Tale Blazers Medallion

Casting Legends in Tin

When Tale Blazers CIC, a Devon-based community group devoted to preserving legends and place-based learning, reached out with an idea for casting medallions in tin with a group of SEND children, Liza Jane was immediately drawn to the challenge—and the purpose.

Their request was simple but technically complex: carve a handmade die of their logo, to be used for creating moulds suitable for high-temperature tin casting. The activity would take place on-site near the tin's geological origin—an idea both symbolically and materially powerful.

The process demanded a high level of precision: a double-negative workflow that moved from original carving into wax, then rubber, to create a final positive impression in tin. Carving the design in reverse was essential—an old printmaker's trick—and required careful planning to preserve the clarity and impact of the original Tale Blazers logo.

It was a joyful thing to witness: children gathered at the site, tin heated to its melting point, and the final result—a warm, glowing medallion—cooling in the Devon air. Each child left with a piece of the day in their hand: a legend cast in metal.

About Tale Blazers CIC

Tale Blazers CIC works across Devon, especially in Torbay, using environmental education and heritage storytelling to engage young people and families. Their projects often tie into the UNESCO Global Geopark, offering geological walks, heritage events, and learning experiences that weave together myth, place, and scientific understanding. They've collaborated with Torre Abbey, local museums, and educators to reconnect people with the land and the legends it holds.