Woodcarver's Day - Historic Washington, Kentucky

15^th Annual Woodcarvers Day
Submitted by:
Carol Ann Georges
207 E. Second Street
Maysville, KY 41056
Phone: (606) 564-3559
(606) 759-7074

Chips fly as carvers carve life back into the wood. Historic Washington KY Shopkeepers Association and Maysville-Mason County Tourism will host the 15^th Annual Woodcarvers Day, Sunday, June 11, 2006. On that day from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., visitors to the village will be welcome to peruse the numerous displays of quality handcrafted wood art and converse with the many talented carvers. Most of the wood artists will have items to purchase for your continued enjoyment after the day has come to a close. Throughout the day carvers will compete in thirteen divisions. First, second, third and honorable mention ribbons will the awarded in Bird, Aquatics, Relief, Water Fowl, Caricatures, Animal, Christmas, Chip Carving, Cane/Walking Stick, Human Figure, Religious. Best of Show and Best Display.

Vendors supplying wood, instructional materials and carving tools will be available to those who want to develop their carving talents.

A special event of the day will be a Head Carving Contest. Wood will be provided for any adult wishing to participate in this event to be held at 1:30 p.m. Participants must have their own carving tool and will have half an hour to complete their entry. Ribbons will be awarded for the best carvings.

Drawings for door prizes donated by the carvers, Washington shopkeepers and local businesses will be held throughout the day.

Again this year, a Friendship Cane consisting of carved blocks of wood will be assembled. Ticket sales will begin the day of the event. The cane will be on display at The Iron Gate shop in Washington where tickets can be purchased until Frontier Christmas, December 3, at which time it will be raffled.

Washington is an historic little village that boasts seven house museums. Museum tours are conducted by costumed tour guides from the Visitors Center (606) 759-7411. The village is well known for its numerous antique, craft, gift and specialty shops.

In the past, six states have been represented in the show. A bigger representation is expected this year.

Upcoming events include the Civil War Living History Weekend, August 12-13 and the Simon Kenton Festival, September 16-17. Washington is located on US 68 – four miles south of the Ohio River and Maysville, one mile south of the AA Highway (Rt. 9). For Woodcarvers Day information and registration call (606) 564-3559 or (606) 759 – 7074 or E-mail: irongate@atcc.net .

FRIENDSHIP CANE UPDATE

Thanks to fifteen carvers, the Friendship Cane was a huge success. It drew much attention while displayed at the Washington festivals throughout the year and daily in our shop, The Iron Gate. We raffled it during the Frontier Christmas celebration on December 7. Mark Florence, Cynthiana, Kentucky was the happy winner. He promised to come to our Woodcarvers Day this year and express his gratitude to all of those who made the cane possible.

For the past two years, Tom Koch has carved a wonderful Santa for the top of the cane and Willis Bond has given his time and talent to creating a bottom; for the 2003 cane it was a red shoe. Thank you Tom and Willis.

For those of you who are not familiar with a Friendship Cane, I will explain how one is made. The cane needs a top and a bottom segment. Additional carved pieces will be placed on a dowel rod which constitutes the cane. Start with a block of wood that is 3” high and 2”x 2”. The block must have a 5/8” hole vertically drilled through the center which will make it possible to place on a dowel rod. As before there is you sign and no theme for the cane, so you may carve anything and paint or stain it. It is important that you sign and date your piece. I will provide a ¼” thick 1 ½” diameter spacer that will be placed between each carving.

We will sell chances on the cane starting on June 13; and it will be raffled on December 5 at Frontier Christmas. The proceeds help Historic Washington Shopkeepers Association defray the cost of the Woodcarvers Day event.

If you are willing to carve one of the cane pieces, your set up fee will be reduced $5. It is important that you start with a piece of wood that is 2”x 2”x 3” with a 5/8” hole in the center. I am counting on you to help me with this; but in the event that you cannot, please let be know as soon as possible. If you are willing to do the top or the bottom, I need to know right away so that we don’t get all tops and bottoms and nothing in between. Bring your piece the day of the show.

Thank you in advance for sharing your time and talent for this project.

Carol Ann