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Say g’day to the Makers!
Over the event, catch up with over 50 traditional artisans of heritage craft, who gather to showcase their skills, share their knowledge and their passion in their craft. They will be demonstrating throughout the event.
Plus Craft Beer: A range of craft beer to discover, taste and enjoy!
Plus Artisan Heritage Markets: Most of the exhibitors will have their handmade wares for sale onsite – a chance to pick up a unique, handcrafted and quality gift – for yourself or someone special! – straight from it’s creator. Support our artisan community!
Presented by Carbatec, Home of Woodworking
In the Woodcraft Area, meet woodworkers, carvers, spoonsmiths, Luthers, sawscrollers, pyrographers… share their knowledge and their passion:
Come along, meet the Woodies:
Master Woodcarver & Fretworker – Bruce Weier is a renowned master craftsman in all aspects of wood carving, turning, fretwork and antique restoration. On the rare occasions when he isn’t working on commissions from around the world, he’s busy creating intricate and beautifully detailed signature works, releasing the varied flora and fauna hidden within each piece of wood. His aim is to continue to create wood carvings in the style of famous 18th century English carver, Grinling Gibbons.
http://www.bruceweierwoodcraft.com
Gympie & District Woodworkers Club – All weekend, the “woodies” demonstrated many aspects of woodworking, from age-old pyrography, woodturning and scrollsawing to handcarving and spoonsmithing. On show will be all manner of wooden treasures, from little “comfort birds” to guitars, harps and more.
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and spoonsmith Deirdre Wilson – As one of the “woodies”, spooner Deirdre Wilson lovingly handcarves intricate and detailed Welsh Love Spoons. A centuries old tradition in Wales, young men used to whittle a love spoon to give to their beaus, carving symbols of love, hearts, Celtic knots, bells and horseshoes. Be sure to ask about workshops.
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Spoons by Jeff – A twisted stick with a odd protruding lump, a gnarly knobbly burl, a battered offcut from a cracked stump – all the stuff from which Jeff’s inventive, elegant spoons and delicate bowls are so beautifully crafted. Traditionally functional or irregular, wonderfully textural and tactile, his works are sought after by collectors and galleries throughout Australia.
www.facebook.com/SpoonsByJeff/
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Whittler – John Gerritsen was a man of the land. No matter where his working life took him – remote areas in the Gulf and the outback, he was never without his penknife is his pocket… in a quiet moment, to pick up a piece of wood and start whittling was as natural as breathing.
Over the last 30-odd years working with wood, John has notched up an incredible record – carving literally thousands of life-sized dogs, cats and birds, and whittling many more miniatures. He delights in finding a piece of driftwood or dry camphor laurel and working with it’s natural form to create animals and birds. “It’s all about the attitude, expression and body language” he says with a smile.
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Penmaker – Mark Wilson retired and found a new passion in life, turning pens and making hand crafted boxes. His attention to detail produces beautiful works of art. He runs courses on pen making at The Gympie and District Woodworkers Club.
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Shinglesplitter – Shingles & Shakes – Col is a regular demonstrator of shingle splitting at Gympie’s Woodworks Museum. In our pioneer days, rooves were first covered with bark, and later with shingles split from a then ready supply of materials. In recent times, even the tools are in the nearly forgotten past. Col demonstrates the what and the how of this once essential craft.
https://www.woodworksmuseum.com.au
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The Australian Buschcraft Show – Consummate showman Stan Ceglinski’s power-packed shows inspire a love for age-old traditions of all types of bushcraft. An award-winning bushcrafter with a deep love and knowledge of the skills of yesteryear, he will take you on a sentimental journey into our heritage and our past, passing on a host of knowledge that our country must not lose…. traditions like shingle cutting, bark hut building, split post fencing, broad axeing and cross cut sawing and more.
Over the years, Stan’s shows have been wowing audiences at renowned timber and heritage events in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – he says “In the beginning I was a little technical, a friend told me: bullshit a bit! We were a poor Polish family, couldn’t afford bullshit. You know, I searched for the great Aussie Bullshit for 2 years before I found it! It’s like a seasoning you apply to a story – like putting salt, pepper and butter on a steamed choko – makes it taste better! Well, bullshit colours up the story!”
Stan’s superb wood and bushcraft skills, a rollicking sense of humour, (plus, Stan adds, my good looks – if I don’t tell you who will?!) – and the bull****! – have combined to make a winning recipe. With the grandest sense of showmanship, his power-packed shows have been delighting audiences, of all ages, for many years.
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and the Luthiers – not to be missed!:
Luther & Sensory Harpmaker – Bruce Walker’s shed tells all about his love of woodwork – on benches cluttered with tools and sawdust lay pieces of beautifully crafted guitars, ukeleles, intricately inlaid boxes, carvings and more. From the rafters hang a forest of turned chair legs, scrolled posts and rough planks, all in various stages of refinement. A talented artisan and woodwork tutor, Bruce is renowned for his sensory harps, which help in healing through musical therapy and the sensation of vibrations for the elderly and informed.
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Hart’s Harps – Ziko Hart, of Hart’s Harps, is a creator of bespoke hand-made specialist instruments, crafted from a combination of traditional and modern durable materials such as hemp composite. His unique designs are inspired by instruments both ancient and cutting edge, from all corners of the globe. He dreams of producing diverse and eclectic rhythms, reminiscent of other cultures, that step outside the conventional Western musical range. Passionate in researching traditional and vintage harps, Ziko is involved in their restoration.
Ziko and his display of instruments, including his latest creations – hemp bodied harps – can be seen in the Pavilion.
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Meet Big Stan – Watch – or join in! – the jam session at Stan’s onsite stall
Using just a lump of timber, a drill and an axe, Stan can quickly knock up anything from a 3-legged stool to an elaborate musical instrument… and then play it. With a love of traditional country blues, he’ll be playing “musical interludes” on his hand made guitars at his stall throughout the event, and havin’ a ball… and if anyone in the audience can play, he will encourage them to join in for a jam.
It’s a real show. But who’ll be minding the shop? “Well,” says Stan, “I’ll need a couple of check-out chicks…. not ones with push-up bras, but blokes over 70 who just love life.”
Stan will be exhibiting a selection of his guitars as well as finger boards and necks at Gympie Rotary’s Ancient Crafts, Rare Trades Expo. He’ll have beautifully crafted unique 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 stringed guitars on show, his hubcap and biscuit tin guitar and yes, that original appalachian dulcimer.
He will also have a huge selection of craft wood, various timber slabs and acoustic timbers on offer – as well as great advice, delivered with lots of good cheer, good music and a good belly laugh.
“You gotta love life”
The Australian Bushcraft Shows – with consummate performer, Stan.
With his rollicking humour, off-beat jam sessions and extraordinary bushcraft skills and knowledge, Stan really strikes a chord with all he comes across!
He is particularly keen on educating children on the ways of heritage bushcraft, and presents special children’s “Have-a-go” shows!
For more on Stan’s story, click here
The Makers’s Fair Woodcraft Arena is presented by Carbatec, the Home of Woodworking