This will be an incredible show!

The Flying Poetry Circus and Modern Multimedia Medicine Show

My friends Kazum! and I have wanted to do a show together for sometime and finally the date is upon us! It will be me and Paul doing our irreverent iconoclastic multimedia show with the terrific highflying acro-balancing troupe Kazum! We will also have several special guest culminating in an old school tent revival vaudeville hoe-down!.... MORE.

Unique Welsh Mass launches series of St. John Roberts commemorative events

St. Teilos Church welcomes a unique pilgrimage

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas looks forward to an important event in Wales historical and religious calendar

On Saturday, April 25th, St. Teilos Church, St. Fagans will play host to a very different Mass; for the first time ever, a Welsh language Mass will take place in this historic church. All seats have already been taken for the Mass, which is to be the first in a series of events scheduled to take place across Wales to celebrate the 400th anniversary of St. John Roberts of Trawsfynydds martyrdom.

The event organiser, Sue Roberts who is Vice-Chairman of Cylch Catholig (Catholic Circle) said: The response has been incredible. We could have easily filled the church three times over and the fact that this is the first Welsh Catholic Mass to be held in this church for almost five hundred years, makes this a truly unique occasion.

St. John Roberts is an important Welsh historic and religious figure and is even more celebrated in France and Spain, where many commemorative celebrations will be held in 2010. Born at Rhiw Goch farm, Trawsfynydd, he was educated at Cymer Abbey, near Dolgellau, he then went on to Oxford to study Law before moving to France where he converted to Catholicism. Following his time in France, he moved to Valladolid, Spain where he trained as a Priest, he then returned to London to care for the poor but was exiled many times by the anti-catholic authorities before eventually being sentenced to death in Tyburn on December 10th, 1610. He was canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970. (See image attached of St. John Roberts).

One of the St. John Roberts anniversary celebrations co-organisers, Keith OBrien from the Llys Ednowain Heritage Centre in Trawsfynydd, a centre that documents the history of St. John Roberts and Hedd Wyn, said that the Mass is a really great way to launch the commemorative celebrations in Wales, while ensuring that the celebrations will be as impressive in the Saints native country as on the continent.

The celebrations will continue in 2010 with a Mass in the ruins of Cymer Abbey, Dolgellau on June 6th, 2010. Following this there will be a series of performances of the St. John Roberts Requiem by Brian Hughes, with the part of the saint played by operatic tenor Rhys Meirion with the accompaniment of choirs and orchestra. The Requiem will be performed in six cathedrals across Wales. In July 2010 there will be a pilgrimage from Rhiw Goch to Tyburn, with the highlight being a multi-faith service at Westminster Cathedral attended by the Heads of all Churches.

This will be the first time ever for a Welsh Mass to be conducted in St. Teilos Church, that was moved from Pontarddulais and re-built at the Museum of Welsh Life in St. Fagans two years ago. The Archbishop of Cardiff; Peter Smith, the Bishop of Wrexham; Edwin Regan and the former Bishop of Menevia; Daniel Mullins, will be conducting the service along with a number of Welsh priests. Also giving readings in the Mass will be pupils from the Catholic Schools of South Wales. (See image attached of St. Teilos Church - please credit Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales.)

The colourful ceremony, will start at 2pm with a procession from the Workmens Institute to St. Teilos Church, led by the Archbishop, bishops and priests, all dressed in their ceremonial robes with the altar boys carrying the cross and incense.

Archbishop Peter Smith said of the event: I am extremely glad that we are able to draw on old Welsh traditions and celebrate a Welsh Catholic Mass in this fantastic church for the first time since the Protestant Reformation. The fact that the Mass will be conducted in Welsh shows that the Church plays an active role in modern Welsh life. I would also like to extend an invitation to the public to come and watch the colourful procession that will take place prior to the Mass.

