Tell us a little about yourself. How long have you been carving spoons and how did you first get interested in it?
I’ve been carving spoons since 2004, and pointy sticks since 1980. I first got interested in moving on from sticks for roasting food over camp fires, to spoons when I attended a “Woodlore” Bushcraft course in the UK during 2004. Throughout the week long course we practiced many outdoor skills which had a big influence on me and the way I wanted to go with my life.
We were shown how to make a spoon, albeit without an axe, and I was hooked. Soon afterwards I learned further green woodworking techniques after meeting craftspeople in the industry at shows and through volunteering.
What are a few of your favorite spoon carving tools?
Well, I think the Mora 106 straight knife takes some serious beating. It’s just brilliant, especially when you make a personalized handle and sheath. The spoon knife I use all the time is a Bo Helgesson. I love it so much, and will miss it when its been sharpened beyond use.
Are there any particular spoon carvers that inspire you in your work?
Other crafts folk that have influenced me have been Robin Wood through his blog and bushcraft forum contributions in the early days, Jarrod Stone Dahl and Barn the Spoon for their excellent short videos on axing out and sharpening, and other various folk who have become addicted to spoon carving and taken it forward after courses I’ve run.
Any tips for new spoon carvers based on what you have learned?
If I was to give any advice to those starting out now, I would ease off from wanting to carve an eating spoon. Establish a set easy design for a straight cooking spoon and a teaspoon. These get used a lot, and are a lot easier to visualize the 3D shape and quicker to carve. Make 10 of each, then the main grips and shapes will be sorted. Then start on eating spoons so you can think about cranks, thinness of bowls and handles, thickness of the keel and interesting features that makes it your design.
Are your spoons for sale? And how can someone buy them?
I tend to split the craft side of year equally between spoons, kuksas, bowls, barkcraft, shrink pots, foraging and camping out.
All my crafts can be found at www.pauladamsoncraft.co.uk
Thanks Paul! 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.
Related to those thoughts, I had a moment of deep awareness about my skills as a new carver and the intent behind this website during a recent carving workshop. I’ll writing more about it soon. In the meantime, I welcome readers to contact me if you would like to be interviewed to share your thoughts on the craft of spoon carving.