tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69610243070184301142024-03-14T03:52:25.606-07:00David Western's Portland Eisteddfod Lovespoonhttp://davidwesternlovespoons.com <br><br><br>
All images and text © 2008-2011 David Western, All rights reserved, unless otherwise notedUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-92215063415170881362019-05-10T14:54:00.001-07:002019-05-10T14:54:14.540-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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NORWEGIAN WEDDING SPOONS FOR SALE!!</div>
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With wedding season once again rapidly approaching, its time to get your orders in if you are hoping to have a set of these beauties for your big day! I'm one of the few carvers who still makes these wonderful spoons (completely by hand) following the time honoured designs. </div>
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I offer EXCEPTIONAL value and immaculate craftsmanship...my wedding spoons are second to none...and I can carve them at a variety of price points to suit just about any budget.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3bXoNWlsCEJlYpNGdT3JZWdAJJxt3Q0jWYLhaqtSqN-J1uLrQ3BhA3xoUhIv92Vt5nsmir-m-jO-rQIfe_LP80qvnfcI1YwTtpz5crXq9TU6AveVA5YB4kYptMO_u_czGAaRB0XwQW1k/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+wedding+spoons+250+300+350+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1356" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3bXoNWlsCEJlYpNGdT3JZWdAJJxt3Q0jWYLhaqtSqN-J1uLrQ3BhA3xoUhIv92Vt5nsmir-m-jO-rQIfe_LP80qvnfcI1YwTtpz5crXq9TU6AveVA5YB4kYptMO_u_czGAaRB0XwQW1k/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+wedding+spoons+250+300+350+copy.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Spoons shown from left to right at 250 USD, 300 USD and 350 USD price levels.</div>
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I can carve them with or without initials, the traditional 'glibber' faces and kolrosing. I can also carve them from a variety of beautiful timbers including birch and big leaf maple. Whatever style and whatever timber, they will be exquisite!!</div>
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Contact me at: lovespoons@shaw.ca today to order your set!!</div>
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David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-53205911961121748432018-08-04T17:25:00.001-07:002018-08-04T17:25:59.868-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the years, I have been enormously fortunate to enjoy the enthusiastic support of a wonderful woodcarving magazine. Funnily enough, it is called Wood Carving Magazine, which is both easy to remember and gets straight to the point! I've published a number of articles in their pages ranging from design oriented articles like the one above, to examinations of particular lovespoon styles, to 'how to' exercises. <br />
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It can be difficult to generate interest in the carving community when you mention you are a lovespoon carver. I'm not sure if the spectre of mass produced souvenir tat clouds people's judgement or if the art of lovespoon carving just simply isn't as popular as I imagine it to be...whatever the case, it can be hard to find magazines willing to take lovespoon articles on board.<br />
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So it has been a great pleasure to work with Wood Carving over the last couple of years to produce a wide range of articles on a variety of lovespoon topics. If you are at all interested in lovespoons and the lovespoon tradition, I suggest digging into their back copies and seeing what you've been missing!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r3X4sh4ATYUXrXyt4seco1RcWhQm0PGJJ2Ey_qhhh9ueey1aTuqzSO4bdNDJdOKZIUwAp5QvV0FOdEOWL-aqxm3kCqoii5onI_T5PguMMmGah8XBa2J2pUKTby2-unkP9EHHFckVv-DT/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-08-04+at+5.10.39+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="618" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1r3X4sh4ATYUXrXyt4seco1RcWhQm0PGJJ2Ey_qhhh9ueey1aTuqzSO4bdNDJdOKZIUwAp5QvV0FOdEOWL-aqxm3kCqoii5onI_T5PguMMmGah8XBa2J2pUKTby2-unkP9EHHFckVv-DT/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-08-04+at+5.10.39+PM.png" width="224" /></a></div>
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I am passionate about lovespoons and enjoy any opportunity to talk them up, but I have to tell you, seeing my ideas, thoughts and creations leap off a magazine page is REALLY exciting stuff!! To know that other carvers are running with my suggestions and creating works of their own is also extremely gratifying!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RydC3UIa5gw2_fIdgl1jc3Xsp9UBNfgJwNhIAyc92i-loDRdmqUuXYWCTnOg8fsEhK-iJPBG1OplGTSZgrJ5y6PQohlkzkaoUZmOFNvIOcLsoY7T19IGaq0ETwAJfesxbqFBYBbOHn8N/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-08-04+at+5.10.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1254" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RydC3UIa5gw2_fIdgl1jc3Xsp9UBNfgJwNhIAyc92i-loDRdmqUuXYWCTnOg8fsEhK-iJPBG1OplGTSZgrJ5y6PQohlkzkaoUZmOFNvIOcLsoY7T19IGaq0ETwAJfesxbqFBYBbOHn8N/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-08-04+at+5.10.52+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I can't overstate the importance of support from publications like Wood Carving. Not only does it validate what I do, it also inspires me to think of other ways I can expand the lovespoon tradition and reach more people. Publications like this enable thousands of interested readers to be exposed to traditional and very non-traditional work in a way that will hopefully broaden their knowledge AND their interest. That can only be good for lovespoon carving!!<br />
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<br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-4176341298630344762018-07-05T12:37:00.002-07:002018-07-05T12:37:16.364-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" height="16" src="https://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" width="125" /></a>WEDDING SEASON!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw23gkFIA6uB3xm89o4jXBmQx6ebRs2Kj3pxsDdKc_4Cn0PZOrCHs02yB6Dm84oOvJYbpxZyfGzjy9VhHTFnJ44mLsrOP0sd1kZVXpL80LaSJgm0Why4WCVcn9qE7DAkZAS9zz_7Uddri_/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+Wedding+2018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw23gkFIA6uB3xm89o4jXBmQx6ebRs2Kj3pxsDdKc_4Cn0PZOrCHs02yB6Dm84oOvJYbpxZyfGzjy9VhHTFnJ44mLsrOP0sd1kZVXpL80LaSJgm0Why4WCVcn9qE7DAkZAS9zz_7Uddri_/s400/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+Wedding+2018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's wedding season and lots of couple's with Norwegian/Scandinavian ancestry are contacting me to provide them with the beautiful traditional wedding spoons once used by newlywed Norwegians to consume a first meal together. Tradition has it that the spoons were used by both partners of the couple to simultaneously eat a meal of porridge together. This act would symbolically link them as a couple and would see the young woman's status be raised from 'girl' to 'housewife'. Perhaps not the most exciting thing that could happen to a young lady in today's world, but a significant raising of social standing back then! The spoons are noted for their identical, ornate panels which are linked by a course of decorated chain-link. It is said that traditionally, the spoons were carved from a single piece of wood...a feat that would be most impressive in the amount of time consumed and material wasted. I have been fortunate to access a half dozen or so sets from various time periods and carved at a variety of skill levels. All have shown me that the chain was indeed carved from a single piece, but that the chains were attached to the handles with clever joinery. As most of the traditional spoons were carved professionally during the long winter and then were sold on in the spring , it is likely that extra time and effort would have been willingly undertaken unless a good payout was expected. To me it seems far more likely that joining them was the most common method of construction.</div>
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For me, joining the chain to the handles means the difference between being able to charge a couple of hundred dollars versus closer to a thousand for a single piece. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2KzurTLxiL7NzAZICkqdmLRKt6C0sRKGRExOre0nvZ3bL65bjR0PLBinJSl57wn86lofQshdR6QpRw_gAEMQhlCFBAv5sJ6s68EF-LEa_Ec2ifmy3KDnZw9KH_IXWCPgC9KfIXVUAUdK/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+Wedding+2018+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2KzurTLxiL7NzAZICkqdmLRKt6C0sRKGRExOre0nvZ3bL65bjR0PLBinJSl57wn86lofQshdR6QpRw_gAEMQhlCFBAv5sJ6s68EF-LEa_Ec2ifmy3KDnZw9KH_IXWCPgC9KfIXVUAUdK/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+Wedding+2018+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I do stay as close to tradition as possible when I am making an 'authentic' set. The handles are all decorated with lovely fret-work and chip carved detail and they all have either the traditional 'glibber' face found at the top centre or a carved initial. The sides of the crown are decorated with little animals which are the source of some disagreement among experts. They may be dogs/foxes/wolves or they might be horses; they may even be sheep or cattle. Although they are all very similar, there are enough stylistic differences to make them a difficult thing to categorize!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5g4sYquFn7AuAPD-AzDJPCpv-5R8ide79t0u4QTc6YTAIaXkwAQCdAyZp4kSg4YSSJO0TLpzU-Gtsx2OuLMSA1Hz6nNOw5TUeFsW6V5vUkLu8lvW2k26KnQ4ExyI2XRH3BdgfYwTzP95/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+Wedding+2018+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5g4sYquFn7AuAPD-AzDJPCpv-5R8ide79t0u4QTc6YTAIaXkwAQCdAyZp4kSg4YSSJO0TLpzU-Gtsx2OuLMSA1Hz6nNOw5TUeFsW6V5vUkLu8lvW2k26KnQ4ExyI2XRH3BdgfYwTzP95/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+Wedding+2018+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The handles are further embellished with doming and swan-necked stems. The more seriously the necks are cranked, the more time consuming the spoon becomes to make. The spoons also get visually more 'active' the steeper the pitch on the neck/handle area. Doming the face of the handle in BOTH directions also adds a LOT of work, but it makes the spoon even more dynamic!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J94vnaAUG0xbGykFWflJj61aiyVQ7C-xpc8Y5K_baUDp0PUKjlix6bmLWA-fA-6GQD4lKgm0h0ZpnRvca0lLjafFxAPejL9qpIBX6wDbfoffW3Oxe6Y04-q2mhIe1MfXkofxGahi-X6e/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+Wedding+2018+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J94vnaAUG0xbGykFWflJj61aiyVQ7C-xpc8Y5K_baUDp0PUKjlix6bmLWA-fA-6GQD4lKgm0h0ZpnRvca0lLjafFxAPejL9qpIBX6wDbfoffW3Oxe6Y04-q2mhIe1MfXkofxGahi-X6e/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+Wedding+2018+3.JPG" width="187" /></a></div>