Another exciting element of the celebration will be the use of the Dowlais Chalice, which dates from the same period as St John Roberts. In addition, a 100 year old replica of the Cymer Abbey Chalice and Paten, which is the abbey where St John Roberts received his early education, will be on display on the altar (kindly on loan from the National Museum of Wales).

St. Teilos Church will be full to the rafters with 150 guests attending. Bishop Edwin Regan of Wrexham said: Im very excited that people from all over Wales will be taking part in the Mass and its a pleasure to have contributions from Welsh learners from the Catholic Schools of South Wales. Our roots as Welsh Catholics lie in St Teilos and the children can be inspired by this for the future. Its fantastic to see this church restored to its former glory and I cant think of a better way to launch a year of celebrating Wales martyrs than with this Mass.

Amongst the distinguished guests will be Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Im looking forward to the Mass as well as all the performances taking place over the next year that will draw attention to an important event in Wales historical and religious calendar.

Press and Media Enquiries

For more information please contact: Lydia Jones at Mr Producer

Tel: 02920 916 667

Email: lydia@mrproducer.co.uk

Mass at St. Teilos Church, Museum of Welsh Life, St. Fagans: General Information

The Mass will take place in St. Teilos Church, Museum of Welsh Life, St. Fagans on Saturday 25th April 2009 at 14:0)

Entry to the Museum of Welsh Life in St. Fagans is free. Car Parking 3. Museum of Welsh LifeSt. FagansCardiffCF5 6XBPhone: 02920 573500Website: www.museumwales.ac.uk

The Archbishop Peter Smith, Bishop Edwin Regan, Bishop Daniel Mullins and Alan Jones, who is studying for the priesthood in Milton Keynes, will all be taking part in the Mass.

Special guests include: Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, the Ambassador for Lithuania; Anthony Parker, Welsh folk life expert; Dr Robin Gwyndaf, Dafydd Pritchard and Prof. David Thorne

2010 Events

St. John Roberts Requiem by Brian Hughes with Rhys Meirion will be performed across Wales to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of St John Roberts.

The celebrations are organised by Sue Roberts (Vice-Chairman of Cylch Catholig (Catholic Circle) and Keith OBrien (Director of Llys Ednowain Heritage Centre, Trawsfynydd)

Sue Roberts DelfrynYr AlaPwllheliGwyneddLL53 5BLPhone: 01758 614 977E-mail: sue@inc-cyf.com

Keith OBrien TrawsNewidLlys EdnowainTrawsfynyddGwyneddLL41 4UBPhone: 01766 540 528

Celebration Timetable 2010 6th June 2010 Open-air Mass in the remains of Cymer Abbey, near Dolgellau (over 1000 people expected) St. John Roberts Requiem performances 11th June 2010 St Giles, Wrexham 12th June 2010 Bangor Cathedral 13th June 2010 Aberystwyth University 18th June 2010 Brecon Cathedral 19th June 2010 Llandaf Cathedral, Cardiff 20th June 2010 Swansea Cathedral 8 10 July or 15 18 July 2010 Pilgrimage from Rhiw Goch to Tyburn

There will be a special book launch of Achub Eglways Sant Teilo on Saturday 26th April. A new book on the history of St. Teilos Church, the medieval church in St. Fagans which has grasped the imagination of so many people over the years. Discount copies will be available in the Mass on the 25th April 2009.

The Archbishop of Canterbury officially opened St. Teilos Church in October 2007. The church was moved stone-by-stone from its home on the flood plain of the River Loughor near Pontarddulais and today stands proudly at St. Fagans.

The fully restored medieval church now looks as it would have done in about 1520 and contains all the elements associated with a late medieval Catholic church including a striking rood screen and a loft elaborately carved out of oak. The interior is decorated with copies of an extremely rare series of colourful wall paintings, which were discovered under layer upon layer of paint.

Offeren Gymraeg unigryw yn lansio cyfres o ddathliadau Sant John Roberts.

