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 can 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.

Celtic knot work humble beginnings!

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.


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.


Humble beginnings, but it was the copying and dissecting that let me start figuring out how Celtic knots work best!!

WEDDING SEASON

WEDDING SEASON!!

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!!
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!!
If you are looking for a set to make your big day perfect, please contact me at lovespoons@shaw.ca  

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!!!