Cat's Eye Carving

Easter at Taurus Crafts

It’s going to be a busy time this Easter and with the promise of good weather there’s plenty to see and do.

My have a goes are running on selected days throughout the Easter holidays 30th March, 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9th April. If you are planning a visit on any of the other days please give me a ring and I may be able to fit you in!

My opening times will be altered as well, I will be open through to the 31st March, on the 1st April I have to pick up some stone from the quarry. I will be back in on the 2nd April, and then open through to Thursday 9th, closed Friday 10th and back in for Sat 11th and Sun 12th.

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What have I been up to lately?

I have been very busy organising the Gloucester Stone Carving festival as well as working on my commissions.

So in between the letter cutting I have been carving a raffle prize in the form of an Elephant. The theme for the festival is wild animals this year. Visit www.stonecarvingfestival.co.uk for more information.

I have been steadily working to finish the half life size sculpture titled ‘What’s the question?’ I have been struggling with her face as it wasn’t the expression that I wanted and until I could resolve this I couldn’t finish the carving. I had a breakthrough last week-only one chance to get it right otherwise the whole thing would have been ruined but I did it and I’m really happy with the result. She now stands on a piece of Portland limestone as her pedestal and I am able to work on her feet as you can see she has boots on! With the final detailing on the whole I hope to have her finished in the next week.

Today I travelled up to Droitwich, sadly the statue that I was asked to repair back in 2006 was vandalised again so I had to replace his fingers and thumb the tip of his Mitre and the Crozier top.

I made clay models and used these to give me the approximate size and shape, once I had made the pieces in my workshop I could go and attach them to St Richard. I really hope he doesn’t get damaged again.

Once the Elephant and What’s the question are finished I can make a proper start on the 1ton boulder of Forest of Dean Sandstone I have for my next commission-a sculpture for a 25th wedding anniversary present!

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Do you want to be a stonemason?

You will be pleased to hear that Bath College are running taster days at their masonry department, for more information follow this link;

http://www.citybathcoll.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/stonemasonry-taster-days.html

If you are slightly further away then Weymouth College run course-it’s where I trained as part of my block release with Gloucester Cathedral

http://www.weymouth.ac.uk/courses/results/?courseSubject=15&courseType=0&courseLevel=0&courseKeyword=

There is also The Worshipful Company of Masons in London

http://www.masonslivery.org/supporting-our-craft/training-educational-support/

Way up in Scotland there is; http://www.stoneproject.org/elgin-stonemasonry-training-facility.html

And in York,  http://www.yorkcollege.ac.uk

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House names and numbers

I have been very busy chiselling my way through a selection of house names and numbers.

A few examples of some of my latest creations, it doesn’t have to stop at just one word you could have a whole poem if you wanted!

I also have great fun designing letters for decoration,

If you would like to discuss a commission or an idea you may have then pop in and see me at my workshop.

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Activities at Taurus Crafts

As well as my have a go at stone carving there are other activities taking place at Taurus crafts-the home of me and my workshop!!

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