Eglwys Sant Teilo, Sain Ffagan yn croesawu pererindod unigryw.

Yr Arglwydd Dafydd Elis-Thomas yn edrych ymlaen at ddigwyddiad pwysig yng nghalendr hanesyddol a chrefyddol Cymru.

Ar ddydd Sadwrn, Ebrill 25 eleni, cynhelir Offeren dra gwahanol yn Eglwys Sant Teilo, Sain Ffagan; am y tro cyntaf erioed, bydd Offeren Gymraeg yn cael ei chynnal yn yr eglwys hanesyddol hon. Mae pob tocyn eisoes wedi mynd ar gyfer yr Offeren, sef y digwyddiad cyntaf mewn cyfres o ddigwyddiadau ar draws Cymru i ddathlu pedwar can mlwyddiant merthyrdod Sant John Roberts o Drawsfynydd.

Meddai Sue Roberts, Is-gadeirydd y Cylch Catholig, syn trefnur dathliadau: Roedd yr ymateb ir Offeren yn anhygoel. Gallwn yn hawdd fod wedi llenwir Eglwys deirgwaith drosodd. Ac maer ffaith mai yn Gymraeg fydd yr Offeren Gatholig gyntaf iw chynnal yn yr Eglwys ers bron i bum can mlynedd yn rhoi blas arbennig ar yr achlysur.

Mae Sant John Roberts yn gymeriad hanesyddol, yn ogystal chrefyddol, pwysig iawn i Gymru gyfan ac maen enwocach fyth yn Ffrainc a Sbaen ble bydd nifer fawr o ddigwyddiadau iw goffu yn cael eu cynnal yn 2010. Yn enedigol o fferm Rhiw Goch, Trawsfynydd, cafodd ei addysg gynnar yn Abaty Cymer, ger Dolgellau, yna aeth ymlaen i Rydychen i astudior gyfraith cyn symud i fyw i Ffrainc ble cafodd ei droedigaeth ai dderbyn ir Eglwys Gatholig. Aeth ymlaen i Valladolid yn Sbaen ble cafodd ei hyfforddin offeiriad, yn dilyn hyn, dychwelodd i Lundain i weini ar y tlodion ond cafodd ei alltudio sawl gwaith gan yr awdurdodau gwrth-gatholig cyn cael ei ddedfrydu i farwolaeth yn Tyburn 10 Rhagfyr, 1610. Cafodd ei ganoneiddio yn 1970 gan Pab Pawl VI. (Gweler darlun or Sant wedi atodi).

Soniodd un o gyd-drefnwyr dathliadau coffa Sant John Roberts, Keith OBrien o Ganolfan Treftadaeth Llys Ednowain, Trawsfynydd, sef canolfan syn olrhain hanes Sant John Roberts a Hedd Wyn fod yr Offeren yn ffordd wirioneddol wych o lansior digwyddiadau i gofio am y sant yng Nghymru a sicrhau bod y dathliadaur un mor wefreiddiol yn ei wlad enedigol ac y byddant ar y cyfandir.

Bydd y dathliadau yn parhau yn 2010 gydag Offeren yn Abaty Cymer, Dolgellau ar Fehefin 6, 2010. Yn dilyn hyn, bydd cyfres o berfformiadau o Requiem Sant John Roberts gan Brian Hughes; caiff rhan y Sant ei berfformio gan Rhys Meirion gyda chyfeiliant crau a cherddorfa. Bydd y Requiem yn cael ei pherfformio mewn chwe eglwys gadeiriol ar draws Cymru. Fis Gorffennaf 2010 bydd pererindod o Riw Goch i Tyburn ac uchafbwynt fydd gwasanaeth cydenwadol yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Westminster gyda phenaethiaid yr Eglwysin bresennol.

