Author Archives: stevetomlin

Welsh love spoons

Posted on May 14, 2014 by stevetomlin

spoon carving WalesAt the weekend I made a trip across the border to teach a spooncarving course at the Woodland Skills Centre for a group including Rod Waterfield, the Centre manager. Continue reading →

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Beech Leaf Noyau

Posted on May 7, 2014 by stevetomlin

Three weeks gone by already? Thankfully my friend Barbara reminded me it’s time to get the beech leaves out of the gin and turn it into noyau. Continue reading →

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Anna Karenina – just the scythes

Posted on May 3, 2014 by stevetomlin

Sit through 3hrs of frocks just to see some folk mowing a field for 1 minute? Not even if it’s your friends mowing in a Hollywood movie with the snaths you made yourself? Sorry, I always said I’d wait until … Continue reading →

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May Whistles

Posted on April 30, 2014 by stevetomlin

May Day is here so why not use these simple instructions to make a May Whistle, a traditional Cornish craft and use it to Ring in the Summer? Continue reading →

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Leatherworking workshop

Posted on April 28, 2014 by stevetomlin

hand stitching leather
It’s always great fun to learn new skills, especially when that includes learning about a new material so when my friend Ruth Pullan mentioned she was starting to teach courses in leatherwork including tradition hand stitching, I jumped at the chance to invite her to Cumbria. Continue reading →

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A use for young beech leaves

Posted on April 17, 2014 by stevetomlin

beech leaves
There’s more to trees than just wood – the bark, sap, fruit, seeds and roots are all useful. Yesterday I was out collecting leaves for a project I’ve been wanting to do for a few years. Continue reading →

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Swill basket making course

Posted on April 14, 2014 by stevetomlin

Swill basket makingIn today’s internet world it’s a treat to find a craft that’s particular to one region and still being carried out in the same way as it has been for hundreds of years. Last week I had the chance to learn some of the skills of a traditional Cumbrian craft for myself. Continue reading →

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How's Your Peening?

Posted on April 7, 2014 by stevetomlin

<img class="alignright" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7266/7670707366_e589e367dc_m.jpg" alt="scythe peening workshop" / Well, Peening Day is done for another year; I hope you got your blades nicely cleaned and sharpened ready for the mowing season. If you're struggling, try asking yourself these questions Continue reading →

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Peening Day 2014

Posted on March 24, 2014 by stevetomlin

Peening Day 2013 International Peening Day this year falls on 6 April, the day to clean off and sharpen your scythe ready for the season. Continue reading →

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Teaching a new professional spoon carver

Posted on March 7, 2014 by stevetomlin

Another 1-to-1 spoon carving day, this time with Dan Lawrence who I’ve watched developing his skills over the last few years and is now aiming to make his living from greenwood carving. He came on my short course at Spoonfest … Continue reading →

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