Interviews

I’m happy to share the following interview with Sean Hearn.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I’m currently 36 years old and living in Southeast Michigan, USA. I have a 6 year old daughter and we enjoy spending as much time outdoors as possible. I’m the type of person that finds it difficult to take a break from responsibilities. I hate procrastination- which means I’m almost always working in one capacity or another.

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

I’ve been carving for about 4 years now. For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed spending time in nature. My love for the woods started when I was a boy and my grandfather and I would walk through his woodland and he would teach me much about the magic of places such as this. In my late twenties, I rediscovered my affinity for nature and started practicing bushcraft. Before I knew it I was in the woods whenever I wasn’t working. Sometimes I went on long hikes or stayed for days and practiced primitive skills. The wooden spoon was a natural evolution of my desire to create something useful from what could be found in a natural setting. Since my first failed attempt at carving a spoon, I’ve been hooked. Enjoy the pun, that one’s free 😉

What are a few of your favorite spoon carving tools?

I’ve amassed quite a few tools for spoon carving. Not necessarily because I need them all, but because owning and using them allows me to give honest feedback to others about the quality to be expected from each. This is something I plan to delve deep into in 2020. My current go-to tools are my Gransfors Bruk Large Carving Axe, a long handled hook forged by Jason Lonon, and a custom handled Mora 106. There are plenty of other tools I reach for, such as Robin Wood’s open curve hook knife and a coupe Nic Westermann hooks, to name a few.

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

As far as sources of information on greenwood spoon carving, Barnaby Carder has a wonderful book aptly named Spoon. Outside of that, YouTube and social media are phenomenal sources to pull information and inspiration from. Possibly my favorite social media aid is the Spoon Carving, Green Woodworking and Sloyd group. This group is public and currently has upwards of 22,000 members, both professional and amateur.

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

There are so many phenomenal spoon carvers that it’s difficult to name just a few. Honestly, I respect and admire anyone who picks up their knives and tries to do better every time. If I had to name a handful of carvers that have inspired me the most, I’d say Arsenios Hill, Sam Cooper, Tom Scandian, Randy Woods, Maximilian Neukäufler, Adam Kowalsky, Nick Murphy, Adam Hawker, and so many more. It’s difficult to give credit to everyone who inspires me because every carver I follow has I’m sure influenced me in one way or another.

How have your spoon carving techniques changed over time?

My techniques have changed so much since I first began carving spoons. Perhaps the biggest difference has been my axe and knife control. It used to be that I would take small, methodical chops or cuts and it would take me a great deal of time to rough out a spoon. While I still do this when finishing a spoon, I’m not as meticulous when roughing them out anymore. Sometimes, this mentality forces me to make a quick design change when it doesn’t go perfectly. And sometimes the spoons that are bred from these mistakes are among my favorites.

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

There seems to be a great deal of debate about decorating spoons. Many say that function should precede form, and I agree. A clumsy spoon is not likely to be used as often as a comfortable one. That being said, some spoons can be loved equally purely for its aesthetic quality. While it’s a lovely notion to have both qualities exist within the same spoon, I think a spoon bearing beauty or function can both be loved for their own reason.

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

Wood culture to me means passing down a craft that was recently nearing extinction. The reemergence of the hand carved spoon is made possible by those who have given their time, guidance, and resources. This generosity has been shown to me since the genesis of my hobby and I have every intention of paying it forward for as long as I’m able.

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

It used to be that I listened to whatever music I enjoy while carving. Lately, I find that music that calms me allows me to focus much better. I’ve been listening to a lot of Olympus Lenticular lately and call me crazy but I swear it helps me produce a better spoon.

Lastly, why do you carve spoons?

For the most part, folks always react the same when you tell them you carve spoons. The most common question is always “why”, to which I’ve become very comfortable simply replying, “why not?” I carve spoons because it gives me pride to make something with my own two hands. I enjoy knowing that even after hundreds of spoons over several years I’m still in love with the process and the journey. I’m honestly shocked that I was ever even able to carve a halfway decent spoon. I can barely draw a rough spoon on a piece of paper, so it’s still a surprise to me every time I’m able to draw one three dimensionally with an axe and knife on a piece of wood. I always tell people- and I firmly believe- if I can carve spoons like these, anyone can do it.

Thanks Sean! You can follow him and inquire about purchasing his spoons on Instagram at @srhearn0908.

