From September 25 to 27, 2026, the historic Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo was filled with creative energy. While there were plenty of flashing LEDs, powerful lasers, and 3D printers, three chapters of the California Carvers Guild added something classic to the mix. At our booth, we showed visitors that woodcarving still inspires people.
A Maker Faire at Mare Island
The Maker Faire Bay Area is one of the biggest celebrations of creativity. Every year, it brings tens of thousands of hobbyists and families to the scenic shores of the Napa River. This year, the piers and old coal sheds were once again filled with maker displays and demonstrations.
Giant air balloons hung from the rafters of the industrial hangar, and the historic three-masted ship C.A. Thayer was docked right across from the booths.
Three Woodcarving Clubs, One Booth
This year, the Tri-Valley Carvers (Livermore, founded 1973), Sonoma County Woodcarvers (Sebastopol), and Santa Clara Valley Carvers (San Jose, founded 1967) all shared one booth. Each group is a proud chapter of the California Carvers Guild, which also publishes The Log for carvers statewide.
Visitors who stopped by were greeted warmly, had their questions answered, and heard a woodcarving story. We talked about everything from the history of woodcarving to Tramp Art techniques, fun facts about wood, and the difference between whittling and woodcarving.
At the table, Ken Morgan, a skilled carver and Vice President of Tri-Valley Carvers, organized the three clubs’ participation in Maker Faire. He was joined by Ed Heskett, a master chip carver from Tri-Valley Carvers; Ann Bruner-Welch, a carver from Sonoma County Woodcarvers known for both whimsical and realistic pieces; and Roman Chernikov, a chip carver, whittler, and president of Santa Clara Valley Carvers.
Carvings that Turned Heads
Ken Morgan’s display was playful and creative. He brought several unique carvings, including a relief carving of Tigger on a basswood slab, a “Welcome to Our Nut House” sign with chipmunks, and festive Santa figures. Other highlights were a squirrel holding an acorn, a cougar head, and a set of hand-carved spoons.
Roman Chernikov showed the precision of geometric chip carving. His collection featured platters, chip-carved coasters, a Tramp Art picture frame, and the DIY leather strops he decorated himself. He also brought a puzzle chain of interlocking links and playful figures like whittled ghosts and hearts. Roman designs his own chip carving patterns and shares them on his website, READ N TRY.
Ed Heskett shared his passion for chip carving with visitors. He has been a member of Tri-Valley Carvers since 2014, regularly enters his work in local shows, and teaches chip carving.
All weekend, Ken, Ed, Ann, and Roman gave live demonstrations of carving, whittling, and chip carving. The booth drew visitors from many places, including Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Diego, and even the East Coast.
The Climate Carnival Wagon
Nearby, we admired Andrew Breithaupt‘s Climate Carnival wagon. Andrew built the wagon himself using reclaimed materials. It has a teal roof, detailed scrollwork, and a globe carving on the front. A large round panel opens like a ship’s door to reveal wooden games and puzzles that Andrew makes for children’s events.
More Wonders at the Faire
Maker Faire always has something unexpected.
A giant metal chess knight stood on the pier, and a silver fire-breathing steampunk octopus with golden eyes attracted a big crowd. For fun, visitors could ride cupcake-themed mini electric scooters, with only their heads showing above the cupcake. Even among all the high-tech gadgets, our booth of hand-carved wooden pieces felt right at home.
Looking Ahead
We appreciate the Maker Faire Bay Area organizers for welcoming our booth to Mare Island. The three local woodcarving clubs are already excited to return in 2027.
If you want to see our work in person, visit a local carving club near you. Guests are always welcome during our carving hours. You can find times and locations on our home page or look up other carving clubs in the area. To learn more, check out our story about Maker Faire Bay Area 2025 and subscribe to our newsletter.
Leave a Reply