My latest ash splint pack basket is complete and I’m super pleased with it.
All the splints for this were pounded in the UK from sustainably managed english ash (Fraxinus excelsior). They are graded, cut to width and shaved smooth before weaving.
This basket is 18″ high to the rim and 14″ wide at the belly. I weave the back with a slight hollow so it sits comfortably against your back and add a grab handle made from steam-bent ash which is lashed into the rim. Lovely veg-tanned leather straps and solid brass buckles complete the basket.
This basket is currently available, please email me for details.
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been making a new ash splint pack basket with the ash that I pounded earlier this spring. Here’s a few photos from the process.
First, preparing the splints by sorting them for thickness, cutting to width and scraping them smooth. I weave a rectangular base and then turn up the ribs to start weaving.
At the top of the basket, the ribs are split and turned down to lock them in place. I fit a steam bent handle and rims in place.
The rim is lashed on with more ash splint and then leather straps fitted. More photos in another post to come!
An eating spoon is often seen as the peak of wooden spoon carving. Making a spoon which fits the hand, feels comfortable to the mouth and also looks good is a demanding and rewarding challenge for green wood carvers of any level.
I have been making and teaching wooden spoons for over 15 years and developed these instructions and template for carvers who would like to learn more about spoon design and have templates to assist their carving.
The 10-step eating spoon axe work instruction sheet takes you step-by-step through my process for simply and efficiently carving out the cranked eating spoon shape using an axe. Having a good blank is essential for making good wooden spoons and learning to axe well will increase your productivity and enjoyment of carving.
Then cut out the eating spoon template and use it to mark your timber for carving. The plan, side and underneath view points, cross-sections and design notes included will build your understanding of spoon design and give you the knowledge to create your own shapes in the future.
My spoon carving instructions and templates are available to download as pdfs from my Etsy store now. More template being prepared for addition to the range, please favourite the store or sign up to my newsletter for updates.
ps If you are posting pictures of your finished spoons on social media, please tag me @stevetomlincrafts – I’d love to see them!
Carved wooden fan birds are one of my favourite greenwood projects and a wonderful demonstration of the properties of wood. I first learned about them on a trip to Czech Republic where I bought a pair of birds in a local market in 2011. Since then I have made thousands of birds and taught hundreds of people to make them.
Now I have produced a simple set of instructions in a pdf so that you can learn how to carve fan birds on your own if you can’t make it to one of my courses. The instructions go through the tools you’ll need, sourcing the right wood and how to carve and fan the feathers to create your own bird.
These instructions are most suited for someone who has some carving experience already or who has attended a course and would like an aide memoire to the process.
Available as a downloadable pdf from my Etsy store now
I have been teaching people how to carve wooden spoons since 2004 and it’s been amazing to watch the popularity of this craft explode over the years. Spoon carving is a fantastic hobby and a brilliant introduction to carving wood, requiring very little in the way of tools, materials or work space while including endless possibilities for design and learning.
Following feedback from my students, I am really excited to have launched a series of spoon carving instructions and template pdfs which are available now to download from my Etsy store. Currently there are instructions for axing a cranked eating spoon blank and templates for a classic teardrop shape eating spoon, stirring spoon, two coffee scoops and a sheet of handle designs with finials and spoon decoration ideas.
Each pattern gives multiple view of the spoon including cross sections along with design notes to help you understand the shapes you’re carving. Start by copying my design then use the knowledge and experience to develop your own ideas. The handle design sheet in particular will help you create new shapes and add decoration to your spoons.
Download your copies from my Etsy store and get started now. I will be uploading more templates to expand the range so favourite the shop or sign up to my newsletter for updates.
It really felt like spring is in the air this weekend. I was down near Derby pounding a couple of english ash logs to make ash splints for my baskets and courses. Hammering the log breaks the bond between the growth rings in the wood and allows them to delaminate, producing long strips of wood which are perfect for basket weaving.
It’s hard work but very rhythmic and surprisingly relaxing as there’s nothing to think or worry about other than the movement of the hammer and watching the splints peel off. Seeing the pile of material grow is very exciting and inspiring as I think of all the baskets that will be made.
I’m teaching several ash splint basket making courses in 2020 at various venues around the UK. Please visit my greenwood courses page for details or sign up to my newsletter for updates.
I was invited to north Wales to teach ash splint basket making to a group as part of the Halkyn Mountain Living Landscape project which is educating people about their local area and crafts associated with the landscape.
Ash splint basketry is still very new in the UK so it’s great to be able to show more people and I was very pleased to have several existing basket makers join us to learn about this different material.
During the weekend we cover the entire process of grading and dressing the ash splints, weaving a checkerboard base and then turning up the ribs and weaving the sides. A triple rim is attached and lashed into place after which we went outside to look at the process for pounding splints from a fresh ash log.
They were a terrific bunch who worked really well and were great, fun company as you can see from this photo!
If you’d like to learn ash splint basket making, I am teaching further courses around the UK in 2020. Please take a look at the greenwood courses page or subscribe to my newsletter for updates.
Another great day teaching a group how to carve wooden spoons in Manchester, working with axes and knives to make unique cooking spoons from local green wood.
I’ve been teaching another course on how to carve fan birds. These amazing birds are made from a single piece of wood without any glue. It’s a tricky thing to get right but I’ve developed my process now so that it’s can be achieved in a day. Whether you’re a beginner wanting to learn something new or a more experienced carver looking to expand your skills, fan birds are a fabulous greenwood project.
Sign up to my newsletter for details of future dates. If you can’t get to a workshop, I now have a set of downloadable instructions in my SteveTomlinCrafts Etsy shop along with completed fan birds for sale.
One year on from being awarded the Heritage Crafts Association Endangered Crafts Award, I’m incredibly pleased to have completed my first batch of Devon stave baskets. These are size #2: approx 18″ long and 12″ wide. Made from cedar with steam-bent ash handle and bonds with copper nails, they are incredibly tough baskets and perfect for harvesting produce in the garden, carrying tools or as a kindling basket.
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