Chip Chats Still Active?

[TedM]

I'm curious if the Chip Chats site is still active? I notice that it hasn't been updated in over a year and I haven't received a reply to an email inquiry.

[mdallensr]

I don't check their website often, so I hadn't noticed the lack of updates. I thought they used to have some lists of shows, clubs, suppliers, etc on their website, and I know I've referred new carvers to their site to find clubs and classes. I guess I should check my sources, huh? The magazine is still coming, and all of that info is still in the magazine. Mike

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Just checked the site and you're right, no update since early last year. I don't know much about that publication other than I think it's a one-man operation. That publication could really be turned into a first class magazine with a little imagination. I'd like to see it start taking advertising so it could expand it's articles. Sure, it's a non-profit organization but a lot of other organizations publish with adverts. Like a lot of things, every once in a while you have to pick the thing up and shake it to get the circulation going again. Maybe it's time that happened to Chip Chats??

[arnie]

About 6 weeks ago they responded to an e-mail of mine and gave me contact info for carving clubs in the Carlsbad nm area. Arnie

[Eddy-Smiles]

When I first got into carving it was recommended to me to join the NWCA and subscribe to their magazine Chip Chats, which I did for the first year. However, it seemed to me that 90% of the magazine was dedicated to highlighting club and individuals work with very, very, few instructive articles. Then, quite by accident I ran across Wood Carving Illustrated at Borders Book Store and after reading that issue I dropped my NWCA membership and subscribed to Wood Carving Illustrated. Lynn's right, if NWCA used a little imagination and with the carving resources that they have available through their membership, they could develop the magazine and the organization into a first class operation. I enjoy looking at the work of others but at my stage of carving I'm looking for helpful and instructive articles, something that Chip Chats, in my humble opinion, did not provide.

[Kenny_S]

Well, I am glad Chip Chats don't clutter up their fine magazine with advertisments in every issue. The do advertise once a year in their March-April issue. AND, I am glad they are not like WCI or other carving magazines.
But, I do agree with Lynn on it could be a better rag that it is.
I for one wouldlike to seethe magazine Mallet come back.

[mdallensr]

I belong to the NWCA and enjoy Chip Chats for what it is. It's the official publication of the NWCA, and it provides information to the NWCA members, including reviews of shows, classes, and club activities, and list of upcoming events. It's not a how-to-carve magazine and doesn't compete with WCI or other carving/woodworking publications. I have no idea how they publish Chip Chats for $14/year, but the annual advertising issue in March is probably worth the annual cost. I think it's a great way to see a lot of our message board members' carvings at shows and seminars.

They used to include some patterns and articles about carvers, but seem to be doing less of that now. They had a big to-do about copyrights and patterns several years ago, much like the threads we had here, and cut back on that content. I agree it could be better, and they have big audience, but they may realize they can't compete with WCI without a huge budget increase.

[arnie]

I agree with kenny, I like to look at other carvers stuff and they do that well. In the early years they had lots of diy articles,so if you can snag some early back issues for a buck or less I think it would be a good investment.Arnie

[Eddy-Smiles]

Sorry all! I didn't mean to step on any toes. I guess that everyone approaches their art or hobby from a different perspective and/or has different needs.Sad

[arnie]

Eddy, I don't think you stepped on anyones toes or offended anyone. This is a diverse group and for any subject you will get at least one more different opinion than there are members.Arnie