Dymar tro cyntaf erioed i Offeren Gymraeg cael ei chynnal yn Eglwys Sant Teilo a gafodd ei symud o Bontarddulais ai hailgodi yn Amgueddfa Werin Cymru, Sain Ffagan ddwy flynedd yn l. Archesgob Caerdydd; Peter Smith, Esgob Wrecsam; Edwin Regan a chyn-Esgob Mynwy; Daniel Mullins, fydd yn cyd-ddathlu ynghyd nifer o offeiriaid Cymru gyda darlleniadau gan ddisgyblion ysgolion Catholig De Cymru. (Gweler llun atodedig Eglwys Sant Teilo. Angen cydnabod - Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales).

Bydd y seremoni liwgar yn cychwyn am 2 or gloch gyda gorymdaith o Sefydliad y Gweithwyr i Eglwys Sant Teilo dan arweiniad yr Archesgob, yr Esgobion, Offeiriaid ar gweision allor ifanc, i gyd yn eu gwisgoedd seremonol. Bydd un or gweision yn carior groes ac un arall yn carior arogldarth.

Dywedodd yr Archesgob, Peter Smith Rwyf wrth fy modd ein bod yn gallu tynnu ar hen draddodiadau Cymru a dathlu Offeren Gatholig Gymraeg yn yr eglwys hynod hon am y tro cyntaf ers y Diwygiad Protestannaidd. Maer ffaith fod yr Offeren yn cael ei chynnal yn y Gymraeg yn dangos fod yr Eglwys hefyd rhan lawn ym mywyd Cymru heddiw. Hoffwn hefyd estyn gwahoddiad ir cyhoedd ddod i wylior orymdaith liwgar cyn yr Offeren.

Elfen gyffrous arall or dathliad fydd y defnydd o Gwpan Dowlais (Dowlais Chalice), syn dyddio or un cyfnod a Sant John Roberts. Hefyd bydd replica amrhisiadwy o Gwpan a Phaten Abaty Cymer (Cymer Abbey Chalice and Paten), sef yr abaty ble cafodd Sant John Robert ei addysg gynnar. Bydd y gwpan, sydd dros 100 mlwydd oed ac ar log hael gan yr Amgueddfa Cymru, yn cael ei arddangos ar yr allor yn ystod y seremoni.

Bydd Eglwys Sant Teilo dan ei sang gyda 150 o westeion yn mynychur gwasanaeth. Dywed yr Esgob Edwin Regan o Wrecsam Rwyf wrth fy modd fod pobl o bob rhan o Gymru yn yr Offeren ac maen bleser cael plant syn dysgu Cymraeg yn ysgolion Catholig y de-ddwyrain i gymryd rhan. Mae ein gwreiddiau fel Catholigion Cymraeg yn Eglwys Sant Teilo ac maer plant yn gallu tynnu maeth o hynny at y dyfodol. Rwyn hynod falch fod yr eglwys hyfryd hon wedii hadfer. Mae dechrau ar flwyddyn o ddathlu merthyron Cymru gydar Offeren hon yn rhoir dechrau gorau posibl ir holl ddathliadau yn 2010."

Ymysg y gwesteion anrhydeddus fydd Llywydd y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol, yr Arglwydd Dafydd Elis-Thomas. Rwyn edrych ymlaen yn fawr at yr Offeren yn ogystal r digwyddiadau eraill fydd yn cael eu cynnal dros y flwyddyn nesaf a fydd yn tynnu sylw at achlysur pwysig yng nghalendr hanesyddol a chrefyddol cymru.

