"Building a Carousel for Albany, Oregon"

Wally and I were driving around Albany last week looking for Christmas items on our list... we happened to find a building that said Carousel on the outside. I had heard of a place where they restored old carousel's, but wasn't sure if this was the place.. they were open so of course we went inside.. 

What we found was amazing..... 

This excerpt is from their web page...

Albany's Brass Ring carousel studio is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to building a traditional Victorian carousel in  Albany's downtown historical district.  This project is funded through donations, grants and fund-raising activities.  All animals, carousel parts and various other items are available for "adoption", which is the main source of funding for the carousel.

   This carousel project began in 2002.  Carving officially started on June 7, 2003.  This project is estimated to take 7 to 10 years to complete.  All work is being done by hand with volunteers of all skill levels.  No experience is necessary and all volunteers are welcomed.  Volunteers are needed for all phases of the project, including carvers, painters, sanders, fundraising organizers and people willing to help with restoring the mechanism.

   The carousel mechanism is a 1909 Dentzel machine, possibly the last made by Gustav Dentzel.  The National Carousel Association and the William Dentzel family of Santa Barbara, California donated the mechanism to The Brass Ring in Albany, Oregon with the dream of seeing it restored to its glory.  There will be a menagerie of animals, totaling more than 54, (check our photo gallery to see the progress of the bear, cat, salmon and others)  all hand carved and hand painted in the traditional style of Dentzel and Muller.  The animals and carousel decorative pieces are being carved from basswood.

  The carving studio is located at 530 First Avenue W. in downtown Albany.    It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm (And Wednesday nights until 9 PM) or by appointment. 

From what I am told this finished carousel will be located on this same piece of land as it is being built. I am very excited to see this!!

They have people from all over come work on these pieces. A lady comes a few times yearly from Montana.. People from all over the Albany area as well.

They have people who will teach you how to carve, paint, and do what is needed to make these pieces look authentic..

Looking at this piece here,, you can see the detail work in the chest of this horse..






Below, you can see in his eyes, and even the feathers on his headpiece how precise the detail is..

This is a model of what this carousel will eventually look like.

Some of the finished pieces..

I love love love the giraffe!!!

Kitty has a mouse!


This bear is kind of fuzzy,, but so cute I had to put him in...

Another painting / drawing of what this will look like,,, beautiful! They have all the detail...

In the back room is more of the creation process.. here you see animals in various stages of carving and painting...

The Phoenix... possibly

What ever his name is or will be,, he sure is a beauty!

 

It is amazing where they get the inspiration for the faces on these animals!

Wally and I will be back to visit this place from time to time in the future. I am excited to see the progress..

Thanksgiving at the beach

 We were driving around and found a place called Beaver Creek.. (at least I think that is what it is called) A really pretty place we will be able to take the canoe when it gets a bit warmer.. There were alot of birds and this Egret was just taking it all in while Wally and I were stopped looking at him.

From the camp grounds to the beach!

Here is Wally and Trixie.. She is his baby! She is a rat terrier and about 14 years old and spoiled beyond belief!!!  (not that the other 2 are equally as spoiled)

 Trixie got a bit cold and had to warm up in dads jacket..

This one (on the top) is Pixie.. Trixie is her momma..

 More of Trixie...

 This little one.. well he thinks he is little.. is my Harley. He and Pixie are both about 12 years old now.

 A few more of my favorites..
There wasn't much of a sunset this night.. but this moment here was beautiful!

                            Love This!!!

Some of these are of the same area.. They look the same or about the same.. but the waves on this day were just amazing! There was a huge storm on the day before.

It pretty much rained and was really very windy on Thanksgiving day.. (we stayed in the camper and I kicked Wally's butt playing rummy 500) So on Friday when we went to the beach,, this is the aftermath.. still very very windy..

The waves were so powerful!!!

 Lots of seagulls flying around and when this group showed up they thought they were going to get fed...

One piece of drift wood,, 3 different views. I loved the textures and colors of this piece.

 I think this is one of my favorites!

 One of the many tide pools here at this beach. Again, same pool, different views...

This guy was posing for me.. The closer I got to him, the straighter he stood! Seriously!!!

 This section of rocks had it's own blow spout.. Pretty amazing to me since there really was nothing there.. Just every time a strong wave came washing up there was a spout!

I love bridges and this one in Newport is a great one.. We drove up into the hills so I could get a better shot.