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.

I’m very happy to share the following interview with Aaron Garrett.

Tell us a little about yourself:

My name is Aaron Garrett, I’m 24 and I live in the south-east of England. I work at an outdoor activity centre on the facilities/maintenance team. When I’m not working I fill most of my spare time with carving. I love being outside whether I’m carving, walking or just sitting and enjoying nature.
I have a wonderful wife named Louise who very patiently puts up with me always asking “do you like this spoon?”. We are also expecting our first baby in February, which is so exciting, now I need to work on making some baby spoons!

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

I started carving in September 2018 but I’ve always loved woodwork. As a child on walks, my dad and I would always be making daggers and bows and arrows with his cool bone handle knife. From then on I have always had an interest in woodwork. I studied carpentry and joinery in college for 3 years but didn’t find it fulfilling, all the loud machinery, dust and being stuck in a workshop wasn’t for me, but I did gain some great skills.

I discovered spoon carving through an unusual place; YouTube! I’d had an interest in bushcraft for quite a while and loved videos by MCQBushcraft. I came across one where he carved a ladle from Yew, I saw it and had to try. Not long afterwards I bought some tools and made my first spoon.

What are a few of your favorite spoon carving tools?

I have very few tools, until recently I only used my WoodTools carving axe and compound curve hook and a Mora 106 which I re-handled. The only thing that’s changed is I now have a beautiful sloyd knife from Adam Ashworth ( @adamashworth97 ) which is slightly longer, narrower and a better steel, so I can now get away with stropping more and sharpening less. I also regularly use my Bahco laplander folding saw.

I have one other tool which I love but use the least; my adze from Josh Burrell. I don’t use it for spoons, just kuksas and bowls.

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

I have learned a lot of what I know from Zed Outdoors YouTube videos, he has some brilliant in depth tutorials with very talented carvers. Emmet Van-Driesche has some very informative videos on Youtube and IG TV too.

Another thing that really helped me learn about spoon carving was buying my first spoon from Dave Cockroft; seeing some really good quality work helped me strive to improve my own. I learned a lot from his spoon like how a good knife finish should feel, thickness of the bowl, how comfortable spoons can feel in hand and mouth and what finished milk paint should feel like. My suggestion would be to buy a spoon and learn from it.

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

Yes, so many! It’s not just the different designs and styles of spoons which inspire me but the attitudes, perspective and ingenuity of these really inspiring carvers. Dave Cockroft, Emmet Van-Drieche, Dan Lawrence, Alex Yerks, Pat Diette, Maryanne McGinn, Adam Hawker and Lee Stoffer are just a few.

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

They’re great. A wooden spoon is beautiful on its own but I love the personalisation these decorative techniques can bring. I’ve been doing some more chip carving lately but I work mostly with milk paint.

I have always dabbled in sketching and painting so milk paint adds another bit of my artistic character into the spoon. I like that with different designs come different textures.

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

I think the meaning of slöyd and wood culture has become a bit diluted and messy but in a way that’s great because there are more ways to relate and become part of it. To me it’s simply about the fulfillment of making, not consuming. I think it also has something to do with being teachable and being humble enough to learn and hone skills.

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

I don’t normally listen to anything while carving, it’s a great time to enjoy the quiet with just the sound wood chips being made. Though if I listen to anything it might be an Emmet Van-Dreische podcast or a ridiculously silly Ron Burgundy podcast.

Lastly, why do you carve spoons?

Quite simply, because I love it! It’s relaxing and its my ‘me’ time. It can be really frustrating when things don’t go as I want but there are always lessons to be learned.
I think it’s so important to have a creative outlet and this is mine. I get so much satisfaction from creating something beautiful and practical from a log that would otherwise rot or burn. The whole process is a joy for the senses; the smell of the wood, the great sounds of axe and knife work, the feel and sight of a finished spoon and the taste of what you eat with it!

Thanks Aaron! You can follow him and inquire about purchasing his spoons on Instagram at @aaron.garrett.uk or on Etsy at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AaronGarrettSpoons.

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.

I’m very happy to share an interview with Anthony DiPietro.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I’m 38 years old and live in Connecticut. I have always had a deep respect and love for nature since I was a kid. Trees especially have always been my favorite. They are very wise and deserve much of our respect on this earth. I married my best friend, and she is the best thing that ever happened to me. She also stands behind me and my love/obsession with spoon carving.