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Traditionally, the spoons also seemed to have been made in a variety of sizes. While they never got excessively large (and were ALWAYS of a suitable size to eat with) smaller sizes were no uncommon. Indeed, many couples like the delicacy of the small ones and find them easier to use than the normal sized versions.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysCkCsWnn79dKPhKq5WuIPcRcVolnM0suRQScxEbHimpt8_c2ZkvogxUdE7htFSYjeU85WxUR_SR0iXzMb2VmyrijYwqrWQkraBir6aOpwRc7Eb62Y0IKVkQ1f6W3pFjMO7CPsZxdVP3E/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+Wedding+2018+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysCkCsWnn79dKPhKq5WuIPcRcVolnM0suRQScxEbHimpt8_c2ZkvogxUdE7htFSYjeU85WxUR_SR0iXzMb2VmyrijYwqrWQkraBir6aOpwRc7Eb62Y0IKVkQ1f6W3pFjMO7CPsZxdVP3E/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+Wedding+2018+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The chains can be made in a variety of ways, but the most common are those with these beautiful X crossed links. Making the chain is time consuming and challenging, no matter how you slice it! They are easy to break and difficult to keep track of, but the results are always worth the efforts! The Norwegian style of link is stylish and elegant, its tactile in the hand and pleasant to look at. Its also a very identifiable feature of the Norwegian wedding spoon tradition!</div>
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Although I try to keep one or two sets on hand for emergencies, it does usually take around 6 weeks to complete and ship a custom order door to door. If you are thinking about a set of these for a wedding, please do try to give me as much advance warning as possible to avoid disappointment. These spoons are entirely made by hand...one at a time...by me and me alone! </div>
David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-27135044026653732762018-04-19T21:04:00.001-07:002018-04-19T21:04:23.331-07:00<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" height="16" width="125" /></a> <b>Wedding Season is Almost Here!!</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7R4DEcOEhDqZy5lRXf-6Qn-bt8OqgBxjfp2wqoAc1SMmbI51agD4oSdXNyiFcByHgEJP0qqrewfW6DLiPO6a5F-u7tXqMHBLpQJAM0kjAk6h3WfRgapTn9MyK3RbTMdVo9yzfuJkP8y3/s1600/P4183139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1600" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7R4DEcOEhDqZy5lRXf-6Qn-bt8OqgBxjfp2wqoAc1SMmbI51agD4oSdXNyiFcByHgEJP0qqrewfW6DLiPO6a5F-u7tXqMHBLpQJAM0kjAk6h3WfRgapTn9MyK3RbTMdVo9yzfuJkP8y3/s640/P4183139.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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With wedding season almost upon us, now is the time to consider this super romantic double end lovespoon for the happy couple. What better way to share that first ceremonial bite of wedding cake? Forget the silly cake fights or serving it up on a paper plate with plastic forks...THIS has style and panache!! The double end spoon has a long tradition and I have found examples throughout Europe. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggC8TT2HWK-jIFnD-_EYOqaJbw9Ide10JU5zRyd_Q5CGRTs166SrHCesjX70YkTej88Sha5J3nrkAxAHlZJgyXPxKnBXU-B3Yk2QAuL8tYIAkXs-c1GQqvLP7DlnhBTaBafcyOUwl-NHxi/s1600/P7250880+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggC8TT2HWK-jIFnD-_EYOqaJbw9Ide10JU5zRyd_Q5CGRTs166SrHCesjX70YkTej88Sha5J3nrkAxAHlZJgyXPxKnBXU-B3Yk2QAuL8tYIAkXs-c1GQqvLP7DlnhBTaBafcyOUwl-NHxi/s320/P7250880+copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Whether it be a super simple Swedish style double with a short handle an no ornamentation, or a more complex 'joke spoon' with opposing bowls designed to make the cake ceremony a bit more of a challenge, these spoons exude romance! They are beautiful and elegant.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLZkr1L-PL2VXd_iiZJ7thhloMMaY18MHcE27-SM_6GaCCW6i1mgbe_ohdlZogG7W_k2H76JjPiH-a_szLtqknN92iu6hFtY2cEo6pCMMCTepi8uEaPdJaU4PMAQFJaOlIIXhk31jPNSm/s1600/PB021253+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLZkr1L-PL2VXd_iiZJ7thhloMMaY18MHcE27-SM_6GaCCW6i1mgbe_ohdlZogG7W_k2H76JjPiH-a_szLtqknN92iu6hFtY2cEo6pCMMCTepi8uEaPdJaU4PMAQFJaOlIIXhk31jPNSm/s320/PB021253+copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm delighted to be making these wonderful spoons and welcome your enquiries if you would like to commission one for a special couple!!<br />
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<br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-54244859606417093542018-02-18T16:58:00.002-08:002018-02-18T16:58:44.643-08:00What a difference a week makes!<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" height="16" src="https://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" width="125" /></a><br />
Last Saturday I was pretty shocked when the following notice appeared on my Facebook feed. Apparently, a TV cook named Brian Turner had thrown a Welsh lovespoon into the fire on James Martin's Saturday Morning Show on ITV Britain. I was pretty appalled, so after making sure the story was true, contacted ITV to voice my displeasure.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoKtLNHa5rKyR8AtQxml2My4jM2BymNMmzI_cn4crJAarhCIXO0OLl0-EFBopUJ-8P5N9S8SLtEuJv0eEtoIto-OhxL79OrYtJZwAtKqzrbvJRDtjEMseA_q-57__fnwYVP6SjAbgG5g0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-02-13+at+7.59.10+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="486" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoKtLNHa5rKyR8AtQxml2My4jM2BymNMmzI_cn4crJAarhCIXO0OLl0-EFBopUJ-8P5N9S8SLtEuJv0eEtoIto-OhxL79OrYtJZwAtKqzrbvJRDtjEMseA_q-57__fnwYVP6SjAbgG5g0/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-02-13+at+7.59.10+AM.png" width="277" /></a></div>
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In fairness to to the good folks at ITV, they were quick to reply. Unfortunately, their view of it all was that it was just match day 'jokey' humour (England were playing Wales that day in rugby) and nothing to be taken too seriously. Nice for them, but that didn't make his actions any less disturbing to someone who is both Welsh AND a lovespoon carver. Watching a cultural icon being treated with such cavalier disrespect was pretty disheartening and demoralizing. I've spent over half my adult life making lovespoons and working my ass off to promote them to a world-wide audience. They are beautiful and wonderful things and deserve better treatment than to be used as props for cheap laughs. </div>
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The more I stewed on it all, the angrier I got. </div>
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Eventually though, I realized that there was a way to ride on the coat-tails of cook Turner's TV stupidity and use it to a positive end.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQLsQbvezqXDfPV88V7jrP5DfZgB3KcQfHzuQqWutSWp2s_4lL-gBQHc2p4cY6_dtgHhg7IWYj9jcGtMNUsqAZN3WIq_7TqCNJtIqwCAiqsXpNKMTaysr1LwOfyvYVCHXbNPlmYEPdXMT/s1600/P2162787+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1002" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQLsQbvezqXDfPV88V7jrP5DfZgB3KcQfHzuQqWutSWp2s_4lL-gBQHc2p4cY6_dtgHhg7IWYj9jcGtMNUsqAZN3WIq_7TqCNJtIqwCAiqsXpNKMTaysr1LwOfyvYVCHXbNPlmYEPdXMT/s320/P2162787+copy.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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I keep a box of rejected spoons underneath my bench. These are spoons which have a flaw that prevents them from being good enough to leave the David Western Lovespoon Studio. It might be a flaw in the wood, a design problem or a technical glitch...whatever the reason, I can never sell the spoon to a client without endangering my good name. The spoons wind up in the box and are destined to stay there until the day I day and they are consigned to a dumpster somewhere.</div>
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It occurred to me that I could stage my own spoon burning, but this time, instead of just doing it for a cheap laugh, I would use the occasion to raise money for animal welfare shelters and rescue societies. So I posted my idea to Facebook with the goal of raising 250 UK pounds worth of donations. I didn't care what societies or shelters received the money (or where they were located) just as long as people sent some money out! When the donations hit 250, I would build a pyre and drop a match, sending the spoons to a special Valhalla reserved for beautiful lovespoons!!</div>
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To my very great surprise, the wonderfully compassionate and generous followers of my pages came through with gusto. The 250 target was quickly passed and probably reached over 500 within a day. I confess that I didn't foresee it happening that quickly, but I was pretty damned excited that it did!!</div>
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A touching thing which happened after my announcement that I would burn the spoons was a number of people writing to urge me to auction them instead. As mentioned earlier, the spoons would never be sold, so I certainly would never entertain the idea of auctioning them in their condition. I do make the occasional spoon for charitable donation, but these ones could never fit that bill.</div>
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Instead, a pyre was built, the spoons carefully placed on top and a match struck!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGBosOL69kV3oiJHti0SSLt0DsAdN0YZlAfG-_tmnM5X4MDv_K8TWtFeDzqcp8WzNKor-lifq149WXZnkpQPtiOq4syLRX4s2jueti_-aKNGVsqW2TF3_L2OxaVe9n_Y9iJIQfW_dNurB/s1600/Pyre+1+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="1600" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGBosOL69kV3oiJHti0SSLt0DsAdN0YZlAfG-_tmnM5X4MDv_K8TWtFeDzqcp8WzNKor-lifq149WXZnkpQPtiOq4syLRX4s2jueti_-aKNGVsqW2TF3_L2OxaVe9n_Y9iJIQfW_dNurB/s320/Pyre+1+copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The combination of lots of shredded paper and some very dry spoons meant things happened pretty quickly!! I was barely able to snap these pics before the whole thing went up like a bomb!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVu0I9WQlsDWcEGTIhMnA5ag8jIarWXaOVzbLt0H-cjQojIl5D5vS1veHyIX6MBGd7bgDJP6WIIY6wLOhKq_cPBgUQQq9T7onpuJJlCS0DTM4hdYiwfaua6nlbtw36TvIMcL87cMVJtBD/s1600/Pyre+2+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVu0I9WQlsDWcEGTIhMnA5ag8jIarWXaOVzbLt0H-cjQojIl5D5vS1veHyIX6MBGd7bgDJP6WIIY6wLOhKq_cPBgUQQq9T7onpuJJlCS0DTM4hdYiwfaua6nlbtw36TvIMcL87cMVJtBD/s320/Pyre+2+copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I did experience a bit of guilt and some remorse at condemning them to this fiery fate, but I also felt exhilaration that these spoons had raised so much money so quickly! Now, they were now being returned to ash which will be used to fertilize my garden and start new growth.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvz2Mf6l1IishikySlHcPALgj6wlqUCm2zWt3eyeMhyphenhyphenNGtG5y5hEUGiOo8-NH8XkZ5Ko-LzELI_5BOtYPAM4N9tSSNdiLUPh1TLNC91WkX-nxteWN-LMRslQHbjHyuKSORlQNBqzcQs2o/s1600/Pyre+3+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvz2Mf6l1IishikySlHcPALgj6wlqUCm2zWt3eyeMhyphenhyphenNGtG5y5hEUGiOo8-NH8XkZ5Ko-LzELI_5BOtYPAM4N9tSSNdiLUPh1TLNC91WkX-nxteWN-LMRslQHbjHyuKSORlQNBqzcQs2o/s320/Pyre+3+copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The whole event only took a few minutes, but what beautiful minutes they were!! </div>
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So despite my anger and disappointment with the silliness at ITV, some good came of it all and some animals will enjoy the benefits! </div>
