Q: Have you ever been to a pipe show? I am not talking about plumbing pipes! Probably not. And why, you might wonder, would this quilter want to attend one?
A: For the same reason I love quilt shows! Beautiful artisan work and wonderful friendships. Like with quilting, you develop friendships with people from all over the world, friendships forged from a love of a wonderful hobby.
How did I become involved in the tobacco pipe hobby? I was widowed at the age of 57 and then I met and married a pipe hobbyist. At first, I went to pipe club with him just because it meant more time together. Like most hobbies, however there is an insideous side that reaches out its tentcles and draws you in. For me, it was the beauty of hand carved pipes. I just had to have a few of these beauties, and now, like fabric, they have multiplied and I am officially a pipe collector.
I have cross-polinated (sounds a little risque!) my two hobbies over the years, making quilted pipe bags and pipe rolls, pipe themed Christmas stockings, and smoking jackets.
It has been 4 solid years since we were able to travel to a pipe show and for this reason, you are going with me! I am dragging you along because I can and for the love of sharing beautiful artisan work. Who knows, you mght get some wonderful ideas for quilts!
We were at the Palace Station Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) for this show. 104 exhibitor tables of lovely pipes and tobacciana are spread out for our perusal.
Oh, and let’s not forget the Pipe Divas! A number of years go, a small group of us women in the hobby decided to promote women pipe hobbyists, carvers, tobacconists and pipe sellers. Here are some of my lovely Pipe Divas! We try to get together for a few hours each show.
Some of my Pipe Diva crew! Hobbyists, carvers, tobacciana and pipe business owners, and a pod caster.
Leaving the Seattle area…
Bright, sunny Las Vegas!
Waiting for the show to open!
The show floor on opening day.
Silver Gray of Silver Gray Pipes! Her husband Brad Pohlman is also an artisan pipe carver.
Lynn Shannahan DBA Valiant Lady sells artisan, hand made pipes.
Sally Gottleibson DBA The Pipe Tart reps Italian pipe carvers and also a few other European and English carvers. I made the jacket that she is wearing and you can see some of my pipe themed stockings on her table.
The Missouri Meerschaum table. Missouri Meerschaum is a family owned American business that grows the cobs and produces corn cob pipes. Shannon Hoch, in the blue, is part of that special family. Tina Campbell, on the right, is wearing one of my jackets and she modifies the basic cob pipes with bright colors and lots of sparkle.
An assortment of the Silver Gray pipes.
So what did I bring home? This gorgeous deep purple Silver Gray briar pipe with an amazing stem.
The wood has been rusticated using a process known as sandblasting.
This stem is amazing!
My second purchase is an estate pipe (meaning it was owned by someone else prior my buying it) carved by Tonni Nielsen. Tonni is a US based carver who is originally from Denmark. Danish pipes are renowned in the pipe making hobby.
The curve on this rim gives me goose bumps! And look at the grain traveling straight up the pipe.
The bottom of the pipe has incredible Birdseye grain. I never expected to be able to acquire a Tonni Nielsen pipe, and am over the moon to have found this beauty (just barely!) in my price range!
Below are hubby’s acquisitions.
A Mastro Geppeto deep bend pipe.
A Briar Works Oom Paul. Briar Works make factory produced pipes at a great price point. Good, sensible, every day pipes.
Another Briar Works pipe called a Calabash. This shape is sometimes associated with Sherlock Holmes, although they are not mentioned in the books. They tend to pop up in Sherlock movies.
Pipe Tampers are used to tamp down burning tobacco as you smoke down your pipe. They are also very collectible! These were a gift from Sally. Mamie Yokum on the left in pewter (this is a heavy tamper) and a Maltese Falcon on the right.
And finally, I brought home this gorgeous Patricia Nash tooled leather bag. Steve Fallon (DBA The Pipe Stud) is married to the beautiful Beverly. Beverly has a consignment shop in Waco, Texas called The Bevy Boutique (you can find it on FaceBook!) and she found this treasure for me.
Leaving the desert landscape of Nevada.
Flying into the rainy Pacific Northwest where I live.
Thank you for this intro to pipe collecting. The pipes you’ve shown are incredibly artistic. My husband has smoked a pipe for years, but he started smoking in the garage 10 years ago, and I hadn’t realized that I missed seeing him smoke, or the lovely smell of his Borkum Reef cherry tobacco. Maybe it’s time I gave him a new pipe for Christmas.
That is a wonderful idea! A Peterson is never a bad idea, or something from a favorite maker. I am sure it will be greatly appreciated and a fun surprise!
Handmade by Lennea 
Hi I am glad you have had a great time. It is nice to have a few hobbies.
Keep happy and safe
Sandra
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Really interesting. I never knew the pipe world was so large and diverse. Glad you had a good time.
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Thank you for this intro to pipe collecting. The pipes you’ve shown are incredibly artistic. My husband has smoked a pipe for years, but he started smoking in the garage 10 years ago, and I hadn’t realized that I missed seeing him smoke, or the lovely smell of his Borkum Reef cherry tobacco. Maybe it’s time I gave him a new pipe for Christmas.
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That is a wonderful idea! A Peterson is never a bad idea, or something from a favorite maker. I am sure it will be greatly appreciated and a fun surprise!
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