Bowl Carving Course

Bowl Carving course 29/30th July 2017

I am teaching a 2 day bowl carving course at the Greenwood Centre, Coalbrookdale, Shropshire close to the Ironbridge Gorge. Details available here: carving course

Learn to make a beautiful, functional wooden bowl using simple hand tools. 

Starting with a locally grown greenwood log, you will cover properties, function, design, tools and processes needed to make your own unique bowl. 

Suitable for novice and more experienced woodworkers, the course should give you sufficient confidence to continue carving at home. 

Spoonfest

I was there, and I've got the t shirt!
This had to be the best value festival ever. For the same price you would pay on a local campsite there was everything a spoon carving enthusiast could possibly want:- free wood, chopping blocks, inspirational teachers from around the world, food, local beer (after tools down of course), and the friendly company of nearly 200 other spooners. The atmosphere was great and inclusive so even people coming on their own felt involved. Skill sharing was rife and everyone from complete beginners to seasoned pro's had a fantastic time and the friendly atmosphere was infectious.
It's a big step from having a mad idea to actually pulling it off so a big thank you to Robin and barn for doing it and all the volunteers and people of Edale who helped to make it happen.
I arrived on Thursday to help get the party started and make sure the beer was well tested but also to attend the first workshop with Jogge Sundqvist  on the Friday morning. He was booked to do the opening lecture in the evening but added two workshops as well.

Sorry about the exposure, I wasn't paying attention and the camera was on the wrong setting!
Jogge's lecture was outstanding and worth the visit in its own right.

His spoons show particular attention to detail with a lovely finish. I dug deep into my pocket and bought the green and black one above to constantly inspire me! I also bought one of Jarrod StoneDahl's spoons which is a beautiful shape and a typical example of his work.

Fortunately, some of my spoons sold in the spoon shop (below) so I managed to make a small 'profit' over my purchases.

The workshops were very popular and quickly filled up. The demand was so great on the first day that extra ones were put on. This helped by doubling the places available but meant that the tutors missed out on ones that they would have liked to participate in as they were too busy teaching. Fritiof said that he was so tired in the last session that he ran out of English words!
After tea on Saturday night there was campfire singing into the early hours well away from the campsite.

Sunday morning saw another set of workshops organised ........

.... but people were better organised for queueing than before ....

..... with impromptu entertainment.

The last hour or so on Sunday saw a special collaborative event which was enjoyed by everyone. Sean Hellman took photos so I won't say anymore as I expect they will appear on another blog soon.

If you didn't attend this event make sure you look out for the next one and register as soon as possible.

Thanks again to all involved for a memorable event.

Spoons, spoons, spoons

Weekend of spooning went well with some new ideas developing. Great to see barn again and watch the master at work!

It is always amazing how much variety can be achieved with what is locally available. All of the wood used came from within 20 yards of the shelter and would have been used for firewood if not made into spoons. We used birch, sycamore, hawthorn and aspen with a range of abilities from beginner to advanced. It's lovely to see someone with their first ever spoon!

Spoon Club

There is one place left on the spoon carving course with barn this Saturday due to a cancellation. If you are interested contact me straight away at eco.al.

Barn has agreed to stay over for a spoon club here on Sunday 20th May in the afternoon from 2pm. This is very informal with chat and tea around the fire or under cover if wet. Bring your own tools and ideas and see what others are doing too. No formal teaching but good to get inspiration from and to help others. No charge but you are welcome to bring something to cook for tea. I hope this will be a regular monthly 'club' for those interested in spoon carving etc. Not suitable for complete beginners but all other abilities welcome.  Chopping blocks provided! 

Location is TF4 3QX, number 5, GR SJ680056, car parking just past house on left. Contact no. is 07779 967710.

I will post pictures of the weekend activities soon.

SpoonsandBowls.co.uk

My new e-shop is up and running at last! It is available here and links to this blog where up-to-date information will be posted. I've also added a gallery page - see tab above - and will use this to show recent work in higher definition.
Like all new projects it always seem to take much longer than planned. With developing the website and making stock for it, I have had little time for other things. It is now only 5 weeks to the spoon carving courses here with 'barn the spoon', so I need to get on with promoting it as there are still some places to fill.

If you look at his blog site here, there is a link to the amusing article about him in the Guardian fashion section! He is a very talented spoon carver/designer and really good teacher so his courses are not to be missed no matter how skilled (or not) you are. Anyone from complete beginners to experienced carvers will benefit from his knowledge.
You can book on the website here and go to 'products' then 'courses'. Payment is by paypal account or credit/debit card. The prices are at last year's rates which makes them a real bargain.

Bread Matters

Sunrise, time to make bread.

I've been making bread for a very long time. It varied between OK and really nice but I couldn't seem to get consistency in the really nice category. About 30 years ago I bought Elizabeth David's book 'English  Bread and Yeast Cookery' and did a lot of experimenting. I was especially keen to make sourdough but found it difficult to get and keep a starter.
When I was running an organic food shop, we sold nice sourdough from the Village Bakery in Melmerby. The bakery was set up by Andrew Whitley using traditional fermenting techniques and a wood-fired oven. A couple of years ago, I was given his book 'Bread Matters' and it has transformed my bread making! He debunks the myths surrounding sourdough. You can easily make and keep your own starter. It doesn't need 'looking after' or feeding, is always ready to use and is very active. When you are busy it is easy to forget that you are supposed to be making the bread and the dough escapes:-

However, that is not a problem as it is very tolerant - I have even forgotten to bake it and left it in the pantry overnight without ill effect. The bread was made the next morning and the starter saved for another day!

Yesterday I made one of the nicest loaves yet. The long fermentation gives a nice sour tang to the bread and it keeps very well too. The dough feels and smells differently to yeast based ones and is a real pleasure to use. You can buy his book on Amazon, but better to cycle down to your local bookshop and order a copy. You'll have to cycle back when it comes in so will enjoy eating the bread even more as you will have a healthy appetite.
Check out his website here. You can even go on a course, but not until you've been on a spoon carving one first!

Spoon Club

Just spoken to Mary Lewis at the Green Wood Centre in Coalbrookdale. She is a second generation spoon carver who grew up using her dad's cawl spoons, and is keen to start a local spoon club at the centre one Sunday every month from May to October. Will post details as soon as they are confirmed. This will be a great opportunity for budding spooners to rub shoulders with those with more experience. No formal teaching, just good company and a chance to see what others are up to.
Happy spooning!

Spoon Carving Courses

Ooo, first post! Very important message to let people know of the first Lightmoor Spoon Carving Courses in May 2012. Very pleased to announce that 'barn the spoon' http://barnthespoon.blogspot.com/ will be up here in Telford running two spoon carving worshops. Saturday 19th May for beginners, and Sunday 20th May for developers. Saturday worshop will cover safe use of axe and knives and give you the knowledge to make your own spoons. Cost is £50 per person, max of 8 places. Includes lunch and refreshments. Sunday workshop is for anyone who has covered the basics and wants to develop their skill further. Cost is £65 per person, max of 6 places. Further details from me at eco.al@hotmail.co.uk (e.mail or i.message if you have ios5).