Diwedd-Ymholiadaur wasg ar cyfryngauAm fwy o fanylion cysylltwch Lydia Jones - Mr ProducerFfon: 02920 916 667Ebost: lydia@mrproducer.co.ukCyfweliadau ar gael ar gais cyn yr Offeren ac ar y dydd.Croeso i newyddion radio a theledu ar y dydd, cysylltwch ar swyddfa i drefnu os gwelwch yn dda.Manylion cyffredinol Offeren Eglwys Sant Teilo, Sain Ffagan* Bydd yr Offeren yn cael ei dathlu yn Eglwys Sant Teilo, Amgueddfa Werin Cymru, Sain Ffagan, ddydd Sadwrn, Ebrill 25, 2009 am 14:00.* Mae mynediad i Amgueddfa Werin Cymru, Sain Ffagan, yn rhad ac am ddim, parcio ceir 3.Amgueddfa Werin Cymru,Sain Ffagan,Caerdydd,CF5 6XBFfon: 02920 573500Gwefan: www.amgueddfacymru.ac.uk* Maer Archesgob Peter Smith, yr Esgob Edwin Regan, Esgob Daniel Mullins ac Alan Jones sydd yn astudio am yr offeiriadaeth yn Milton Keynes i gyd yn cymryd rhan yn yr Offeren.* Gwesteion arbennig yn cynnwys: yr Arglwydd Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Llysgennad Lithuania; Anthony Parker, Dr Robin Gwyndaf syn awdurdod ar fywyd gwerin, y Prifardd Dafydd Pritchard, Prif Lenor Harri Pritchard Jones ar Athro David Thorne.* Digwyddiadau 2010* Requiem Sant John Roberts gan Brian Hughes gyda Rhys Meirion, a fydd yn cael ei berfformio ar draws y wlad i ddathlu pedwar can mlwyddiant marwolaeth Sant John Roberts.* Trefnir y dathliadau gan Sue Roberts, Is-gadeirydd y Cylch Catholig a Keith OBrien, Cyfarwyddwr Canolfan Treftadaeth Llys Ednowain, Trawsfynydd.Sue RobertsFfn: 01758 614 977Ebost: sue@inc-cyf.com* Keith OBrienTrawsnewidFfon: 01766 540 528Amserlen dathliadau 2010 6 Mehefin 2010 Offeren awyr agored yn adfeilion Abaty Cymer, ger Dolgellau (disgwylir dros 1000 o bobl) Perfformiadau Requiem Sant John Roberts 11 Mehefin 2010 St Giles, Wrecsam 12 Mehefin 2010 Eglwys Gadeiriol Bangor 13 Mehefin 2010 Prifysgol Aberystwyth 18 Mehefin 2010 Eglwys Gadeiriol Aberhonddu 19 Mehefin 2010 Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf 20 Mehefin 2010 Eglwys Gadeiriol Abertawe Pererindod i Lundain 8 11 Gorffennaf neu 15 -18 Gorffennaf 2010

* Ar ddydd Sul, 26 Ebrill, bydd lansiad llyfr arbennig 'Achub Eglwys Sant Teilo'. Dyma hanes yr eglwys ganoloesol yn Sain Ffagan sydd wedi gafael yn nychymyg gymaint o bobl dros y blynyddoedd. Bydd copiau ar ddisgownt ar gael ar y 25ain

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Agorodd Archesgob Caergaint Eglwys Sant Teilo yn swyddogol yn Hydref 2007. Symudwyd yr eglwys fesul carreg oi chartref ar orlifdir afon Llwchwr ger Pontarddulais, a heddiw maen sefyll yn Sain Ffagan. Maer eglwys ganoloesol wedi ei hadfer yn llwyr erbyn hyn, ac maen edrych fel y byddai wedi bod tua 1520 gyda holl elfennau eglwys Gatholig o ddiwedd y cyfnod canoloesol, gan gynnwys croglofft drawiadol wedi ei cherfio o goed derw. Addurnwyd y tu fewn ir eglwys gyda chopau o gyfres brin iawn o furluniau lliwgar, a ddarganfuwyd dan haenau di-ri o baent.

