Slate- Blaenau Ffestiniog

["Judy Buswick" <jt.buswick@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The carving workshop in Blaenau Ffestiniog sounds interesting.  When
will it happen? During tourist season maybe?

I'm surprised that you aren't pulling out some blocks of slate -- it
could even be scratched with a nail.  But, maybe you are planning to use
slate and just didn't include that in your message.  At the Inigo Jones
Slate Yard in Groeslon they let visitors try carving a small design or
letter on a large flat block of slate.  From the sample I saw of ruled
squares where visitors left their marks, some people spent a good deal
of time doing intricate carvings and others just scratched and decided
not to put in any more time.  You might talk with the guys at Inigo
Jones to see what their experience has been with amateur carvers.

Sorry I can't help with the materials you asked about, but slate carver
Bill Rice lives up that way and creates some impressive bowls and
chalices with slate.  He might have a suggestion for slate tools or
sources.  And Ivor Richards in Bethesda is a slate carver but he's had
experience at international snow sculpturing, too.  Maybe you could use
blocks of ice.

I'm from Massachusetts and have tentative plans for a trip to Wales this
year.  I'd like to hear more.
Judy Buswick

-----Original Message-----
From: stone-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:stone-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 11:53 AM
To: stone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [stone] Slate- Blaenau Ffestiniog

Hello Stoners

I am organising a workshop as part of a local festival, which will allow
anyone to stop by and experiment with carving.

This will include children, so we are not looking at having blocks of
marble and steel carving tools, but just something that will allow
people to play with creating shapes.

So I am thinking of blocks of chalk (which are available locally, but
limited in size, and fragile)

Blocks of wax

Bars of soap.

Obviously people can do something with these using ordinary kitchen
knives and spoons, which will be reassuringly safe.

Can anyone suggest any better materials - I did hear that plaster of
Paris is quite good.

In addition, can anyone suggest people who could help - for example a
soap company that would donate bars of soap in return for the publicity?

Thanks in advance!

John Haigh
Amateur carver, one course at Portland Quarry and a few blocks of stone
down the road...