Steve Tomlin Crafts

Spoon carving in Northumberland

Posted on February 28, 2015 by stevetomlin

Last weekend I was invited up to Northumberland to teach a group how to carve wooden spoons.
It’s always a busy couple of days, starting with practising efficient and accurate axework followed by learning how to use the straight sloyd knife in a variety of ways to make use of the biggest muscles and so reduce stress on the body. Some of these seem a bit awkward at first so I always make sure there’s time for individual help and it was very satisfying for me to see the students get the hang of them and start to use them naturally in their carving.

On Saturday evening I was invited for dinner with Kate Jackson, who organised the course. Two of her kids who were on the course and had obviously been bitten by the wooden spoon bug.

We started Sunday morning with some specific exercises for spoon carvers, focusing on stretches for the hands, wrists and forearms then onto hollowing using the hook knife. I teach a variety of ways to use these so that even beginners can make quick progress and refine the shape they want.

For David, who’s made spoons before and wanted to improve his skills, I brought some crooks to challenge him and he made a lot of progress on what will be a large birch serving spoon.

Then on Sunday afternoon there’s time for everyone to work on their own spoons at their own pace while I add little tips and advice. This is a time for people to relax and get in the zone; the silence was deafening.

They made a load of great spoons! Spoons!
If you’d like to learn to carve, I will be teaching in Cumbria on 3rd & 4th October. If that’s too long to wait, why not book at individual day of tuition or a course for your group. Have a look at my Courses page and email me at stevetomlin8@gmail.com to book or discuss your course.

Posted in greenwood courses, spoon carving, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged course, learn, UK, wooden spoon, workshop | Leave a comment

#240 Spalted birch ladle

Posted on February 17, 2015 by stevetomlin

This is a ladle with curves to die for. The bowl is deep and wide to give generous servings while the hook keeps the ladle safely up out of your pan.
A one of a kind item, hand carved from a selected curved birch trunk with natural spalting decoration in the handle.
Finished with pure, food-safe linseed oil.
270mm long x 75mm wide
£65

Posted in spoon carving, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged birch, ladle, spalted, UK, wooden spoon | Leave a comment

Carving & Scythe course dates 2015

Posted on February 14, 2015 by stevetomlin

Course dates for my greenwood carving and learn to scythe courses are now finalised. My courses are always popular and suitable for beginners and improvers alike. With over 10 years of teaching experience, you’ll learn new skills and how to safely work with sharp tools. Whether you’re interested in carving wood or managing your land with a scythe, my courses will give you skills and memories which last long after the course finishes.

Fan bird Carving 30 May – £85
Spoon carving weekend 3-4 October – £145
Learn to Scythe 31 May, 5 Sept, 6 Sept – £80

Courses are based at Sprint Mill, a beautiful and inspiring smallholding at Burneside near Kendal, Cumbria. To book any course, please email me: stevetomlin8@gmail.com
Last year was an amazing success with almost 200 people learning to scythe with me on courses across the northwest England and in Scotland. We had glorious weather and made some fantastic hay. My fan bird and spoon carving courses were huge fun and it was great to see people coming back to progress their skills. Have a read about a busy and exciting week of courses from last June.
The dates book up quickly so please book early to avoid disappointment. If you can’t find a date that suits, why not book a 1-to-1 or bespoke course for your group, details on my website.

Posted in greenwood courses, scythe courses, Scytherspace, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged 2015, Austrian, course, greenwood, learn scything, scythe, spoon carving, UK, workshop | Leave a comment

Little scoops for real coffee

Posted on February 7, 2015 by stevetomlin

If you’re like me, then the first coffee of the day is something special and even more so at the weekend when there’s the time to savour the whole ritual of the process.
Whether you make it in a cafetiere, aeropress, espresso maker or professional Gaggia machine, having the right equipment is important. I love drinking from a handmade mug and my handcarved little scoops are a perfect addition to the whole sensory experience.
A perfect gift for coffee lovers or a Valentines coffee gift for your lover. £14

Posted in spoon carving, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged coffee, hand carved, handmade, scoop, UK | Leave a comment

At least 8 reasons to own a wooden spoon

Posted on January 27, 2015 by stevetomlin

People are often surprised when I tell them I make wooden spoons and yet we’ve all got them in the kitchen and they’re our most direct contact with the food we’re cooking. Why make do with the same mass-produced spoon and try to use it to manipulate omelettes, soups and stir-fry when you can have something beautiful and individual which will do the job so much better?
This article from Slate describes just some of the advantages of a wooden spoon. On the practical side:

Wooden spoons don’t quickly heat to scalding temperatures, chemically react with acidic foods, or scratch pots and bowls, as their metal counterparts do. They don’t melt or leach chemicals or strange tastes into hot foods as plastic does.

For Gordon Ramsey type, they are:

much more effective in punctuating emotions than other utensils when waved around in gesticulations.

