Last Chance!!!!

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!!

Don't delay though, the North American deadline is RAPIDLY approaching!  Next stop.... Valentine's Day!!!

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!

Wax on, wax off!

I've been pretty enthralled with some lovely Breton wedding spoons pictures that my friend Gérard Dumont sent me a few weeks back.  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.   

Through 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.  

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.

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.

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'.  

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.
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!!

But a bit more learning has to go on before I hang out any shingles!!