Archipelago Folkschool

I had a great experience with Rachel Millar on the signwriting weekend. Really relaxed atmosphere and good direction from Rachel. Interesting and informative and I’m really proud of my sign I produced. Thank you for a lovely weekend and new skills!

The course was led by Ben Wilde, director of Archipelago Folkschool who expertly guided four of us through six days of skills learning from basic woodwork techniques to oar making to the final launch of our beautiful skiff. An immensely satisfying week, led by an experienced and enthusiastic tutor. The company of the group and the setting of the island could not have been better. Adding in a boat trip midweek with Mark Jardine of Alternative Boat Hire on board a traditional wooden ex-working sailing fishing boat, the Birthe Marie, provided a break from the workshop and an exhilarating chance to navigate around the coastlines of Mull and Iona on a bright and very windy day. Fanatstic week working with a very genuine and worthwhile enterprise and by the end we all felt connected through the process of craft.

I was a little nervous about heading along to the 2 day paddle making course with Ben at the Folkschool. With little very little woodworking experience since high-school craft and design (a long time ago!) I wondered what level would be like.
Figuring that they would want us to leave with a complete paddle, I guessed that either we'd be making something relatively simple and 'rustic' or that there would be a lot of intervention from the tutors.
I was pleased to be wrong on both counts, the paddle design we made (the proportions and silhouette were up to us) was elegant and well contoured (a spine back design) and it was up to each student to do all their own shaping.

Ben's friendly and approachable teaching style had us all feeling comfortably and confident.

I was really pleased with the finished article and definitely plan to make another at home now - I feel like I've caught the bug!

Thanks.

Craig.

Throw four strangers together and build a boat in a week - what a cracking idea!

Perfect location, brilliant company, excellent food and satisfying days in the workshop.

It is only when you get home and reflect, that you realise what an immense week it was - nothing could have been better.

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