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In future though, I would strongly advise Mr. Turner and the other cooks over at the James Martin Saturday Morning Show to stick to their soufflés and leave anything to do with lovespoons to the professionals!!</div>
David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-78905503480905873172017-08-09T17:37:00.002-07:002017-08-09T17:37:52.218-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuwswiXYZtv3zScg1V8nipFwHyOIR6hb8A6OQ3dBdSFP-xrSyaVC1ccwK3yCTFXkufUMhdS_G16vQE8egw6or3WneYg-oqEEqDHUSw3HDfxTxeO15lFdRFF-qp-_WajfEvuUaZHOiJ0Mk/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons++Forward+to+the+Past+Spoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuwswiXYZtv3zScg1V8nipFwHyOIR6hb8A6OQ3dBdSFP-xrSyaVC1ccwK3yCTFXkufUMhdS_G16vQE8egw6or3WneYg-oqEEqDHUSw3HDfxTxeO15lFdRFF-qp-_WajfEvuUaZHOiJ0Mk/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons++Forward+to+the+Past+Spoon.JPG" width="136" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "san francisco" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px;">Since the 1960's, 'traditional' Welsh lovespoons have evolved a certain commercial style. Easy to mass produce but lacking in imagination and soul, they are the the double-edged sword of the spoon world. They are cheap enough that people will buy them and sort of keep a traditional token alive, but they are so lacking in any of the spirit and passion of an actual traditional spoon that they water down the craft and give people a real false impression of what a love spoon ca</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "san francisco" , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.23999999463558197px;">n be. Over the last year or two, I've started taking the old tradition a bit more seriously. Now, when asked to carve a 'traditional' spoon, my designs more accurately reflect what the old spoons actually looked like and more important, how they 'felt'. This one is a relatively simple design (as many were) but the addition of little time consuming details such as the bordering give it the style and feeling missing in commercial souvenir spoons. That the lovely couple who received it have the same initials as my wife and I, is a fun little bonus.</span>David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-1586259504561288152017-07-30T12:37:00.001-07:002017-08-09T17:44:38.998-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJOdj9AVqxlMmssg-gbAC4BB3Xy_VuiRPEVGjiXk6PxQBSy-FSTZabTod7l3QCahMdyIIvWz1XDtCrrjZgxsS_EZS017gjKgEA85flutlTwpDGRcs8SeY7EqyIsqBaAyWmhefoM-CA2nC/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Celtic+Dragon+inspired+by+a+Celtic+bird.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJOdj9AVqxlMmssg-gbAC4BB3Xy_VuiRPEVGjiXk6PxQBSy-FSTZabTod7l3QCahMdyIIvWz1XDtCrrjZgxsS_EZS017gjKgEA85flutlTwpDGRcs8SeY7EqyIsqBaAyWmhefoM-CA2nC/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+Celtic+Dragon+inspired+by+a+Celtic+bird.tif" width="127" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCKqgZcbILCcy2qyzXSdbIE_tXv-Qar2LBSa_d4axBi2jWD_F2wf6A46S7kYDmH4VIlSM9bY2qzBrBcP20ZFSEuCtxA6GiTBH4N5sQE1itTvubU76oLPHG2aeaKYlhyphenhyphenghybuF10wlImCD/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Celtic+bird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="555" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCKqgZcbILCcy2qyzXSdbIE_tXv-Qar2LBSa_d4axBi2jWD_F2wf6A46S7kYDmH4VIlSM9bY2qzBrBcP20ZFSEuCtxA6GiTBH4N5sQE1itTvubU76oLPHG2aeaKYlhyphenhyphenghybuF10wlImCD/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+Celtic+bird.JPG" width="110" /></a></div>
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<b>Celtic knot work humble beginnings!</b></h2>
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<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Many years back, when I first got into serious love spoon carving, I was inspired by the wonderful Welsh love spoon carver Mike Davies to incorporate some Celtic design into my work. I discovered a fabulous softcover book called, "Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction" by George Bain. This book supplied me verbatim with the first designs I carved. At first I had no idea how to make my own designs, so copied what was in front of me. Gradually, I modified and altered and eventually made my own patterns. It was both a supremely frustrating and highly enjoyable adventure!! This little Celtic bird (copied almost directly from a tiny sketch in Bain's book) became the inspiration for a little Celtic Dragon...I'll take no real credit for the dragon as it is pretty much a direct copy of the bird, but doing things like this helped me to learn about knot work and Celtic zoomorphic form and after many false starts, allowed me to eventually undertake designs of my own. The little dragon has become a popular design and I often see copies and variations of it drift by on the internet. <br /><br /><br />I wouldn't classify these as lovespoons per se, but the eternal (closed) knot structure and the heart shaped bowl lends a certain level of romance to what otherwise I would likely label a Celtic spoon. <br /><br /><br />Humble beginnings, but it was the copying and dissecting that let me start figuring out how Celtic knots work best!!<br /><br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-30889621434859087242017-06-03T10:13:00.001-07:002017-06-03T10:15:03.000-07:00WEDDING SEASON<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
WEDDING SEASON!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5CppZ_GyTowuXbkindgUAtywig1YDQC0uXB85xLLYHrKTWBlbMX_D_EeoNH8wFWBPSj_-H8NfQ1tkfV5oB8zOleQlXYdZOx3AfTyy7GaCLuu8tHGcOiqx3trorzpbj6DvU3wyEOCsuZu/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+wedding+spoons+250+300+350.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1356" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5CppZ_GyTowuXbkindgUAtywig1YDQC0uXB85xLLYHrKTWBlbMX_D_EeoNH8wFWBPSj_-H8NfQ1tkfV5oB8zOleQlXYdZOx3AfTyy7GaCLuu8tHGcOiqx3trorzpbj6DvU3wyEOCsuZu/s640/David+Western+Lovespoons+Norwegian+wedding+spoons+250+300+350.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"></a><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" height="16" src="https://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" width="125" /></a>Wedding season has begun and if you are hoping to have a lovely set of Norwegian style wedding spoons to help you enjoy your first morsel of cake as a couple, then I am your man! I carve them at a range of price points beginning at 250 USD for a basic set up to 350+ for one with all the 'bells and whistles' and custom detailing. They are all entirely hand carved by me alone. I use NO computer controlled cutters or lasers and follow tradition as closely as I possibly can. They are as close to authentic as I can make them!!<br />
Norwegian wedding spoons require a great deal of skill, time, effort and patience to make, so I make no apologies for the price. They are not cheap, but they are also a bargain for a beautiful love token that will give you great memories your entire lifetime and beyond!!<br />
If you are looking for a set to make your big day perfect, please contact me at lovespoons@shaw.ca <br />
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David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-52801884085998606232017-01-25T09:26:00.001-08:002017-01-25T09:27:11.596-08:00<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" height="16" width="125" /></a>Happy St. Dwynwen's Day! The big day for Welsh lovers everywhere! Here's a great poster my lovely friends Gaabi and Ceri at Americymru made for me! THIS is what happens when you forget to give your sweetie a lovespoon!!! <br />
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David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-7610829473380738782016-08-04T10:45:00.001-07:002016-08-04T10:45:27.310-07:00<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" height="16" src="https://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" width="125" /></a>Norwegian Wedding Spoons<br />
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A while back, I was fortunate to receive a lovely set of antique Norwegian wedding spoons from my friend the renowned spoon collector Norman Stevens. I was immediately fascinated by them and set to work making a copy. They turned out to be a lot tougher to make than I had thought and it took several attempts, much cursing and stomping around and a fair pile of wood before I mastered the trickier of the skills needed to carve one of these beauties.<br />
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Once I felt that my work was decent enough to show on my website, I put up a photo of a nice little set and was astounded when they sold almost before I'd had chance to close the computer! That encouraged me to make another set which also sold quite quickly and with that, the die was cast. Since then, the word seems to have gone out, especially among the Norwegian expat and descendant community in North America and I have become something of a 'go to' guy for Norwegians looking to reconnect with an aspect of their wedding tradition.<br />
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As a Welshman struggling to keep the lovespoon tradition relevant in our modern era, it has been both heartwarming AND frustrating. Heartwarming because the Norwegians seem to treat their traditions with much more interest and respect than many of my fellow Welshmen so it is nice to see something which was dying out being welcomed back again. Frustrating, because as a non-Norwegian who can't speak the language, it means I am dependent on the generosity and kindness of Norwegian speakers to fill me in on the details of this lovely tradition. I have been very fortunate to have received LOTS of helpful information from the Norsk Folkemuseum in Oslo and from the Vesterheim Museum in the United States. Both have helped me access pictures of original spoons and have filled in some of the blanks around the cultural practices involved with Norwegian weddings and wedding spoons.<br />
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From what I have been able to gather, the spoons were brought out on the second or third day of the marriage 'ceremony', during which time they were used by the wedding couple to symbolically share a first meal as man and wife. It was a more solemn occasion as a small parade of relatives, accompanied by a fiddler, would deliver a bowl of porridge to the seated couple. The couple would then use a bowl each to eat at the same time, the chain joining them both as they ate and as a pair. The ceremony also saw the young woman's social status be elevated from 'girl' to 'housewife'. Maybe not something to look forward to today, but back then, a significant change for the woman.<br />
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The spoons are a challenge to make. The chain link is all carved from one piece, so it is time consuming and fiddly work. Contrary to the internet legend, I have yet to discover an antique set that was carved handles and chain from a single piece of wood. That would be a MAMMOTH undertaking and one which you'd have to be both brave and very, very lacking for things other things to do with your time. Every example I have seen has the handles and chain carved separately and then carefully joined to make the joint as invisible as possible. Unless you are prepared to pay several thousand dollars for a spoon that would otherwise cost 300, don't make a big deal out of it all being carved from a single piece.<br />