This iframe is not allowed

PLAY LIST

The list below is not arranged in the order that tracks are played in the video but has been posted as a quick reference guide to anyone who wants further information about a particular song or artist. I may add more....but then it wouldn't be a Top Ten

Mary Hopkin - Y Deryn Pur

Carreg Lafar - Glan Mor Heli

John Good ( Tramor ) - Ar Lan Y Mor

John Good ( Tramor ) - Morfa Rhuddlan

Suo Gan - from Empire of The Sun

Moch Pryderi - Gwenno Penygelli

Treorchy Male Voice Choir - Myfanwy

Evie Goodman - Dacw 'Nghariad

Angharad Gabriel - Dafydd Y Garreg Wen

Catrin Finch & Cimarron - Ar Ben Waun Tredegar

Here are some links to other Welsh traditional songs currently listed with individual entries on the Wikipedia. Not exactly an exhaustive list but includes references to a number of songs not included in the above Playlist.

A Ar Hyd y Nos Ar Lan y Mr The Ash Grove B Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn C Cariad cywir

C cont. Cyfri'r Geifr D Dafydd y Garreg Wen G Gower Wassail L Lisa Ln Llangollen Market

M Myfanwy S Sosban Fach Suo Gn W The Whistling Gypsy Y Yma o Hyd

Welsh Traditional Music by Phyllis Kinney Available from the Welsh American Bookstore

A message from Martin Allman, Editor of Welsh Art Now.

" We are pleased to announce the publication of issue 2 of the online art Welsh art magazine WelshArtNow www.welshartnow.org . In issue 2 Kevin Grey packs his bags, visits Belfast and takes in a bit of street art. We feature the humorous and erotic art of Ruth McLees, in her 'China vagina collection'. Swansea artist Fran shows her wonderful portraits that move beyond surface appearance. Fran currently has an exhibition at Swanseas Elysium gallery - well worth a visit. Sarah Alex Carter explains what 'Book art is, an art form that is becoming increasingly popular."Martin AllmanEditor

	BOOK NOW FOR NAFOW 2012 - JUST 3 WEEKS TO GO SCRANTON TOURS One of the highlights of any NAFOW is the tours organised by local volunteers. This year is no exception. Indeed there is a feast of nectared sweets on offer Dont miss the chance to go underground with the Lackawanna Coal Mine tour or ride the Electric City Trolley. Honor the memory of one of Wales greatest composers, Joseph Parry on the Danville tour. See videos and more details below, for more information click here:- tours@nafow.org Tours By coach or on foot, experience America's first city to be electrified, visit the Steamtown National Historic Site, descend 300 feet into the Lackawanna Coal Mine and explore the lives of early Welsh Americans who settled in western PA. Additionally on Saturday, September 1st, the ceremony held each year commemorating those who died in the Avondale Mine disaster of 1869,will be held at Washburn Street Cemetary, (located approx. 2 miles from the Hilton.). Carpooling options are being explored for those who would like to attend. Questions? contact:- tours@nafow.org 1. The Anthracite Heritage Museum and Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour Lackawanna Coal Mine tour 2. Steamtown National Historic Site and the Electric City Trolley Museum #76 part 1 of 2" src="https://thumbnail.constantcontact.com/remoting/v1/vthumb/YOUTUBE/1a21a4d0e454414aae9ac6a7a87ac872" border="0" height="225.00" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="300"> Electric City Trolley Museum Car #76 part 1 of 2 3.The Welsh Story in America, Joseph Parry and Danville, PA, Tour Myfanwy - Dafydd o Fargoed

