Spooncarving and camping

Last week, during the hottest days of the year, Christiane and I met up and spent a few days camping near Salisbury. I took along a small lump of the damson wood I’ve been working with and a spooncarving kit of axe and knives. Sitting together out in the fresh air making spoons is a lovely way to spend the day. Christiane did her first greenwood carving when we met in 2009 and has only recently started to carve more regularly so I’m impressed by how she works with the tools and wood. We work together, I demonstrate the different cuts and offer advice on the shape and then Christiane takes over. She is very observant and has a good eye which you can see in the final spoon.
We made a pair of spoons each with me trying out a couple of new design ideas and warming up for the spoon carving course I’m going on tomorrow. I’ll have 2½ days in Edale learning spoon carving techniques from Swedish carver Fritiof Runhal in the company of other greenwood workers from around the country. I can’t wait.