Silver Dollar City/Ozark Mountain Woodcarvers Seminar

[Paul_Guraedy]

I have just returned from Branson, Mo. and the Silver Dollar City/Ozark Mountain Woodcarvers Spring Seminar. Another wonderful experience! We had about 35 instructors with some of them offering a couple of classes during the 5 days. There were about 375 carvers assembled in two buildings (power carvers separated into their own building).

There are two items that are really worth mentioning. The first is that Heinecke Wood Products has gotten a web site www.heineckewood.com and are on line. They have been trucking a load of very good basswood and butternut down from Wisconsin since we started the seminars 9 years ago.

The second thing of importance is a book I found. My wife saw the moose antler carving and wants me to try one. I decided the book was a good price ($14.95+$3.00 shipping) and looked interesting. (Carving in Moose Antlers by Bill Matz).

I am mentioning this book because it is a perfect example of the way a "how to" book should be put together. This 54 page book has 230 color photos. When Matz says "step by step" he means it. There is a photo for each step, description of the method of carving and the burr he is using is also identified. Sources of supplies for materials and tools as well as some patterns are listed in the back of the book. Luckily, I picked up a card as the web address for ordering is not listed in the book. The card indicates the web site www.matzsculptures.com is the place to order. Don't know if it is available elsewhere. I have not been this pleased with a purchase since buying Scholz's Birds of Prey.

[bronco]

I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Matz this winter. He and his wife Doris
were park hosts at Goliad,Texas. They came to the Victoria woodcarvers
meetings . He does some very good antler carvings and is a very intresting
fellow. I look foreward to seeing him again this fall.
Bill

[squbrigg]

....35 instructors and 375 students all carving at once......carvers heaven! Sounds like an interesting trip, and over 5 days, that would give you lots of time to see and experience a lot! Sounds like we will be seeing some new kinds of work coming up......moose antler! Damm things are responsible for more deaths on the road here in NB and NFLD than anything else. Never tried carving their antler, just their roast! Good luck with it Paul....but be sure to wear a good quality mask when working on antler, the dust is a real nasty irritant and can carry micro-organisms.

Bob

[Paul_Guraedy]

squbrigg, I retired from Alaska and you are totally right about moose being a road hazard. They are so tall that even a big 4x4 takes the legs out from under them and ends up with the torso in the drivers lap. Those of us who wandered the northern wilderness areas had as much, or more, respect for a moose as for old grizz. Bears will generally move away if they are aware of a human. But moose are big, unpredictable and mean. Guess I will settle for carving an antler, in a year or so, but wish I had a roast to carve. I have eaten wild game of a wide variety, but I think moose the best. But, they are kinda scarce here in the Ozarks. Take a look at Matz's book. You may decide that most parts are carvable.

[Anthony Filetti]

Paul,
You're right about them being just plain mean, when I used to live in Idaho they talked of them destroying people refrigerators at people's camps during the rut. We also had a cow trot in front of our 4 wheel drive GMC on a logging road and her underbelly was even with the hood of the truck!!! Either way they are still beautiful to see.