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

I have been carving spoons for about three years. In the first two years, I was carving part-time. Since then, I started carving full time, and that’s how I make a living now. I wake up every morning, truly loving what I do. I first got interested in this craft actually through a video I saw of Ben Orford making a spoon with an axe and a couple of different knives. I was hooked from that moment on. My career started as a hobby, and that blows my mind every time. I feel like I’m a very lucky man.

What are a few of your favorite spoon carving tools?

Some of my favorite carving tools are, of course, the Mora 106. I also use many Del Stubbs knives. He is an amazing blacksmith, and you can tell he loves what he does. Also, the Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet. Last but not least, my new best friend – a carving axe made by Jason Lonon. He is another very talented blacksmith out of North Carolina.

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

There are many books out there that are excellent with spoon carving. Looking back, I probably should have picked up a few books. Check out Barn’s book and videos by Jarrod Dahl. I pretty much taught myself through trial and error. I believe books can help you a great deal, but you have to try your hardest every day and know that it will get easier.

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

Spoon carvers who inspire me would be Barnaby Carder, Jarrod Dahl, Dan Lawrence, and many others.

How have your spoon carving techniques changed over time?

My techniques have slightly changed over time. Meaning I allow the piece of wood to tell me the design of what the spoon will be.

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

I haven’t gotten into any milk paint, kolrosing, or chip carving as of yet. I believe there is a lot of beauty within a good simple spoon design without any bells and whistles if you will. Maybe someday, though.

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

In terms of wood culture. To me, it means to love, respect, and admire the wood itself and mother nature. The role we play is to pass this knowledge down to the next generations.

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

It’s hard for me to pick certain favorite songs that I listen too. I tend to listen to lots of classical, some country music, different rock bands, and definitely some heavy metal from time to time. I do notice between the different genres of music. The spoons themselves take on characteristics of the music. Meaning the spoons, I carve listening to classical tend to come out very elegant with smooth lines. Where and the spoons that were carved, say listening to heavy metal come out very bold, sharp lines and even a sense of confidence in their form. The subconscious is a powerful tool.

Lastly, why do you carve spoons?

I carve spoons first and foremost because I believe the form of a spoon is extremely beautiful and an ancient elegance. Also, I enjoy that they all come out different from one another. They all have their own personalities. Lastly, there was a time in my life where I was eating out of dumpsters for a few months. There is nothing worse than being hungry. So today, I am making functional art that people can feed themselves with. I am very happy and content with that. Also, the beauty that hand tools possess is magical and humbling to me. They allow you to slow down and enjoy life. I will be carving spoons until my hands stop working. I truly love this craft!!

Thanks Anthony! You can follow him and inquire about purchasing his spoons on Instagram at @woods_magic or visit his website at www.woodsmagic.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.

I’m very happy to share the following interview with Tamara Kusters.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I was born and raised in Eindhoven, a city in the south of the Netherlands. Since I was 16 years old, I moved around a lot. When I turned 21, I went to live in France for two years and another two years in Germany after that. I now live in the centre of the Netherlands, close to a beautiful protected national park.

I have a degree in cabinetry and worked as a cabinet maker a little while, but I hated it because everything has to be produced really fast. It kills the beauty of woodworking and makes it hard to really connect with the material you are working with. So now I work somewhere else part-time and make things out of wood in my spare time. I like taking my time.

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

Since I lived in France, I carved a few times. But never spoons. I had no idea about wooden spoons at that time. When I lived in Germany, someone showed me how to make knife handles from beautiful Scandinavian birch and antler. I loved making knife handles. The same person also gave me a wooden spoon as a Christmas present. Weirdly enough, it never occurred to me I could also make a spoon out of wood. That came later, which is about 2 months ago when I found that spoon again. I immediately felt a boost of enthusiasm and started carving away.

What are a few of your favorite spoon carving tools?

Most of the time, I use a Gransfors Bruks wildlife hatchet, a Mora wood carving knife, and a Mora hook knife. I also use a Japanese saw and a spokeshave sometimes.

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

To be honest…besides my old study/school books about cabinetmaking, I have no suggestions for you about books or websites on spoon carving or woodwork. I look at other people and let myself become inspired by certain shapes and decorations. If I have the chance, I’d rather ask someone directly about something. It is nice to be in contact with others about things like this.

