Hodgkiss Designs "proofs" from Elan Vow Elm wood salvaged in 2013. September has come and gone without an update. Apologies. There have been a few distractions in the intervening weeks.
As mentioned earlier, the August 9-12 visit was productive with good cleanup of tower and grounds foliage.
On this trip, we also picked up the wonderful "proofs" created by Paul Hodgkiss of Hodgkiss Designs (Glasgow) from the Elan Vow Elm. This is wood salvaged from the elm that was threatening the cellar vault and that was removed under SMC by tree surgeon, Liam Mackenzie in 2013. We stored a much of the wood as we could. Paul's team kiln dried a portion of the wood and created prototype of quaichs, sgian dubh, food boards, and a few other items. These "proofs" are of exceptional quality and Paul's team is exceptionally skilled.
From our discussions during the visit, it was clear that our Elan Vow Elm was a challenge to work with ... with stories of "exploding quaichs" (while turning) and extremely labor-intensive fitting for the sgian dubh blades and handles. Even the food boards were a challenge with resin pockets to contend with. Paul and his team persisted with a commitment and an integrity rarely found in business or art these days. Paul admitted that his production cost was several times the funds provided by the Board for these proofs. We are eternally grateful to Paul and his team for following through and providing these beautiful works of art. We certainly could not ask him to produce more at the current production costs, so these proofs are now one-of-a kind art works. Our original intent was to offer these to donors as Thank You gifts for those able to make larger donations. If we are able to propose simpler designs (perhaps with silver handles and lips on the quaichs, for example) at a cost that makes sense for Paul's business, we may try produce more. Paul is graciously holding the remaining Elan Vow Elm in storage for us. If you ever have an opportunity to thank Paul, please do. Thank you!
We should note that we had been continuing our conversations with the Court of the Lord Lyon about logos and arms while the proofs were being worked on. The cost to establish and maintain unique arms for EVPF is reasonable, but more than the Board can justify at this stage in the work. The arms on the proofs are, of course, the arms of the Chief of the Clan Macfarlane and a diamond with 1577 was superimposed in front of those arms for these proofs. If we do produce more, it is not clear yet what logo we would use, but we don't plan to pursue unique arms at this point and the arms of the Chief of the Clan Macfarlane will be acknowledged, of course.
Thanks to all for your continue support!
As mentioned earlier, the August 9-12 visit was productive with good cleanup of tower and grounds foliage.
On this trip, we also picked up the wonderful "proofs" created by Paul Hodgkiss of Hodgkiss Designs (Glasgow) from the Elan Vow Elm. This is wood salvaged from the elm that was threatening the cellar vault and that was removed under SMC by tree surgeon, Liam Mackenzie in 2013. We stored a much of the wood as we could. Paul's team kiln dried a portion of the wood and created prototype of quaichs, sgian dubh, food boards, and a few other items. These "proofs" are of exceptional quality and Paul's team is exceptionally skilled.
From our discussions during the visit, it was clear that our Elan Vow Elm was a challenge to work with ... with stories of "exploding quaichs" (while turning) and extremely labor-intensive fitting for the sgian dubh blades and handles. Even the food boards were a challenge with resin pockets to contend with. Paul and his team persisted with a commitment and an integrity rarely found in business or art these days. Paul admitted that his production cost was several times the funds provided by the Board for these proofs. We are eternally grateful to Paul and his team for following through and providing these beautiful works of art. We certainly could not ask him to produce more at the current production costs, so these proofs are now one-of-a kind art works. Our original intent was to offer these to donors as Thank You gifts for those able to make larger donations. If we are able to propose simpler designs (perhaps with silver handles and lips on the quaichs, for example) at a cost that makes sense for Paul's business, we may try produce more. Paul is graciously holding the remaining Elan Vow Elm in storage for us. If you ever have an opportunity to thank Paul, please do. Thank you!
We should note that we had been continuing our conversations with the Court of the Lord Lyon about logos and arms while the proofs were being worked on. The cost to establish and maintain unique arms for EVPF is reasonable, but more than the Board can justify at this stage in the work. The arms on the proofs are, of course, the arms of the Chief of the Clan Macfarlane and a diamond with 1577 was superimposed in front of those arms for these proofs. If we do produce more, it is not clear yet what logo we would use, but we don't plan to pursue unique arms at this point and the arms of the Chief of the Clan Macfarlane will be acknowledged, of course.
Thanks to all for your continue support!
RSS Feed