And of course

It lasts forever, looks equally at home on a stovetop as on a beautifully set family-style table, and like Helen Mirren, just gets better-looking with age.

The spoons in my own kitchen are a mixture of those I’ve made myself and spoons from other makers. Each one has it’s own speciality and they all have memories attached; it’s like cooking with friends.

Posted in spoon carving, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged cooking, handmade, spoons, wooden | Leave a comment

Eating spoon offer final week

Posted on January 23, 2015 by stevetomlin

My new eating spoons have been really popular and I’ve enjoyed carving and sending them out around the world over the last few weeks.
The special offer price ends on Jan 30 so why not treat yourself and make mealtimes special.
Why not also have a look at my other handmade wooden spoons too?

Posted in spoon carving, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged cherry, eating, Tomlin, wooden spoon | Leave a comment

"Cagmagary & Coppice" exhibition preview at Farfield Mill

Posted on January 18, 2015 by stevetomlin

Today was the opening of the new ‘Cagmagary & Coppice’ exhibition at Farfield Mill in Cumbria. It’s a lovely exhibition and I am really pleased with how it’s been displayed with plenty of light and space in the room. The cagmagery photographs frame the room and this is the first time that they’ve all been together like this. I’m especially pleased with the placing of my blue dough bowl, complemented by the photo above it. Taking centre stage is the currach which I built with Edward Acland and Ian Pettman in 2012 and was out on Windermere just yesterday.
The exhibition runs until 16 March 2015, it’s well worth the visit if you’re in the area.

"Edward

Posted in carved bowls, greenwood events, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged 2015, currach, dough bowl, exhibition, Farfield Mill | Leave a comment

Spoon carving workshop in Northumberland

Posted on January 6, 2015 by stevetomlin

I have been invited to teach a weekend of
Spoon Carving at Catton, near Hexham in Northumberland on 21-22 Feb 2015.
The cost is £145 which includes all materials and lunch each day, to book please email me steve-tomlin[at]hotmail.co.uk
The two days will give you a full introduction to carving with axes and knives with a strong emphasis on safe working. You’ll go home with beautiful, useful utentsils, happy memories and the skills and confidence to keep making on your own.
Small groups ensures you’ll get lots of individual attention and my 12 years of carving experience mean that the workshop is suitable for those looking to improve their skills as well as for complete beginners.
In a lively, fun atmosphere we’ll cover the following:

Tools needed for spoon carving – what you need and where to buy it.
Materials – the best woods for spoon carving and how to make the most of it.
Efficient axe work.
Effective knife skills.
Hollowing the bowl using various techniques.
Spoon design.
Exercises to look after your hands.

Posted in greenwood courses, spoon carving, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged 2015, course, UK, workshop | Leave a comment

Scythe Poetry

Posted on January 5, 2015 by stevetomlin

A student on one of my Learn to Scythe courses sent me this poem a few weeks ago. I was going to wait to post it in the spring but it seems a great antidote to today’s misty grey weather. There’s a lot in these few lines and the analogy to dancing is perfect.
Martyn’s new collection of poetry ‘Sanctuary‘, written while Poet in Residence at Carlisle Cathedral is now available.

Scythe

His father had taught him the scythe’s angle:
‘Like dancing; same need for grace and rhythm.

‘It’s in the body; same need for poise and swing.
You feel it in your arms, same spring in your toes.’

Allowed to touch it now, like a girl’s hand. The same
initial shyness, as when the music started. As a child

he’d known its fear and sheeted potential for violence,
seen it carried with respect, crucially hung

with blade honed to a death’s edge, wrapped
in a sheath of newsprint bound with wispy twine.

He’d noticed shine where fists gripped stubby handles,
as if testing short horns before a cull or dipping.

Same combination of strength in wood and steel
as the sword behind glass, laid bare at the county museum.

‘Viking’, the label said, though the other story
was how they cut men like sheaves, then planted farms,

growing into their places artful with iron. Same
bending into blades as with his first permitted cut.

His father watched from a bench, enjoying the sun
patterning gravestones cut sharp with familiar names,

dates, and having handed on responsibilities,
hearing the blade breathe after daffodils were settled.

~ Martyn Halsall

Posted in Scytherspace | Tagged poem, scythe | Leave a comment

'Out of the Woods' exhibition at Farfield Mill

Posted on January 4, 2015 by stevetomlin

Later this month I will be part of a small group of craftspeople showing work at the ‘Out of the Woods’ exhibition at Farfield Mill near Sedbergh in Cumbria. This follows on from the previous successful Working Woodlands exhibition from a couple of years ago.
This year I will be showing my new range of hand carved kitchenware which will be available on my website later this year. My new cherry eating spoons will be there as well as some new products which I’m excited about.
The exhibition runs until 15 March 2015 with the preview on 18 Jan and is a perfect day out for these winter days.

Directions to Farfield Mill

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cumbria, exhibition, Farfield Mill, greenwood | Leave a comment