Steve Tomlin Crafts

Scything course for Green Angels in Staffordshire

Posted on August 12, 2020 by stevetomlin

For the last two days I’ve been in Staffordshire teaching a group of volunteers how to scythe. Green Angels is a programme of outdoor training courses run by The Land Trust to give people new skills and experience.

We worked in two groups at Silverdale Country Park near Newcastle-under-Lyme, spending the first session learning how to set up the Austrian scythes and how to sharpen them. Then in the second session we got down to the business of cutting the wildflower meadow!

It was hot, hot, hot and I was really impressed with the effort that everyone put in. Several of the volunteers already had ideas for other meadow sites where they would use the skills and The Land Trust purchased several scythe kits so they can continue with the work. I love being able to help with these kinds of projects, thanks to all involved for a terrific time.

My next Learn to Scythe course is on 4th Sept at Chapel-le-Dale in Yorkshire. Please email me steve[at]stevetomlincrafts.co.uk to book your place or for more details if you’d like to arrange a scything workshop for your group.

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Leave a comment

Ash splint packbasket

Posted on August 9, 2020 by stevetomlin

The ash splints that I pounded this spring are working so well and I’m really pleased to have had another commission for this packbasket which I just finished. The basket measures 18″ to the rim with a top handle and is 14″ wide. Straps are veg-tanned leather with brass buckles and rivets. I have been researching vegan alternatives for the straps and have now found some heavyweight cotton straps.

If you’re interested in these baskets, please email me steve[at]stevetomlincrafts.co.uk for more details.

Posted in baskets, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged ash splint, pack basket | Leave a comment

Learn to scythe course feedback 2020

Posted on August 8, 2020 by stevetomlin

Lovely feedback from a recent scything course; pictured is Roger scything well during the course at Bell Sykes in Lancashire. I am teaching Learn to Scythe on 4th Sept at Chapel-le-Dale, please email steve[at]stevetomlincrafts.co.uk if you’d like to book a place.

Hi Steve

I want to thank you for the course you ran on 24th. I enjoyed it immensely and learned so much.

Straight after I left with my partner for a week away but on return last weekend took my scythe once again to the grass paths around my allotment. I had the best cut ever despite the restrictions on space. The settings were right and I was honing better and I could keep the blade on the ground through the restricted arcs I was making. Given that the paths are uneven it was the most consistent, close cut on these paths I had ever made.

Thanks again!

Roger

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged feedback, review, scythe, scythe feedback | Leave a comment

Ash splint baskets course in Surrey

Posted on August 8, 2020 by stevetomlin

Last month I was invited down to Surrey to teach a group of fine furniture makers how to make ash splint baskets. Aidan Turner runs a school for aspiring furniture makers and wanted the course to broaden the students’ experience and introduce them to other interesting materials.

Aidan had sourced a lovely ash log locally so the first morning was spent with me showing them how to pound a log to delaminate the growth rings and produce splints. We took turns in pounding and also riving down the thicker material to make splints suitable for weaving.

Once we had a good amount of splints and had warmed up from the work we set about making the basket. Aidan and I agreed that, when learning, it’s useful to have a relatively simple project so that you can concentrate on the processes and techniques involved. It was interesting for all of us to see how the furniture makers, used to working with boards and to very fine tolerances, approached the different skills required in basket making. I’m looking forward to seeing how they take this forward and incorporate it into their other work.

I teach ash splint basket making courses around the UK, details on my courses page. I can also teach your group at your own venue, please email me with your enquiry steve[at]stevetomlincrafts.co.uk

Posted in baskets, greenwood courses | Tagged ash splint, Surrey, UK | Leave a comment

Scything course at Lancashire Coronation Meadow

Posted on August 5, 2020 by stevetomlin

After a difficult start to the scythe season, it was great to be back with a group learning to scythe at Bell Sykes farm in Lancashire. Bell Sykes is the Coronation Meadow for the county and the meadows are a beautiful mass of flowers. We spent the morning setting up the Austrian scythes and practising honing them before heading out for a couple of hours mowing a wildflower meadow with a great mix of species.

