Post #771683 by TheBigT on Tue, Jan 3, 2017 12:28 PM

My 2016 retrospective continued... :D

When the beginning of October came around, the house was 95% remodeled. The Howie's Tiki mug release party and the week-long Bamboo on the Bayou Tiki bash were both coming up in October. It was finally time to blow the dust off the workshop!

Howie's Tiki had commissioned a tiki baseball bat earlier in the year. I started this practice piece in April (pre-flood).

Also, started working on the full-sized bat.

Got this much done before the flood:

Suddenly, with the mug party only a week away, emergency carving time!!

Putting on the finish:

Delivering the bat.

Party time!!

Mark, the owner, installed it on a rotating platform right next to the bar. :D Thank you Howie's Tiki!!

Next: time to get ready for Bamboo on the Bayou.

Got busy with some new moais:

Just barely got the clear coat on these the evening of the show...

I cut the end off the practice bat started back in April, and turned it into a muddler. I don't have a picture of the whole piece, but it's extra long at about 11" to get to the bottom of taller mugs and glasses.

It seemed like I still didn't have enough stuff. So at the last minute, I cut a small board in half and busted out the dremel to make these two plaques.

My table and drink. Party on again!!

I stayed on the Moai train in November, starting this 5 - 6 footer.

The log was in really bad shape though. It was more and more rotted toward the base, so I abandoned it to start a new one.

Started the next one out of oak.

Also started a couple of masks. These are made out of a pecan log that I cut down the middle.

Well, that was it. Then we moved Thanksgiving week. Ironic?

December was, well, December. Christmas presents, unpacking, family time, hanging with good friends. So long 2016, don't let 2017 hit you in the ass on the way out!!