From Whittling to Nut‑Carving, the California Carvers Guild demonstrated Woodcarving at Maker Faire Bay Area 2025
Last weekend (September 26‑28, 2025), Mare Island in Vallejo transformed into a maker’s playground, from 3D-printed robots to handcrafted wood art.
Maker Faire Bay Area draws tens of thousands of creators, hobbyists, and families eager to see how traditional skills intersect with modern technology. Among the sea of LEDs, lasers, and circuit boards, three chapters of the California Carvers Guild (CCG) reminded visitors that a single block of timber can be just as awe‑inspiring.
Three woodcarving clubs, one booth at Maker Faire
The Tri‑Valley Carvers (Livermore, founded 1973), Sonoma County Woodcarvers (Sebastopol), and Santa Clara Valley Carvers (San Jose, founded 1967) pooled resources to staff a single, eye‑catching booth. The clubs’ banners flew behind the booth, and our volunteers welcomed curious onlookers with friendly smiles and an array of tools.
From left to right: Ken Morgan, Roman Chernikov, Ann Bruner-Welch, Dave Richards, Ed Heskett, Judy Hess, Theda Mobley.
Live demos that turned heads and artist spotlight
Chip-carving in action: Ed Heskett and Roman Chernikov demonstrated their signature chip-carving techniques, transforming basswood boards into delicate ornaments.
Whimsical wildlife: Ken Morgan’s large “Nut Carving” projects were instantly recognized by visitors, but few knew the character’s name (Scrat) from the famous animated movies.
“Every carving holds a hidden story,” said Theda Mobley, who represented Sonoma County Wood Carvers, pointing to her carved fruit bowl on display,” and some stories are waiting to be discovered.” Every wooden fruit in the bowl can be opened to see carved animals inside. Kids loved it!
Turn a snowman: A Fresno Ideaworks woodturning demo in the nearby booth showed how lathe work can be masterfully used to create seasonal decorations. That woodturning booth was quite popular!
Visitors could also watch what other carvers brought to the faire. Greg Caser from the Coastal Bay Carving had an impressive collection of realistic wooden ducks at his booth.
A history of collaboration
The CCG chapters have been collaborating for decades, working together through joint newsletters, shared tool libraries, and regular participation in regional events, as well as meeting at the Oakhurst Woodcarving Rendezvous. Their partnership extends beyond the Maker Faire participation. They teach scouting troops, run beginner workshops, demonstrate at local fairs, and donate carved pieces to community centers.
“Our clubs are like branches of the same tree,” says Roman Chernikov, president of Santa Clara Valley Carvers. “When we come together, we can reach a far wider audience than any of us could alone.”
Audience reaction at Maker Faire
Fairgoers, many of whom had never heard of a local woodcarving community, flocked to the booth. Club members handed out hundreds of flyers and even signed up four new members on the spot. “I thought Maker Faire was all about electronics,” admitted one visitor, who was surprised to see our carving demos.
Art Installations at Mare Island
New art sculptures are regularly installed on Vallejo’s Mare Island. Here are a couple of them. See more details on the Vallejo Sun website.
“Abhaya” – Fearless Tiger by Sonny Behan
Rhino by Barry Crawford, an Art sculpture at Vallejo’s Mare Island
Looking ahead
Inspired by the positive response this year again, the woodcarving clubs are already planning a collaborative exhibit for the 2026 Maker Faire Bay Area and a joint outreach program at local events. They invite anyone curious about carving to join their meetings and workshops. If you would like to learn more, please visit the clubs’ websites: The Tri‑Valley Carvers, Sonoma County Woodcarvers, Santa Clara Valley Carvers, and other clubs in the area.
If you’re in the Bay Area and want to see woodcarving up close, keep an eye on the SCVC Woodcarving Calendar for upcoming demos, workshops, and club gatherings.
Read about our participation in Maker Faire Bay Area 2024.
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