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There is a significant amount of work goes into each chain and this has an effect on the final price of the spoons. A simple set with an unadorned chain (as in the first of these two pictures) can sell for about 250 USD. When the chain gets the X treatment, the spoons go up to about 300. If you get fancy with adding balls in cages etc., the sky is the limit.<br />
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The spoon bowls would often be decorated with delicate Kolrosing. In this technique, a finely etched line is filled with coal dust or coffee fines to bring up the nice detailing. I use a penetrating oil on mine to give a soft brown line and to avoid the hassles of dust working itself into places it is not wanted. Some of the Kolrosing on historical examples is a work of art in its own right, but many have a simple floral motif such as the one seen above.<br />
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In our more modern times, it is possible to 'play' with tradition a bit. To this end, it is possible to make traditional wedding spoons which perhaps aren't so traditional. In this example, a very traditional Norwegian design forms the top handle and a traditional Swedish design the bottom handle. Made for a Norwegian/Swedish (with a hint of Irish in the mix) wedding, the spoon retains a very tradition feel but becomes more relevant for both bride and groom.<br />
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Taking things a step further, the couple's passions become the focus of the design. She is a marine biologist and he a keen astronomer and they are represented by whimsical designs based around those themes. The chain links are more sculptural and 'modern' in form to keep with the contemporary feeling of the spoons.<br />
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Finally, a very beautiful Welsh take on the Norwegian tradition has a very masculine Welsh dragon shielding an initialled love heart, while the other handle is a very feminine bouquet of lily-of-the-valley. A highly decorated chain joins the two halves.<br />
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Although many of the traditions have changed and the meal ceremony probably never happens any more, the spoons are commonly used for the matrimonial couple to enjoy that first piece of wedding cake together. (although the spoons are delicate, so I don't recommend any cake fights!)<br />
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<br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-86793654272471390802016-01-18T13:12:00.000-08:002016-01-18T13:13:36.610-08:00A New Year and New Ideas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" height="16" width="125" /></a>A new year has arrived and it has only taken a couple of weeks for all my resolutions and plans to go out the window!! <br />
I had intended unveiling a new webpage....which I haven't even begun designing yet.... and had hoped to be well underway on an exciting line of Scandinavian style spoons for my Nordic clientele. <br />
Alas, the best laid plans and all that!!<br />
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I still plan to get all that done, but as with so many things, I don't know when!<br />
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In the meantime, I am busy writing a couple of articles for the excellent UK magazine Wood Carving. It is always exciting to be given the opportunity to pen an article, but I'm always very nervous worrying that I will be able to convey the information I want to describe in a way that is lively and engaging. Ultimately, the goal is to pass along some of my hard-won experience and not to bore people to death. Everything I know came at a price...often a very hard price...so being able to help others find the smooth path and avoid the pitfalls is a very satisfying thing!!<br />
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It is my hope that I can continue to push the boundaries of love spoon design while retaining tight contact with the venerable traditions of this rich craft! Sometimes it frustrates me that the world of collectors and arty types pays such little attention to what I and other love spoon carvers are creating, but I take great pleasure from the joy my spoons elicit from those who receive them! <br />
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As I do every year, I will bemoan the state of my finances at tax time, but I can never deny that the happiness my spoons bring to my clients is at least some compensation!<br />
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With luck, I shall receive some commissions that push both my imagination and my technical abilities and with even greater luck, I shall be able to respond with more lovely spoons!<br />
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As always, my best wishes and heart felt thanks to everyone who has supported me over the years and to those who will come along in the future!<br />
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Here's to 2016!!David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-87167530439761394952015-12-03T09:29:00.002-08:002015-12-03T09:29:40.837-08:00Another year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Another year has shot by before I even realized it. I haven't done any blog posting, but have kept myself busy researching and writing a number of articles on European 'lovespoon' carving for the excellent carver's magazine, Wood Carving. It was a LOT of fun finding out about the various woodcarving cultures that were prevalent throughout the continent and the UK during the period of approximately 1625 to 1914. In fact, it came as something of an eye-opener for me to learn that so much romantic spooncarving went on in places other than Wales. <br />
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One thing I did take away from it all was that despite being a complete failure as a businessman and 'established artist', I am doing the spoon thing completely right! I have avoided the urge to mass produce for lower costs and quicker turnaround. I still make them all one at a time, entirely by hand, using the most basic of tools in my own little hovel of a shop. Almost all of my spoons are made to commission order and are deeply personal to their recipients. Even the spoons I make 'on spec' are explorations and experiments in design and are created to be meaningful interpretations of lovespoon tradition.<br />
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I'll never be picked up by any galleries and no 'serious' arty farty types will pay much attention to what I do, but that's A-OK with me. My customers love what I make for them and that is good enough for me!! Although I sometimes I feel like I am watching the death throes of romantic carving and can't help but be depressed that there isn't more appreciation for handwork and the individuality of fine craft, it only takes the exuberance of one ecstatic client to convince me that lovespoon carving is good and the right thing for me to do with my life.<br />
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So a big thank you to everyone who has supported me along this little lovespoon journey! I hope you have had an excellent year in 2015 and I look forward to more experiments, disasters, and successes in 2016!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pxDq-pFhFRDmtKe_mP4RiomhXM9UGZr4S77PpVDixcjgDdUCDqMB4eP0EvnZn5PsHGomUADUsqJDyRTaVCkXg67-eBCdTrumnt2xLeLY0tF7wBmKjDPVy9_WMN6eG2EmaG0P_rXWs99K/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pxDq-pFhFRDmtKe_mP4RiomhXM9UGZr4S77PpVDixcjgDdUCDqMB4eP0EvnZn5PsHGomUADUsqJDyRTaVCkXg67-eBCdTrumnt2xLeLY0tF7wBmKjDPVy9_WMN6eG2EmaG0P_rXWs99K/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+.JPG" width="211" /></a></div>
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<br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-46380756985048080852014-11-12T14:38:00.000-08:002014-11-12T14:38:47.750-08:00CHRISTMAS!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nB6X-UTIeAMJzCd1OIOyA5EHvNQx3nOQsFnMDRIeMNqhr02imVQXDU1_tuT4yi2990lMTxhIVR1S_1uEYzC90Vv5020I6kMuIRYYav6lekXIdrRIieDewYIie0rW2Q-JmWn7zgsxvZtr/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+For+Sale.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nB6X-UTIeAMJzCd1OIOyA5EHvNQx3nOQsFnMDRIeMNqhr02imVQXDU1_tuT4yi2990lMTxhIVR1S_1uEYzC90Vv5020I6kMuIRYYav6lekXIdrRIieDewYIie0rW2Q-JmWn7zgsxvZtr/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+For+Sale.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" height="16" width="125" /></a>With Christmas just around the corner, what better time to think about a beautiful lovespoon for your sweetie...or even for your spouse! If you want something really unique and handmade, then I'm your man. Each and every lovespoon is designed, carved and finished by me, and me alone! The woods are all locally grown and if not salvage are from windfalls. If you want to support a small business, then again, I'm your man.<br />
If you'd rather some plastic, wireless, soulless crap from China, then you've stumbled across the wrong page.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCPJ4_7m2hjCLYOd5iUxOc5SUtBXx2zdpVSMIW0wW1Ss2KP75mTr3dPm83rjNPRGt2AiOltOz1_w2orfJ-6CrWRI91gOoRWzgwJxqb5dsSTS2MjI6aFW79immwI1C18Y2jkCVgqqKUxKS/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+For+Sale+A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCPJ4_7m2hjCLYOd5iUxOc5SUtBXx2zdpVSMIW0wW1Ss2KP75mTr3dPm83rjNPRGt2AiOltOz1_w2orfJ-6CrWRI91gOoRWzgwJxqb5dsSTS2MjI6aFW79immwI1C18Y2jkCVgqqKUxKS/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+For+Sale+A.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Every one of these spoons is currently available (but with any luck they'll sell quick, so don't hang around if you want one!) and I do have a few others that I haven't photographed yet. As I do most of my carving to custom order, I don't keep a catalogue of designs. Whatever pops out of my head is what will wind up on here! Prices for the above spoons vary from about 75 dollars to 450 with all points between. If one strikes your fancy, drop me a line and I'll let you know more.</div>
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Big thanks to everyone who has supported me over the years!!!!</div>
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<br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-41377185920987637462014-09-28T11:08:00.001-07:002014-09-28T11:08:27.612-07:00My Tiny Shop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3YfcZh1AdetkK61Q-UB7ugq89tV27E6QrGzTE9Ur5pwnWZpw1DgIKpJSNCpgbnaSkAINHTZTVEprFIelKQ7dcqmWIM17D53GiAcMux2_RqEA0u2eA84oCaScLDjnWJn4N1v5OiJvRXAv/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Tiny+Shop+1+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3YfcZh1AdetkK61Q-UB7ugq89tV27E6QrGzTE9Ur5pwnWZpw1DgIKpJSNCpgbnaSkAINHTZTVEprFIelKQ7dcqmWIM17D53GiAcMux2_RqEA0u2eA84oCaScLDjnWJn4N1v5OiJvRXAv/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Tiny+Shop+1+copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" height="16" width="125" /></a>A few years back I decided to make myself a little shop down at the back corner of the garden. At the time, the only thing going on there was an overgrown compost pile and an out of control bush that sent branches off in all directions and was in the process of falling over under its own weight.<br />
