The "Making of" Gallery - Rachel McCollough

[Rachel McCollough]

This is one little six foot cow whip with an olive wood handle from a little while ago that I made at work, here you can better see the wax that sometimes clings to it.

[Robert Gage]

Super, Rachel! I like the olive wood a lot! (It's a fairly light weight wood, isn't it?)

[Rachel McCollough]

Mr. Robert, Thank you, yes it is. It is more comparable to ash.

[Ron May]

Another great looking whip Rachel.

Ron

[Ben Varsek]

Superb, Rachel!

Ben

[Mark Elliott]

Lovely whip, Rachel. I really like the olive handle.

[Rachel McCollough]

Thank y’all very much, I appreciate it. That olive is pretty for sure.

[Flemming Bo Christiansen]

Thanks for the clarification. I have tried two of your whips and they didn't feel like waxed. I've tried other whips that get very stiff by the wax, but your rolls still perfect out.

[Rachel McCollough]

Flemming, you are certainly welcome.

Here, you can see a mistake in the plaiting on the matching 6’ cow whip I had just finished and waxed.


Here, you can see the new replacement 6’ cow whip with the plaited overlay only lacking about 16” to go. It is side by side with the original 6’.


I’m in the dark work today, but will finish plaiting the overlay I hope tomorrow.

[Wolfgang Timm]

Isn’t that hard to recognize without knowing? I assume the „mistake“ wouldn’t really affect the performance of the whip?!

[Rachel McCollough]

Wolfgang, you are correct, it is only aesthetically affecting the whip, but it is one of those things I could not let go

[Mark Elliott]

Wolfgang, Rachel is one of those types that even if no one else noticed, she would know and it would haunt her sleep forever. That's what makes her such a great whip maker. It also is why she's the type of Paramedic that I want taking care of me if I'm on the cot in the back of an ambulance some day. And, it's one of the things that makes her the Rachel we respect and admire. The world need more folks like that.

[Ben Varsek]

Rachel, it's always annoying when that happens, but mark is spot on. It is this attitude, that makes all the difference!

Ben

[Wolfgang Timm]

A healthy dose of perfectionism probably doesn’t hurt So there is never the temptation to tolerate increasingly bigger mistakes. (Which doesn’t mean I wanted to imply that Rachel makes big plaiting mistakes anyway!)

[Rachel McCollough]

Wolfgang, no worries! I knew what you were asking
Ben, it is, but it is also a good opportunity to learn a little more
Thank you.

Mark, I’m always humbled by your words. I hope I live even half way up to that.

This client of these whips has waited and been very patient, they certainly deserve my best without me delaying their delivery any further, for sure.

[Jyri Haveri]

Beatiful Rachel! These make me want to plait again!

[Rachel McCollough]

Jyri, thanks! And, please do!!!! I greatly admire your work!

[Rachel McCollough]

Today.

[Ron May]

Rachel, great job.
Those handles look like ebony. I also really like the brown and black together.

Ron

[Rachel McCollough]

Yes sir, excellent eye! Three handles in ebony. One Cow, one Amper Elite, one ‘Rachel’ Stock. The grip wrap will be the same color once I condition it as the keeper.
I like the colors too, thank you, Ron.