Tag: spoon carving

Eating Spoon

~ George Crawford ~ 4 Comments

Just a short show-and-tell today because I needed a new eating spoon.  I lost my old favorite a few weeks ago and as near as I can remember, it was about 20 years old.  I remember this because it was cut from the end of a bow stave of a bow I love.  Here is the new one made from Walnut harvested in southeast Missouri.

The growth rings helped determine the sweep to the handle.

It is satisfying to use something you create yourself, even if it isn’t perfect.

Maybe not as dense as Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) but walnut will hold up well and darken with time.

The board this came from was quite variable in density and color.  This spoon comes from the lighter-colored part.

For me, function comes first for a tool like this but grace and beauty should not be left out of the equation.

After it was finished, the whole spoon was rubbed down with walnut oil and it will be treated again in a couple of days to help protect the wood from soaking up flavors.

Wood Carving; Spoons, Spatulas, and a Whiskey Noggin

~ George Crawford ~ 6 Comments

Now that I’m back to spoon carving it feels great to actually finish some decent pieces.  Most of the nicer wood I have on-hand is kiln-dried, making it much more difficult to work.  More patience, more sharpening, and smaller cuts are necessary to accomplish a desired form.  However, this weekend paid off with a few nice utensils coming out of the work room.

I finished an assortment of spatulae and spoons for an upcoming craft show but I have no idea if there will be any real interest.  The Osage orange eating spoon at the bottom is a gift but the rest will be for sale.  It is a ridiculous amount of time for the monetary return but certainly allowed me to relax and focus on the crafting and creation of each form.  To me, a handmade item is far nicer and more valuable than something stamped out in a factory far away.

The top spoon ended up as a gift and the bottom one sold quickly.  Walnut is a beautiful wood.

Whiskey noggin nearly completed.
It holds a two ounce shot of your favorite beverage with a little room to spare.
A few items from my table at a recent craft show.

I’m trying to keep busy in the dark and cold months.  I hope you are too.