February 2012 - AGM - Grateley

Many thanks to Mike W for providing the photos below for this meeting. (Editor)

Update: Woman's Head, in Lime, by Stuart L

Update: Elephant, in Lime, by Stan C

Update: Surfacing Whale, in Lime, by Simon D

Update: Seated Camel, in Lime, by Mike w

Update: Sailing Ship, in Lime, by Mike B

Update: Celtic Cross, in Teak, by Les

Update: Badger, in Lime, by Jo-jo

Update: Chain-making Demonstrator, in Lime, by John T

Update: Jaguar, in African Mahogany, by John D

Update: Dolphin, in Mahogany, by Ivor

Update: Rape of Sabine Women, in Lime, by Allan M

Update: Tree Spirit, in Lime, by Alan T

The First Meeting of 2012

We all met in Romsey for this first meeting of the year.
There was a good turn-out although some were there for longer than others! This meant that there are no photographs recording the occasion.
The AGM is at the next meeting at Grateley, the first Sunday in February. Our esteemed secretary will circulate everyone with the details in the next few days.
Blocks of wood were made available for the themed competition. This year's theme is, unsurprisingly, the olympics. You don't have to complete your carving in less than 10 seconds. The next Zion's Hill Woodfare will do nicely!

Keep you eye on the table below. It will soon be updated with the 2012 dates

Christmas Meeting at Chilbolton

4th December 2011

It was the end of another year to be celebrated with our usual seasonal festivities in addition to our usual meeting activities. Yes, we had our Christmas lunch laid on by Sheila W and Jill H with contributions from everyone else. It was also the day for our annual competition for the Stephen Green Trophy.

The Competition Entries

Each person had ten washers to distribute among the entrants as they saw fit. The entry with most washer votes was the winner. We all had good time in the morning to scrutinise and vote before gathering for the food and drink.

 Here we are all gathered except me who was hiding behind the camera!

Ready, steady, eat!

After we had eaten and cleared up, the competition results were announced by Chairman John T. The winner was...Stuart L. for his enchanting elephant, a well deserved winner. John T presented Stuart with the trophy.

Stuart L. receiving the trophy from John T.

Stuart L. with the trophy and his elephant

Stuart L's Elephant

After the presentation, we had the raffle and we all started to pack up to go home.

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone

Grateley Meeting 2nd October 2011

We had a modest turn-out on a glorious Sunday; too good to be indoors. The topic of the day was the list of venues for next year. They have to be fixed before Christmas. If you have any views, please let John T know as soon as possible. Here are a few pictures of the day.

The group at lunch No excuse for blunt tools! Geoff H's George and Dragon Ivor B's Little Dancer

September Meeting at Chilbolton

We had a splendid turn-out at Chilbolton in spite of the appalling weather in the morning. Everyone seems to have arrived at the correct venue this month!I hope everyone is reading from the latest programme sheet. We were entertained by the local am-dram group as they lowered the clever retracting stage in preparation for a show next week-end. We have seen it there before but always stowed away. It looks much bigger when it is lowered. Apart from the diversion from carving, it meant that we were squidged up somewhat, making the proceedings rather more intimate! One or two views of the group follow:

Visitors' Choice Competition Result

The theme of the competition was music to be carved from a 6"x4"x4" block of lime. The competition was judged by the visitors to the Zion Hill Wood Fair. We had a good number of entries, all of which received some votes but the overwhelming winner with 53% of votes cast was Stuart L with his bass guitar. He made clever use of the block by careful cutting.

Zionshill Copse Woodfair - Soap carving for children

Allan, Kate & Ivor show the children how to carve objects using simple tools...

Zionshill Copse Woodfair - Demonstrators

Stuart, and the Elephant...

Kate (and Fred), and the head carving...

Stan, and the Stags fighting...

Mike and one of the Magi for a Nativity Set.

Several members were carving items as people were visiting. Quite a few people asked questions about the carvings under construction....

Zionshill Copse Woodfair - Competition

Exhibits for the summer competition - "Music"

Zionshill Copse Woodfair - A Few Visitors

A few visitors browsing the carvings and competition pieces...

Zionshill Copse Woodfair - A few more pictures...

A few more close-ups of the exhibition pieces....

Zionshill Copse Woodfair - A few more pictures

Setting up the site ready for the exhibition and the children's soap carving sessions....

Zion Hill Copse Woodfair

We had good weather and lots of people for another good wood fair. The group was well represented and put on a good show for the public. The soap carving was even more popular. No matter how much soap we buy, we run out. This year, we got through 600 half-bars and still people wanted more! The music carving competition attracted a lot of interest and many votes from the visitors. I had to leave before the votes were counted so I do not yet know who won. Here are a few pictures from the day.

Visiting children engaged in soap carving

Carving Demonstrations for the Public

A Range of Carvings on Show

Still Queuing for Soap to Carve

Zion Hill Copse Woodfair

As usual, we are exhibiting at the Zion Hill Copse Woodfair on the 3rd September 2011. This is one of the highlights of the year and is a most enjoyable event with lots to see apart from our contribution. If you are intending to bring your car on site to unload, please arrive at 0845. Cars must be removed from the site by 0930 unless you have prior permission from the organisers. If you do not need to bring your car on site you may arrive at any time and park in the Knightwood Leisure Centre car park. To find the site, drive between Chandler's Ford and North Baddesley and you will see signs to both the event and the leisure centre. We will have an exhibition of carvings, so bring some along. You can also demonstrate carving to the public. We will be giving hands-on soap carving opportunities to the visitors, which is very popular.Come and have a good day. Let us hope that the weather is kind.

Netley Marsh Meeting August 2011

We had a good gathering for our August meeting in spite of it being holiday time. There was quite a variety of work in progress. Here we have a selection of photographs taken around the event.

Here is a general view of one corner of the room showing four of us at work! It was nice to see Stuart F back wielding his mallet and gouge

Kate is embarking on a head

Ivor is working on a Maltese cross

The Mudeford team are hard at it, what, I am not sure!