A message from Lydia Morgan for all our members who will be in Wales on April 25th.Hello Ameri Cymru,Please find press release attached: Unique Welsh Mass launches a series of celebrations for Saint John Roberts: St. Fagans 25th April 2009Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas looks forward to an important event in Wales historical and religious calendar.We would like to offer Sue Roberts - Vice Chairman of Cylch Catholig (Catholic Circle) to be a guest on TV and radio programmes before the Mass, and for any press interviews.Press / news welcome to record / film the colourful procession on the 25th April in St Fagans, interviews will be available after the Mass. If you could kindly let us know if you plan to attend.Description of images attached:* Saint Teilo Church (Please credit: Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales)* St. J.R. Brawd Gilbert Iconic painting of the Saint John Roberts by the late Dom Gilbert, a monk and artist from Prinknash Abbey, Cheltenham. He was 96 years old when he produced this painting.* Saint John Roberts Coat of Arms as displayed in Downside SchoolInterviews and additional images available from the Mr Produce office. Another press release and images will follow following the 25th April.This press release is also available in Welsh (Maer datganiad yma ar gael yn y Gymraeg hefyd).Many thanks,LydiaHelo,Wedi atodi; mae yna ddatganiad wasg parthed: Offeren Gymraeg unigryw yn lansio cyfres o ddathliadau Sant John Roberts: Sain Ffagan 25ain EbrillYr Arglwydd Dafydd Elis-Thomas yn edrych ymlaen at ddigwyddiad pwysig yng nghalendr hanesyddol a chrefyddol Cymru.Hoffwn Gynnig Sue Roberts - Is Gadeirydd Y Cylch Catholig fel gwestai ar raglenni teledu a radio cyn yr Offeren, ag ar gyfer cyfwleiadau i'r wasg.Croeso i'r wasg / newyddion dod i recordio/ ffilmio'r Orymdaith liwgar ar yr 25ain yn Sain Ffagan, ac mi fydd cyfweliadau ar gael wedi yr Offeren. A wnewch chi pls adael i ni wybod os fyddwch yn bwriadau mynychu.Lluniau wedi atodi. Disgrifiadau:* Eglwys Sant Teilo (Angen Cydnabod: Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales)* Darlun St. J.R. Brawd Gilbert: Llun eiconaidd o'r Sant gan y diweddar Dom Gilbert, mynach ac arlunydd o Abaty Prinknash, Cheltenham. Roedd yn 96 oed pan wnaeth y gwaith yma* Arfbais Sant John Roberts llun or Arfbais yn Ysgol DownsideCyfweliadau a mwy o luniau ar gael oddiwrth swyddfa Mr Producer. Mi fydd datganiad arall a lluniau i ddilyn wedi yr 25ain.Maer datganiad yma ar gael yn Saesneg hefyd (This press release is also available in English).Diolch,Lydia

Reproduced with kind permission from David Western's Portland Lovespoon Blog

Time for some carving! But where to begin....? Well, sometimes that's a little bit of a dilemma for me, but this time, I actually had put some thought into it while I was still working on the design. This time, I'd start at the bottom: the bowl. Then I'll work my way up. I've mentioned before how concerned I have been about the spoon holding up around these frail little cages, so I want to get all that extra pressure from carving away all that excess wood around and inside the bowl before I get started on the cages.

I started with the back/exterior of the bowl. Now, after a few hours' stretch, something usually happens that makes me chuckle. I thought it might make for a good opening picture for this post....

and here's actually the back of the bowl...

Anyway, after the dog returned to his usual spot on the back of the sofa, I spent a few more hours removing the interior of the bowl. This is a pretty simple task (certainly the simplest feature on this spoon), but labor and time intensive. And, the bowl is an important part, too - it deserves careful attention. People always ask me how long it takes to make spoons... so, I think it took around 8 hours of carving to get to this point, just to give you an idea. Yeah - cherry is kinda hard.

One thing I learn in the process of carving the bowl is what this particular piece of cherry is like. Now, I know I pushed for cherry because it's stronger than some other woods, but another reason was that cherry never seems to vary as much in hardness or other carving characteristics as other woods. So, naturally, as I carved the bowl, I discovered that this particular piece of cherry seems to be at least as hard as any cherry I've ever used, and it also seems to be a little more fussy, and likely to tear with certain approaches to the grain. It still carved better than a lot of woods, though, so I do still think it was a good choice.