After clearing an 8 foot by 12 foot space, I decided that my new shop would be a 'tiny shop'. Having been used to doing my woodwork in spacious, warehouse-sized shops, this was my way of paring everything down to a bare minimum.<br />
All I needed was space for a carving desk, some drawers for tool storage, a rack for my wood billets and an area that could house a small bandsaw and my trusty Delta Q3 scroll saw. There was no need for table saws, jointers and huge vacuum systems and no space for them even if I wanted to cram them in!<br />
I built the shop structure itself from a pile of old 2X4's I had laying around from previous jobs, and clad it with cheap OSB board. My one luxury was to try out the Hardiplank cellulose/cement siding, which is great stuff!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDe5WQQ9HUzQSDXr0WsYXq3adk_flFDfASkTN_6BI0Gdnjeb9lIDTBH9ojffFc6RCFE0JsbblaAADd6dSluW_VK76fNl4tlzuAEbtpvR0_swG8T5ufh42bk6Vyx9lV7TwtgBK9hfsnX61/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Tiny+Shop+2+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDe5WQQ9HUzQSDXr0WsYXq3adk_flFDfASkTN_6BI0Gdnjeb9lIDTBH9ojffFc6RCFE0JsbblaAADd6dSluW_VK76fNl4tlzuAEbtpvR0_swG8T5ufh42bk6Vyx9lV7TwtgBK9hfsnX61/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Tiny+Shop+2+copy.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I finished the interior with a mix of painted OSB board and planking which I had salvaged from an old reno on my house. The salvage planking gave me a nice 'old school' floor and a cute T&G ceiling which give the little place a nice vintage feel.<br />
The cabinetry was largely cobbled together from offcuts of melamine board and cheap plywood rescued from various jobsites.<br />
In all, the shop took me about 3 months of on-and-off work and cost somewhere between a 1000 and 1500 dollars! Not bad considering it is fully insulated, trimmed and painted. <br />
I could have wired it up and run a line back to my house, but I opted to just run a heavy duty extension cord whenever I happen to need power...which isn't all that often.<br />
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It's a pretty sweet little shop and I hope that over the next few years I can spend more and more time in it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3D797GQdo3PyS5OfsYORzWPPWDv-wimEAOHJpkr1aRLhsfKoT90DR0ld9OOTh0lGVkVxQWOJMpoPf4pITYe6oco9knvAf8vo9pR_vZmUsUMkPv7E_C8d4gSOQXApsU_9zADa_RSYPYzh1/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Tiny+shop+view+as+you+come+in.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3D797GQdo3PyS5OfsYORzWPPWDv-wimEAOHJpkr1aRLhsfKoT90DR0ld9OOTh0lGVkVxQWOJMpoPf4pITYe6oco9knvAf8vo9pR_vZmUsUMkPv7E_C8d4gSOQXApsU_9zADa_RSYPYzh1/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Tiny+shop+view+as+you+come+in.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here's the view as you come in through the door. Yes, it is unnaturally clean!! I'm showing off.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCd2lzYzQ9ONOwJRqRfiamN8eRF-N_W7W5b2sWRXocc7rknM3zujiQmT6E9oCp8WBSBa93jDBsasEq1nqCGQo8JYrFnuTHa6n-ABwXSGdrqGmwx-aTqznnVQZYrAGJUWYz7hfw-X6nQg-j/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+tiny+shop+view+of+carving+bench.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCd2lzYzQ9ONOwJRqRfiamN8eRF-N_W7W5b2sWRXocc7rknM3zujiQmT6E9oCp8WBSBa93jDBsasEq1nqCGQo8JYrFnuTHa6n-ABwXSGdrqGmwx-aTqznnVQZYrAGJUWYz7hfw-X6nQg-j/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+tiny+shop+view+of+carving+bench.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
My little carving bench is pretty modest. Usually it's covered in all manner of debris and not just this stylish storage case!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikirfnESgLBBz97TVWElb0Bh8XSKGKADkHcnXJueiQ1E5avg9iMo0JCb1pvf_qJyQlBpEILrbVowiKxUs3eu4-7-XxzcJ6kcC2JVL2lRA-joNJPoqhmY9IubvEYIw90LWkdgt5z1Gxj81W/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Tiny+Shop+Looking+toward+door+and+showing+wood+rack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikirfnESgLBBz97TVWElb0Bh8XSKGKADkHcnXJueiQ1E5avg9iMo0JCb1pvf_qJyQlBpEILrbVowiKxUs3eu4-7-XxzcJ6kcC2JVL2lRA-joNJPoqhmY9IubvEYIw90LWkdgt5z1Gxj81W/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Tiny+Shop+Looking+toward+door+and+showing+wood+rack.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
A view back toward the door showing the woodrack on the right. I can store an astonishing amount of wood on its 22 inch deep shelves!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGT10ZcrHIQDBvjezhHaN0wviiJcej8RfeW3Qzzis937_MQc1zkz3YW_hpJeitOQbehW6E9cWKWkibfkQ9eVZznygy6TT0kf4Vam7tKORYwlE8dV3-DhJRfRlnV3hUuECJCsoqWjxtnr3/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+tiny+shop+view+of+workbench+and+storage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGT10ZcrHIQDBvjezhHaN0wviiJcej8RfeW3Qzzis937_MQc1zkz3YW_hpJeitOQbehW6E9cWKWkibfkQ9eVZznygy6TT0kf4Vam7tKORYwlE8dV3-DhJRfRlnV3hUuECJCsoqWjxtnr3/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+tiny+shop+view+of+workbench+and+storage.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Here's one last view showing the work bench, the storage drawers and some a little glimpse of my lovely old wood floor! It's pretty amazing how compact yet efficient this little place is! Tempted as I am to show you pictures of how it looks when I'm not trying to make an impression, I won't spoil the romance of this tidy, cute little shop with harsh reality!!<br />
<br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-7041213063772619192014-06-11T13:22:00.000-07:002014-06-11T13:22:05.946-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpRPDHPj0Tj5Ew9xuGso13JFind47C7gtkLmG_EKgLhLwvnQSKS77xeBDhUqVMZxbV04l4_eHGQScM-SMPodoSTocZ5pcD8wVrSjzegjb1MYrvmgu1qX-PoCcUFvZ-I-X_0tMlOHY5cN3/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Cher's+Eagle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpRPDHPj0Tj5Ew9xuGso13JFind47C7gtkLmG_EKgLhLwvnQSKS77xeBDhUqVMZxbV04l4_eHGQScM-SMPodoSTocZ5pcD8wVrSjzegjb1MYrvmgu1qX-PoCcUFvZ-I-X_0tMlOHY5cN3/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Cher's+Eagle.JPG" height="320" width="162" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" height="16" width="125" /></a>Well, it's been a long while since I did any blogging. LOTS has been going on, but because all the work I was doing was 'surprise' work, I couldn't post any pictures until I was sure that the spoons had all been received. I'm sure that I would have been in a pretty serious dog-house if I was the one to wreck a surprise!!<br />
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I'm posting this spoon first because I am so pleased with it. I have a real love for the art of North West Coastal First Nations artists. Aside from being astonishingly beautiful, it is invariable packed with symbolic meaning and 'back story'. Being a lovespoon carver who also uses his designs to 'tell stories', I find that aspect of various art forms very exciting and interesting.<br />
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But North West Coast art is NOT easy. To master it requires years of dedicated study and practice and a real knowledge of the stories and legends which go into it. Because I can never truly know how to create that art, I tend to enjoy it from afar. But this commission gave me the opportunity to have a stab at combining NW Coastal style with Celtic. To mask my deficiencies in the NW Coastal style, I kept that particular part of the design to a careful minimum...but I'm pretty confident with my Celtic knotwork and I let that become the bulk of the design.<br />
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My Eagle is fairly simple and straightforward and I very much hopes at least captures the essence of the NW style. The bird's wing combines the two styles as much as possible and makes heavy use of the 'stylization' which both forms use to great advantage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJ0zP7h3j2uj6rgAmhIQe8CO-Szfztzm5nM3ea6u0MqQuw-W8vo5An43gQgBjzvbj1DbQeeA-u61nC4DiOwcb4y1cjmQhyGLCsgosGvFyD6O8jg-1839j_Bag4WroaEW37xAysLn5A-np/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Cher%2527s+Eagle+Detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJ0zP7h3j2uj6rgAmhIQe8CO-Szfztzm5nM3ea6u0MqQuw-W8vo5An43gQgBjzvbj1DbQeeA-u61nC4DiOwcb4y1cjmQhyGLCsgosGvFyD6O8jg-1839j_Bag4WroaEW37xAysLn5A-np/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Cher%2527s+Eagle+Detail.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The paddle shape is based on a Haida canoe paddle but is rendered with Celtic knotwork to lighten it visually. Elsewhere, the design relies heavily on Celtic knotwork and shaping for its form.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bFtUJa1CQM5SprjgE-ldTO5nWjhAf0hntXZgVVEvIQUO0-lL9D_-_eVRk1fxYSJdmBD0CP9-7Cw_mfIrK8cnBVaY9pxX8e-bouRXWYhRZ9PIlwy7QLbxPDVaDJJo-zkd5k46o0HB2jZV/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Cher's+Eagle+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bFtUJa1CQM5SprjgE-ldTO5nWjhAf0hntXZgVVEvIQUO0-lL9D_-_eVRk1fxYSJdmBD0CP9-7Cw_mfIrK8cnBVaY9pxX8e-bouRXWYhRZ9PIlwy7QLbxPDVaDJJo-zkd5k46o0HB2jZV/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Cher's+Eagle+back.JPG" height="320" width="171" /></a></div>
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We took advantage of the surface found on the back of the eagle to include a very personal inscription which had significance to both the recipient of the spoon and the commissioner. Sometimes a little bit of text makes a nice, poignant surprise when the spoon is turned over!</div>
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I'm pretty confident I will never be a Bill Reid, but I am very happy with how this spoon has turned out and how I have managed to unite two very different art styles in this little spoon!</div>
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David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-63558517453579446212014-04-07T14:34:00.001-07:002014-04-07T14:34:55.657-07:00A Political Comment<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" height="16" width="125" /></a>This is the first time I've ever done 'political commentary' with a lovespoon! But I couldn't resist and call it, "Left, Right and Centre" <br />
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I just couldn't help but notice that just like politics, the closer you get to the extremes, the narrower and crazier things become. The middle ground, however, stays beautiful, full and balanced. </div>
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And there it is. Everything you need to know about politics spelled out in one easy to understand visual graphic!</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvey7FGVmKg8_pxREQTg6hfGDL__cYnx7DyRzL0qwxMmg03mgRRf9yT1Hh1UNAw1i0N1t2hvjGhxFy3SvhMWeHjLA_AcQcV-OCLcSX2PBHYcMcszVKvaqdu-BIKRQmsmiI5PWxiqEGSuix/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Modern+Wedding+Double+Front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvey7FGVmKg8_pxREQTg6hfGDL__cYnx7DyRzL0qwxMmg03mgRRf9yT1Hh1UNAw1i0N1t2hvjGhxFy3SvhMWeHjLA_AcQcV-OCLcSX2PBHYcMcszVKvaqdu-BIKRQmsmiI5PWxiqEGSuix/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Modern+Wedding+Double+Front.JPG" height="292" width="640" /></a></div>
