Scything while the sun shines

Posted on May 30, 2017 by stevetomlin

How to sharpen a scythe
On Friday, the hottest day of 2017 so far, I was teaching a group how to scythe in Derbyshire. The course was organised by Derbyshire Eco-centre as part of their programme of events but hosted by Gus & Fash on their beautiful smallholding nearby.
We used the shade of the barns while we set up the Austrian scythes to fit each person and adjusted the blade to work as efficiently as possible. Then we did some preparatory practise and the students learned how to sharpen the scythe by two different, safe methods.
Sharpening an Austrian scythe Learn to sharpen a scythe
We were scything on a slope but that is no problem for the scythe and we also cleared nettles as well as mowing the lush new grass while enjoying the sounds of the birds and views over the countryside.
Mowing with an Austrian scythe
Scything on a slope
My next Learn to scythe course on 2nd June is fully booked but you can still get on a place for the course on 22nd July at Sedbergh, Cumbria. Simply email me stevetomlin8[at]gmail.com to book your place.

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Gorgeous American style windsor chair

Posted on May 28, 2017 by stevetomlin

Painted windsor chair
A big part of what makes handmade items so special is the relationship you have with it. That might be because you’ve met the maker (online or in real life), know where the materials have come from, received it to mark an occasion or simply through the patina that comes with years of use.
My good friend Robin Duckmanton has only been making windsor chairs for a few years but already he is making some of the most stunning work I’ve seen in the UK. Last year he asked if I would trade one of my ash splint pack baskets for a chair and I jumped at the offer. At the time, I didn’t know what he would be making but knew it would be special and, as you can see in these photos, it is.
Painted windsor chair
Painted windsor chair
Robin works completely by hand so all of the turning is done on a pole lathe and the seat is carved using an adze, travisher and, most importantly, huge amounts of skill and time. It’s statuesque, elegant and yet strong and every bit as comfortable as it is beautiful.
Painted windsor chair
Painted windsor chair
Rob says there’ll be a website soon but in the meantime you can follow his work on instagram: @redwoodchairs
windsor chair

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Splitting wood with a froe

Posted on May 25, 2017 by stevetomlin


One of my favourite things to carve and a great project for learning carving techniques is a butter spreader. Popular in Scandinavia, they are much less well known in the UK than they ought to be.
The key to making them easily is to split the wood only just bigger than the finished article so you’re not having to carve away too much and you make the most of the timber. A special splitting tool called a froe is useful to have but you can split timber successfully just with an axe and mallet.
This sycamore, on a recent spoon carving course in Wales, just wanted to be spreaders and split beautifully into a dozen perfect blanks.

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Spoon carving workshop in Wales

Posted on May 22, 2017 by stevetomlin

Spoon carving workshop
My craft course season is well underway for 2017 and this weekend I had a brilliant time teaching eight lovely people how to carve wooden spoons at the Woodland Skills Centre.
As always, we start out with freshly-cut, greenwood logs – birch and sycamore this time – and craft them into fabulous cooking and eating spoons with a cheeky butter spreader thrown in too for knife practise.
On a two day course like this there’s lots of time for beginners to develop the skills and try out more challenging carving techniques as well as learning how to sharpen the hook knives and axes. Thanks all, I had a brilliant time and look forward to seeing your future spoons.
Spoon carving course Spoon carving workshop Spoon carving workshop Spoon carving workshop Spoon carving workshop Spoon carving workshop

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Prize winning ash splint basket

Posted on May 17, 2017 by stevetomlin

Ash splint pack basket
I spent last weekend at the Bodgers’ Ball, the annual event of the Green Woodworkers Association in the UK. I entered one of my ash splint pack baskets into the competition and was very pleased to be awarded first place, thanks to everyone who voted for it.

