Spoon carving workshop 2021 in Yorkshire Dales

Posted on May 8, 2021 by stevetomlin


It’s fantastic to be back out teaching crafts again and what a wonderful way to start with a two day spoon carving course at Broadrake in the Yorkshire Dales. Tucked just under Whernside among the Yorkshire Three Peaks, it’s an amazing venue and Rachel & Mike always provide a warm welcome.

Over the two days we covered the whole process of carving wooden spoons starting with fresh green birch timber, using axes and knives to make cooking spoons, butter spreaders and eating spoons. The small group means there’s loads of time for individual tuition, chat and eating cake! Everyone did great work with Duncan and Chris both buying a set of spoon carving tools from me to continue afterwards.

You can learn to carve wooden spoons with me in 2021 at various venues. Take a look at my greenwood courses page. I can also come to your venue to deliver a private workshop for you and some friends, email steve[at]stevetomlincrafts.co.uk for details.

 

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Scythe peening 2021

Posted on April 6, 2021 by stevetomlin


This Sunday was International Peening Day 2021 so I spent a little time in the sunshine peening a scythe blade ready for the mowing season.
I started with the peening jig to do most of the work and finished off with a couple of rows of freehand peening. That isn’t strictly necessary but I can achieve a finer edge and it’s good practise for my peening skills.

My Learn to Scythe courses dates for 2021 are now set and starting to fill up. Visit the learn to scythe page for details and dates

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Lawn vs meadow article

Posted on March 20, 2021 by stevetomlin

Fantastic to see so many organisations getting on board with the idea of converting lawns to wildlife-friendly wildflower meadows and this getting coverage in the Guardian. The RHS, some National Trust estates and King’s College, Cambridge are among those quoted in the article about the benefits of managing your land as a meadow rather than a lawn.

Of course, it will still need managing and there’s no better tool for cutting long meadow grasses than a scythe. My Learn to Scythe course dates are now live, visit https://stevetomlincrafts.co.uk/learn-to-scythe/ for more details.

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Learn to Scythe courses 2021

Posted on March 16, 2021 by stevetomlin

My Learn to Scythe course dates 2021 are now set and already starting to fill up. The weather is warming up and this weekend sees the Vernal Equinox and official start of Spring so it’s the perfect time to be thinking about managing your meadow and learning how to cut the grass with a scythe.

Learn to Scythe Courses 2021

  • 4 June 2021, Slaidburn, Lancashire
  • 23 July 2021, Slaidburn Lancashire
  • 5 August 2021, Chapel-le-Dale, Yorkshire
  • 4 Sept 2021, Sedbergh, Cumbria
  • 8 Oct Peening workshop, Slaidburn, Lancashire
  • More dates to be set, please sign up to my newsletter for updates

The one-day course costs £95, to book your place, please email stevetomlin8[at]gmail.com

You can also book me for private tuition for you or a group at your own venue on a date to suit you. More info at https://stevetomlincrafts.co.uk/learn-to-scythe/

 

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Belbroughton scythe history talk 2021

Posted on February 7, 2021 by stevetomlin

For those of you interested in the English scythe and it’s history, you won’t want to miss this talk on 11 Feb 2021 about the Belbroughton scythe making industry.
Book your tickets via Eventbrite

The Rise and Fall of Belbroughton’s Scythemaking Industry

Today Belbroughton, north Worcestershire, is an attractive, red brick village with little sign that for several hundred years it was known for the manufacture of high-quality scythes. In this talk, Sarah Bradley discusses the development of this industry, which reached its peak in the nineteenth century and employed highly-skilled craftsmen, and traces its decline in the twentieth century, with the works closing in 1968. The talk concludes with a short film from 1955, showing the scythe-making process, which had little changed for over a hundred years.

This talk will be delivered via Zoom. Once registered a separate email will follow with a link to access meeting details (you will asked to sign in). If you do not already have an Eventbrite account you will be asked to register

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First ash splint packbasket of 2021

Posted on February 3, 2021 by stevetomlin

Here’s the first of a few packbaskets that I’m currently working on. They are 18″ high to the rim and 14″ approx wide at the belly. Fitted with veg tan leather straps and solid brass buckles. If you are interested in ordering a basket, please email steve[at]stevetomlincraft.co.uk for more details.

 

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Wildflower meadows in the Guardian

Posted on January 30, 2021 by stevetomlin

Lovely article in the Guardian this week about the value of wildflower meadows, the work being done to preserve them and how you can create a meadow on even just a small patch of land.

Of course, once you’ve established your meadow, a scythe is the perfect tool for cutting the long grasses and it is nice to see that it’s now an established enough tool for the Guardian to mention is, of course with the obligatory Poldark reference.

scything a wildflower meadow in Yorkshire Dales Learn to scythe

My scythe courses will be running again in summer 2021, visit my Learn to Scythe page for dates and more details or email steve[at]stevetomlincrafts.co.uk to book a place.

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Weaving ash splint pack baskets

Posted on January 28, 2021 by stevetomlin

Winter is typically the time when I make more items for sale and makes a nice counterpoint to the summer of teaching craft courses. This summer I’m enjoying weaving some ash splint packbasket commissions using the beautiful ash splint from Derbyshire which I pounded last year.

I’ll be sharing images of the finished basket with it’s straps shortly. If you’re interested in these baskets, please email me steve[at]stevetomlincrafts.co.uk for further details.

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Bending bonds and handles for Devon stave baskets

Posted on December 29, 2020 by stevetomlin

The handle, rim and bottom bond for the Devon stave basket are made from freshly cut ash coppice. I use small diameter poles which are cleft into four pieces and then shaped with a drawknife while clamped in the shavehorse.

While the wood is still green, it can be slowly bend around a former. Usually wood is bent using steam to heat and soften the fibres but with care it’s possible to bend wood cold. After a few days of drying, the shape is set and can be stored for future use.

My Devon stave baskets are made in small batches a few times a year, please email me if you’re interested in more details or to order. I post process photos and new baskets on my SteveTomlinCrafts Instagram feed.

 

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Bodkins for ash splint basket making

Posted on November 28, 2020 by stevetomlin

One of the lovely things about basket making is how few tools are needed. When I’m making ash splint baskets, I use just a knife, scissors, small spring clamps and a bodkin. The bodkin aids with packing down the weavers, tucking the uprights into the weave when they are turned down and opening the gaps for lashing.

These bodkins are specifically designed for working with ash splint and sized for 6mm weavers which I use on most of my work. They’re equally suitable for rush or willow basket making work. Available through my Etsy storeSteve Tomlin Crafts Etsy shop

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