the 4H Exhibit building
in the fairgrounds.
LeatherPlus
Carving Supplies kept everyone well furnished with an abundant
choice of carving needs. One fellow swore that they hid a huge
magnet behind the counter because every time he went by it just
pulled all the money out of his pocket! It gave all the new carvers
a chance to acquire the needed tools to get started on the right
foot. Of course with all those knives around we just had to have
someone there like Bill Mills to keep them all sharp and easy
to use.
A plentiful
lunch was provided each day by the Evart Lion Club, there were
free concerts to attend downtown and wood carver musician concert-jams
each evening along with the Carving Singers (audience). A complimentary
continental breakfast was offered to the wood carvers by the Evart
Chamber of Commerce.
Naturally there was the occasional Ooo-Boo that you just couldn't
keep to yourself, (someone always spread the word) everyone had
to know, so then you would get the Ooo-Boo pin award of that little
red drop of something every carvers has lots of.
With all the rain the week of the Roundup we had a heck of a time
keeping the Roundup campfire burning, you know we can't let it
go out till Sunday morning after the traditional hymn sing. With
everyone's help it kept burning. 36 diffenent carving clubs were
represented from over 10 states. Over 90 camping units camped
on the Fairgrounds,
This Roundup went by without a hitch thanks
to all the many volunteers that kept things going. Without them
we would not have one because as you can see it is a totally volunteer
event. Hip Hooray!!
We hope the next Roundup June 13-17, 2001 is in your next summer's plans, "WE'LL KEEP THE CAMPFIRE ON FOR YA!"
For more information
about the Woodcarvers Roundup, visit the Roundup web site by clicking
HERE.
or e-mail:
Sandy Holder: roundup@netonecom.net or telephone 231-734-5125
Virginia Huffman: roselady@netonecom.net or telephone 231-734-9131