I recently picked up a couple planks of yew from a logger i met.
  
He ripped the slabs in the bush by chainsaw,  the tree was about 24" diameter,  with the planks being 4" thick and 8 feet long.  
I have committed to run a bow making workshop next summer,  so I was thinking of taking the planks (2) to a local custom mill and getting it quarter sawn in 2" ish pieces.  I ordered a roll of 2" wide navy green silk ribbon from ebay, as a backing. 
Do you think this would make a good combination to work with beginners on?
cheers,
Jamie