A Gathering of Spoons

[Stringmaker]

For my recent birthday I was given this fantastic book:

"A Gathering of Spoons: The Design Gallery of the World's Most Stunning Wooden Art Spoons"

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gathering-S...388659038&sr=8-1&keywords=gathering+of+spoons

Being a bit of a compulsive spoon carver now, this will be a reference source for my future projects. On a whim I e-mailed the author and asked him if he is still collecting; the upshot is that I am going to make him a spoon and send it over the pond.

I am a bit daunted at the prospect; my amateur effort will be in some serious company!

It will be a good challenge though; I have already found a nice windfall piece to use and have an idea of the design. If ever he produces a second edition I might be in it!

 

[milius2]

Yep, and make sure we see the way...

 

[Stringmaker]

I'm well under way with this project now; I am on the final sanding before oiling stage.

The wood is a piece of beech which I cut from this beauty:

This tree has a long history of couples marking their time beneath its canopy and I like the human story that connects to it.

Before you get too upset about me harvesting from it, this is what it looks like now :

That particular spot on the path was a little covert containing 3 lovely big beeches; they all came down. I also have another piece which I will use to make a keeper to remind me of that place and the many times we've walked past it.

Am I just a soppy old tree hugger or do some of you get what I mean?

I'll post the finished work before I send it across the pond.

 

[Mafro]

If that soppy, we have a tree like that in our local woods that I have known since I first went there as cubs. I love that tree and proposed to my wife under it!!

 

[Dean]

That's a interesting looking book might have add it to my to buy list. Keep us posted on your spoon please.

 

[Stringmaker]

It is a fascinating book; the author thinks of spoon carving as an art form and when you see the contents you can see how creative some of the makers have been.

My humble effort is now finished; I shall probably post the pics tomorrow (Friday).

 

[Stringmaker]

Well, here fresh from the camera is the finished effort. I rather like it; beech is an interesting wood to work, especially in the way the grain shows itself.

Now to get on with the next one!

 

[Harvestman]

Fine spoon, especially with that history. When you send it, I think you should include the history of the wood too, as it adds provenance to the spoon.

 

[Stringmaker]

Fine spoon, especially with that history. When you send it, I think you should include the history of the wood too, as it adds provenance to the spoon.

Thanks!

I already wrote a biography of me and the wood and e-mailed it to the author; I doubt if there will be another print edition but at least a piece of my work is in fine company.

 

[titanius anglesmith]

Hi everyone,
that's a nice spoon stringmaker . What have you used to oil it with? You should be proud of it. Shame about the tree that it came from though.
Regards Chris.

 

[Squidders]

I don't find names in trees romantic, I wonder why so many people are taking knives on dates.

Nice spoon by the way.

 

[ozzy1977]

Nice work

 

[Stringmaker]

Hi everyone,
that's a nice spoon stringmaker . What have you used to oil it with? You should be proud of it. Shame about the tree that it came from though.
Regards Chris.

Hi Chris,

I used Tung Oil, like I do on all my spoons. It was the first food safe recommendation I found when I began making spoons and I've still got the can. I plan to go back to the tree at some point and take a larger piece to try a kuksa and another spoon.

 

[Dean]

A nice looking spoon, thank's for sharing your finished piece.

 

[Wayne]

Nicely done. Everyone likes a bit of spoonage.

 

[S.C.M.]

I know that book/author! He's got one of my spoons! I'm not sure why he wanted my amateur efforts though! I got sent a mini-magazine showing part of his collection. Some pretty amazing stuff in there, real artistry! I reckon my spoons got to be one of the shoddiest in his collection!
Your spoon looks very good to me, it might not be as intricate as some of the one's he's got, but I only saw them as fiddly and prefer yours!

 

[Stringmaker]

Thanks and good for you!

I think the whole project is brilliant; that book is really a catalogue of an art colelction. I doubt very much if he'll do a second edition but he is going to do a write up on me and my effort and send me the draft so it might appear somewhere.

 

[Stringmaker]

Norman Stevens, the author of the book this thread refers to sent me this book:

Dan has a somewhat different philosophy to his spoon making in that he soaks the burrs/roots for years in water before he works them. When the piece is finished he thens boils it slowly in a wax/oil mixture to produce the finish you see here. He says the average elapsed time from wood to finished piece can be 6 years!

 

[Clouston98]

Lovely spoon you carved mate! Looks like a great book too!