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Actually, I'm kidding about the politics. Politicians are idiots and so are we for ever believing that any of them actually mean one word of what they say!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt2eezco15A6Z8ksUzhvyDyydOJkYb3395jbsP17aRx79XjjplOsT8W4Tt9wIExFUrLLp2ow_AvRBXJP6ItbhAryu9GwkqrCnFFy7hu83nI0xv36EjlxRu4gEue48ReI3-nBXVnQKjg5W/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Modern+Wedding+Back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt2eezco15A6Z8ksUzhvyDyydOJkYb3395jbsP17aRx79XjjplOsT8W4Tt9wIExFUrLLp2ow_AvRBXJP6ItbhAryu9GwkqrCnFFy7hu83nI0xv36EjlxRu4gEue48ReI3-nBXVnQKjg5W/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Modern+Wedding+Back.JPG" height="308" width="640" /></a></div>
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What this really is, is a modern version of the traditional double bowled wedding spoon. In many European cultures, double bowled spoons were presented at the wedding feast and the newly- married couple would take their first meal together using it. In some places the spoons would have bowls which protruded at wild and impractical angles, no doubt causing great merriment when the couple unsuccessfully attempted to use them!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUDWk0ZVuxglmPTgwupDLR37WB3JmjLX54VxCLw9FVHH9GfWu2t8AK-VV8whSbo36ITSULUrMwylp2wJpkSTgSEOzIAzKYftWspATTBu3Q9qNoRLK-SXeGkNOa_p9YyMyA_DNDThdNuzT/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Modern+Wedding+Detail+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUDWk0ZVuxglmPTgwupDLR37WB3JmjLX54VxCLw9FVHH9GfWu2t8AK-VV8whSbo36ITSULUrMwylp2wJpkSTgSEOzIAzKYftWspATTBu3Q9qNoRLK-SXeGkNOa_p9YyMyA_DNDThdNuzT/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Modern+Wedding+Detail+1.JPG" height="196" width="320" /></a></div>
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In other places, the use of the double spoon was a much more solemn occasion and the bowls would be arranged to make eating easy and like this one, romantic. This spoon is VERY loosely based on a little Tirolean wedding spoon which featured bowls at opposite ends of the handle and which would have made that first shared morsel a very poignant moment!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUQsl_daHU5K59hqA0jsWdZXgGqLl_joJ4u0OvoKLVOuU13fFTT-0XWB6JrxVCu7EyHjBJnCcisNCSWxQjdqDmqFcvQ9N6lYgBQTZ1H-UbkudzU-Xn74i5TGLHR3kjN_1TLXToSoENL7h/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Modern+Wedding+Detail+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUQsl_daHU5K59hqA0jsWdZXgGqLl_joJ4u0OvoKLVOuU13fFTT-0XWB6JrxVCu7EyHjBJnCcisNCSWxQjdqDmqFcvQ9N6lYgBQTZ1H-UbkudzU-Xn74i5TGLHR3kjN_1TLXToSoENL7h/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Modern+Wedding+Detail+2.JPG" height="205" width="320" /></a></div>
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The spoon itself is carved from a scrap of beautifully figured broadleaf maple. The rough dimensions of the scrap dictated the overall shape of the spoon, but those sexy bowls were my idea and I take full credit for them! The little maple stand lets the spoon be shown to best effect and along with the 'pagoda' sides of the handle lends the design a bit of an Asian feel.</div>
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Alas, as in politics, there's a bit of a crack in one of the extremes, so the spoon will not be going up for sale. Unlike politics, lovespoon carving aint all about the money!!</div>
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David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-86996062989298546422014-03-28T09:51:00.000-07:002014-03-29T19:25:56.429-07:00A Special Anniversary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" height="16" width="125" /></a>I've just finished carving a very special 'bouquet of roses' for a wonderful couple celebrating their 10th anniversary. They are repeat customers whom I feel exceptionally proud to be able to carve for! Their love story is inspiring, uplifting and tremendously romantic; I feel great pride and no small sense of responsibility every time I pick up a carving tool on their behalf!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Pk_Fj7Z92zVc77O1EF4bI6_XLVLjw1qJt_htLnFo-zePA3lW43yI-AQTJ0y7z0wrpM6UIlAfJKW-c1J9CErU7mt3Xa7tODMJLOiZkxb7CUwriHkSqWptDvpCUQ9rzbsHxdyWoousqKDZ/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoon+lowresfront.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Pk_Fj7Z92zVc77O1EF4bI6_XLVLjw1qJt_htLnFo-zePA3lW43yI-AQTJ0y7z0wrpM6UIlAfJKW-c1J9CErU7mt3Xa7tODMJLOiZkxb7CUwriHkSqWptDvpCUQ9rzbsHxdyWoousqKDZ/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoon+lowresfront.JPG" height="400" width="293" /></a></div>
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I can't go into their personal details too much, suffice to say I had lots of wonderful material to work with when designing this particular piece. The husband is Welsh and of course, nothing says Welshness quite like a robust dragon! As a symbol of strength and security the dragon is unrivalled, but we wanted it to possess a sense of tenderness as well. With its gently bowed head and demeanour of non-aggression, this dragon is strong and solid, without being ferocious. He stands guard for the couple and is always there as a reminder of history. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgmHRt-XlhKriLeEOEpkPaofKe5vr4Uh-6kNZJIydbqZ1bpDsGPC7dZKs-wf2DbQc4uLxgukgm90SyqYFkXjDHwYmWRyqQmKB3s89XQXUJ-PcQWp4LguZmp3YJkMNsgwLa1buj-s2VYh-/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoon++lowresdragon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgmHRt-XlhKriLeEOEpkPaofKe5vr4Uh-6kNZJIydbqZ1bpDsGPC7dZKs-wf2DbQc4uLxgukgm90SyqYFkXjDHwYmWRyqQmKB3s89XQXUJ-PcQWp4LguZmp3YJkMNsgwLa1buj-s2VYh-/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoon++lowresdragon.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The beautiful, swirling grain of the figured broadleaf maple chosen for this piece further accentuates the drama and feeling of movement in the coiled dragon's body. An abalone eye flashes mischievously in the sun and adds character to the dragon's expressive face.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMs9ZYuh0c2L1_wHBEtFxo_sAREdQ4BOBEXMfE3XBXfmOnM__X_au_o92ErV5B_JntFstsHg1vrn9e7CiHR_UzCd7XSIx1YYxkmJy55MM-s-fjyQbRb9AA5mtp0xh4O_NIMG6ZzREU34U3/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoon++lowresroses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMs9ZYuh0c2L1_wHBEtFxo_sAREdQ4BOBEXMfE3XBXfmOnM__X_au_o92ErV5B_JntFstsHg1vrn9e7CiHR_UzCd7XSIx1YYxkmJy55MM-s-fjyQbRb9AA5mtp0xh4O_NIMG6ZzREU34U3/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoon++lowresroses.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Although the 10 roses were a nightmare to carve, they are the focal point of the spoon and symbolically represent the 10 years of happiness, colour and growth experienced by our anniversary couple. Hidden amongst the flowers are 10 little hearts to celebrate their love and a tiny diamond personalized with their initials. The stems of the roses thankfully co-operated with me throughout the carving process and didn't exercise their 'woody stubbornness' by breaking!! It's always a huge relief to negotiate a tricky carving process without the dread breakage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlNSDtAyDy0on8SjHoUgOKntj00wREE_RNqEWtvwEtk0MWkOoJ0iprAGl0W1tJiiIBXvoYJJqKtXUF45srDbkDAWjGvRn4_NYXtv52bIY04stPSL3KJuRtPUxo6Ba7gxTRUHNyUdsRYuV/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoon++lowresback.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlNSDtAyDy0on8SjHoUgOKntj00wREE_RNqEWtvwEtk0MWkOoJ0iprAGl0W1tJiiIBXvoYJJqKtXUF45srDbkDAWjGvRn4_NYXtv52bIY04stPSL3KJuRtPUxo6Ba7gxTRUHNyUdsRYuV/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoon++lowresback.JPG" height="320" width="235" /></a></div>
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The back of the spoon is nearly as detailed as the front. The backs of the roses, leaves, stems and Celtic knotwork are all shaped as are the hearts and the diamond. But the back of the dragon holds a short quotation which has great relevance to the couple and which acts as a little 'surprise' when the spoon is flipped over. All of the Celtic knots are 'closed' knots which symbolize eternity as they have no beginning or end.<br />
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This spoon was not without its (many) challenges, but I am thrilled to bits to have been part of its creation and I hope it brings our couple many, many years of pleasure!!<br />
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<br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-14732969759393105592014-02-05T13:59:00.003-08:002014-02-05T13:59:53.109-08:00Are You Romantic Enough?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPz9SXqA2dszbXvZf3fOdam2kU0d4O7i7cvwStmuKWs5DtC8qzPfCixloQhskXP3vyzzDnSj0Vna1Q39QwAgxiJKRJfvPkoXwDYvMNSvh24GxNBjtZw6jy3c-7_Pqkh7NwCB3O2NLe9qto/s1600/P2050398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPz9SXqA2dszbXvZf3fOdam2kU0d4O7i7cvwStmuKWs5DtC8qzPfCixloQhskXP3vyzzDnSj0Vna1Q39QwAgxiJKRJfvPkoXwDYvMNSvh24GxNBjtZw6jy3c-7_Pqkh7NwCB3O2NLe9qto/s1600/P2050398.JPG" height="320" width="173" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" height="16" width="125" /></a>With Valentine's Day just over a week away, here's a quick question for you:<br />
Are you romantic enough to give a lovespoon like this one to your sweetie, or are going to be content with the same-old-same-old chocolates and flowers routine?<br />
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This beautiful double-bowled spoon says, "Yr ydym ni ein dau yn un" (we two are as one) by unifying the two bowls into the single handle. The broad panel style handle provides plenty of room for a series of beautiful hearts, a pair of eternal pinwheel swirls and a nice pair of 6 point 'flowers'. The little comma symbols are said to represent the soul, but were more likely growth/fertility symbols in the old days.<br />
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The spoon bowls have been given a curious squared tip which replicates the look of an old spoon which has fallen from the wall and been repaired. Many antique spoons display this feature which although it has no romantic symbolism whatsoever, is an engaging feature never-the-less.<br />
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The spoon has been carved from broadleaf maple which was hand milled by friends on their farm just outside Vancouver BC. The wood shows a bit of spalting (dark streaks and patches caused by the early stages of decay) which lends the spoon some visual drama and a dash of flair!<br />
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Don't wimp out and opt for the same boring thing you did last year, this year surprise your 'cariad' with a REAL Valentine's gift!!!<br />
