[Woodcarver] RoundUp and other digressions

[Linehan718 at aol.com]

Okay CarvingJack     heres my 2 cents from someone who has only attended 1 
NEWR roundup.  This was the one and only roundup i have attended so let me speak 
as a newcomer to this type of thing.  
  I started carving out of the blue one day.  Had a workshop, had a broken 
ankle, had some wood in that workshop. Couldn't stand to use any of the power 
tools. Boredom led to picking up a knife.  first attempt was rather crude, 
little 1.5" penguin.  came out recognizable.  over next couple of weeks, whittled a 
few more small things.  Began looking into carving tools and turned around 
one day and realized I had been bit, bit hard.  I could think of nothing but 
vises, chisels, better carving wood and patterns and sharpening.  my workshop 
turned from a dyi home repair shop to a carvers cave.  i carved every chance i 
could and when I couldn't, I was thinking about it.  But there i was, all alone, 
no one to talk carving with.  Little surfing around on the net and I crashed 
into a whole new world.   I have been on the internet carving lists for almost 
2 years now.  I had been envious of everyone who seemed to know each other 
and talked about seeing each other at this place or that place.  Looking thru 
albums I was so impressed with the talent of the people I was meeting. I was 
inspired to carve more.....and better. I learned alot but eventually i got to a 
point where I needed to see someone else carve.  I wanted to see what tool they 
chose, how they held the tool, how they made the cuts.  I wanted to see 
someone do an eye.  Then someone started talking bout Newr 2004 on one of the 
lists.  When I looked at a map, i realized it was only 3 hours away.  Being out on 
workers comp, I was just making ends meet but i started giving up small 
luxuries.  somehow i was gonna make it to the roundup.  How much would 3 days run.  
lets see, cheap clean motel,  60 a night.  thats 180  60 for the blanks i 
bought for my 2 all day classes.  now were at 240.  add  200 for all misc 
expenses, gas, meals for 2 people, t shirt, raffles, sme new carving items and wood.  
okay so lets round it off to 450, which really coverd 4 days for 2 people, 1 
so we could sightsee in the poconos.   so 450  american cash.  What did i get 
for that?  I got the greatest 4 days I've ever had.  I met the best group of 
people.  honest, genuine, friendly, just plain nice people.  People who wanted 
and needed to make woodchips, newcomers as addicted as I, old timers with so 
many years of stories and carving.  some who actually, if you can dream it, 
actually made their livings carving.  Talk about talent and inspiration.  My god i 
was in heaven.  Not only was i meeting these people on the lists who were 
anonymous up till then,   I was talking carving with them, i was watching people 
carve, i was carving!  I felt as if I had been welcomed into this big special 
society.  I even got to be part of some evening extracurricular activities.  I 
was like one of the gang.  these were my idols. I was in heaven.
     I took 2 all day classes, chosen only because of the subject.  I didn't 
know any of the instructors so could'nt base it on that.  What I learned in 
those two days is knowledge i will use for the rest of my life. I met 2 of the 
most talented and encouraging instructors, who i now consider friends. I 
produced 2 of my best carvings yet.  the teaching was done in such a relaxed  no 
pressure way.  I have looked up the prices of taking a class with both of these 
instructors and understand what I got for free.  Which is all but icing on the 
cake. Would I now turn down a chance for other lessons with those 2 
instructors?  I really don't think so.  In fact was going to go to a class by one of 
them which was in my area, last month but the class fell thru.  The other 
instructor, was someone who i came to admire and respect in my couple days of seeing 
him.  He inspired something in me and if the financial opportunity presented 
itself for me to take the trip,  I would gladly pay for his class. I enjoyed 
the roundup so very much.  Will i attend again, you bet ya, will I attend some 
free classes, heck ya.  But you know what,  I would even pay for the honour of 
being part of such a wonderful thing.  And if there is ever a shortage of 
instructors,  I would be happy to try and teach somebody something, for free.  
Because if there's anything I have learned its that this carving community is one 
of the most caring, sharing, gifted bunch of folks I have ever known and I'm 
glad to be a part of it.  Thanks all you special people.

Maura carvin' in nyc
http://www.picturetrail.com/whiteknight718
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