If you’d like to learn my next Learn to Scythe course is on 4th Sept at Chapel-le-Dale in Yorkshire. To book a space, please email me steve[at]stevetomlincrafts.co.uk

Posted in scythe courses | Tagged Coronation Meadow, lancashire, scythe | Leave a comment

Blackberry picking stave basket

Posted on August 3, 2020 by stevetomlin

With all the things that are going on this year, it’s easy to lose track of the months. Happily, nature’s calendar is still reliable and a great way to keep in touch with the seasons. As we shift from the all too short summer into the first hints of autumn, the berry season is starting and I’ve been out picking the first of the blackberries for making wine later in the year. This Devon stave basket is from my latest batch. The others were all made to order but I decided to keep one for myself and put it straight to use.

Posted in baskets | Tagged Stave basket | Leave a comment

Cherry salad servers

Posted on June 19, 2020 by stevetomlin

New salad servers ready for the summer! I’ve been using some of the lockdown time to work on my tiny back garden. It’s mostly flagstones but I’ve built a small raised bed along one wall and have got herbs and salads growing which is super exciting. It lead me to think about making some salad sets so here they are.

The ebonised handles is something I do a lot on my stirring spoons and works really well with the cherry wood so you get the red wood colour coming through the black. I also decided to experiment with some pyrography after seeing some Japanese tattoos. The cherry blossom seems fitting for the cherry wood. Which do you prefer, let me know in the comments.

These are for sale now in my etsy store. I’ve only made these few so don’t delay if you want a set.

Posted in spoon carving, SteveTomlinCrafts | Leave a comment

Scythe course for estate garden team

Posted on June 17, 2020 by stevetomlin

I’m just back from Cumbria where I was invited to teach a scything course for some of the gardening team at CGP Publishing. The company is housed in an amazing house and formal garden just outside Broughton in south Cumbria. Most of the grounds are mown regularly my machine but there are many areas where access is more difficult or they are leaving the grass to grow into a wildflower meadow. These are perfect conditions for using a scythe.

The team already had some Austrian scythes and wanted proper training on how to set them up and mow effectively. The mowing areas were mostly on slopes with tall grasses and wildflowers. Theses are difficult to learn on but everyone did really well and we cleared a large area while the team chatted and worked.

I teach scything courses around the UK and can come to teach you either as an individual or in a group at your own venue. Please email steve@stevetomlincrafts.co.uk for details

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged cumbria | 1 Comment

Ash splint harvest baskets for sale

Posted on June 13, 2020 by stevetomlin

I’ve been working on a few ash splint pack baskets lately, which has been great to keep me busy during lockdown. In preparation for them, I always like to make some smaller baskets which has resulted in a couple of these harvest baskets being available for sale.

These are a classic square-to-round construction starting from a checkerboard base which flares up to the handle. I’m really pleased with how they swell and the continuation of those curves into the bale handle. The handle is jointed and lashed to the basket along with the rim.

Each basket is 18cm approx high to the rim, 35cm high overall, 26cm diameter at the rim and currently available for sale in my Etsy shop with more photos there.

If you’re interested in learning how to work with ash splint and make your own baskets, I teach a number of workshops each year at venues around the UK. Please visit my greenwood courses page for details or sign up to my newsletter for updates on courses and dates.

Posted in baskets, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged ash splint | Leave a comment

Bending packbasket handles

Posted on June 11, 2020 by stevetomlin

The top handle of my pack baskets is a steam piece of ash which is fun to make and surprisingly quick once you’ve got used to them. It’s all small scale with the centre section just 6mm thick so care is needed to make it even so it will bend sweetly. The jig has been through a few iterations as I’ve refined the shape over the years. The curves were good but I wanted to adjust the width so simply inserted different pieces between the two halves to get what I wanted. Twenty minutes in the steam and they’re ready to go. They set almost straight away and can come off the former ready to do the next.

Ash splint basketry requires slow grown timber whereas these need to be faster grown stock for strength.