Busy few weeks!

**Guinness>water** · 20th August 11, 07:27 PM

I' ve been busy the last few weeks gettin ready for the Sherwood Forest Celtic Faire and Highland Games which will take place on September 24th - 25th near Austin, Texas. I will be representing Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie and needed some decorations for the tent. I decided to make all of the items instead of buying them.

I made two Lochabler axes. Both were cut out of plate steel and welded to tubing, the I added re-bar for the hook. Heavy and I now have a new respect for the knights who faced them.

Then I thought, "I need a mace too!" So I made one of them also. You talk about a weapon, Wow! It would be a hard choice between the Lochaber axe and a mace. The mace is an awesome weapon, no doubt in my mind that this one would pierce armor and brake the bones behind it. I smacked a really big Black Locust tree a couple of times with it just to see if the handle/stick would hold up. The mace "head" took huge chunks out of the tree and punched 1" deep gouges in the tree. Should have picked something not living to smack.

More to come

**Guinness>water** · 20th August 11, 07:29 PM

After making all of that, my daughter wanted something to play with. I made us both a 2X4 sword and Targes made out of chip board. I put a "spike" in the center of my Targe and can definitely see how it is a weapon in its own right. After having played with these, there is no way I would go into sword battle without a Targe! It is just as needed if not more than a sword. The highland warrior back in the day really was a force to be reckoned with. Ahhh, if only to have been there with them.

I had so much fun making the play targes I figured some decoration targes were in order. I bought some cheap vinyl stuff at JoAnns and stuck it onto more chip board. Got some upholstery tacks at HobbyLobby and very un-professionally hammered them in. Not at all perfect but something to look at anyway.

I had alot of fun making all of this stuff and learned alot about our ancient ancestors. They were/are some really hard folks.
Wish I could have been there to help them out. I hope yall enjoyed the pictures!

**Guinness>water** · 22nd August 11, 08:19 AM

Whoops, one got deleted.

**creagdhubh** · 22nd August 11, 08:21 AM

Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing!

Cheers,

**The Volusianator** · 22nd August 11, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by Guinness>water

What...no kilt!

she needs to square up that shield!

**Guinness>water** · 22nd August 11, 01:23 PM

No, no kilt. Had we taken the pictures while I was making that stuff you would have seen it. The neigbors all think I'm completly nuts, sword fighting in the front yard (often kilted). Ha!

Its very hard to teach a little girl how to sword fight. Momma gets mad when the little one comes into the house with a black eye. Whoops!