Steve Tomlin Crafts

A happy customer

Posted on March 17, 2017 by stevetomlin

Nothing makes me happier than to make craft and then hear from its new owner.
I recently sent one of my ash splint wall baskets to Marc in Germany who was kind enough to send me this lovely message:

Dear Steve,
I would like to let you know that your package arrived today. The basket even exceeds my expectations. Love it!
I really appreciate your personal note and, of course, the cute little spoon.
What could be better than buying beautiful items and thus at the same time supporting an independent maker.
Keep up the great work!
A happy customer

I have lots of craft of my own that I’ve bought from other makers and reminds me of them or the story of acquiring it when I use them. The pleasure they bring in this way is more that just from having beautiful, well-made items, it’s a connection between people.

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

Spoon carving straight from the tree

Posted on March 6, 2017 by stevetomlin

This weekend I had a lovely day in Lancashire teaching spoon carving to a group of friends. As I got set up, our hosts David & Melanie explained that they’d just had a cherry tree felled on their property. There were several clean lengths so I suggested we use that timber for the course to add a personal touch to the work.
Cherry is a great choice for carving wooden spoon and our pieces split beautifully with the froe, giving lots of billets ready for axing.

Some spoon carving courses start with a pre-prepared blank bandsawn from a plank but I think this misses out a lot of what it is about. Learning how to use an axe to carve is a really valuable skill and, under tuition, my students rapidly gain confidence and accuracy so they can quickly shape wood. It also means they have gone through the whole process from the raw material and can carry on their new hobby using green wood sourced from the garden, parks department or local woodland.

Then on to carving with the straight and hooked Swedish Mora knives. We practised four different carving techniques, using them at the same time to quickly refine the spoon. I have altered my process this year which I was pleased to see gave improved results in the finished spoons.

I know lots of brilliant female woodworkers but unfortunately it often still seems to be thought of as a male occupation so it was great to have so many women on the course. I loved the contrast of the painted nails, sharp tools and natural materials.

We had time for carving some decorative finials on the end of the handles and the only hard part was knowing when to stop!

A fun day with lots of chat, laughter and a delicious lunch. I was very impressed with their spoons, particularly for their elegant shapes and smooth, unsanded finish.

If you would like to learn to carve spoons straight from the tree, I will be teaching several other courses this year, have a look at my courses page for dates. If you have a group and would like me to come and teach a similar day for you, please send me an email for details: stevetomlin8[at]gmail.com

Posted in greenwood courses, spoon carving, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged course, lancashire, learn to carve, private tuition, women, wood working, workshop | 2 Comments

Ash splint wall baskets

Posted on March 1, 2017 by stevetomlin

These wall baskets are one of my favourite to make. They’re based on baskets which the Shaker communities made to store tall candles in and they’re still useful for that same reason. They make a sylish, contemporary decoration in their own right and ideal for storing all kinds of things around the house: stationery, earbuds and usb cables, makeup, scarves and anything else you want to keep tidy yet accessible.
This pair of baskets demonstrate why I don’t use forms to shape my baskets but shape them instead by eye and experience. Though they’re definitely a pair, each basket has it’s own shape and character which makes it unique and special.

For these two I also wanted to show you the variation of hanger placement. With the hanger inside the basket hangs flat to the wall while with the hanger on the outside, the basket tips very slightly forward. Each variation gives a different detail in the rim lashing too. I can’t decide which I like most.

Each basket is made from English pounded ash and measures 8″ wide x 4.5″ deep x 7″ tall to the rim, approx. P&P is £4.50

Ash splint wall basket, outside hanger.
Sold

Ash splint wall basket, inside hanger.
£80

Posted in baskets, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged ash splint, basket, English ash, pounded, UK | Leave a comment

Making an ash splint pack basket

Posted on February 23, 2017 by stevetomlin

This week I’ve been working on a new ash splint pack basket commission and took a few photos along the way to show the process.
The weaving is a very simple over-one, under-one weave – all the emphasis is on matching the weight of the weavers and altering the tension to create the correct shape.

As the weaving continues, I let it dry and pack down the weavers. As it dries, the ash splint shrinks so without this packing, the weave would be loose and weak.

