A Silk Purse From a Sow's Ear

There's an old expression which says you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear. A great saying, but when it comes to lovespoons and bits of unwanted wood, sometimes that's exactly what a carver CAN do!! Here's your proof! Knowing I was going to be spending time sitting in long ferry line-ups over the Christmas holiday, I grabbed my knife and an offcut of maple from a firewood box by the back door. Normally, I stew behind the wheel of my immobile car, gradually working myself into an apoplectic lather over having to waste my life in a ferry parking lot (and I calculate I have probably spent a year or two of my brief allotted time on this earth doing just that)but armed with my little carving knife, a bit of wood and my overactive imagination, I can make the time fly by in a pleasurable (and occasionally profitable)way. The scrap maple I grabbed as I flew out the door happened to be fairly long and narrow, so I decided to have a bash at a cage with a pile of balls. In retrospect, I probably could have fit a few more into the space available, but I wanted plenty of room for the knife, so I went with what you see. I managed to get quite a bit of the carving done at the ferry and then in the odd quiet moment over the Christmas holidays, but it wasn't until today that I decided to finish it off. Granted, it's not the most interesting or exciting spoon I've ever done, but it has a certain charm. I'm especially pleased with the long, narrow bowl and think I might try a few more like that. The balls in cage detail came out fairly well too, given that I was hacking away in the car and at the kitchen table for most of it!!

And since I am on a recycle and reuse kick at the moment, here's a nice little Valentine's spoon carved from an unusual bit of wood that came out of some wood packing around a commercial freezer. I get bits and pieces of wood from some pretty crazy places, but I figure as long as they are clean, they look good and I can carve them without them falling to bits, then they are worth using! Again, this is a pretty simple little 'whittled' spoon, but it's pretty cute and I really like the wood...whatever it is?

Speaking of Valentine's Day; you've still got a weeny bit of time to get a lovespoon in time for the big day (at least you do if you live in Canada or the US!) This little one is only 45 dollars + postage!!

Valentine's Day Bouquets

This year I used the quiet time between Christmas and Valentine's Day to carve some lovespoons for the 'last minute' Valentine's romantics. For the most part, I have kept the designs pretty traditional, although there are a couple of nice Celtic ones in the mix as well! If you want to give your sweetie something really nice that is hand made and VERY romantic, you won't do better than this. With prices ranging from 30 to 300 dollars, you won't break the bank and you'll be a total STAR!!

Simple Traditional style lovespoons (from left to right) Long twin heart spoon in mahogany 30 USD Long twin heart spoon in maple 30 USD Traditional hearts and circles in birch 40 USD Traditional hearts and circles in cherry 40 USD Small romantic panel spoon in spalted maple 45 USD

More complex designs (from left to right) Long twin heart spoon with curved handle in birch 65 USD Elegant tradition fretted in broadleaf maple 65 USD Elegant traditional fretted in Pacific yew 80 USD Traditional style square panel in broadleaf maple 85 USD

3 lovely traditional panel style Welsh lovespoons Left) Crossed spades indicates a willingness to work and provide . Traditional symbols hearts (love), diamonds (prosperity) key-hole (you hold the key to my heart, commas (soul symbols) circular pattern (eternal love) carved from birch 150 USD Centre) Eternal circle with hearts indicating eternal love. This spoon could be further personalized with the addition of initials/dates etc. 100 USD Right) Celtic heart spoon with circle of soul symbols and a graceful Celtic eternal ring surrounding a heart. Lots of romance going on here! Basswood 200 USD

Miscellaneous styles in a variety of woods (left to right) Traditional long fretted spoon in Pacific yew. 100 USD Elaborate Celtic knot with a raised heart in cherry 250 USD Panel spoon with Celtic eternal ring and lots of room for personalizing! 175 USD Modern Celtic knot with crescent moon shaped bowl. Carved from birch 250 USD.

Celtic Cinnamon Buns. This romantic Celtic swirl design is carved from recycled old growth Douglas Fir milled from old bridge timbers. The arrow straight grain of the fir sets off the sweeping curves of the Celtic knotwork perfectly. This is a spoon for a real romantic!! 300 USD I've said it before and I'll say it again; if you can find a toaster, plasma tv or box of chocolates ANYWHERE that comes even remotely close to the romance of one of my lovespoons, I'll lay down my tools and never cut another chip!!!!! If you'd like to order one of these beautiful little spoons please email me at: lovespoons@shaw.ca

Valentine's Day is coming!!!

I know that it seems unseemly close to the end of Christmas, but if you are one of those romantic folks who desires something a bit more special than the old bog-standard overpriced wilting roses or boxed chocolates, its time to get your lovespoon order in!
I make these beauties completely by hand and that takes time...sometimes a LOT of time!!  So, while I greatly appreciate any and all orders I receive, the ones which come in on the evening of February 13 generally go away empty-handed and disappointed.
Glory comes to the decisive!!
You really can't do better than a hand-crafted lovespoon if you are looking for a Valentine's gift which truly says, "I love you".

It doesn't have to be over-the-top, but being a bit sentimental never hurts at this time of the year!!  A well designed and crafted lovespoon allows you to let your heart run riot while keeping your dignity intact.  There is literally no end to the ideas which can be conveyed through this beautiful medium...the only limit is your imagination (and your budget, if I am brutally honest).
Whether you are a traditionalist and like to see your lovespoons reflect a more conservative taste (as in the pair of spoons shown below) or whether you like to go 'out there' a bit and be a bit more freewheeling (as with the Stylized Heron spoon shown to the right) I can help you realize your vision.
Valentine's Day is a day for passion and lovespoons get the job done!!

So while I apologize for not giving you any breathing room between Christmas and Valentines Day, you will thank me when your custom designed and hand-made lovespoon is reaping the credits and you are the star of the day!!
Then you too could be tangoing into the sunset like the lovely couple below!!