Smoky Mountain Show

[johncarves]

Billy Reynolds of Townsend TN won Best Of Show. First and last pictures are his work. Good variety there, good number of exhibitors. The weather turned cold and windy and was tough on the exhibitors as they were all out doors.

[tnartist05]

Id seen his winning carving also at Char. Its unreal,just so neat!! Gald you had a good time John,love to been there. Thanks for posting about the show.

Forrest

[kdispoto]

Those are some really awesome carvings. You're lucky to have attended.

[johncarves]

Hiya Forrest,

I double checked my photos when I got home, this was not the same carving as the Charlotte show. I heard him say this one was already sold.

I bought a piece of driftwood from his shop in Townsend. I'm doing a walking cane for the "best stick or cane" competition in our show. Pays $100.00 first place and I want the money! I have a nice piece working, almost cut off a finger with a sawsall while working on it (six stitches).

[Bob K.]

Awesome looking carvings! Wish I could have attended!

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Excellent looking carvings! I will make it to that show one day.

Dave

[Eddy-Smiles]

Sorry that I'm late on this but I just got back in town from east Tennessee yesterday. I live up on "Walton's Mountain" where they still don't have TV, internet, or cell phone access. Otherwise I'd have chimed in sooner.

The exhibitor's carvings were outstanding and it made the wait to get in worth the effort. But the set-up was really bad for everyone, exhibtors and visitors. The really need a larger facility.

The Heritage Center is basically a museum preserving the life, customs, and traditions of the early settlers to the Smoky Mountains in the Cades Coves and Townsend areas. The center part of the building contains all of the artifacts and museum exhibits.

The carving show was set up in and around the center. The competition was conducted in the small auditorium and that's also where Mac Poffitt had a sattelite branch of the Smoky Mountain Woodcarver's Store set up. There was a small admission to get into to view the competition entries but it was well worth the money as like I said, the carvings were fantastic and the center itself extremely interesting and worth the time to see.

The only downside is that the facility is not that big and although the competition was held inside, the exhibitors who paid for tables to display their work and demonstrate were outside and on Saturday the temperature never got above 53 degrees with a stiff north wind. We'd had a front blow through and although the weather was absolutely beautiful for active outside activities, it wasn't worth a darn for standing or sitting around.

I looked for folks that I might have known from the Woodcarving forum as my wife and I walked through looking at the displays but it was so cold that we didn’t stick around very long and make a real effort to stop and talk with anyone. It was really brutal for a Florida flatlander and we noticed that even some of the locals were complaining. The front of the building was bad but at least they had a little sun. It was really, really bad out back where everyone was in the shade. An Eskimo would have packed up and gone home!

[tnartist05]

Oh OK John,I didnt know. You be more carefull!!!!

Thks,Forrest

[grdeno]

Those are some great pieces and congarts on your awards thanks for posting.
Gary