<br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-15819709408518111662014-01-27T11:30:00.000-08:002014-01-27T11:30:08.374-08:00Breton Wedding Spoons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5DmyGseCxk4sZ8XaaC0RKsDtlZy-gzSugq8yxOUdjS9_CToMT4k2YnlRhqlF517_JZa1RWameka5qac6DZkED7Fvvn6jDOa26CEzNFwhCuZ-KNAa7BhZ5npZ2x-EPcJbycDKAuVT7gKq/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Breton+style+with+wax+inlay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5DmyGseCxk4sZ8XaaC0RKsDtlZy-gzSugq8yxOUdjS9_CToMT4k2YnlRhqlF517_JZa1RWameka5qac6DZkED7Fvvn6jDOa26CEzNFwhCuZ-KNAa7BhZ5npZ2x-EPcJbycDKAuVT7gKq/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Breton+style+with+wax+inlay.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" height="16" width="125" /></a>I'm finally starting to get the hang of the wax inlay process that is a necessary part of carving an authentic looking Breton wedding spoon. After a couple of false starts...notably the poorly hinged folding spoon with the anaemic candle wax inlay to the left of the frame... I learned a few hard lessons and feel like I'm getting somewhere both with the carving and with the inlaying.<br />
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The middle spoon shows vast improvement simply from the use of quality sealing wax in place of the cheap candle wax I used for my initial experiment. The other lesson I learned was to keep the depth and width of each little triangular chip as close to the same as possible. It's tedious and time-consuming work cutting out all those little chips; work made even more difficult by the fact they become almost invisible until the wax is added.<br />
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The third spoon (black inlay to extreme right) is definitely a merging of Celtic cousins though. The elegant Breton pattern becomes particularly fetching when filled with black wax that I rescued off the outside of a block of lovely Welsh cheese! I don't know what kind of wax they use to seal "Little Black Bomber" mature cheddar, but it worked as good as the cheese tasted! Perfect!!<br />
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I don't feel like I'm quite there yet and I'll definitely have to take a few more runs at the articulated version of the Breton spoon before I can be confident enough to take a commission on one, but I'm definitely enjoying learning about this lovely branch of the lovespoon family!!<br />
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<br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-39128854052631899312014-01-19T11:06:00.002-08:002014-01-19T11:06:54.629-08:00Valentine's Day Approaches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDT05Fwyq4QT3cd1nRDzoeEiKwM9nGYfgAV_rMAFE1Nn4CsUseZ67xIppGj-JCYnz-otXxYMKan3ns4rdp2sHUbUVUnwsn1uQzB6oHSiwI-ulgAY-oNMCJF7UsvV1AzCMb7nN0e4r1-lhK/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Valentines+Spoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDT05Fwyq4QT3cd1nRDzoeEiKwM9nGYfgAV_rMAFE1Nn4CsUseZ67xIppGj-JCYnz-otXxYMKan3ns4rdp2sHUbUVUnwsn1uQzB6oHSiwI-ulgAY-oNMCJF7UsvV1AzCMb7nN0e4r1-lhK/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Valentines+Spoon.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" height="16" width="125" /></a>Valentine's Day draws ever nearer and it's time to think about a lovely gift for your sweetie!! Don't settle for the same old flowers and chocolates that you fall back on every year!! Do something REALLY romantic and imaginative and commission one of my custom, hand-made lovespoons!! Even if your budget only extends to something simple, it WILL be heart-felt, beautiful and romantic. Beat THAT with your wilty roses and over-prices candies!!<br />
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If you think I'm full of stuff and nonsense, then just have an eye-ball at this lovely little Celtic style knots and hearts spoon carved from recycled old-growth fir. Here's a wood that doesn't get the credit it is due from carvers (mainly because it isn't easy to get or to carve) but is STUNNINGLY elegant!! This piece was recycled from an old 2X4 that I salvaged when I replaced the roof on my little 1914 built shack. The grain is straight as an arrow and tight as a ducks back end; it really is remarkable wood!<br />
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This spoon is warm and lovely and although pretty basic and simple, it is tres romantic! <br />
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I've got a good supply of ready made spoons on hand and there is still time (though limited) to commission a custom design.<br />
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Even if you can't be Welsh this Valentine's Day, you can still be romantic and inspired!<br />
<br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-40996079480199784502014-01-07T11:20:00.001-08:002014-01-07T11:20:44.399-08:00A new year of new adventures<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" height="16" width="125" /></a>One of my lovespoon carving buddies dropped me a note on Facebook yesterday asking to see a picture of anything interesting I might have on the work-bench at the moment.<br />
So, I grabbed the trusty Fuji and snapped off a quick shot. As it turns out, what's on there IS pretty interesting!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KL8VhEdGlB_2JXflC6f5EVvi7DgV9vdiLMTsHQEqW8t5rCpjTLY56iSmDflJsNkF5tl6ex2L-dkF6bdICifRcNFIIAAxHQ4Os2Nnaj6NHyEJlKlAqF21QzfV3SrqqdF-N6tBYQtwRkT-/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+workbench.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KL8VhEdGlB_2JXflC6f5EVvi7DgV9vdiLMTsHQEqW8t5rCpjTLY56iSmDflJsNkF5tl6ex2L-dkF6bdICifRcNFIIAAxHQ4Os2Nnaj6NHyEJlKlAqF21QzfV3SrqqdF-N6tBYQtwRkT-/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+workbench.JPG" height="443" width="640" /></a></div>
Alas, the most noticable spoon is the broken panel spoon at the bottom of the frame. This is a traditional Welsh style panel spoon carved from a spectacular piece of tiger-stripe maple. (Also known as 'fiddle-back' maple, it is most commonly seen on violin bodies-hence the name) It's gorgeous wood, but the neck section is pretty weak because of the wood's interlocking grain structure. Combine that with a plunge off the wall to a pretty hard floor below and you have a recipe for disaster. Let's hope that my old friend Crazy Glue can come through for me and we can get this little beauty back up on display!!<br />
There's lots of other cool stuff going on today too. There's a couple of Celtic style spoons on the go: a lovely knotwork spoon with a stylized heart bowl, a swallow clinging to a flower that I did once before and which appears in my book, "The Fine Art of Carving Lovespoons", and a more simple panel spoon with a sweet little knot at it's crown. I've got a couple of Breton style spoons underway as well. One is a simple straight handled spoon from black walnut and the other will be an articulating (folding) wedding spoon from pacific yew wood. There's also a length of chain I have just carved for a Norwegian style wedding spoon and in the top left corner is an actual antique Norwegian wedding spoon dating from about 1890 or so. Tucked away on the right hand side is a lovely little panel spoon which has been chip carved in the Tirolean style (using a pattern from the mid 1800's). It's going to be a marvelous little spoon and I am already a little bit in love with it as it is carved from Austrian Zirbe and when I sand it, the shop smells like an Austrian Alpine workshop! A free trip to Europe without even leaving the studio!!<br />
There's a couple of other spoons in the frame in various stages of incompleteness, but that all should be enough to keep me busy for a little while!! Especially since I should really be at the drafting table drawing up some sketches for my clients!!!David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-9994789323497174692013-12-08T12:42:00.002-08:002013-12-08T12:42:58.186-08:00Last Chance!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6L4Hc38kBh6tE0_iNGZUResE9gAKZZ7Mb37V9EOQze8LtAk2StDm-k7ns8Z887M_A4vXy7CHz3M0IOUYHAxcvndahSAmRKTBhwphGAuLKvDgoc7PMGYjZHv0Yu0uaxj4qDjJ0QhQO6O-1/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6L4Hc38kBh6tE0_iNGZUResE9gAKZZ7Mb37V9EOQze8LtAk2StDm-k7ns8Z887M_A4vXy7CHz3M0IOUYHAxcvndahSAmRKTBhwphGAuLKvDgoc7PMGYjZHv0Yu0uaxj4qDjJ0QhQO6O-1/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" width="125" /></a>Well, it's too late for Europe and the UK, but there is still a tiny bit of time left for those living in Canada or the USA to have a beautiful, hand-crafted David Western Lovespoon under the tree Christmas morning!! I've got an extensive range of spoons available at the moment. No matter the budget or taste, there's something there for you!!<br />
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Don't delay though, the North American deadline is RAPIDLY approaching! Next stop.... Valentine's Day!!!<br />
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Visit my website at: www.davidwesternlovespoons.com and click on the 'Currently Available' page to get an idea of what I have in stock. Or email me at lovespoons@shaw.ca if you need more information!David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-66589399423887136392013-12-02T10:13:00.002-08:002013-12-02T10:13:26.002-08:00Wax on, wax off!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaX8IgZLJ1sSfgib6KSWomgmMQSH1epQRfBkpFV02Bxx8HmD0oaDdjCOzQxy5RA92xKWNvb5fJjGV2KpPt4xLkKBMVoAmQbKhDrYdrkI3_FLxVbnvJOasgOlRcuobclbVgEHOO3fjY7Mt/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Breton+Spoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaX8IgZLJ1sSfgib6KSWomgmMQSH1epQRfBkpFV02Bxx8HmD0oaDdjCOzQxy5RA92xKWNvb5fJjGV2KpPt4xLkKBMVoAmQbKhDrYdrkI3_FLxVbnvJOasgOlRcuobclbVgEHOO3fjY7Mt/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+Breton+Spoon.JPG" width="110" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" width="125" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've been pretty enthralled with some lovely Breton wedding spoons pictures that my friend Gérard Dumont sent me a few weeks back. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gérard is an outstanding authority on Breton style spoons and has been an absolute fountain of knowledge as I pester him with questions about the lovespoon carving tradition in Brittany. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Through </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gérard and his amazing website, I have discovered a vast world of beautiful and evocative spoons that I scarcely knew existed!! The Bretons were every bit as serious about their spoons as the Welsh and spared no effort in creating dazzling creations which they would show-off at weddings and special occasions. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A feature of Breton spoons which is much less common to Welsh and Scandinavian spoons is an extensive use of inlay. Primarily wax, but often pewter, sulfur and other substances that I haven't figured out yet, the Bretons would use inlays to create complex patterns and decorations on the handles of their spoons.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This little spoon is a very simple example of the type of inlaying the Bretons would do on their spoon handles. Inspired by an antique, this elegant little spoon was carved from a tiny block of spalted birch that I have been saving for months. The design JUST fit, with the spalting bringing dazzling life to the bowl.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have carved this spoon with only a pen-knife and my small bent knife for the bowl. I did the inlay chip carving completely free-hand as seemed to be the way the original had been done. This results in the much less 'mechanical' look which I prefer and which says 'hand-made'. