California Carvers Guild

Teaching, Sharing, Promoting the Art of Woodcarving

Author: CCG

  • In Memory: Phil Okada

    In Memory: Phil Okada

    The California Carvers Guild mourns the loss of one of our members, Phil Okada, who passed away in September 2026.

    Phil was a lifelong woodcarving enthusiast and a dedicated member of our non-profit educational organization. He committed much of his time to the community, serving as a tutor at the Hayward Senior Center and maintaining close ties with the members of Tri-Valley Carvers, Santa Clara Valley Carvers, Sonoma County Woodcarvers, and other CCG Chapters.

    Phil’s passion for the craft was evident until the very end. He was a mainstay at the Oakhurst Woodcarvers Rendezvous, where he continued to promote woodcarving and inspire others with his creativity and craftsmanship.

    Phil Okada displays a carved octopus walking staff and a turtle-shaped knife sheath at the 2026 Oakhurst Woodcarvers Rendezvous, surrounded by his wooden carvings.

    We honor Phil’s memory and his contributions to the carving community. He leaves behind a legacy of mentorship and a body of work that reflects his joy and skill, captured perfectly in his annual appearance at Oakhurst, where he shared his carvings with friends and fellow carvers. Our thoughts are with Phil’s family, friends, and the many students he inspired throughout his life.

    If you knew Phil, please share a few words in the comments.

  • Contact the Chief Judges

    Have questions about competition categories, class placement, or the CCG judging program? Review judging categories or message our regional Chief Judges for guidance.

  • Submit Woodcarving Photo

    Use this page to submit photos of your carving projects, tool setups, or guild activities to the California Carvers Guild.

    To help us properly credit your work and share it with the community, please provide your contact information and a brief description of the image you are uploading. We appreciate high-resolution photos and landscape orientations whenever possible, but portrait orientation works too.


    We appreciate you sharing your passion for woodcarving with CCG members and the entire carving community. Thank you for your contribution!

  • Missing CCG Emails? Let’s Get Connected Again!

    You’re Not Alone, And We’ve Got a Solution

    We’ve heard from several of our fellow carvers that they haven’t been receiving CCG regular emails lately. Whether you switched to Gmail years ago, changed email providers after retiring, or your inbox has simply been playing hard to get with our messages. We understand these things happen more often than anyone realizes!

    Why This Happens

    The digital world moves fast, and sometimes our contact information lags behind the changes in our lives. An old Hotmail address from 2015, a Yahoo login that stopped working when your computer got upgraded, or emails quietly slipping into spam folders – these are common hurdles we’re hearing about.

    What You Can Do

    We’ve made it easy to update your information and rejoin our mailing list. Just fill out the form below and click the Submit button:

    Chapter name or number. Include several if you belong to more than one.
    Please don’t forget to put your city, state, or country (if not the US).

    Once we receive your information, we’ll add you to our updated contact list and send a welcome message to confirm everything’s working properly.

    A Note About Spam Folders

    While we’re sorting things out, it wouldn’t hurt to check your spam or junk folder for any emails from us that may have gone astray. Adding info@cacarversguild.org to your contacts list can help keep future messages in the right place.

    Happy carving!

  • Members-Only Resources

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  • Liability Insurance Certificate Request

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  • California Carvers Guild Bylaws

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  • Join California Carvers Guild

    Explore the benefits of CCG Membership here [link].

    Please make your check payable to “California Carvers Guild” and send it to:

    Mary Woulf, CCG Membership Chair
    P.O. Box 59
    Oakhurst, CA 93644

  • Woodcarving Links

    Woodcarving Links

    Review our curated links

    CCG Chapter Websites

    Some Chapters maintain their own websites, discussion groups, and social media pages. We linked the sites below:

    A logo of the Santa Clara Valley Carvers woodcarving club. It depicts a woodpecker sitting on a tree.
    Chapter 1
    A circular logo for the Orange County Woodcarvers. The text "ORANGE COUNTY WOODCARVERS" is inscribed in blue around the perimeter. The center features a detailed scene depicting snow-capped mountains in the background, rolling green hills with rows of orchards in the middle ground, and three oranges with a white citrus blossom in the foreground.
    Chapter 2
    A round logo of the Tri-Valley Carvers woodcarving club in Pleasanton, CA.
    Chapter 5
    A round logo of the Central Coast Wood Carvers club with a pelican in the center.
    Chapter 7
    Channel Islands Carvers woodcarving club logo featuring an oval scene of the Ventura, CA coastline with a yellow lighthouse, rock arch, and seagulls under a light blue sky.
    Chapter 15
    Chapter 17
    Round logo of the Capital Woodcarvers Association (CWA), a Chapter 20 of the California Carvers Guild. The CWA members meet and carve together in Sacramento, CA.
    Chapter 20
    This is a circular logo for the Ramona Country Carvers, a chapter of the California Carvers Guild. The patch features a yellow outer ring with brown text arched along the top reading "RAMONA-COUNTRY" and along the bottom reading "CARVERS." The center of the logo is a tan rectangle containing a graphic depicting a mountain range in the background, a small building on the left, and two silhouetted head profiles on the right. Below this illustration, the text "1979 HEMET" is printed.
    Chapter 22
    A square wooden tile featuring a relief-carved circular logo for the "Central California Woodcarvers" Fresno chapter. In the center is a stylized map design with the word "FRESNO" carved on a horizontal arrow shape pointing to the center of the California outline. The wood is light-colored and smooth, with shadows highlighting the carving's depth.
    Chapter 23
    The photo of the patch: the round logo of the Central Sierra Woodcarvers club with the Yosemite mountains depicted in the center.
    Chapter 37
    Chapter 59
    A square wooden tile featuring a carved relief logo for the Tehachapi Mountain Carvers, Chapter 62. Inside a central oval, a carving mallet stands upright next to a chisel and a carving knife, set against a background of stylized mountains. The text "TEHACHAPI MOUNTAIN" arches over the top, and a banner at the bottom reads "CARVERS." The text "CCG CH. 62" is visible near the tools. Beneath the oval, "TEHACHAPI, CA" is carved in large capital letters.
    Chapter 62

    CCG Members’ Websites:

    Gil Drake
    Dave Stetson
    Bob Travis
    Joe You

    A large, handcrafted wooden sign reading "Welcome to Oakhurst".

    Oakhurst Woodcarvers Rendezvous

    Join your fellow woodcarvers for a week-long learning experience in beautiful Oakhurst, California! See the 2027 Schedule.

    Out-of-State Carving Clubs

    Carving Magazines

    Carving Books

    Carvers and Carving Instructors

    • Carvin’ in NYC — An excellent site; be sure to check out her “knowledge” pages!
    • Gene Webb — A woodcarver/Instructor in Tennesee. Classes, roughouts for sale. (on Facebook)

    Carving Tools and Supplies

    Woodworking

    Online Woodcarving Resources

  • Form For Submitting Corrections to Chapter Information

    Please enter ALL Information to be included, even if it’s already there.

    Name, e-mail, phone number — one line for each contact:
    Chapter website, etc.