My journey into greenwood spoon carving: From hobby to heartfelt craft

As I share in the “About Me” section on the spoonweather.com homepage, my journey into carving hand-carved wooden spoons began in 2020 as a COVID-era hobby. It was a time when many of us sought out creative outlets to cope with isolation and uncertainty. For me, spoon carving became more than a pastime. It became a way to repurpose wood from fallen trees into something beautiful, meaningful, and useful—and connect with others along the way.

Getting Started

1. A Pandemic Pivot Like many, I turned to “I need a project!” scrolling as a way to stop doom scrolling. In doing so, I stumbled upon an inspiring community of talented makers creating simple, beautiful objects, like spoons, with their hands. I'd been a traditional woodworker for the last 20 years (think table saw, dovetail joints, and "right-angle" furniture), but this discovery ignited my curiosity about a whole new niche of working with wood, particularly carving elegantly-shaped spoons out of fresh-from-the-tree wood.

2. The Chainsaw Epiphany Daily walks with my dog often took me past the hum of chainsaws and woodchippers trimming trees around town. One day, I stopped and thought, “This 100-year-old maple tree deserves a better ending than being shredded into mulch. What if this wood could have a second life?” That’s when I realized I could turn discarded branches into hand-carved spoons, wooden spatulas, or other wooden utensils.

3. Connection Through Craft During the isolating days of the pandemic, I found joy in making and gifting carved wooden spoons to family and friends. These handmade treasures became tokens of kindness, connection, and love. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a one-of-a-kind wooden kitchen spoon made by a quirky spoon-carver friend?

Inspiration Along the Way

Along the way there have been many people and resources that have inspired my journey. Below is just a sampling of some of the ones I've personally found most inspiring. Whether you’re curious about how the best wooden spoons are made or you’re ready to try your hand at spoon carving, these are excellent places to start:

1. Anne of All Trades I discovered Anne of All Trades on Instagram and have been captivated by her work as a woodworker, farmer, spoon carver, and just all around contagious human being. Her YouTube tutorials are a treasure trove for beginners and seasoned carvers alike. If you’re curious about crafting your own wooden spoon kitchen utensils, her videos are a great starting point.

2. Fine Woodworking Magazine Fine Woodworking has been my go-to resource for woodworking techniques and exploring what “best-in-class” craftsmanship looks like. While the magazine primarily focuses on furniture making, its growing coverage of craft arts like spoon carving is invaluable. Check out their video tutorials to learn about the best wood for spoons and techniques for carving large wooden spoons or tiny wooden utensils.
   

3. David Fisher’s Carving Explorations David Fisher’s work is pure inspiration. His gallery showcases stunning carved wood spoons and his flowing, hand-carved lettering is nothing short of fine art. If you’re interested in creating custom wooden spoons, engraved wooden spoons, or his specialty--carved wooden bowls--his work is a definite must-see.

4. Facebook Group: Spoon Carving, Green Woodworking, and Sloyd This group is a vibrant forum for spoon carvers of all levels. From learning about the best wood for wooden utensils to picking up techniques for creating a heart-shaped wooden spoon reminiscent of a traditional Welsch "love spoon" from the 1600's, the community offers inspiration and support. It’s particularly fascinating to see how the Nordic tradition of "sloyd" (a system of handicraft-based education started in the mid-1800's) continues to influence modern spoon carving to this day.

Are you ready to learn how to carve spoons??

I can personally attest that spoon carving is addictive in the best way. Whether you’re creating a big wooden spoon for cooking or a miniature wooden spoon for stirring a cocktail, it is truly rewarding to craft something with your own hands. The best wooden spoons are not just tools but heirlooms that carry a story—from the tree they came from to the hands that shaped them. If you’re ready to explore this rewarding craft, check out the videos above, gather your spoon carving tools (more on this in a future post!) and start small. A simple branch from a fallen tree might just become your next masterpiece!