Category Archives: SteveTomlinCrafts

QEST Scholar

The news arrived last night that I have been selected for my Queen Elizabeth Scholarship. I am very excited. It means I have the funding to spend 3 weeks in Sweden working and studying with Fritiof Runhall learning about greenwood carving, … Continue reading

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QEST interview for greenwood carving

Yesterday I was in London for an interview with the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust. The trust, which was established in 1990, gives funding to support practising craftspeople in gaining training or experience to further their careers. My scholarship, if I’m … Continue reading

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Jennie Chair frame complete

I’ve just finished assembling the frame for the Jennie Alexander side chair. I altered the rungs slightly, to give this chair the same seat size as my other dining chairs and put in just 4 rungs with different postitions. I … Continue reading

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Jennie's legs

Back to post-and-rung ladderback chairs this week, steam bending the back legs for a new design of chair. The ash was lovely to shave down with the drawknife and bent very easily after about an hour in my steamer. Actually, … Continue reading

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Carved spreaders

I’ve been making and selling wooden spreaders for 10 years. They’re lovely things to use in the kitchen and a perfect carving project for learning knife techniques for spooncarving. On my spooncarving courses we make a spreader together on the … Continue reading

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Milk Paint Recipe

I’m a big fan of painted woodenware and have been experimenting for a while now with different recipes of homemade paint. The egg based tempera I used on my spindleback chair was lovely but takes several weeks to dry properly … Continue reading

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Windsor Chair Baluster Leg

This photo shows why I was so keen to get turning beads with the skew chisel under my belt. After years of making post and rung chairs I’ve finally set my sights on making some windsor chairs so I’m investing … Continue reading

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Oak Garden Bench

In Cumbria there’s a long tradition of harvesting oak bark for tanning leather and last spring I took part in a group day with the local Coppice Association to harvest bark from Moss & Height’s Spring Wood. The bark is … Continue reading

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Mastering the skew chisel

Like lots of turners, whether on a pole-lathe or powered lathe, it’s the skew chisel that’s always caused me headaches. With a life of it’s own and seemingly no other intention than to mess up details at the last moment … Continue reading

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Winter break

Life is seasonal and happily so is my work schedule. While the rest of the year are full with shows, courses and scythes, the winter period especially after Christmas is a time when I can make my plans for the … Continue reading

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