Here is a clip from a warm day in Kirkcudbright in 2022
Adventures await!
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Category: Events
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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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January 2026
Requests for school visits are starting to come in! If you would like to be involved and haven’t seen the e-mails please get in touch.
We are continuing the Winter break from drop in “Making Space” evenings to take advantage of the opportunity raised by The Stove with “Phanto Spectra”. If you haven’t booked already check it out.
Of course, activated members have been active throughout the holidays! Making has continued and we have gauges for sizing oars. A ply rudder blade is roughly shaped and it will be ready for testing when the ice on the water melts. Just the fittings to forge!
Activated members also help keep a roof over the Cluaran club head! In 2026 Wordsmith Crafts CIC will need to focus on the “company” side of CIC a bit more. The community tends to run on goodwill and trade, but The Workshop roof is going to need replaced and due partly to complexities in the building materials this will cost cash. We now have three years of activity reports and this will hopefully provide a basis to develop the board of directors. The aim is to hold this in the first week in February!
Have a look at the journey so far and get in touch if you reckon you have skills to contribute to keeping things afloat and on course. Annual Reports at the Bottom of this page
Drop in Making space will return on the evening of Thursday the 22nd of January. Plan is to keep Thursday evenings clear for Cluaran until the 26th of March. Check the calendar to see if it will be a club drop in at the workshop, a night at the pub, or another adventure!
Free if it is your first time, £5 towards club overheads after that. These are not taught craft workshops – but get in touch if you are interested in one of those!
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Making Space in December
Last Thursday, and the week before, have been productive for Making Space.
Last week we were blacksmithing. Newbies were working on chain, and some of the links were even fire welded.
Last Thursday we did an overview of the oars. We researched some books and asked someone on the other side of the world if they had a plan. There always also a hands on exploration of historical ring making.
While we worked Gavin told a story providing a new perspective on the troubled life of wolves. Apparantly red cloaked agents of malice disturb their habitat.
This week there will be another opportunity to take time out to make things, come and help get the oars ready for next season, or just say hi and chat.
Free if it is your first time, £5 towards club overheads after that. These are not taught craft workshops – but get in touch if you are interested in one of those!
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BASH
This Thursday, BASH at the riverside tap with Storytelling by Simon.
BASH are a collective who make improvised music which defies definition. They have been playing together for a while now, and occasionally have guests.
This Thursday (the 6th of November) they will be playing at the Riverside Tap in Dumfries. Simon Lidwell will be improvising some stories with them!
So this is the Cluaran event for the week. Ancient tales of the otherworld combining with music made in the moment. Autumnal poetry where semantics settle like leaves on the sound waves and decomposition warms the room, with the smell of rest surrounding the gathered company.
BASH with Simon storytelling 1900 onwards, the Riverside Tap, the Vennel, Dumfries – free gig!
Thursday evening are Cluaran evenings!
In the workshop. 19.00 to 21.00
Drop in with your own project. Share skills to try something new.
(Pay what you can/£5 contribution to the Cluaran club if you have the cash. Contributions in kind welcomed as well. Ask about Wordsmith Crafts Cluaran and Quartz memberships too!)
Thursday evening are Cluaran evenings!
Keep the evening free for hands on access to heritage. In the run up to Christmas we will be gathering for a range of activities. More details of each evening will be posted here.
Making Space:
Drop in with your own project. Share skills to try something new.
Storytelling:
In the workshop or a local pub
Boat maintenance: Many tasks needing done before the summer!
Or a community volunteering task.
We will post details of each evening here. We will start with a Making Space evening on the 30th of October. The last evening of this batch will be the 11th of December.
(Pay what you can/£5 contribution to the Cluaran club if you have the cash. Contributions in kind welcomed as well. Ask about Wordsmith Crafts Cluaran and Quartz memberships too!)
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Nithraid 2025
23rd of August, Dumfries
– Boats on the Nith
@contact us! if you would like to row on the river. Even better, let us know if you would like to sit and make model boats with people. In particular, pop pop boats from recycled materials. This draws attention to the principles of boat building – and also how precious recycled resources can be. Other styles of boat are possible too, and we will have a paddling pool set up to test them in so they don’t wash away downstream.
We are preparing components in advance of the day. Participants will be able to sit down and combine them to make something which floats. If they have time they can optimise their toy boat and see how well they can get it to work.
While preparing for the day we have been reminded just how engaging this process can be. Hours can vanish while the combination of boiler, candle, and hull are tweaked to get the best from the system.
There is an opportunity to practice this on Thursday evening in the wordsmithcrafts workshop 7-9pm.
We will need to set up on Friday evening but need to be sure of a full crew if we are going to row.
If the weather prevents rowing or we don’t have enough crew we will sit for a longer time in our medieval pavilion and make some model boats.
The overall programme for Nithraid can be found here:
Cluaran in 2023 cattle rustling with the Salty Coo. Our crew were time travellers that year!
Simon experimenting with making model boats out of precious recycled materials. We will bring parts for people to have a go at making their own.
We are hopefully bringing our DIY curragh “Catken” along too – but it is an elderly boat now…