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Tell us a little about yourself:

I live in Vancouver, British Columbia, though I am originally from outside Sydney, Australia. I settled in the Pacific Northwest 9 years ago after growing up playing music in Australia. I quickly formed a band after I moved to Vancouver, and have toured extensively across Canada and Australia ever since. I have always worked with my hands, I grew up on property and learned to feel comfortable around hand tools at an early age. I currently work in construction, arborculture, and hardscape in Vancouver, and still write and record as much as I can. Most importantly, every chance I get I carve spoons!

How long have you been carving and how did you first get interested in it?

I have actually only been hand carving since March of this year. I was married in October 2019, and one of my close friends organised a “spoon night” the week after the wedding before people started leaving Vancouver. I wasn’t quite sure what that meant at the time, but it turned out I had multiple family members who were all carvers! I spent the evening with family and friends, each forming a spoon on machines. I went home later that night and felt something click, but I knew that I wanted to explore the traditional form.

At the start of this year I bought the bare essentials (camp axe, mora 106, fixed radius spoon knife), and when my work was put on hold in February due to the current situation, I threw myself into carving. I watched every video I could find, upgraded some tools, sourced wood from work sites I had worked on (and council clearing wood piles), read everything I could, and began what I now know without a doubt to be a lifelong obsession. Already having years of experience working with wood gave me a foundation to work with, and I have been learning and refining every single day.

What are a few of your favorite spoon carving tools?

I have a relatively Spartan kit, so my favourites also cover most of my essentials. I recently upgraded my axe to a Gransfors Bruk large swedish carving axe, which has been a joy to use. I have a Wood Tools compound spoon knife that has also been a great tool to switch to for certain shallow bowl types. And while it might not seem too flashy, the Mora 106 is a favourite. I have a few makers in mind that I am looking forward to ordering a sloyd knife from, and when that happens I am sure I will have much more to add to this answer.

Any suggestions of books or websites to learn about spoon carving or woodwork?

The first video series that I watched obsessively to get a few basics was the Spoon Club UK videos, specifically the silent carving videos with Barn on YouTube. I currently have “Sloyd In Wood” by Jogge Sundqvist on order, which came highly recommended, so I feel quite safe forwarding that recommendation sight unseen. Also, the interviews on Zedd Outdoors with Adam Hawker, Will Priestly, and Owen Thomas are a great resource. 

Are there any particular spoon carvers who inspire you in your work?

So many! Liesl Chatman has been an enormous inspiration for me in my carving journey. Other carvers that have inspired me to keep working and focus on carving as a full spectrum pursuit include Emmet Van Driesche, Myron Unrau, Pat at Klipnocky Woods, Paul Oak, and my own mother, Andrea Phelan.  

How have your spoon carving techniques changed over time?

I think the main thing that has changed over the short time is the patience to make sure that each step is completed before moving on, while still thinking of the overall form of the spoon. I am much more methodical, I stay on the axe for longer. admittedly, I am still working through different sloyd grips for symmetry, but this all comes with time. In the way of process, I still change my order of operations (crank, profile, bowl) depending on the spoon. I’ll see an example of someone trying a method I have not tried, and dive into it to see what benefits it might have to my own carving process. I am always trying to stay open to changing my techniques for the better all the time.  

What are your thoughts on popular decorative techniques like milk paint, kolrosing, or chip carving?

I have only practiced kolrosing, and am far from an expert when it comes to carving decoration in any sense, so I would gladly defer to other artists in that area. I would only say that it is a liberating craft that offers so many secondary expressions. Once you have created the spoon itself, the opportunity to further imprint your personality on that piece of art in so many different ways is incredibly satisfying to me.

What do craft, sloyd, or wood culture mean to you?

Personally, I see it as the opportunity to understand that everyone has the ability to create, and to learn more about the world they live in. There is so much room for learning, and even the simple act of using your hands to change something tangible, regardless of the outcome, is a really meditative and powerful thing.

If you had to pick a few songs to listen to while carving, what would they be?

I tend to let albums play as I carve, so I will say that recently I have been listening to a lot of Daniel Romano (particularly his new live record “Okay Wow”), Pinegrove, Gillian Welch, and Hiss Golden Messenger. All highly recommended spoon carving soundtracks! 