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Scything Handbook review in The Allotment magazine

Posted on May 10, 2017 by stevetomlin

The current issue of the Allotment and Leisure Gardener magazine has a review of The Scything Handbook by Ian Miller.
It’s great that scything is getting this kind of coverage but a shame that the reviewer has been told that this is the “first new book on scything for 35 years”. My own Learn to Scythe book was published in 2015 with both Filbert Press and Ian Miller being aware of it, scything is a small world!
There is a more in-depth review of the Scything Handbook in this issue of Windrow magazine in which my own book gets several very favourable mentions:

Tomlin’s ‘Learn to Scythe’ is a more concise guide, with lots of colour photographs, and a more modern feel
If your sole aim in reading a book about scything is to learn the skills however, then I suggest Tomlin for a clear and concise manual.

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Somerset Scythe Festival Courses 2017

Posted on May 8, 2017 by stevetomlin

Somerset scythe festival 2017

The 13th West of England Scythe Fair will take place on Sunday 11 June 2017

I will be one of the teachers leading a two day masterclass at the fair on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 June. This course is aimed at:

  • mowers with some experience who want to develop their skills
  • team leaders managing volunteers or staff
  • people who want to teach scythe use to others.

The cost is £125 for individuals, £150 for organizations, £90 concession for unwaged. Meals are provided. Camping on site is available.
There is also a beginner’s course on Saturday 10 June.
For more information or to book, please contact Simon on 01297 561359 or scythes@myphone.coop www.thescytheshop.co.uk/courses.html

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Spoon carving workshop for Rusland Horizons

Posted on May 5, 2017 by stevetomlin

Rusland Horizons is a three year project working to revive traditional skills and increase people’s awareness of this area in south Cumbria.
Last weekend, I taught a group of local people how to carve wooden spoons from freshly cut greenwood timber. Carving outside in the spring sunshine with lovely company is part of the magic of spoon carving, it’s a perfect hobby to take with you when you’re on holiday camping.
We worked with some small diameter silver birch as well as some larger cherry wood, carving cooking spoons, butter spreaders and eating spoons over the two days. As always, the main focus was on learning safe and efficient use of the tools.
First, axe work:
Axing a wooden spoon Axing a wooden spoon
Then lots of different knife techniques for shaping, hollowing and refining the spoons.
Carving a wooden spoon Carving a wooden spoon
Carving a wooden spoon Carving a wooden spoon
It was a lovely peaceful time with lots of good chatter, focussed attention as well as the sound of my first cuckoo of the year. And, of course, some great new wooden spoons.
Carving a wooden spoon Carving a wooden spoon Carving a wooden spoon Carving a wooden spoon
Find out about my other courses on my greenwood courses page or you can book me to come and teach spoon carving at your own venue – email me for details.

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Limited edition spoons

Posted on April 19, 2017 by stevetomlin


Splitting open a log is always exciting for me. Everything I make starts with the log and that moment when I see it’s texture, how straight the grain is and its colour. The colours in this current piece of cherry timber which I’m working is some the best I’ve ever had. Cherry is always beautiful with pinks intermingled in the heartwood and shown off by the contrasting cream sapwood. In addition, this cherry has a distinct green streak through it as well as gorgeous flecking.
Currently, I have the following spoons available from this special timber:

Carved wooden eating spoon
Cherry tasting spoon 1
£35 Sold
Carved wooden eating spoon
Cherry tasting spoon 2
Sold
Carved wooden scoops
Cherry scoop
£18 Small Buy Now Button

Unfortunately, it’s in limited supply so all of the spoons I carve from it will be limited editions. Once it’s finished, I’ve some good sycamore to start which I’m sure will have it’s own beauty, but not these amazing colours.

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A set of individual wooden spoons

Posted on April 13, 2017 by stevetomlin

Everything I make is unique. Even when items are made to a pattern, the fact that they’re individually made means that each piece is slightly different. Like people.
These wooden eating spoons are based on a Gallician spoon and a design by my friend Robin Wood who asked if I would make this set of six as a commission.
The client wanted the spoons to be easily identifiable and we discussed various methods of subtly marking them. In the end though, as you can see, the gorgeous colours in the grain of this cherry wood have done the job better than we ever could have.
There’s just a little more of this wood left so I’ll be making some more work from it while it lasts. Keep watching here to see the new work.

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