This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
Thank you for all your support over the years!

Useful and Fun

March 18th, 2015

This past Saturday Mr Chiots and I took a spoon carving class at the Shelter Institute. We were joined by a friend who took the photo of me. It was lots of fun, a full day of fun. Our teacher carves spoons and sells them at local craft fairs. He brought along all the tools we’d need and explained the process in depth.
spoon carving class 1
spoon carving class 4
spoon carving class 2
spoon carving class 3
spoon carving class 5
Mr Chiots made a small spoon and I made a spatula, both were made using walnut.
spoon carving class 1 (1)
spoon carving class 2 (1)
One of the reasons we wanted to take this class is to make use of some lovely apple wood we have. Hopefully I’ll be able to find the tool we need at the local antique tool store. Then we can start making spoons and other cooking utensils. No doubt friends and family will love receiving these for gifts.

Have you learned any fun new hobby recently?

11 Comments to “Useful and Fun”
  1. Lemongrass on March 18, 2015 at 6:14 am

    Growing up my dad made wooden spatulas…….we used as spoons. Using two different sized knives he carved the spatulas into different size and shape There started my love for wood kitchen tools.
    I am luck that a woodcarver has his shop in the heart of town. My order for him is a wooden measuring cup…….mostly for dried foodstuff. I can still remember the first chopping block my father made from a piece of mahogany wood. I would like some day to take a class making wooden tools. Great post.

    Reply to Lemongrass's comment

  2. Brenda on March 18, 2015 at 6:55 am

    Check out the beautiful Kate at Foxs Lane blog and her and farmer Bren’s spoon carving

    Reply to Brenda's comment

  3. Sara on March 18, 2015 at 7:34 am

    Wow, how cool! Your spoons turned out great! :)

    Reply to Sara's comment

  4. Yolanda on March 18, 2015 at 7:41 am

    What heart warming fun! Good for you! Yes. Actually, last night I stumbled across a YouTube video showing how to make a thermal cooking bag. I’ve wanted one for a long time, but they are quite expensive, and there were no instructions, that I could find, on how to make one. This one I’ll be able to make with items I already have on hand and so I plan to do it today! I love learning new things!

    Reply to Yolanda's comment

  5. Nebraska Dave on March 18, 2015 at 8:23 am

    Susy, huh, never thought about making my own wooden spoons. I used to have some wooden spoons in the collection of cooking spoons but I’m thinking they are all gone now. I know we had a wooden spatula as well but I think that’s gone as well. Now the kitchen spoons and spatulas are all plastic as well as the cutting boards. I really haven’t thought about or needed to add to the kitchen utensils in over a decade. I suppose I really should think about evaluating the utensil situation but …. well …. the old ones just aren’t worn out yet. :-)

    Have a great wooden spoon day.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  6. Misti on March 18, 2015 at 9:20 am

    I actually want to learn how to weave those wall tapestries that are making the rounds on the internet right now. They look relatively simple—just need to build a board to make them! Oh, and find some time. ;)

    Reply to Misti's comment

  7. Jinger on March 18, 2015 at 9:43 am

    You guys are awesome – love the things you get into – things I would love to do with Mark!

    Reply to Jinger's comment

  8. Brenda Page on March 18, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    I have six hand-carved wooden spoons and spatulas that are among my most valued possessions. They were carved by a man named Don Duncan in North Carolina, are beautifully designed, and all of different woods. I have been wanting to start carving my own spoons for years now. Looking forward to moving to Maine where I can take this class myself. A nice, creative way to spend winter evenings!

    Reply to Brenda Page's comment

  9. bonnie knox on March 21, 2015 at 11:18 pm

    How interesting! I just recently cut some lower limbs off my old apple tree. Now you’ve sparked my imagination. Should the wood be carved before it dries out? And how should the wood be cured?

    Reply to bonnie knox's comment

  10. Nikala on March 22, 2015 at 12:46 am

    I once made a wooden spoon with a dear older friend of ours who stored his woodworking tools in our shop, so he was always there and was a grandpa to us! Loved seeing your beautiful spoons.
    And loved seeing your face! I like knowing the face behind the blog, and I don’t think I have seen you yet!
    You look so beautiful and simply content with life :)

    Reply to Nikala's comment

  11. Megan on March 25, 2015 at 5:02 pm

    I’ve been wanting to try spoon carving! I just took a wall tapestry weaving class this past weekend and I loved it! Yay to new hobbies & skills! :)

    Reply to Megan's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

Admin
Read previous post:
Look Out BELOW

The ice dam on the back of the house is about to let loose. I keep thinking any day now...

Close