Lastly, why do you carve spoons?

I carve to find peace. I truly believe it is one of the most peaceful personal forms of expression, in all of its weird and wonderful ways.

Thanks Andy! You can follow him and inquire about purchasing his spoons on Instagram at @andyspoons.

As I have said previously, my goals with this website are to learn more about spoon carving and connect with the great community of spoon carvers out there. I welcome carvers to contact me if you would like to be interviewed to share your thoughts on the craft of spoon carving.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I was born and raised in the Detroit, Michigan area and have lived in Metro Detroit my whole life. I’m married, for 25 years this year, and have 3 sons, one who still lives at home.
 I spent my formative years as a nerd, but in high school my dad decided to build a log cabin on our vacation property. this was my first real exposure to woodworking, and even though I hated it at the time it is one of my best memories from my teenage years. After I moved out and got a job I fell off the woodworking bandwagon and didn’t really think about building anything until after my kids were teenagers and I was looking for a hobby to occupy my newly found free time.

How long have you been carving and how did you first get interested in it?

 I starting doing some small woodworking projects 4 or 5 years ago and was digging around on YouTube for videos to watch about different types of woodworking. The algorithm recommended a spooncarving video to me. I had no idea that people carved spoons with knives and axes and was instantly fascinated and intrigued. I think the video was Lee Stoffer. I went to the local Woodcraft store and picked up a tiny right-handed Flexcut spoon knife and carved a terrible spoon from a walnut branch in my backyard. I am a lefty, which made it even harder, but I was totally addicted after just one terrible spoon.

What are a few of your favorite spoon carving tools?

I have a lot of hobbies and a short attention span, so I never have a ton to spend on spooncarving tools. I started with a Mora 106 and some budget wrong handed knives, again from the Woodcraft store because they were impulse buys. Last year I asked my wife to get me a Deepwoods Ventures large hook knife and this year she got me a straight sloyd from Paul as well and I love them both and they are by far my favorite.

Any suggestions of books or websites to learn about spoon carving or woodwork?

I bought Barn’s spoon book and enjoyed it, but I’m not much of a non-fiction reader. I read a ton of Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels, but that is and interview for another website! I subscribed to the first 3 or 4 issues of Spoonesaurus magazine and enjoyed them as well. Matt and Emmet make an awesome magazine and they are so full of knowledge that it leaks out and has to be mopped up occasionally.
I’ve become somewhat infamous as the spork guy on Instagram with separate account (@sporkesaurus) and two issues of my own fake newsletter magazine. It was enjoyed and praised by nearly 10’s of people on Instagram, so I guess I’m probably almost half as funny as I think I am.

Are there any particular spoon carvers who inspire you in your work?

Emmet Van Driesche was the first Instagram carver I followed and idolized. I’m also a huge fan of Pat Diette, and nearby carver Cale Stoker. It sounds cheesy but my biggest inspiration comes from the spoon nerds I carve with almost every day on the @riseupandcarve channel on Zoom. Infamous super-genius Chuck Trella had the idea last February to start on online carving group on zoom for all the folks who couldn’t meet face to face regularly. These folks keep me honest and laughing every morning, and I have carved 3-4 times as many spoons in the last year than I did the 3 years of carving before that, and they are better spoons.

How have your spoon carving techniques changed over time?

My biggest spoon-carving challenge is patience. I don’t have any. Short attention span coupled with a desire to learn and try any craft I encounter makes it hard for me to get genuinely good at any of the crafts I tinker with. I think I have changed most since the beginning by slowing down ad trying to focus on following the grain and finishing cuts. I don’t use templates and draw out each spoon only once after I axe in the crank. This means my spoons are often crooked and irregular, but I like them that way, and I wouldn’t enjoy the hobby as much if I changed my style to make cleaner and more regular spoons.

What are your thoughts on popular decorative techniques like milk paint, kolrosing, or chip carving?

I have used milk paint on a few spoons and I love the look. Kolrosing and chipcarving are beautiful and I love to see them, but I would not try them myself. I’m weirdly an imperfect perfectionist. I think if I tried these detailed techniques I would get mad at myself for not being very good at them, and it would spoil the experience for me a bit. Is that odd?