Once the desired height is reached, I trim the uprights and split them so they can be turned down and tucked into the weavers to lock them in place.

Here is the shape I want, a full-bellied basket with a tight base and short straight section up to the rim, all achieved by changing the tension in the weaving.

The next stage is to carve and steam bend a wooden grab handle for the top of the basket. With small pieces like this, I heat them over a pan with a cloth to hold the heat on the wood and then bend it around a simple wooden former.

An inner and outer rim are fitted and the handle notched into the inner rim. With long, thin splints, I lash the rims and handle tightly in place.

Finally, leather carry straps are attached along with a pair of splint ‘feet’ which protect the leather when the basket is on the ground. I’m proud to use UK-made leather and brass buckles which set off the ash splint beautifully.

Strong and lightweight, ash splint is a beautiful material which makes elegant and stylish baskets. My pack baskets are individually made to order, if you are interested in discussing a commission please email me for more details stevetomlin8[at]gmail.com
As well as pack baskets, I currently have a few other ash splint baskets for sale.

Posted in baskets, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged ash, ash splint, basket, basketry, English, pack basket, UK, weaving | Leave a comment

Ash splint baskets for sale

Posted on February 16, 2017 by stevetomlin

ost of my ash splint baskets are made to order, particularly the large pack baskets but I currently have the following baskets for sale. P&P is just £4.50.
My baskets are individually handmade from pounded english ash making each one unique. If you are interested in commissioning a basket, please email me stevetomlin8[at]gmail.com.

Ash splint basket, hazel rim with bark on, steambent ash wood handle.
6″ to rim, round opening 7″x7″
Sold

Ash splint basket, hazel rim with bark on, steambent ash wood handle.
6″ to rim, oval opening 6.5″x4.5″
Sold

Ash splint basket, steambent ash wood handle.
6.5″ to rim, round opening 8″x8″
£90

Ash splint shopping basket.
10.5″ to rim, opening 16.5″x9.5″
Sold

Ash splint wall basket, steambent ash hanger.
7″ to rim, opening 7″x4.5″
Sold

Ash splint table basket, steambent ash ear handles.
4″ to rim, opening 12″x12″
Sold

Posted in baskets, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged ash splint, basket, basketry, for sale, UK | Leave a comment

Greenwood and scythe course dates 2017

Posted on January 11, 2017 by stevetomlin

Happy new year to you all! It’s the time of year when the holidays are over and we start to think about the year ahead. It’s always nice to have some plans in the diary and activities to look forward to.
In 2017, why not come and spend a day with me and other lovely people on one of my short craft courses? It’s a great break from the busyness of normal life and you’ll come away refreshed and with new skills to enjoy long after the day.
"Learn

Learn to Scythe

The Austrian scythe is a lightweight, efficient tool for managing all kinds vegetation from gardens and orchards to meadows and riverbanks. Sustainable, fun and quiet, my courses cover everything you need to know to safely set up, sharpen, mow and maintain your scythe.

2 June or 22 July 2017 at Sedbergh, Cumbria – £80.
Email me at stevetomlin8@gmail.com to book

Spoon carving

Carving wooden spoons from green wood has become a massive hobby over the last 5 years or so with people from all walks of life discovering its pleasures. I’ve been carving and teaching for over 15 years including every year at Spoonfest and love to pass on these skills.
A one day course will give you an introduction to the skills of carving with an axe and knives while the two day courses allow us time to develop those skills and look at the craft in more depth.

18-19 March at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate
20-21 May at the Woodland Skills Centre, near Denbigh, North Wales
24 June or 12 August 2017 at Greenwood Days near Derby.

Fan bird carving

A beautiful, delicate bird carved and folded from a single piece of wood. I’m one of the few professional makers of these in the UK; on this one day course I’ll teach you my special techniques to make them for yourself.

25 June or 13 August 2017 at Greenwood Days near Derby.
11 November 2017 at RHS Garden Harlow Carr.

Ash splint basket making

Thanks for all the love and interest in my ash splint baskets, particularly in response to the two backpack baskets I made just before Christmas. I am currently working out the details and planning to start teaching this year. Please keep following the blog or sign up to my newsletter to receive updates.

