Now that spoon carving has supplanted pen turning as the latest woodworking craze (and it’s about time), you might enjoy this article from The Woodworker magazine, which was likely written and illustrated by Charles H. Hayward.
Hayward had excellent contacts among British museums, especially the Victoria and Albert Museum. So the magazine is peppered with his drawings of early work, including this collection of interesting wooden spoons.
I’ve not been bitten by the spoon-carving bug, likely because of a psychic scar.
During my first few months at Popular Woodworking in 1996, one of the other editors was carving Celtic love spoons; I decided I would like to learn to make one, too. After half a day of work on my love spoon, I showed it to him to get some feedback and tips.
“Oh wow,” he said, holding my spoon. “I really am a good carver. Your spoon sucks. You’re fired.”
He gave the spoon back to me and walked away. I threw my spoon in the garbage.
You can download the one-page article in pdf format using the link below.
— Christopher Schwarz
I have it on good authority (from my granddaughter) that it is impossible to make good spaghetti sauce (or pizza sauce, for that matter) unless you use a wooden spoon.
Schwarzy,
Good work in finally addressing that baffling social phenomenon of pen turning. As relative newbie to woodworking (and a galoot) I have been amazed that there is an entire segment of the power tool industry dedicated to turning pens. It is a great indicator of the market potential that awaits your further efforts in hand tool work.
RWL
I feel your pain. The first spoon I carved my wife said it looked like a hobbits spoon. It really did too.
All my woodworking friends are awesome spoon carvers and I totally suck.
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Caleb, your planes are way cooler than wooden spoons. Plus, chairs. Just try sitting on a spoon…
funny, ‘throwing away a spoon’ is a german colloquialism for giving up. Something which you Sir have not done. Thank God.
Glad to hear that we spoon makers are finally getting the disrespect we deserve. In the past, we’ve had to settle for being totally ignored.
awesome
I know what I’m doing for the next 19 days. Well maybe 15, I don’t like love spoons.
Bummer, when i opened the PDF, I was hoping to read an article about your exchange with the surly editor.
All well and good, but what does Mr. Hayward have to say about the theory and construction of birdhouses?