What do craft, sloyd, or wood culture mean to you?

I’m not a deep thinker. I live in the moment, bouncing from hobby to hobby and not spending a lot of time thinking and analyzing the craft. For me personally, I love the connection to history that it makes me feel, and I am fascinated by the fact that this ancient craft has made a comeback in a weird, modern, digital age. I am a computer nerd in my day job, and since I started spoon carving I barley touch my PC at night, spending most of my time watching and talking to other carvers. I think the connection to doing something with your hands is missing from a lot of people’s lives right now, and carving spoons gives you that outlet, and some cool sporks when you are done!

If you had to pick a few songs to listen to while carving, what would they be?

I’m a child of the 70’s and 80’s. I listen to a lot of classic rock and 80’s and 90’s alternative rock, but lately I have gotten into americana artists and old 70’s country music like Jerry Reed and Bobby Bare. If you have even a passing interest in country or americana check out the album by Bobby Bare Great American Saturday night. It was written with the goofy author Shel Silverstein and performed in front of a live audience back in 1978, but just released this year. It is funny, profane, (oh no, some swears!!!!) and touching.

Lastly, why do you carve spoons?

 I carve spoons because it is fun and relaxing. I have sold a few here and there, given away and traded a few more, and had so much fun doing both. The people are great, the tools are awesome, and I get to make people laugh on @riseupandcarve every morning with bad jokes and sporks.

Thanks Ron! You can follow him and inquire about purchasing his spoons on Instagram at @nerdron or on his website at nerdron.com.

As I have said previously, my goals with this website are to learn more about spoon carving and connect with the great community of spoon carvers out there. I welcome carvers to contact me if you would like to be interviewed to share your thoughts on the craft of spoon carving.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I am a 37 year old Californian relocated to Liverpool, UK. My wife and I have two lovely young girls – our house is an interesting mixture of american and scouse accents! We’ve been here for over 7 years, and before that we lived in Papua New Guinea so we haven’t actually been in the states for many years. My main employment is what has led me to these exotic (or not so exotic!) places: I am an entomologist and I currently manage large research programmes that aim to prevent the transmission of vector-borne diseases – those pathogens that are transmitted by the bites of insects. About 2 years ago, my wife and I became quite nostalgic about our childhoods in the states – we both have vivid memories of spending lots of time in the woods. Space is at a premium here in the UK, so we decided to buy a small woodland in North Wales to call our own. That purchase truly changed my life by introducing me to the abundance of UK woodland and the joys of green woodworking.

How long have you been carving and how did you first get interested in it?

I’ve been carving regularly for about a year and a half now. I try to carve every day. I first got interested by stumbling across a YouTube video of Barn silently carving a spoon. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall that evening. The expression on my face must have been priceless – wide-eyed, slightly drooling, and bathed in the icy blue glow of the screen! I remember feeling truly awestruck at how it is possible to extract such elegant forms from a log. I began looking at trees in a new way.

What are a few of your favorite spoon carving tools?

My absolute favourite tool at the moment is my Kalthoff carving axe. In fact, I find it hard to restrain myself from carving more blanks than I can handle at once. I find the balance and the wide bevel make for surprisingly accurate and empowering blows. I also enjoy my monadnock hook and sloyd knife from Matt White at Temple Mountain Woodcraft -these are my go to tools. However, my wood tools compound hook has such a tight curve that it allows me to accomplish some things that I can’t otherwise with the monadnock. 

Any suggestions of books or websites to learn about spoon carving or woodwork?

I find the videos on the spoonclub.co.uk website incredibly useful and informative. Definitely worth a subscription. The book Spon is also lovely and a great introduction to the spoon carving culture.

Are there any particular spoon carvers who inspire you in your work?

Too many to list! Maryanne McGinn, Pat Diette, Ty Thornock, Mikey Elefant, Reuben Goadby, Eamonn O’Sullivan, Anne Fergman, Adam Hawker, Dawson Moore, Emmet Van Driesche, and Barnaby Carder.

How have your spoon carving techniques changed over time?

