A year or so ago I got knocked to the ground by an oak log that I was cutting up for firewood. It rolled down a steep hill and sideswiped me, cracked a rib etc. Months later I took a piece of the wood up to my friend Louie’s and we milled out a couple of 1″ thick, maybe 10″ X 14″ pieces on his big band saw. I thought I’d make a little box, since I had a special relation with that tree, but recently decided to make a spoon.
Posted the spoon (embarrassingly amateurish) on my blog (here) and got some great feedback, including a comment by Richard, whose blog 52 Spoons (here), got me inspired to get more into spoon making (spoon at left by Richard).
I’m crazy about spoon making. Perfect for me, since I’m not a finely-crafted carpenter type. I like the eyeballing-it process. I keep wandering out from the computer to the shop and chopping on different pieces of wood with my new Roselli hatchet. It’s one of those tools that opens up new horizons — holy shit, is this fun! Also an antidote to spending too much time at a keyboard. Get those hands working at something physical.
When I get farther along I’ll write something about what I’ve learned, but for now here are some links from early research:
https://spitalfieldslife.com/2012/11/13/barn-the-spoon-spoon-carver/
https://www.pinewoodforge.com/
https://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html
https://greenwood-carving.blogspot.com/
https://barnthespoon.blogspot.com/p/spoons.html
https://www.djarv.se/djarvenglish/skedknivar.asp
https://holtheathwoodentreen.blogspot.co.uk/
https://www.rockisland.com/~kestrel/crooked.html
https://www.worldknives.com/products/roselli-hand-forged-hatchett-axe-small-r860-371.html
You might want to check out https://www.facebook.com/groups/GreenWoodWork/337404419713051/?notif_t=group_activity
It's a facebook group of greenwood carvers. Many of the greenwood bloggers you have links to are members. It too is a great resource for the budding to advanced greenwood carver.
All the best,
Phil
Great hobby. I love it… You've found all teh best blogs. Does Barn look happy or what?? The only one missing from your list is Robin Wood – he's mainly known as a bowl turner, but he is a crazy-good spoon carver.
Check out these:
http://greenwood-carving.blogspot.com/
http://countryworkshops.org/
Cheers!
Brad
Lloyd – my apologies – I just didn't recognize Robin Wood's URL! You ada him already. Brad
You should check out the spoons carving done by Peter Follansbee.
Here's an episode with him on The Woodwright's Shop:
http://video.lpb.org/video/2172740518
And a post from his blog:
http://pfollansbee.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/the-spoon-problema-revolution-is-required/
looks good, Lloyd. mayhaps you might expand your carving? since that darn log clobbered you, how about a bat? read once about someone who handmade bats as a hobby, beautiful too.
I know I mentioned him before, but I would list Jarrod Stonedahl as one of the US's best, check out his spoons and bowls and if you live anywhere nearby, go on one of his courses.
http://jarrodstonedahl.blogspot.co.uk/
Nice spoon Lloyd!!!!! Such a satisfying feeling to handcarve something functional and each one-of-a-kind!
For a humbling and inspiring experience check out the normsartorius.com He started out carving functional spoons, but now carves non-functional art spoons. The best I've seen!
Greg
Lloyd, check out my friend's work at Knowhow shop LA. They're making spoons and teaching people how to make their own, in addition to all the other fantastic stuff they get up to:
http://tmblr.co/ZBBrXxcIijST
Lloyd-thanks for the post, again and the links. I was curious, and throwing this out to anyone with some experience, what curved blade, fully open, half, etc to get started, it is somewhat confusing on the websites, not knowing which to buy. I know that Mora is the one to look at but some suggestions for the "starter 3" shapes would be appreciated. Thanks for the taking the time to fun the blog, post these types of ideas and getting people sharing ideas. David.
hey Lloyd.. just came back to admire your spoon, had a thought….
maybe take the first ten thousand names of folks who buy your next book, and draw one from the hat for a Lloyd Spoon…
Dear anonymous,
There are a lot of knives out there and a lot of people who will tell you you need most of them in order to get you to buy them. I carve on a budget and do all my spoon carving with a frosts 164. Some time in the future I will invest in a nice finishing knife – that's one with a wider and shallower curve on the blade and will probably go for a Nic Westermann or a Pinewood Forge knife. You don't need to shell out to get good results.
Richard
Peter Galbert chairnotes@blogspot.com has a spoons for hunger program that raises money for famine relief – link on his blog.