Author Archives: stevetomlin

Fan bird carving course in Derbyshire

Fan birds are a little known craft in the UK. Each one is made from a single piece of wood with the wings folded out from the solid wood. People often think that they’re incredibly fiddly and too difficult to … Continue reading

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Spoon carving workshop in Derbyshire

I’ve just spent a fabulous weekend at Greenwood Days on the Derbyshire/ Leicestershire border. On Saturday I was teaching a group of beginners how to carve wooden spoons. Starting from fresh green birch wood logs, they learned to axe out … Continue reading

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Beech leaf noyau country liqueur

It’s spring and the leaves are coming out on the trees. It’s such an exciting time when the woods and meadows come alive. Each year, I make the effort to head out on a sunny day like today to pick … Continue reading

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Spoon carving in Yorkshire

My most recent spoon carving workshop for beginners was at Broadrake Bunkhouse at Chapel-le-Dale in Yorkshire. With views of Inglebrough and the Ribblehead Viaduct, the gorgeous Bunkhouse to stay in and the fabulous lunches, it’s one of my favourite venues … Continue reading

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Stave basket making in new QEST book

I’m incredibly proud to have been chosen as one of 100 QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) scholars for their book ‘A Celebration of British Craftsmanship‘. Photographer Julian Calder and I talked over my craft and decided to highlight the endangered … Continue reading

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Spoon carving workshop at RHS 2019

Four people joined me last weekend for a couple of days at RHS Harlow Carr in Yorkshire to learn how to carve wooden spoons. We started with making cooking spoons and introducing the axe and knife skills needed to work … Continue reading

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Spoon carving courses in Manchester 2019

Following on from the success of my recent spoon carving workshop in Chorlton, Manchester, I have added a couple of extra dates for courses in 2019. Saturday 22nd June 2019 Saturday 23rd November 2019 Book your place via the Eventbrite … Continue reading

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Wooden hay rake making at Stott Park Bobbin Mill

It’s always a treat to go up to Cumbria and spend some time in the Lake District, especially in spring when the countryside is coming to life. This weekend, I’ve been teaching a small group to make wooden hay rakes … Continue reading

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Cherry wood cooking spoons

When I’m teaching spoon carving, I always make a few spoons myself so that I can demonstrate the techniques during the course. This lovely cherry wood came from a local woodland in south Manchester and travelled just a few miles … Continue reading

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Stave baskets in endangered crafts article

Endangered crafts in Countryman magazine. Continue reading

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