Based on feedback from the AllMacfarlanes site, we arranged for artist Deborah L. McFarlin to  create a demi-savage stylistically consistent with the arms we selected earlier and with characteristics of The Macfarlane Battle Standard savage. (Sister/Aunt) Deborah has a fine arts degree and a Master's degree in Visual Information Technology and is an award-winning watercolorist on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Deborah went well beyond this to recreate a digital version of the full arms that will surely be the standard rendition of Andrew's arms hereforward. 

Deborah also collaborated with suggestions on the sign layout and recreated a print-ready version of the sign based on David Connoly's original work after over-a-year of public feedback had been incorporated into the design and content.

We are very grateful to Deborah for all her work!

We are also very grateful to West of Scotland Dry Stone Walling Association for completion of a trial build of the stone plinth for the sign.  John New of WSDSWA and his team are working with Fiona Baker to plan the actual plinth construction on the island this spring.

There are still many details to be attended to, but major progress has been made!   Thanks to all for your contributions and support!

West of Scotland Dry Stone Walling Association indicated they would be starting the mock plinth build in the next 4-5 weeks!   Again, Thanks to John Duncan for allowing stone to be gathered from his mainland property for use in the plinth construction!

We have engaged an award-winning artist and graphic designer to update our demi-savage based on feedback from reviewers, The Lyon Court, and our clan historians.   More to follow on that.

Our chief archaeologist, Fiona Baker, has also engaged to deliver the final paperwork to LLTTNP to confirm direct involvement of the key archaeologists during the construction.

All good signs of progress!

Historic Environment Scotland has notified us of approval for our third Scheduled Monument Consent ... to place an intepretive sign on the island.  In addition,  Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park has approved our application to place this sign with very reasonable conditions that we can easily meet.

West of Scotland Dry Stone Walling Association has mentioned that they are planning to do a dry run constuction of the sign plinth some time in the next month or two.  They have also helped identify resources to transport materials to the island. (Thanks!) We are confirming detals with them.

We have to take time to thank John Duncan, once again, for his support.  He is permitting WSDSWA to collect stone from the mainland of his property. Thank you!

Our goal would be to arrange the construction of the plinth and printing of the sign in late spring or early summer.

Looking forward to completing this in this, the tenth year of our efforts!

p.s.  During review, it was pointed out that the demi-savage was not technically facing in the correct direction in the example arms used.  We created a modified demi-savage with a correct pose and have enlisted a volunteer artist (award winning) to create an artistic rendering of this and to include feedback we gathered earlier on his appearance. 

Apologies for the delayed November update.   We worked closely with both Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park (LLTTNP) to submit applications for the work and permission to place the interpretive sign on Elanvow.   Both groups have confirmed that our applications are valid and have accepted them.  We are waiting for further feedback and response.

We also continue to maintain contact with the West of Scotland Dry Stone Walling Association for sourcing the stone  (not from the island) and construction.

We do still need to work out the logistics of getting stone and workers to the island in an economical way.   LLTTNP graciously provided help in this regard  in 2012, but we have not approached them yet ... pending approval of the application.   We have also been thinking that we would organize many small boats trips with local skippers to transport the stone to the island in advance.   We included a request to be able to transport and store stone on the north beach in our HES application.  Suggestions are very welcome.  Even thought the plinth for the sign is only approximately 1x1.3m, there is a lot of stone.  Volunteers with local boats could help systematically transport the stone in small batches to the island.

At this point, we await approval of the applications but all seems to be set and on-track for construction in time for an August dedication. 

Thanks for your continued support!

We are working with the West Of Scotland Drystack Stone Wall Association and HES to source stone for the sign plinth.  Our plan is to provide for construction of the plinth  before summer 2022 and place the sign formally in August 2022.  Of course, we have work to do with HES on approvals in advance of that.

As of this writing, Scotland is requiring two weeks of self quarantine for amber countries including the US.   This has made it impractical to visit or to progress sourcing of materials for the sign plinth on the island.   We are also fast-approaching winter and it is now unlikely that we will be able to do much before spring.

We will continue to try to work with local craftsmen to collect materials for the plinth construction and prepare as much as we can in advance for a visit and placing the sign.

Of course, we will progress the Scheduled Monument Consent application in the interim, but we need to include specifications there and we hoping to have a vendor and materials committed before doing that.  We will consult HES and report back for next month.

Thank you!  Stay Safe!

Scotland is reportedly opening up July 19 and things are moving toward normal in The States.  We continue to reopen activities with suppliers and team in anticipation of a potential maintenance trip in September and forward progress on erection of a plinth for the proposed interpretive sign.

Monitoring UK travel policies as we still hope to arrange a visit for maintenance in August or September.  

Note that activities on creation and placement of an informational sign on the island are on hold temporarily until vendors are available again. Specific proposals are needed from these for inclusion with the Scheduled Monument Consent application. We also need to confirm supplies of stone since we cannot use stone from the island. Work continues on suggestions from AllMacfarlanes.Info on the sign including potential revisions to the demi-savage.   

Although the majority of votes called for the sign to be placed in the clearing area, a few key individuals feel strongly that we should keep that area clear.  We are currently leaning toward a sign at the beach level facing north and looking up the holloway.

We also continue to hope that we will get participation and input from all Macfarlane groups and societies.

​More to follow...