The best advice I could give is to be open minded and a little bit stubborn.
I love going my own way and learn from my own mistakes. I absolutely love that moment when inspiration hits me and takes me along its crazy and exciting path into the process of creating something.

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

Luke Hope: for the simplicity and cleanness in his work.

Jane Mickelborough: for her precision in spoon carving, she makes really beautiful folding spoons, which take a lot of precision and skill to make.

Ariele Alasko: she carves amazing spoons/things/objects out of wood, and her creativity keeps surprising me.

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

I think those decorative techniques are a joy to look at. But my interest in spoon carving, or wood carving in general, is going more towards shapes. I love how beautiful a simple shape can be, but also so challenging/difficult to make some times.

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

Nils Frahm – Says
Rival Consoles – Recovery
Brandenburg concerto no. 3 in G major, BWV 1048: 3. Allegro
Antonio Carlos Jobim – Desafinado
30’s/40’s jazz

Lastly, why do you carve spoons?

Because when I do it, I feel like my head, heart, and hands merge together. I guess it’s also kind of instinctive thing to do, the creating of something functional out of a natural material using my hands. It’s what human beings have been doing for thousands of years. It just feels good.

Thanks Tamara! You can follow her and inquire about purchasing her spoons on Instagram at @tamsk_wood or her website at www.essenceandsimplicity.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.

It’s a great pleasure to share this interview I had with Ben Gancsos. I first saw his carving on Instagram and was immediately drawn to the refreshing uniqueness and sculptural qualities in his spoons. Ben, along with folks like Daniel Wester, have made me think more deeply about design and encouraged me to explore new ways to carve spoons.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I live in NYC with my wife, puppy, and my newborn daughter likely by the time you read this. I have a degree in computer science, followed by art school. Following a wide range of endeavors – automotive, landscaping, hospitality, building, tech before it was called that, journalism, art, I’ve now been an independent Architectural Photographer (@bsgphoto) for a dozen years. Perhaps it’s time for something new, again. Along the way, I’ve been a practicing maker and artist. Gut home renovations, darkroom work, making books, designing and building art installations and exhibits, always keeping my hands slightly bruised and slightly dirty. And, I make things from greenwood at @bgancsos.

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

I’ve been carving for about three years. Barn the Spoon has to be the one to blame. I was likely wasting time on Instagram when I came across this parallel universe, and quickly fell down the rabbit hole. Soon after, and about a thousand spoons later, I attended Greenwood Fest, put on by the wonderful folks at Plymouth Craft. It was there that I met Brianna Harden when Barn pointed out “hey, you’re both from NYC, why don’t you start a spoon club?” and a couple of months later, NYC Spoon Club (@nycspoonclub) was born in my back yard, with a small handful of folks who all met at the festival. We’ve long outgrown my basement, and now gather, more or less monthly, at the wonderful Makeville Studio space. This fall, we organized formal classes with JoJo Wood at the Brooklyn MakerSpace.

It’s been a wild and exciting ride. Also scary at times. I came to this field somewhat late, by accident, having missed the pilgrimages to see Wille Sundqvist or Bill Coperthwaite, learning fast through books, gatherings, and the social media outlets. And we’re very much urban. How is this stuff done amidst a city of high-rises? But then we realized there’s a small but eager community of like-minded folks here in NYC. Some of our members come from the more traditional route and have been great resources. It’s a community effort for sure!

What are a few of your favorite spoon carving tools?

Early on I realized that there are a lot of fan-clubs around various tool makers. And many silly arguments, to this day, about comparisons without having the tools in hand. I went on a quest to collect all that I could, and hold and use them side by side. This has been the most educational effort. There are so many components and subtleties to a hand carving tool that there is simply no way to compare them by specs alone. And everyone’s hand, and grip, and carving style varies, and even evolves! If you’re looking for a brand, just be honest about it and go for it. But if you want the tool that really works for you, try as many as you can and confidently settle on the one(s) for you! More spoons have been carved in the history of modern spoon carving with a Mora 164 than all the other hooks combined, yet it’s the most reviled in some ways. This is really interesting….

