Recently finished wood spoons

[mr dazzler]

I said I would post some pics of spoons I started last year and wanted to finish, here are a few.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28752139@N08/3252341865/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28752139@N08/3253170854/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28752139@N08/3253169354/

I reckon the shapes are influenced by Welsh, African and Swedish forms. I have tried to retain a rough hewn quality. No sandpaper was harmed during the making of these spoons Please feel free to comment, feedback is very useful learning resource
cheers Mr D

 

[Andy2112]

Very nice Mr D, i like the simple rustic look of them.

 

[Stanleythecat]

Very nice, again humbled by people's skill on this site!

Incidentally how is alder as a wood to carve and how is it for use with food?


Leo

 

[sandbender]

Very nice I love the style.

 

[Arth]

Nice work!

I tried Alder but I found it harder than Birch

 

[monkey boy]

they are really good, what kind of tools did u use to make them? how long did it take to make one?, i would like to give it ago, full credit to you they are really good

 

[mr dazzler]

Thanks for taking the time to look at my work, and thanks for your comments!
These are the basic tools I used

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28752139@N08/3253166766/

These are my axes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28752139@N08/3148060565/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28752139@N08/3148880404/

Alder is lovely wood to carve, soft but firm a bit like birch, not a fibrous texture like ash or oak, more like dense balsa wood. I have had some alder with very wild wavy grain that was difficult to work and get a fine finish without tear out's. But generally almost as easy to work with dry as when it is still green, It has been used for food utensils for hundreds of years in England, that and sycamore, the swedes tend to go for birch. It takes me about 5 minutes to rough out a half or quarter log into a usable ladle blank using an axe. Then about 30 minutes sometimes less to do the rest (if I was working in one session) But these were started a year ago and only finished this week....
cheers Mr D

 

[sandbender]

The bearded axe is lovely...

 

[Shewie]

Great work sir, I might have to have a bash myself at one of the spoons with the hooked handle.

 

[DoctorSpoon]

Those look great - lovely flowing form where the handle joins the bowl!
Nicola

 

[mr dazzler]

Again, thanks for looking, and for your kind comments.
Actually the little teaspoon sized spoon was "finished" last year and I have used it since most days for porridge etc. But I was unhappy with the form, I tend to "overdesign" and make the handles especially a bit on the clunky side. And the bowl was too deep and convex to comfortably fit in my "cakehole" So I re modelled it and its a lot better. I was astonished how far deep into the wood a patina had developed. I didnt use any oil, and they go in the dishwasher but dont seem to have suffered.
Check out this page of Welsh spoons, its extremely inspiring.
http://pilgrim.ceredigion.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2383

 

[WhichDoctor]

Those are lovely. they remind me of a wooden spoon and fork my Mum bought back from Nigeria many years ago.