This is the Gallery of "Wolf Creek Whips" - Rachel McCollough

[Rachel McCollough]

Russell, I have had a few in my hair before!

Jyri, thank you!

Jess, sorry!

Mr. Robert, thank you! It is just the shed portion of a cicada, no more than a dead leaf
They are responsible for that buzzing sound you hear in the South in summer. They are everywhere.

[Robert Gage]

Thanks, Rachel - I've heard cicadas before (when I was in Texas about twenty years ago) but have never seen one!

[Rachel McCollough]

Thanks, Rachel - I've heard cicadas before (when I was in Texas about twenty years ago) but have never seen one!

They are really something, here is a picture from the internet of one that has just emerged:


They do not bite, they are mostly harmless.
And a short video from YouTube:
https://youtu.be/zlNDUnGNvfg

[Ron May]

Rachel, they do make a racket that's for sure.

Ron

[Rachel McCollough]

Ron, that they do

[Matt Henderson]

Now that's lovely . If I'm not saying the same thing every time, fantastic job Rachel!.

Cicidas... not a fan. I understand they're harmless but they look utterly alien

[Rachel McCollough]

Thanks, Matt!
Cicadas...

[Tyler Blake]

Awesome whip Rachel! I usedto playwith those shells when I was kid in Texas

[Rachel McCollough]

Thanks, Tyler! Yes the cicada shells are fun for all the kids around! I went for a bike ride and that's all I could here was their buzzing. The cicadas, I mean

[Sven van Leeuwen]

A bug's as lonely as a lonely bug can be.
But it's very kind of you to give him the attention he so much craved.

Apart from that, the whip looks very beautiful. The wood is yet again astonishing. And I like the color combo of the nylon and the wood.

Sven

[Russell Jones]

I thought the cicada was a nice touch with the whip picture.
Seeing the husk reminded me of enjoying warm and lazy summer days as a child hearing the intense chirping sound while enjoying the outdoors.

[Russell Jones]

Sorry i'm doubling up on posts about nostalgic moments lol

[Rachel McCollough]

Sven, thank you!

Russell no problem at all! We should stay as young as we can!

[Ben Varsek]

Outstanding work Rachel!
I realy like the natural roohide keeper on this whip, it goes along very well with the bloodwood handle!

All the best
Ben

[Rachel McCollough]

Ben, thank you very much!

[Rachel McCollough]

Latest project, teamster thong for a local gentleman who has trained and drives his own team of oxen. I hope to go see them in action this weekend. This whip is an intermediate... Another one with a kangaroo hide tip will replace it later. It is 5' Latigo with a double-wide 28" Latigo fall, "cracker" from roo hide. The purpose of the double width fall is to help prevent the whip from marking the oxen.

All supplies from www.whip-nation.myshopify.com

You can see the way it is put on the stick in this picture from Ron Edward's book, How To Make Whips



Here is a picture from my client of a 75 year old thong made for this use. In Mississippi they are traditionally made from cowhide up top, with the last 18" or so being plaited from buckskin.


Here's the temporary whip I built for him until I can build one with a proper end.


All cut by hand, though I did mark off cut lines when I cut from the hide. Definitely!
I have a LOT of learning to do!

I enjoy building things like this that have a long history.

[Sir Roger Tuson]

That looks lovely Rachel. I'm sure your customer will be very happy with that.

[Mark Elliott]

Rachel, that is pretty nice work. I really like the way the latigo has that two toned look where you cut it and the plaiting is impeccable. The history that Edwards, Grant, Morgan, and Ashley give in their books is one of my favorite things about reading them.

[Scott A. Cary]

That is so cool, especially when considering the connection to history. Nice work!

[Rachel McCollough]

Thank you, Sir Roger- he seemed pleased with it this morning when I handed it off on the way to school.

Scott, thanks!

Mark, thank you!
Yes sir, the history is one part that really interests me.

I must also say the body of the thong is based closely on a pattern and measurements from Mr. Glen Denholm, it is not mine that I came up with on my own.