The important thing to remember is the profile shape of the hook. How open, tight, or compounded should it be? Where does the sweet spot hit when you’re in your default knife grip? There is no universal answer to this. So, as I am getting comfortable with the fact that one unicorn tool or another is actually hard for me to use, I am trading and selling them off. My preferred hook knife is the early Matt White Monadnock. What sets this tool apart is the uniform radius of the curve. It’s essentially a TWCA that you can choke up on. If you don’t like yours, this is an open invitation to get in touch and I’ll buy it from you!

For my tiny twig spoons, I need really small hooks. Svante Djärve to the rescue!

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

I’m a born book collector, unfortunately as they are really…. heavy! If you wish to buy two, Wille Sundqvist’s “Swedish Carving Techniques” and Barn’s “Spoon” will get you hooked pretty solidly. There are many other out there. The one observation I will make is that many were written just a year or two before really good hook knives became somewhat more available and thus show techniques involving gouges, chisels, and various other tools. My personal preference these days is to be able to do everything in hand with greenwood, axe, straight knife, and hook. A lot of books need to go beyond this, partly so they can actually… be a book…

A lot of resources exist online. Zed Sha’s videos are a treasure. And if you have not signed up for the videos Barn makes with Spoon Club you’re missing out!

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

At Greenwood Fest I won the raffle for a Jane Mickelborough folding spoon. It’s among my most prized possessions. I’ve since been able to buy or trade for many wonderful spoons from many wonderful makers. There is no way to make a list here that will not make someone sad. I look at all of them and try to find how different people solved different challenges in a spoon. How they resolved a particular part, how finished another…

Not being as rooted in the Swedish tradition as some of the greenwood community, my inspiration tends to come from the art world. I wonder what spoons Constantin Brancusi or Martin Puryear would be making. How do you find something essential in a piece of wood and make something that still respects the natural?

My absolute favorite three are Marie Eklund (@marieeklundhandicraft), Daniel Wester (@danielwesters), and Mark Reddy (@toftmonkey).

How have your spoon carving techniques changed over time?

The biggest shift has been to get past one specific carver’s workflow. Everyone I know who teaches, teaches a specific set of steps needed to make their specific spoon. This is not a bad thing, you need to have some structure to be safe when learning. It is something to be aware of, though. Two different carvers, will teach two different ways. Neither is THE way. At some point its important to just let go and simply internalize the basic grips and safe techniques. Then use these as building blocks in your own way and sequence. This took a while to realize. Now, I just think “where’s the power, control, and stop” in any given cut.

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

Some of it is truly beautiful, some of it classic and traditional, some of it is trendy, and some a flat out gimmick. Most of it has been around for longer than our species. I think as far as aesthetics go, it’s a very subjective thing. And some people like highly decorated things some like very clean and minimalist things. I love all the mentioned techniques in the right context. It just has to make sense with the design of the spoon.

I prefer to see some tool marks and some indication that this object was made by nature and organically altered, kindly, by a human. If you pour liquid resin in any form, please block me on all social media.

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

I find craft such an important part of life, a part that is being more and more outsourced, or simply eliminated. The idea that we can do things with our hand that does not involve a keyboard simply blows some people’s mind. And this is so sad to me. The pleasure and fulfillment that one gets from making or mending something, however poorly, is beyond compare! Learning to do it well, and then being able to adapt it to other aspects of our daily living, is worth more than 1000 “likes” anywhere.

There are many philosophies to quote, often out of context and as if others don’t read, when it comes to craft. From Richard Sennett, to David Pye, to Coperthwaite, to Roubo. The list goes on! But nothing can match the welling up of feelings from making something by hand, and then perhaps carving through the bowl, with tools that you then sharpen yourself. It’s the most mysterious sense of fulfillment from doing something that is, at it’s core, no mystery at all.

I do have to mention, without trying to offend, that we’ve also encountered a bit of macho “bro” sloydering out there. “Dudes with viking axes” is not what this is about. Belittling someone who has not paid some sloyd dues or another is not helpful. It’s ironic that the most vocal, and sometimes abrasive, members of the gatekeeping crew, those who insist on a certain type of orthodoxy and purity of tradition, often not their own, are doing it on an iPhone. Tradition is sacred and we should learn and use as much of it as we can. But let’s be honest, if we were still in the days of the Mary Rose, we’d all likely be dead by 40.

