[GaryMc]

I had a great time at the Leiper Forks show! Werent that many carvers there, but some really good one's. I was set up next to Vic Hood, also Terry Truesdale was there, ( Vic Hoods teaching assistant, really good carver), Ray Rost, Gene Graham and Randy Walters. All the above carve Faces, woodspirits, and Busts( Except Randy, he does Reliefs), so I was in some tough Competition.
None of my woodspirits or Indians did anything in the comp, But the Greenman I just finished got a First place in Class (Mythological) and Third place in Division (Misc). So at least I scored.
I also got conned into entering the whittling contest and ended up Third ( out of five carvers,hehe), behind Vic Hood and Ray Roost. That was a first for me, I am not a fast carver and we had 1-1/2 hr. to carve a 2"x2"X6"block into something with a Halloween theme. I am used to carving woodspirits, where I just start carving with no design in mind,now I had to think of something and then get it carved in a short period of time. I had chips flying all over the place, nicked myself twice and did not quite get my carving finished. I am including a picture of my carving (Frankenstein). When I got home last night I finished him. My wife loves him and I am going to carve a base to finish him off.
Gene Graham, by the way is a member here on the board. I spent a good deal of time talking to him and made a new friend there. He has a great web site with some really useful info for face carvers. Here is the link:http://www.angelfire.com/tn/treetotreasure/
I will post some pictures I took later, I did not take too many, but have some good ones.
Thanks for looking?
GaryMc

[wood-whittler]

garymc,

great work on the frankenstein, and also thanks for the link to genes website some good stuff there.


bart

[Mark N. Akers]

Gary:
Great job on the carving contest project,I seen some of Terry's work at Dollywood she does some awsome work.Glad to see you had a good time,I'd love to make the trek up their some time.

[gene messer]

That is one unique piece Gary and just ready for Halloween ..

A face only a mother could love ..

great job ..

Gene

[Doug Ridley]

Nice job on the Frankenstein, Gary. Wish I could have made it down there but sometimes life gets in the way of carving. Maybe next year.
Doug

[Jim OH]

Gary, like your Frankenstein! It's always fun to see what you can come up with in an hour and a half. Ol' Don is a member of that club, but he is teaching carving on a cruise ship. Got a post card from Puerto Rico couple days ago when he was there. Thanks for passing along Gene's website. His faces look really good.
Thanks again,
Jim OH