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Happy Easter 2026
Author: Cathbad
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Making space
One more making space before Easter!
The 19th of March will be the last Thursday evening session of this block of Making spaces. They will return in April starting on the 16th of April.
May will see the summer show season begin, so our activity will be moving outdoors and around the Irish sea region. There is still time to get involved.
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Spring
The nights are getting lighter, and the catkins are forming on the tips of trees.
Soon it will be time to launch cluaran again.
If you have time to help with maintaining the boat:
Make space on Thursday evenings in the WSC workshop 7 – 9
5th, 12th, and 19th of March. Then there will be a break for Easter.
Next possible launch date will be the 16th of April – but that still needs to be discussed and decided.
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Ready for the Summer?
Here is a clip from a warm day in Kirkcudbright in 2022
Adventures await!
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Hacked Silver?
This is a curiosity rather than an experiment.
I made a pewter armband inspired by the Galloway hoard. The techniques I used are pretty similar and the dimensions are close. They are not exact and I’ve used a different metal – so as I say, not an experiment.
However, in use, metal fatigue set in and it eventually broke. This then resulted in a similar object to armband 15 of the Galloway hoard.
My armband broke roughly in the centre, but will need to be cut where the ribbon links. It has signs of metal fatigue on the edges due to use. It started as curved, but a couple of hammer blows will flatten it. They are unlikely to fracture the edges though, just as making the armband curved (after punching the design) did not fracture the edges.
So here is a gallery of the armband I made and wore, to compare with images from the NMS, especially of armband 15.
For more info on the original archaeology visit the NMS website! Or the museum itself for loads of awesome – although the hoard is doing a world tour from Kirkcudbright to Austrailia so I dont know if you will see armband 15
Like I say, just a curiosity, not an experiment!
Shove (or Holy) Tuesday is traditionally a time for clearing out the cupboards and having a party.
This fits with the seasons in the northern hemisphere. Summer is coming, but winter isn’t quite over yet. Some of us will be reflecting on this and use the evening to mark the preparation for a journey through lent, for others it is simply time to enjoy company, friendship, and food.
So we are having a pancake party at Simon and Kates. We will have some pancakes on the go (GF, Vegan, and full fat!) and some toppings, but please bring your own favourites to share too.
There will be space on the fire and the hob, as well as pans and skillets!
(Come to maker space on Thursday evenings if you want to see how they are forged)
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Pancakes 2026
To celebrate (and stock up before the long journey) the plan is to gather at 3 James Avenue (and Simon and Kates) for a Wordsmith Crafts – Cluaran/Quartz pancake party on Tuesday the 17th of February
19.00 onwards.
It is a bring and share thing, so clear out your cupboards and get together to feast!
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Gaelic Culture
A location, a language, a way of life – a way to interpret the landscape deeply rooted and flourishing?
Here is an interesting project and resource:
Feàrna (Alder in Gaelic) is the name given to ongoing work in Mull aimed at improving understanding and finding connections between people of Gaelic heritage and people of other heritages living on the isle of Mull.
This website is a space to share some of the things we’ve been exploring thus far through Feàrna. It’s also a warm invitation to anyone else considering these questions – in Mull or further afield – to explore them with us.
(Text taken from their introduction to their website)
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Wearable Heritage
One way to creatively inherit the past is to make things. These can be replicas. The process could be as close to historical accuracy as possible. At other times modern tools and materials can be used to inherit the ‘feel’ of a process. Or perhaps immersion in the past will inspire something beyond the wildest dreams if our ancestors.
As well as providing experiences WSC is a home for making things. We provide opportunities for folk to have a go. These range from drop in evenings hammering scrap into experiential treasure, to workshops by experienced artists.
For examples of a range of wearable heritage items, visit the shop page on the main Wordsmith Crafts site.
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Mediaeval Boating
I found this on a friends facebook page. I like the use of technology to interpret the wreck!
