Join Joel Larabell, wooden spoon carver, teacher and enthusiast, for this 1 day workshop developing your skills in the craft of wooden spoon carving.

Joel will begin by demonstrating the full process of tree limb to spoon blank using only a carving hatchet and hand saw so you can see what it takes to get to the wooden spoon blank which you will be receiving.  You will then try your hand at crafting a wooden cooking spoon of your own with full guidance along the way.  Joel finds great enjoyment and mindfulness in this craft and hopes to offer the same to you while building your skills and carving abilities.  

All materials will be provided.  

This class will include: 

• Demonstration of splitting a log/creating a spoon blank using a carving hatchet and hand saw. 

• Safety, technique, and general carving principles working on a wooden butter spreader blank.

• How to take these principles and put them to work carving your own wooden cooking spoon from a blank pre-chopped out by Joel.

• How to work carefully and effectively with two different hand tools, the straight (often called a “sloyd”) knife and the hook knife to craft your wooden spoon. 

• Traditional carving methods and techniques to create shape, design, and functionality while working in harmony with the grain of the wood.

• Discussion of all things related to spoon carving including tool selection and maintenance, preferred woods for carving, sourcing of these woods, finishing and using your wooden treen, and the opportunity for mindfulness in the craft of spoon carving.

• Farm Lunch

You will leave with:

A hand-carved wooden cooking spoon (at least mostly finished) made in the Sloyd tradition by you.  

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Side Note: Joel will bring his personal wooden spoon collection for you to view, hold and enjoy the work from makers all over the world.  

Check out Joel’s work on Instagram @joellarabell

October 22nd CST 9:30-4:30 (lunch included)