lots of spoons

[robin wood]

I just finished a spoon carving course and was really pleased with the things people made so have some pictures to share.

getting several spoon blanks out of a crook

really understanding sharpening demands magnification

an edge at 20x off the 1000 grit stone

More pics here

 

[Everything Mac]

Very nice Robin!

Andy

 

[Baggy]

There is some quality work there, testament to your teaching skills

 

[BJJJ]

outstanding !

 

[robin wood]

There is some quality work there, testament to your teaching skills

To be fair this was a developers course not a beginners course and they were a good bunch. I tried some new teaching methods with them that worked really incredibly well. Instead of going free with the wood I made them make copies of good spoons from my collection. It worked well and everybody got a lot out of it. To me it is a bit like learning to play an instrument by playing specific tunes that work well rather than just making noise and hoping for the best.

 

[milius2]

ahhh,when I "grow up" I want to teach people just like you do. an example really worth to follow. Andy

 

[robin wood]

ahhh,when I "grow up" I want to teach people just like you do. an example really worth to follow. Andy

I have no plans on "growing up", I came to teaching quite late really I spent 12 years full time making before starting to teach at all. Many folk start teaching right away but for me I always wanted to be a maker primarily.

 

[Baggy]

Hi

Instead of going free with the wood I made them make copies of good spoons from my collection.

That is hard.

I have been trying to copy a spoon that Sue Holden made, it is teaching me a lot as I am starting to see the nuances that make a spoon, ergonomic, comfortable in the mouth and wonderful to look at.

 

[robin wood]

Sue and I used to carve in the woods in Essex 20 years ago, I think I bought the first spoon she ever sold and still have it, a good big birch ladle. I paid £40 for it which was a lot of money back then when on National Trust Warden wages. Copying good spoons is a great way to learn about what it is that makes them good. Once you have found what that essence is you can put it into your own designs.

 

[Dean]

A really impressive set of spoons you got there Robin.

 

[Squidders]

Lovely work but I have to ask... how many mouths do you have to need all those?

 

[Stanleythecat]

Not a bad spoon amongst them Robin! Stunning work.

 

[robin wood]

None of my spoons there, these were all made by folk I was teaching. 6 folk three days so they all went home with a few spoons but more importantly with the skills to make better spoons at home.

 

[Stanleythecat]

None of my spoons there, these were all made by folk I was teaching. 6 folk three days so they all went home with a few spoons but more importantly with the skills to make better spoons at home.

And I stand by my comment Robin. Hopefully one day I'll be able to get to one of your courses too, in the mean time I'll admire from afar.

 

[falling rain]

Lovely work there. It's great carving spoons. My first one looked like the 'ace of spades'!! (not intentional) It always amazes me how sometmes spoons can look a bit rough while your carving but with some loving sanding down it transforms the 'ugly duckling' into the beautiful swan!! -............................ No I havn't been smoking anything!!!

 

[robin wood]

No sandpaper allowed in my classes unless it is for sharpening knives, once you ditch the sandpaper you really start to learn.

 

[Dean]

No sandpaper allowed in my classes unless it is for sharpening knives, once you ditch the sandpaper you really start to learn.

I still need to learn to do this as I tend to use sandpaper like there is no tomorrow, still that is something to have as a objective goal.