“I wish you to put a piece of your heart into this work,” — with these words folk artist Zenonas Tomkus greeted the participants of the workshop. It seems the wish worked — in just an hour and a half, a dozen wooden crosses were created. Some needed a pencil, others a small knife, others used a soldering iron–pyrograph, and some had to spend more time thinking about the shape and pattern of their piece.
Finally, the scent of honey filled the room. The wooden crosses were coated with oil mixed with beeswax, instantly gaining warmth and life. The handmade pieces looked harmonious side by side, forming an impromptu exhibition right there on the workbench. “This is the first time in my life that I’m making a cross,” participant Alma admitted with surprise — and immediately added that it was an incredibly interesting experience.
The workshop “A Bee’s Gift to the Cross‑Maker” took place at the Šiauliai TMC Kuršėnai branch.
We extend our thanks to woodcarver and folk artist Vaclovas Tamošaitis for preparing the wooden blanks, and to folk artist Zenonas Tomkus for his insights into cross‑making, for sharing his experience, and for his valuable advice.
These beeswax‑scented crosses are part of the “Busy Bee” project.
The creative workshop–seminar was organized as part of the 2021–2027 Interreg VI‑A Latvia–Lithuania Cross‑border Cooperation Programme, Priority 4 “Economic Tourism and Heritage Potential,” within the project “Enhancing Tourism Through the Development of the Bee Route from Kuršėnai to Ventspils” (Project code: LL‑00198, acronym: Busy Bee / Užimta bitė).
