Tonight I split a birch log that someone gave to me in December, I was hesitant at first because it was something new, but in the end, I loved the process. It felt great to be part of the transformation from branch to billet. Plus I had sat in front of the computer all day, so it was wonderful to swing an axe for a few hours tonight.
In the past week, I subscribed to the Mortise and Tenon magazine and podcast. If you’re not familiar with them, you should check them out immediately. The focus is primarily on preindustrial furniture making, but there is also some great writing and discussion on craft, hand tools, and spoon carving.
I’m very excited that Lost Art Press will be publishing Jögge Sundqvist’s book “Slöjd in Wood” this year. I love the following passage from the book’s introduction that Megan Fitzpatrick shared in a blog post:
“People from all walks of life benefit from the interaction between mind and hand. Slöjd affects us by satisfying the body and in turn, the soul. There is a kind of practical contemplation where there is time for thought – a certain focused calm, which is an antidote to today’s media-centered society.
I think we can use the knowledge of slöjd to find that brilliant combination of a small-scale approach to a sustainable society that doesn’t exclude the necessities of modern technology. Traditional slöjd is a survival kit for the future.” – Jögge Sundqvist
Related, I’ve also been watching The Slöjd Tradition by Jögge Sundqvist. He’ll be in Decorah in February.
I’m looking forward to the publication of the Spoonesaurus magazine Emmet Van Driesche and Matt White will be publishing. Based on their knowledge and skills, it should be an amazing resources.