Post #418920 by Babalu on Thu, Nov 13, 2008 10:03 PM

Getting Close Now!!

Thomas, I guess around 9:00 am is a good time to start...It does get dark early these days (5:00 pm), but no worries; I will have everything lit up...If you want to carve, paint (I have some easels if needed), or play in clay a little late...whatever...darkness will not be a issue. There will be a few folks showing up around 3:00 that I know about already.

It's hard to believe that the Chops have been going on for 2 years now....The "BIG" 2 Year Anniversary Chop will be held at Mieko's Cosa next month.

If you have never been to a Chop, they really are quite remarkable...a gathering of people all coming together to share knowledge and learn from one another. We play hard and eat well. Everyone is welcome to join in on the fun.

I will never forget the first Chop at Mieko's house. Not knowing anything about carving really, I showed up with this log I had found on the side of the road, my Home Depot chisels, and a a wild looking rubber hammer. I wasn't 30 mins into whacking on this log when Ona Tiki walked up to me and handed me a really nice Flexcut V shaped chisel and said something like, "here brother, try this"...I tried to give it back to him after about 5 mins. use, and he said, "no man, play with it today"...I learned many things from Ona and everyone around me that day. I've been hooked ever since. Ona showed me the true spirit of the Chop...thanks Ona if your out there somewhere.

At the first Trailer Trash Chop over here, Sir B and I made a mold of this Chop tribute mug I made. I told everyone who had been attending the Chops that I would give them one for free. I have passed most all of them out now, but still there is a few folks that have not gotten theirs for reasons of my laziness....I just got 2 out of the kiln the other day. The black one with white eyes is for Aaron, the all black one is for Tmec (Andy)...sorry Andy, I didn't have enough red to do the inside like you wanted. The center green one is one I have been hanging on to...it's the number 1 mug....I want Ona to have this one. If anyone has Onas's address can you pm me?

I may have a few more yet to give out...Moki, and a few others? If your one of these people, please let me know. these are not the greatest mugs guys, sorry...They represent much more than their design I think. It says on the bottom of them "X out of 60", but really, I only made 30 some...