Paleoplanet and Al Sahid Info

Just a quick note to mention that the Paleoplanet meeting that would have been on Sunday has been postponed. The Pasadena Roving Archers are having an event that day and there won't be space for us this time.

Also, we are going to an Al Sahid SCA demo on Sunday in Apple Valley.  The bow making bench is going to be with us, so come on by. Contact me if you need more info.

Robin Hood hats for sale.

My newest arrows. I sold six already and have six left.

Conflicting Events on Sunday

I'm going to miss Sunday's Paleoplanet gathering at the Pasadena arroyo. I have an SCA event in Van Nuys, CA that day. At first I thought the SCA event was on Saturday so I was hoping to go to both.

I missed last month's as well because I was up visiting my daughter and meeting my new granddaughter. So much to do, so little time. That's how spring is for me. Today I have a to do list as long as my arm so I better get cracking.

I'm not really trying to poke her eye.

Maggie, my granddaughter and Kyle

My grandson Weston on the left, and Barbara's son Jack on the right.

Photos From Chamberlain Ranch Archery Shoot 2013

The Chamberlain Ranch 3D Traditional Archery shoot was great fun and perfect weather. We sat across from two knappers so that was entertaining. During the raffle though, the wind picked up and blew Joe's entire table cloth and inventory off his table. It sounded like chimes as those arrowheads hit the ground. I hope he didn't have too much damage.

Badger was busy making bows and gifted us both with incredible osage bows. I need to put a shelf on mine and beef up the serving string so my arrows will fit. In fact, I need to make all new arrows.

The clout shoot was very popular and at $1.00 per arrow, I'm sure it was a great fundraiser for the charity event.

We had our Greenman Archery booth set up and did very well this year. Guy is going to be busy making a bunch of custom arrows. He made some great trades as well. 

Badger scraping on a bow.

Oak tree on Chamberlain Ranch near Los Olivos, CA

Clout Shoot

Quiver

Ralph knapping

Richard and Gary discuss making bows.

Lots of New Bowyers in the Making

Ready to make bows from boards.

Gabriella finishes her first bow.

Guy explains the process.

Now to get everything all drawn out.

Oops, splinter.  Always keep a pair of tweezers handy when working on wood.

Bow horse and splinter removal

Yesterday we had a great turn out at the archery range. Four young ladies showed up to make bows. So Bill helped them out by donating boards, and Guy helped them lay out the lines and get started. Gabriella was there and she finished the bow she started 2 months ago. It looked fantastic but turned out too light for her draw. It will make a great present to someone with a weaker set of shoulders. She'll have to make a new bow for herself. Or cut off the tips to make the bow stiffer.  Guy helped her put together a bow string.

Terry was working on his bow, but he got a little heavy handed and dug in too deep.  I don't think his bow can be saved. It's a learning curve.

John Scordo brought a bow he made that was the most beautiful laminated bow I have ever seen. Hopefully I got a good photo of it so I can show you. It's hard shooting photos in the shade.  A lot of them don't come out. Somewhere my camera is buried in yesterday's tote bags.

Guy tests out John's bow.

John explains how he made it.

Ken and Barbara weren't there because she's just about ready to bring a new life into the world. It's too dicey to be that far from home in case that little thing called labor starts.  We wish the Villars family the best with their new arrival.

Lizard sunning itself on a rock.

Me in my wet bandana and sunhat.

Stalking a squirrel

 Gabriella finishing her longbow.

See you all next month.

Conejo Traditional Archery Shoot

Paleoplanet members that won an arrow. (Back row: Sander in the blue shirt, then Lisa, Benson, Sal and Aimee. (Front row: Seth and Guy).

We had a rockin' time at the Conejo Traditional Shoot. The weather was so much more user friendly than the Chamberlain shoot a few weeks ago. It was hot but not scorching hot during the daytime.  Nights were ideal for camping.  We had the biggest moon of the year rising over the hills on Saturday night while we had our pinecone fire going. Then on Sunday our archers cleaned house in the awards department with Guy Taylor of Greenman archery walking away with first place in the self bow category.  You don't have to make your own self bow to enter that division, but he did in fact make the bow and the bamboo arrows. He usually doesn't even keep score. He just enjoys the shoot.  Well, this time he kept score and walked away with first prize, which was a beautiful trophy arrow made by one of the Conejo club members. Other members won too, but I can't keep it all straight in my head. So I took a photo instead.

Arrows at the Green Man Archery booth.

Benson with his trophy arrow.

Paleoplanet members camping together.

Guy Taylor claiming his archery prize. The man in the middle made all the trophy arrows.

Guy wins a custom trophy arrow.

Jack wins for being the youngest.

Ken and Jack get ready for the Sunday shoot.

Sal and his trophy arrow.

Sal shakes hands.

Sander tries out Sal's box drum.

January Paleoplanet Meeting is Moved To February

Guy makes a bow while David looks on.

Guy and Sal work on projects.

Guy's shave horse that he made proves to be useful indeed.

We welcome families.

I just found out our February Paleoplanet gathering on Sunday has been moved to March 4th because of a marathon, plus we are still having the regularly scheduled meeting the third Sunday of March.

Here are photos I took at the January gathering in Pasadena CA.

Busy Week

Right now I'm painting a banner for the archery booth with the Green Man on it. Friday is Guy's birthday (Friday the 13th). Saturday there is an SCA archery event. Sunday is the Paleoplanet gathering in Pasadena and a birthday dinner.  Sheesh, when it rains it pours. That ought to keep me busy.

You can barely see the drawing on the banner. But you can at least see what size it is.

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Paleo Gathering Wrap Up

Yesterday was our monthly Paleoplanet gathering. In spite of it being a beautiful day, we had a slow turn-out. But one guy wanted to come so bad he rode his bike an hour and a half to get there.  Then he wanted my help making a basket for a Boy Scout Badge. Then he worked on some leather work kerchief holders.

I worked on my 2nd beaded feather earring.  But mostly I played with Jack, who is almost a year old. His mom was happy to share him with me.  It is one week until his birthday.

Aimee was there with her sketchbook. Chris was busy figuring out how to dip arrows. Tom Mahr, John Scordo, David, and Guy were also there. Sal was away in Mexico visiting with family. Derrick and Ron both dropped by but didn't stay long. And Alex came on his motorcycle. The other Alex got married two weeks ago but he was there with his son doing archery.

Jack just learned how to walk. You should see him go.

Jack had on the cutest little moccasins. I want to make some. But I never seem to get around to it.
Sorry some of you couldn't make it. Hope to see you next month.

Special Archery Meeting

Our archery group met Saturday so we could all visit with Tim Baker, one of the author's of the Bowyer's Bible Vol. 1-4. He used to be a group regular but left to pursue photography and other interests.  But he's also my frisbee buddy and before anyone got him involved in making a new longbow, he was waving his bright pink disk around wanting me to come do some throws.  How could I refuse?
But it was a hot day and I was quickly overheated, and the archers were clamoring to get his help with the tillering tree. George took my place for a bit, then we all went back to our projects. 

Anyway, I don't want to talk too much about it; mostly I want to share the photos. 

Erick scrapes his first bow.

Badger makes a bowstring with a string board.

Barbara took this photo of me weaving on my popsicle stick loom.

Tim Baker

Sal and Guy work on projects.

Barbara and Ken's son needs a nap after all the excitement.