My techniques have changed as you might expect after many hours of doing the same thing – I’ve not made any huge leaps, but rather minor tweaks to the process that build on one another. I’ve developed small modifications in methods (sometimes by accident and sometimes through ingenuity) that make the process more efficient or produce better quality products. One thing I have found is that I can develop these multiple, micro modifications much faster if I try to carve the same form over and over again. When I first started carving, I winced at the thought of doing the same spoon again, but now I seek out repetition as a way to improve my technique.

What are your thoughts on popular decorative techniques like milk paint, kolrosing, or chip carving?

I’m all for it. I use all these techniques in my work, and find joy in the diversity of pieces that can result. I am equally excited about the beauty of wood though, so I’m increasingly purposeful about when I use decorative techniques and when I don’t.

What do craft, sloyd, or wood culture mean to you?

To me, craft is a catalyst of connection: connection to myself through meditation and achievement of a state of flow; connection to the earth by making natural products from living materials that people bring into their homes; connection to our history through the study of ancient methods and production of timeless objects; connection to other people through the building of community.

If you had to pick a few songs to listen to while carving, what would they be?

I actually don’t pay attention too much to song titles cause I’ll just put on an album and go! I’ve recently listened to Nick Drake’s Pink Moon, John Vanderslice’s Pixel Revolt, and Joanna Newsom’s Divers – all complimented the carving nicely. 

Lastly, why do you carve spoons?

At it’s most basic, I suppose I carve spoons because the process ignites the pleasure centres of my brain – through that sense of energised focus and the reward of producing beautiful objects with my hands. I’ve always found joy in craft – I went through a phase about 15 years ago when I was crazed with origami – but until now I’ve not found something where I’ve said to myself “Yep, I’ll be doing this for the rest of my life.” I’m glad I’ve found that in carving.

Thanks Eddie ! You can follow him and inquire about purchasing his spoons on Instagram at @eddiethomsen or on his Etsy site northingspoons.etsy.com.

As I have said previously, my goals with this website are to learn more about spoon carving and connect with the great community of spoon carvers out there. I welcome carvers to contact me if you would like to be interviewed to share your thoughts on the craft of spoon carving.

Tell us about yourself.

I am a Husband and father of a teenage son and teenage daughter. I own Deepwoods Ventures.

How long have you been making carving-related tools and how did you first get interested in it?

After a stint in the Army, I used my GI bill and earned a degree in Technical Illustration and Graphic Design. From there, I worked in advertising in a couple of newspapers before my wife and I ran our own Graphic Design Studio. We grew tired of the corporate sales aspect of the business and left it to work for a former client. At the time I was forging  tools on the side and after 8 years of that decided that the 3 a.m. work sessions had to stop. So we decided to make the jump and work at it full time.

You also carve spoons. How does carving inform your tool making and vice versa?

I have carved figures and spoons since I was a teenager. My father is a woodworker and at that time, I liked to make my own tools from mechanical hacksaw blades and worn planer blades he brought home from his job at a board manufacturing plant. I would carefully dip and grind a tool to do what I needed it to do and then proceed to carve away. I went from a stock removal guy, (Just grind away what doesn’t look like a knife) to forging to shape via hammer and anvil. I like the hammer and anvil a lot better.

Are there any particular toolmakers who inspire your work?

There are so many inspirational toolmakers these days. It would be hard to narrow one down. I follow a lot of toolmakers on IG, Runesland Knives, Jason Lanon, Matt White, Reid Schwartz… that’s just the beginning. It seems every time I get on Instagram there is a new one producing great work.

How have your toolmaking techniques changed over time?

My tool making changed the more I carved. I began to learn a lot more about metallurgy, blade geometry and tool ergonomics.  I still like to try to make a better carving knife.  Just check out the one of a kind page on my website. These knives are one-offs that are just me “messin’ around” looking for a better way. It never stops

Any tips for sharpening carving tools?

Sharpening.  I meet a lot of carvers that hate it. I think this is because they’ve made it such a mystery and invest a lot of money into tools to do this. I often tell a story of an old carver that would sit during the business part of our carving club meeting with a piece of wet-dry  sandpaper and a compound coated piece of cardboard and sharpen his tools for the social carving part of the meeting. That’s the only equipment he had!  All of his cuts were a glass-like finish. Just find a simple method that works for you and try not to overthink it.

