Ynys Twca
Courses and hand crafted, bespoke tools made by Huw Jones from wood and leather
Twca is an old Welsh word for a big knife that was used on farms and in homes for all sorts of purposes. From cutting cheese to animal castrations it was certainly a one knife does it all! In Mid Wales some people still call a bread knife a twca. Internationally a big curved blade for hollowing out bowls or spoons is called a twca cam, cam meaning 'bent or crooked'.
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The Ynys part comes from the fact that Huw was born and bred on Ynys Môn, the Isle of Anglesey, and that most of the wood that he sustainably harvests for his projects is from around the island.
Huw comes from a background of aeronautical engineering which shows in the precision he takes with his work. He then had a stint of teaching before following his real passion of the outdoors and being on the water by becoming a highly skilled and qualified kayak coach, international expedition leader, bush craft and coastal craft instructor.
Nowadays you are most likely to find him in the woods or in his workshop whittling or carving something!
Much of the wood Huw harvests is destined for log piles. He then vacuum stabilises the wood in his work shop before creating beautiful spoons and tool handles. Where he can he in fills the wood with resin in the recognisable Twca turquoise! Off cuts don't get wasted either, smaller pieces of wood can always be turned into something! Key rings are often available.
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Some of Huw's items can be found in the shop when they are in stock. Or get in touch with him to chat about him making something special for you or as a gift.
Bushcraft Courses
Huw has been teaching bushcraft and wood craft skills for many years and loves passing his knowledge on to both adults and children. We have created some courses in two stunning locations. The first is in conjunction with Snowdonia Donkeys so the courses can be held in their beautiful woodlands with a backdrop of donkeys braying! The second is at Llyn Parc Mawr on Anglesey, where you may have an audience of red squirrels!
To find out more about Huw's courses, click on the link below.
If you have a group of friends or a family group that would like to arrange a bespoke course, please get in touch and we can arrange something to suit your group size and skill level.
Offer pren a lledr pwrpasol wedi'u gwneud â llaw
Hen air Cymraeg am gyllell fawr a ddefnyddiwyd ar ffermydd ac mewn cartrefi at bob math o ddibenion yw Twca. O dorri caws i ysbaddu anifeiliaid, roedd yn sicr yn gyllell aml-bwrpas! Yn y Canolbarth, mae rhai pobl yn dal i alw cyllell fara yn dwca. Yn rhyngwladol, gelwir llafn crwm mawr ar gyfer cafnu powlenni neu lwyau yn dwca cam.
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Daw’r rhan ‘Ynys’ o'r ffaith bod Huw wedi cael ei eni a'i fagu ar Ynys Môn, a bod y rhan fwyaf o'r pren y mae'n ei gasglu'n gynaliadwy ar gyfer ei brosiectau yn dod o bob cwr o'r ynys.
Daw Huw o gefndir peirianneg awyrennol sy’n dod i’r amlwg wrth edrych ar fanylder ei waith. Yna, treuliodd gyfnod yn dysgu cyn dilyn ei wir angerdd tuag at yr awyr agored a bod ar y dŵr drwy ddod yn hyfforddwr caiac medrus a chymwys ac yn arweinydd ymdeithiau rhyngwladol.
Pan nad yw Huw ar y dŵr, fe welwch ef yn y goedwig neu yn ei weithdy yn naddu neu'n cerfio rhywbeth!
Mae llawer o’r pren y mae Huw yn ei gynaeafu yn cael ei storio mewn pentyrrau coed. Yna, mae’n sychu’r pren i’w sefydlogi gan ddefnyddio sugnwr yn ei weithdy, cyn creu llwyau hardd a charnau ar gyfer offer. Lle bo’n bosibl, mae’n llenwi’r pren gyda resin gwyrddlas adnabyddus Twca! Nid yw’r darnau mân yn cael eu gwastraffu chwaith. Gellir troi darnau llai o bren yn rhywbeth bob amser! Mae cylchoedd allwedd ar gael yn aml.
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Mae rhai o eitemau Huw i'w gweld yn y siop pan fyddant ar gael. Neu cysylltwch am sgwrs i weld a allai greu rhywbeth arbennig i chi neu fel anrheg.