Elmer the Wooden Shoe Carver

Kinda fun.  The Whidbey News-Times used my sketch of Elmer, the wooden shoe carver, on their Holland Happening wrap on this week's paper.  Elmer Veldheer in 82 years old and he has been coming from his home in Holland, Michigan to carve wooden shoes during Oak Harbor's Holland Happening for 20 years!  This is his last year because his arthritis is making it harder and harder to handle his carving tools.  He's been a beloved fixture of Holland Happening and is being honored as the grand marshall of this year's parade. 

Oak Harbor's Holland Happening

It's just a coincidence that the first day of this year's Holland Happening in Oak Harbor falls on Queen's Day in the Netherlands, but perhaps it added to this year's festivities a bit.  Took in the crowd, the wooden shoe-making demonstrations, and kid's canal racing.  Beautiful day to share in Oak Harbor's celebration of its Dutch heritage.

Making wooden shoes.