It is so wonderful to be able to take skills that are ancient, and go back to before our species (homo sapiens are axe-natives, we were never without it as it is a Neanderthal tool) and adapt it to our modern times. Now, I can’t coppice my own wood, or even walk around with a sloyd knife dangling from my belt here in this city, but that does not mean I can’t treasure and practice some of these crafts and values.

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

Living in NYC is loud. Actual silence is generally a surprise. So I generally like to carve in silence as much as possible. That said my taste in music can range from American Blues, to Guy Clarke, to Jean Michel Jarre and Zbigniew Preisner. If I had to pick something now, it would be anything by Nick Drake.

My all time favorite is a rarity by Davey Graham. His “City and Suburban Blues” feeds my constant nostalgia for the countryside, overlooking the sea, a place I’ve never lived.

Lastly, why do you carve spoons?

It’s meditative. I get to take something that (here in this city) at best would get chipped, but more likely just taken to the landfill, and make something that can be used or displayed. I don’t need fancy tools, I make no dust, little noise, and it’s portable. And it brings such joy not just to me, but also to folks who hear about it.

And then there’s the “What the hell is that guy doing? I can’t stop looking!” reaction…

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

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.

I’ve recently had the good fortune of finding @johns_slojd on Instagram, and I’ve enjoyed all of his posts. He is an amazing carver and I’m elated that he was willing to do the following interview.

Tell us a little about yourself:

My name is Jonathan, most people call me John. I was born in Mora Sweden thirty years ago and grew up on a quite self-sufficient farm in Dalarna. There, the proximity to nature and the longing for the wilderness were welded with the interest in art, science and crafts. As I spent much of my childhood in the woods, on hiking trails or canoeing, trying to learn how to take care of myself. When I was at age 17, I met the love of my life to whom I am now married and have three children.

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

My parents had a lot of time but no money. So I learned from the beginning, that if I wanted something, it was only by making it ourselves that I could get it. With my interest in outdoor life came a will to independence. It expressed itself in bushcraft, a walking stick, a kuksa, and of course, spoons.

What are a few of your favorite spoon carving tools?

I can’t say they are necessarily my favorite tools. But the ones I have and use are; a Hultafors forest ax, Gyokucho Japanese saw, Mora 106 knife and two spoon knives, Mora 162, 163. An indirect tool that many do not think of is a regular table lamp. But I want to mention it, as it is invaluable when working indoors.

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

I’m basically pretty self-taught, but the quality of my craft improved significantly after reading Wille Sundqist’s books.
I would also recommend the beginner to experiment and dare to fail. Nothing has taught me more than my mistakes. For the more experienced, be open to new angles. The day you think you have learned everything, you stop developing.

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

There are many skilled craftsmen to choose from. If I were to pick one, it would be Adam Hawker. In my opinion, his slöjd expresses the essence of “allmoge style” in a professional fashion. But I am generally more inspired by different craft styles and cultures than specific individuals.

How have your spoon carving techniques changed over time?

Today I try to work more with how light interacts with a faceted surface, to create shadows that influenced how the shape is perceived. Nowadays, all my spoons have a cut finished surface. I’m not against sandpaper, but I think the cut surface has a more beautiful shine and over time patina.

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

A well-crafted wooden spoon, can survive generations. I think adding some type of decoration increases the likelihood of a personal connection and enhances the emotional value. An extra step forward, from the culture of wear and tear that quality craftsmanship stands in such contrast. I want my craft to come to good use, but also to bring aesthetic pleasure.

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

For me, craft is a heritage right as homo sapiens. Something that should be accessible to everyone, in one way or another. I also believe that as we face the problems of modern times, traditional crafts offer part of a sustainable solution. Wood consists of locked up carbon dioxide that the tree has taken out of the atmosphere.

On a more personal level, slöjd is a source of income, a way of expressing myself and getting to know new wonderful people. I also see the craft as the means and tools that I as a parent teach my children to create their own relationships with nature.

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

The letter – with Joe Cocker, Kozmic blues – with Janis Joplin. But most often I listen to lectures, with topics like paleo anthropology, quantum physics or zoology to pick some.

Lastly, why do you carve spoons?

Carving gives me tremendous satisfaction and sense of happiness. I love being in a way a link between nature where I fetch raw materials and to the individual who uses my craft. My craft gives me a way to support my family while I have a lot of time to be with my children.

Thanks John! You can follow him and inquire about purchasing his spoons on Instagram at @johns_slojd

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.