Sun, Saturday, Spoons

 My Spoon Workshop was everything I had hoped for, and so much more. I bicycled the 1½miles to Hoe Village Hall [no need to worry about using precious petrol] and Adam directed me through the building out into the churchyard at the back.

We sat in a circle of chairs, by the gravestones, and spent 6 happy hours carving our spoons. There were five of us on the course- a young couple, an older retired couple, and me.

Adam was a brilliant teacher - he explained the different tools, the various woods, and all the vital safety techniques. ["Do not wield your knife in the Triangle of Doom. You may slice your femoral artery - and there's no phone signal here to call an ambulance"]

There was a great display of books, tools, and finished articles for us to look at. The atmosphere was very relaxed - so if you felt the need to move and stretch your muscles, you could go and look at these, or make a cuppa in the kitchen.

Some of the group had more experience than others, but we each produced our own spoon, in birch, cherry or alder wood. We had the chance to use different equipment and sit on a shave-horse, to use a spokeshave 

My spoon was not as technically good as others [but I have had no previous experience at all] But nevertheless I was really pleased to start with a rough 'spoonblank' and end the day with a functional wooden spoon which I can use to mix cakes, or stir jam.

This is 'greenwood' so I will have to let it dry out for a week or so before I finish it off. That gives me time to decide whether to  burnish it, sandpaper it, and/or oil it.

Did I enjoy the day? Most definitely

Was the atmosphere good? Absolutely - happy conversations, even though we were concentrating hard. Plenty of space for questions, and lots of mutual encouragement.

Would I recommend this workshop to others? Yes, whether novice or experienced, Adam deftly adjusts his teaching to be most useful.

Was it good value for money? Definitely - workshops are limited to five participants, so there is lots of one-to-one tuition, and room to work at your own pace, and make a piece that is uniquely yours - we certainly did not produce five identical spoons! 

Will I make more spoons in the future?  I hope so - Adam sells spoonblanks, and a friend has offered to lend me tools. But don't expect me to make everyone a spoon for this Christmas!

Perhaps when the Lathe Palace is up and running, Bob can turn porridge bowls, and I could carve spoons to go with them? We could call ourselves "Goldilocks Enterprises"...

Until then, you must go on the course yourself, or at least buy your wooden spoons from Adam [website here]

Thank you Adam, and fellow carvers, for a lovely day!