Dear Mark,  Contact the National Wood Carvers Association,
7424 Miami Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45243, E-mail <nwca@chipchats.org>.
There is also a web site: http://www.chipchats.org/

It's a non-profit organization.  They publish the magazine "Chip Chats",
a real bargain at $14.00 a year, featuring carvers, carving classes,
carving shows, etc.  It might be worth your while and money to purchase
some of the back issues featuring different carvers and their work.
There is some remarkable talent out there, so I'm sure you will be able
to find the best.

They don't carry advertisements in every issue, but had to compromise
their no advertising policy due to expenses, so once a year they publish
a listing of professional carvers (and other sources) which I'm sure
you could get from them.  If not, I will look through my back issues
and find one.  I never throw them away, but am not that organized to
come up with it without a search.

Good luck!

Patty Slayton
3326 W 3400 N.
Moore, ID  83255