What do craft, sloyd, or wood culture mean to you?

Craft, Sloyd or wood culture has shown me that I can create something with my own hands, often fail, learn, and improve. With this process I have been able to apply this to many other aspects of life and therein lies the prize.

If you had to pick a few songs to listen to your shop, what would they be?

As far as Music, I listen to just about anything.  Most of the time, it is 50’s and 60’s Country and 70’s and 80’s Hair bands. I guess that dates me a little.

Thanks Paul! You can buy and learn more about his tools at www.deepwoodsventures.com .

As I have said previously, my goals with this website are to learn more about spoon carving and connect with the great community of spoon carvers out there. I welcome carvers to contact me if you would like to be interviewed to share your thoughts on the craft of spoon carving.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I’m 34 years old, and I live in Gothenburg, Sweden, with my to lovely daughters and our, not always so lovely, dog 😉 For the last 15 or so years, I’ve been working in different pet shops and animals and nature have always been a big part of my life.

How long have you been carving and how did you first get interested in it?

I have been carving for about 3,5 years now. I first started carving because I needed baby spoons for my oldest daughter, and I figured I could make better spoon my self than the plastic ones I could find in stores.

What are a few of your favorite spoon carving tools?

Mora 106 and my spoon knife from Svante Djärv. The 106 is a really cheap, yet excellent, carving knife. The Svante Djärv spoon knife is a bit more expensive, but I feel that a quality spoon knife is worth every penny for spoon carving. I would love to have an excellent carving axe, but my budget is just too tight for now. I’ll have to make do with my 9 euro axe from the hardware store.

Any suggestions of books or websites to learn about spoon carving or woodwork?

I really haven’t any suggestions for books, I’m afraid. A bit embarrassing, but I haven’t read any on carving or slöjd yet. I love using youtube, though! Plenty of “how-to” and “DIY” videos on just about anything. Including carving and slöjd.

Are there any particular spoon carvers who inspire you in your work?

I bought my first wooden spoon from Dave Cockcroft. A pocket spoon made from sloe. I still use that spoon almost daily. Absolutely love it, and it always makes me want to carve when I look at it. Dave also has a really nice and instructive Instagram and Youtube channel under the username Dave The Bodger. There are plenty of others out there, but since Dave was my first real inspiration, I think I’ll leave it there.

How have your spoon carving techniques changed over time?

I’m not sure, to be honest. I think the changes have been so gradual I really can’t put my finger on it. One thing I do know is I don’t cut myself as often as I used to, haha. I also don’t use sandpaper to the same degree as I did in the beginning. I’m still very much a newbie and have so much more left to learn.

What are your thoughts on popular decorative techniques like milk paint, kolrosing, or chip carving?

These are a few of the things I have left to learn, I’m afraid. Done well, I think it looks great! Especially on plain-looking woods like birch. But I do love the grain and colours of fruitwoods, and it is what I tend to use when possible. And it’s simply too pretty to cover up. Probably one of the reasons I still haven’t tried panting any spoons.

What do craft, sloyd, or wood culture mean to you?

This is a tough one. As a schoolboy, I was terrible at woodshop (träslöjd in Swedish), and I’m not sure I finished a single item. I think this made me shun away from everything related to woodworking for years. The first time I made something as an adult, I was hooked. It was so much fun making something I wanted from scratch! Today working with wood is a way for me to relax and feel good about myself and my own capability. Knowing you don’t have to visit the hardware store when your axehandle breaks is a great feeling!

If you had to pick a few songs to listen to while carving, what would they be?

Something calm and mellow, I think. Probably some Beatles, maybe ‘Blackbird,’ ‘Samson’ by Regina Spektor, and a Millencolin song called ‘The Ballad.’

Lastly, why do you carve spoons?

Spoons are challenging, beautiful, and useful. They are also small enough to store away with ease, even when you carved quite a few more than you really need

Thanks Patrik! You can follow him and inquire about purchasing his spoons on Instagram at .

As I have said previously, my goals with this website are to learn more about spoon carving and connect with the great community of spoon carvers out there. I welcome carvers to contact me if you would like to be interviewed to share your thoughts on the craft of spoon carving.