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The waxing was done with sealing wax and thanks to tips from my buddy Bob Tinsley, I had no difficulties getting a good 'clean' finish with no pitting or excess wax build-up.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's definitely a learning exercise, but I am growing more and more confident that my Breton style spoons will soon be good enough to make for the public!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But a bit more learning has to go on before I hang out any shingles!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-22264091096811613112013-11-26T12:33:00.002-08:002013-11-26T12:33:51.749-08:00A Perfect Christmas!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPbPTHOrY9M8hO0f6QTfRI0ZBMWg5oPEN1uXtehGn6-GWkCEVZ_q7vvrJLyc5E6DQmR1ugx7ZXe8s28WCQ288FG73imWIenK_oBJQh5eanTV-8aH4F5uVkrYoFju5nXoF8YOohqY1Iu5c/s1600/David+Western+lovespoons+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPbPTHOrY9M8hO0f6QTfRI0ZBMWg5oPEN1uXtehGn6-GWkCEVZ_q7vvrJLyc5E6DQmR1ugx7ZXe8s28WCQ288FG73imWIenK_oBJQh5eanTV-8aH4F5uVkrYoFju5nXoF8YOohqY1Iu5c/s320/David+Western+lovespoons+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" width="125" /></a>Christmas is approaching rapidly and that means postal service will be slowing down any day now! If you're in the market for an 'immaculately conceived' gift this year, you can do no better than one of my beautiful 'ready-to-go' lovespoons!! I have a wide range of designs available to suit almost every taste and budget!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsSVn7hqviY95WvGgzYYLI4bB95gUWK11s2omfbjdu-B0MYRGSP8ndx9IJzK3KUD9eoWzi1AMw5fa-UW023CjbawG7j8svWMwY-Tjqx6P5pB1DsOpOHLm_9jAXTnN_FIvUhNJMJL8mDDI/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsSVn7hqviY95WvGgzYYLI4bB95gUWK11s2omfbjdu-B0MYRGSP8ndx9IJzK3KUD9eoWzi1AMw5fa-UW023CjbawG7j8svWMwY-Tjqx6P5pB1DsOpOHLm_9jAXTnN_FIvUhNJMJL8mDDI/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
These are but a sample of the stunning spoons I currently have on hand! All individually handcrafted by yours truly to my exacting standards, these are NOT souvenir bric-a-brac... they are the real deal!!!<br />
Some can be further customized with initials or dates for that extra personal touch...some are 'as you see them'.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWTKkvlqPbU4xURDkXMvBjf3_uib_5pjR-W5-tl7PARPeUOl4xeRjMvKD3R-_xn5V2l_X9cNjSSvkCgbykwkf_CANWAUbs9km5x5nbdzppYAKOsNfj_mJHHh2hvp8D9vg9HZIWIV125fo/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWTKkvlqPbU4xURDkXMvBjf3_uib_5pjR-W5-tl7PARPeUOl4xeRjMvKD3R-_xn5V2l_X9cNjSSvkCgbykwkf_CANWAUbs9km5x5nbdzppYAKOsNfj_mJHHh2hvp8D9vg9HZIWIV125fo/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
But one thing is absolutely for sure....no matter which spoon you select, from the simplest economy model up to the 'full-flash' show-stoppers, they are ALL works of art which should have you in the good books for the Christmas season and for years to come!! You simply can't get more romantic than this!!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiKo90YfxyKPW4_uu3uFKblhZp0MQBpM22R0f1ZDoCnmUl5HbXiBuA8DH-IijiY8SpWURqtHY9zbo5f8GS9bVfRfJWfR_xY2nfOevsXwovC6_yHNqqlxpx3lfuTNJ5gEUIwvjlQpkTC42/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiKo90YfxyKPW4_uu3uFKblhZp0MQBpM22R0f1ZDoCnmUl5HbXiBuA8DH-IijiY8SpWURqtHY9zbo5f8GS9bVfRfJWfR_xY2nfOevsXwovC6_yHNqqlxpx3lfuTNJ5gEUIwvjlQpkTC42/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My traditional designs get you as close as it is possible to get to the antique lovespoons of yore without going to an antique auction!!! My contemporary designs are unlike any others being carved anywhere! Again...these are the real deal!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBR_rkElj6bpsJbAsVvHT1W8knWRdR4c0klSxlw_y8lwzIrfkXj9puxohm1GstVvigb4YeKgGlH24hntoIcWtKaMVypP-kTJaoYYqMTKRgOAAtY04YgOk46rIjUOh6v2944q8jK1lOP4f/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBR_rkElj6bpsJbAsVvHT1W8knWRdR4c0klSxlw_y8lwzIrfkXj9puxohm1GstVvigb4YeKgGlH24hntoIcWtKaMVypP-kTJaoYYqMTKRgOAAtY04YgOk46rIjUOh6v2944q8jK1lOP4f/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Even in a blurry kak-handed photo like this one, they look amazing, so imagine what they look like in real life!! Time is a ticking though!! Pretty soon it will be too late for shipping and you'll be back to giving toasters and fluffy pajamas..... Do you really want to be THAT person??<br />
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Contact me at: lovespoons@shaw.ca to find out what is currently available!!<br />
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<br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961024307018430114.post-86536725017498654392013-11-15T12:16:00.002-08:002013-11-15T12:20:35.044-08:00A Tribal Wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tRca0mJjhbb839okeJE4UDs0oRDS2WOryM5VAIYcVSkqCalm087F5jM36oHUZ2qjuMiuyxRrZco_wDHZRbf0A_a3Hf6fpQ_7ASAX8ytZ-q6ITTCvaliMspbkrkzVKgyB13OpH60z8Eq3/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoon+Steve+and+Sue+Wedding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tRca0mJjhbb839okeJE4UDs0oRDS2WOryM5VAIYcVSkqCalm087F5jM36oHUZ2qjuMiuyxRrZco_wDHZRbf0A_a3Hf6fpQ_7ASAX8ytZ-q6ITTCvaliMspbkrkzVKgyB13OpH60z8Eq3/s320/David+Western+Lovespoon+Steve+and+Sue+Wedding.JPG" width="165" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=gaabrielbecket&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" target="_blank" title="Bookmark and Share"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" border="0" height="16" src="http://s7.addthis.com/button1-share.gif" width="125" /></a>I was recently commissioned to carve a wedding spoon for a mate of mine who I met on a little road-trip across China, Tibet and Nepal. It's ALWAYS a pleasure to carve lovespoons for weddings and anniversaries, as well as being a challenge to try and create a design which is meaningful for the parties involved! <br />
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This one was no exception! The brief I was given to get me started made mention of the bride's fondness for her dogs and of her Scottish ancestry. I love these two intertwined Celtic dogs and felt they would make a perfect starting point for the design. For the groom, I remembered his collection of brilliant tribal tattoos and managed to locate a picture of some of them. From this picture I built up the opposite side of the spoon, finishing it off with a lovely little wave strip design inspired by the edge of a Maori waka (canoe). The groom is a keen traveller, so the canoe symbol seemed an apt one!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk71wLmQQAfCUaRDLHh8WFRv3YxPs9ZMxEBeXX1P8Uxs6fddSJdKygzaVmTgGs1pbMn6recXtk3Ta90m8BsiG-YaORm7v_5S_LZr52HwPmrWPoNbMgEus98o73Hbn0eohZ4LGEjvwig484/s1600/1053011_10151575532716026_842340551_o+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk71wLmQQAfCUaRDLHh8WFRv3YxPs9ZMxEBeXX1P8Uxs6fddSJdKygzaVmTgGs1pbMn6recXtk3Ta90m8BsiG-YaORm7v_5S_LZr52HwPmrWPoNbMgEus98o73Hbn0eohZ4LGEjvwig484/s320/1053011_10151575532716026_842340551_o+copy.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Hidden among the Celtic and tribal flourishes are a couple of tiny symbols which are relevant to the bride. They aren't big in size, but they are in meaning!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyLp4laoIikrE8Y5YNaWdUbCwEZlbmU1XPh14GSvDBATKAFSIJj9aw9ZNjUPx2QXkUx_cNbwlaXCI8Pi6ZLMTcvjQUoLOMcxhCGHg01C5SS8MN32VSap69XreQQEP2dzsmkFaBgRdtDNp/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Steve+and+Sue+Wedding+Detail+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyLp4laoIikrE8Y5YNaWdUbCwEZlbmU1XPh14GSvDBATKAFSIJj9aw9ZNjUPx2QXkUx_cNbwlaXCI8Pi6ZLMTcvjQUoLOMcxhCGHg01C5SS8MN32VSap69XreQQEP2dzsmkFaBgRdtDNp/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+Steve+and+Sue+Wedding+Detail+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The focal point of the design, is of course, the heart with the couple's initials. No symbol says love quite as well as the heart and I wanted it to be supported by both sides of the design. Just below the heart nestles a little stylized Cross of St. George for the groom. As a Welshman, I'm not sure what the symbolism is of that, but it seems to be important to my English friend!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZA-cUHURCG0GPHvXgnBT1-34_Mv8l7hAv-eWS02pV8wLn-fJIU9tlgK3IzFXaLdFQkBdt8Z0vr-MbhCAmlLfWv_Qj7kvYqXJbIkdOy37h48rYcIRWYuWLmC_wioBxj8eL6ydc1X-sAAj/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Steve+and+Sue+Wedding+Detail+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZA-cUHURCG0GPHvXgnBT1-34_Mv8l7hAv-eWS02pV8wLn-fJIU9tlgK3IzFXaLdFQkBdt8Z0vr-MbhCAmlLfWv_Qj7kvYqXJbIkdOy37h48rYcIRWYuWLmC_wioBxj8eL6ydc1X-sAAj/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+Steve+and+Sue+Wedding+Detail+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The big challenge in carving this particular spoon was the piece of wood I selected. It's a gorgeous piece of birch which features some uncharacteristic flashes of lovely amber tone mixed with the usual creamy complexion the timber is more widely known for. But I went for a plank which had been cut directly from the heart of the tree...just to hammer home the symbolism one more time!!! This made for a section of slightly spongy, but visually wonderful wood which was a nightmare to carve! Every cut risked pulling out unexpected chunks and the knives had to be kept beyond razor sharp! But in the end, the sweating paid off with a spectacular streak of pitted figure which runs right though the middle of the design, as I had hoped it would!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIW5rYy2240UzEk7z9RuNRZZYswQI5eMk1-skzsTp8bUQKsOUhQimWizX7naE2tcB-FfA7V7FzIJrvzU9YeclvXn-0tHu8SVfAs1nJl9jTjPtUeINgfCe8g8a8QKtg35YSwthtIIv9qBqx/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Steve+and+Sue+Wedding+Detail+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIW5rYy2240UzEk7z9RuNRZZYswQI5eMk1-skzsTp8bUQKsOUhQimWizX7naE2tcB-FfA7V7FzIJrvzU9YeclvXn-0tHu8SVfAs1nJl9jTjPtUeINgfCe8g8a8QKtg35YSwthtIIv9qBqx/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+Steve+and+Sue+Wedding+Detail+3.JPG" width="290" /></a></div>
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As you can imagine, when a Welshman and an Englishman get together, the 'back and forth' banter can get a bit salty....and such was the case here! That inspired me to leave a little gift on the back of the spoon which I hope will give my mate a few chuckles over the years.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpvkptRI1i9bICsLDNeJC_u7e0xsO1xOBbQ8FBJd9SiDfTOHRCB6dXcdmR3gANkRNCpqnssNdyQw-myMewjDsg4QKzH6App9i64rnecMl-q7tARGs_a7FIL9Bc0AmVv6R5_O90ab395Ul/s1600/David+Western+Lovespoons+Steve+and+Sue+Wedding+Detail+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpvkptRI1i9bICsLDNeJC_u7e0xsO1xOBbQ8FBJd9SiDfTOHRCB6dXcdmR3gANkRNCpqnssNdyQw-myMewjDsg4QKzH6App9i64rnecMl-q7tARGs_a7FIL9Bc0AmVv6R5_O90ab395Ul/s320/David+Western+Lovespoons+Steve+and+Sue+Wedding+Detail+4.JPG" width="249" /></a></div>
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No Welshman is complete without his sheep and I'm told they are popular with England football supporters too!!<br />
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<br />David Western Lovespoonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15159297030367454701noreply@blogger.com1