Posted in greenwood courses, scythe courses | Tagged Austrian scythe, green wood, learn, scything | Leave a comment

Ash splint pack baskets

Posted on January 3, 2017 by stevetomlin

I’m incredibly pleased with this pair of ash splint pack baskets which I’ve just finished making. I love the full, bellied shape and the size of them is ideal carrying all your essentials without being too big or cumbersome. The ash comes from Cartmel in Cumbria and is pounded into splints before being graded, cut to thickness and scraped smooth. A steamed ash handle on top of the basket allows you to easily pick up the basket with one hand.

Each basket is finished with top quality leather straps from Clayton’s tannery in Chesterfield and solid brass buckles from the Abbey Foundry in Walsall, UK.
The pack basket measures 18″ tall to the rim and is 14″ wide at the belly. They are made to order, please contact me at stevetomlin8[at]gmail.com for more information or to place an order.

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

Kendal Pop-up Shop

Posted on December 4, 2016 by stevetomlin

I’m really excited to be displaying my work this week in a pop-up shop in Kendal town centre. I’m there from Monday 5th to Saturday 10th December, 11-6pm each day. The shop is at 28c Finkle St, opposite Beales.
I’ve been working on my stock and have new wooden spoons, carved salad bowls, as well as a collection of ash splint baskets.

There’ll of course be wooden spoons galore and my fan birds which make beautiful, unique Christmas gifts and decorations. As well as a chance to pick up some presents, you’ll also be able to see me working as I’ll be demonstrating my crafts in the shop throughout the week. Look forward to seeing you there.

Posted in greenwood events, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged Kendal, pop-up shop | Leave a comment

Scything grass & oats in Scotland

Posted on October 5, 2016 by stevetomlin

I definitely saw both sides of the weather while teaching a couple of scything courses in Caithness in Scotland for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust last week. We started out with high winds and heavy rain but a group of hardy volunteers and crofters turned up and scythed in high spirits and full waterproofs. Then, just a few days later the second group were enjoying beautiful late summer sunshine as we used Austrian scythes to mow a Scottish wildflower meadow which is home to the great yellow bumblebee.

One of the most important aspects of these courses is the opportunity for students to try peening a scythe using the jig, a good indoor job.

On the final day we got word that a nearby vintage tractor event was taking place with some oats being cut. We picked up our scythes, made our way over and gave an impromptu demonstration to a large crowd of interested farmers. Of course we were asked to cut the part of the field where the ground was wet so the reaper binder couldn’t get to and the oats hadn’t been weeded. A local farmer even commented that what we’d cut ‘would have been nearly impossible for the machine to manage’. Not bad for a group that only learned to scythe the day before.

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged Austrian scythe, bumblebee, Caithness, croft, Scotland, wildflower meadow | Leave a comment

Awesome scything in Liverpool

Posted on September 3, 2016 by stevetomlin

Last week I was in at Sefton near Liverpool, teaching another urban Learn to Scythe course for Sustrans. This project is developing an area of cycle path at the start of the Trans Pennine Trail to convert an area into a community wildflower garden.

The site was a daunting mix of brambles, thistles and himalayan balsam growing along a busy cycle path. Nonetheless, I was confident that the scythe could tame it and set about showing the two Johns how to use the scythe is different ways for the difficult vegetation.

The safe nature of the scythe meant we didn’t have to close the cycle path while we worked and there was plenty of interest from passing cyclists and locals. The results of their efforts were amazing to see.

John Callaghan, the project leader later wrote to me:

I have to admit I’ve had some concerns about the project and the amount of work that is needed at the site… I could never have imagined that buying two scythes and receiving the training you have provided would allow me to realise that the project is fully achievable and well within reach even with minimal interaction of other volunteers. The scythe is an awesome tool.

Visit www.merseysidenorth.uk to find out more about the project and get involved. If you have your own project where you think scything could help, get in contact with me to arrange a training course: stevetomlin8@gmail.com

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged Austrian scythe, city, cycle, Liverpool, nw, Sustrans, urban | Leave a comment