Please note the size of those chips up there, too.... on most spoons, those would be pretty normal-sized. On this one, however, we won't see many more nice, big chips like that. Normally, for the rest of the spoon, I would use my 8mm #5 gouge for 80-90% of the work. This time, however, I got to use that "big" 8mm gouge for maybe 5% of the carving, if that. I'd end up using mostly my 3mm #5 gouge. Lots of hard-to-reach areas on this one, where the 8mm gouge just wouldn't fit. To some extent, I anticipated this, but I'll give you, I didn't effectively factor it into my estimate for how long all the carving would take. 3mm vs 8mm - well, you do the math. The other big learning experience for me this time: all these different, interweaving vines & knots and third-dimension decisions (that I didn't draw out - I usually make those up as I go) aren't so bad each by itself, but having them all so close together makes a big difference. My spoons are usually so much simpler, the mid-carving thought process doesn't usually take up that much time. This time, however, it may have been one of the biggest factors. It's so easy to get lost in all that detail, especially when you're flipping from front to back, and sides, and the relationships between all those details. I want vines to act like vines, and knots to act like knots... etc.

Well... that was a lot of words. So - here are a lot of pictures, as the cages developed. Still, from bottom to top...

Note the size of the chips.... see what I mean? That's all I'd see for a while...
Oh - and you may notice the light is different here, too - that's because these were taken where I normally carve once a week:

Next to the river. Nice. Then back to my usual arm-chair, and more work on the cages...

Getting into the back.... and now lots of thinking, checking where I am about to carve, following vines through the cages and up the handle.... into the bowl... etc......

And finally, freeing the ball in the first cage... see it in there? now I have a very-large-handled rattle. Ha. This cage was awfully fun. Interestingly, while it took a lot of thought and very careful concentration throughout the carving process, there was a trade-off. One challenge missing from this cage that is often important in other cages - there are no straight lines, and no need to make one part look exactly like another part. Straight lines and symmetry are tricky. However, while I don't have to worry much about symmetry - I do have to think about balance, and making the roots/vines actually look like roots or vines. They are also not as much fun as this organic stuff. So - more fun through the rest of the cages...

Note - I'm having to start working a little higher up the handle to make sure I'm putting everything in the right place - again, keeping that "big picture" view, and overall balance.

A note about caged balls: they are still just a matter of carving away everything that isn't a ball or a cage. At this point, I've freed the ball in the upper-most cage, too. But, I think the biggest challenge with them (especially when you don't have to worry about symmetry) is getting to clean up the inside of the cages, and shaping the ball. I like to try to get the ball as round and smooth as I can before I free it. That usually requires pretty small tools, and certainly very small chips. These cages were all actually mostly a little bit larger and more accessible than I'm used to - the ones I've done before, I put near another element, blocking access on one side, and that sort of thing. Still - with all those vines around them - especially in that lower cage, it was a little tough to see whether the ball was actually round. Then, once I DID free each ball, my fingers didn't quite fit in there, so it's really tricky to secure it for further carving. Eventually, I came up with a solution to that problem, but I'll explain that another time.

So, I eventually freed the remaining balls, and got to a point where I felt like I was finished with the cages. Just a few more pictures of the cages to leave you with, for now. Next time, we can see what happens above the cages. Meanwhile - I REALLY hope you'll consider making a donation to help support the West Coast Eisteddfod (there's a "Donate" button at the right on this page), to get your chances to win this spoon, and encourage the making of more, in future years!

Oh - one more note - I'm pretty certain that I had something different in mind for the third-dimension of the cages, that would have had more connections from vine to vine (more like what's above the lowest cage). I know my original plan wasn't as open as this. I don't remember exactly what that original plan was, so I just made it up as I carved, knowing exactly how strong things actually were now, and apparently, this arrangement is what struck my fancy while I carved.

Interview by Ceri Shaw Email