The meme-ability of Vancouver’s Barge on the Beach has struck again, this time for a local woodworker who has been flooded with orders after creating an especially unique holiday decoration.
Inspired by a few friends, Cameron Maclean designed and fabricated a barge-themed tree ornament which also features a barge-themed rendition of the classic poem The Night Before Christmas. The ornaments are made from machined wood cutouts that Maclean sands smooth and to which he applies a subtle beeswax finish.
Despite having his own workshop Maclean remains a hobbyist woodworker and never intended to sell the ornaments “to the masses.” However, when he posted a photo of the ornament and the poem on social media it was more than well-received.
"I just got flooded with messages there for people asking for them,” Maclean said in a recent interview with Vancouver Is Awesome. “I'm not planning on making a whole whack of them but I am making some more now."
Even still, supplies are limited as Maclean has no online store and coordinating pick-up times is a challenge.
"It's been fun to make it, I'm glad enough people are interested in a little bit of unique Vancouver Christmas spirit," Maclean said.
No guarantees, but if you’re interested in getting one of Maclean’s barge ornaments they’re $20 apiece and orders can be arranged with Maclean by messaging him on Reddit or Instagram.
To see more of Maclean's work, projects created by him and his wife can be found on the Instagram account @twocleverotters.
On the back of each ornament is this poem written by Maclean and a friend:
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the bay Not a ripple on the water, the boats did not sway The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The hipsters were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of fixies danced in their heads; My roommate with their wine, and I an IPA, Invited to a friend’s, but at home, in bed I will stay,
When out on the beach there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what’s the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, A strong wind in the bay had caused waves to crash
The walls were wet from the new-fallen rain This leaky rental, may drive me insane, When my wondering eyes began to enlarge, I saw a drifting, approaching, a wayward barge,
With a red and black hue, and so much room for gravel, I knew in a moment, to the shoreline I must travel. More rapid than crowds at a below-market house sale, People whispered and gathered and even a whale.
A voice called out from within the barge.
"Carry, sulphur! now, gravel! now, woodchips or coal! On, tugboats! on winches! Get ready to pull! To the great open sea! To the docks I will charge! Now dash away! dash away! I am the barge!"
And away the barge flew like seaplane with speed.
But I heard the voice exclaim, as it drove out of sight— “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a barge night!”
