Leicester Countryside Show

This year was our third year at the Leicester Countryside Show (formally known as the National Forest Wood Fair) and the first time that we didn't have torrential rain. At the moment we only do two shows per year and with the disastrous weather we had experienced at the last two Leicestershire shows it was very nearly just the one, but I'm glad we went as the weather was fabulous.

One of our customers was Chris Fleming, a fellow woodworker who makes beautiful furniture and also does some green woodworking including some really nice shrink boxes. You can check out his website here. I chatted for a while to Chris and his wife, who seemed to be a really lovely couple and I was flattered when they bought one of our bowls, but what I appreciated most was that they pointed out that our bowl display sucked.

Our new spoon display

I'd recently spent a bit of time putting together a new spoon display, which I think worked, but the bowls were just kind of plonked there. I will definitely give it some more thought for the next show we do. Any advice would be welcome.

One of the things I tried for the Leicester display was labels made with this fantastic Dymo label maker that I picked up at a carboot sale at the beginning of the summer.

I've always loved the effect of Dymo labels and I've found a few vintage ones over the years, but I'd never seen one like this chromed metal beauty. Unfortunately the labels were a bit small and not entirely practical.

So I'm now looking forward to coming up with some new ideas for next years shows. At least our sign was a hit again.

Car Boot Axe

Last week I picked up this little axe/hatchet from a car boot sale for £1. I often see rusty old axe heads or neglected/abused axes and I'm a bit of a sucker for them, especially as I only pay £2 - 50p for them and they are usually good, old steel. This one was a bit different to my usual findings though. Normally what I see are yankee pattern, Kent pattern and the occasional Rhineland pattern heads, this is something different altogether.

When I picked it up the first thing I noticed was the handle, which was more like what I would expect on a lump hammer. Then I realised how chunky the head was. It reminded me of my Roselli axe. The Roselli axe is a great all rounder (I did a review of it here), but it excels at splitting (for an axe its size).

When I started putting an edge back on this new axe find I noticed something strange about the grind. The beard section was a much thinner grind than the heel, which is really quite thick. I haven't measured the angles yet, but there is quite a difference. I also noticed that the handle is offset similar to what you would expect on a right handed side axe.

This has got me thinking that either these two features (differential grind and offset handle) are deliberate features, that would make this more than just a kindling splitter, or it was poorly made and hafted. It would seem strange to me to have an offset handle on anything other than a carving axe, but the obtuse angle of the grind is not my idea of an ideal carving axe. I guess I'll just have to get it sharp and give it a go.

What is your relationship with your spoon?

To most people this would sound like something of a strange, if not silly, question. To the growing number of bodgers, whittlers and green-woodworkers, those with an interest in spoon carving, the question would no doubt be answered somewhat differently to most. But even for those wooden spoon aficionados it is still a question worthy of consideration.

I find it curious that spoons and the other utensils with which we eat are so little considered; indeed they are something that on the whole we take for granted, reaching blindly into the cutlery draw when required and drawing out whichever knife, fork or spoon first comes to hand.

We use cutlery in this way several times each day without once giving the knives forks and spoons we are utilising any thought, let alone a second thought. And yet the role they play in facilitating our eating - arguably the most essential of life sustaining activities  - belies the indifference with which most people view them.

When you examine the application of a spoon or fork in the abstract, considering the fact that a spoon is the interface between the food on your plate and your mouth; that it will not only be pushed into your food but then placed repeatedly into your mouth, coming in repeated contact with your lips and tongue, it brings the importance of spoons into much sharper focus. Let's face it, there are not that many things that we place regularly into our mouths, and if there were such an instrument to be thus employed we would want to scrutinise it fairly closely. And yet, do we employ such an approach with our eating implements? Really, there are not many things that have such a role of daily importance.

Sadly, I have come across much evidence that many, if not most people do not consider this aspect of their meal. I have eaten at various friends' houses or in restaurants where I have been left to question the choice of cutlery - heavy, ill-balanced, gaudy, badly designed. With far more thought having been given to the form than the function cutlery becomes an ornament upon a dining table rather than a tool with a job to perform, and whilst I would not suggest that cutlery should not be well designed and decorative should it be at the expense of function?

So what am I trying to say? Pay more attention and give more thought to the things you put in your mouth?

The Greenwood Guild

Last month I went with some friends to visit the Green Wood Guild in Stepney East London. The Green Wood Guild was set up about two years ago by Barn (the spoon) Carder and runs regular courses and workshops. They've produced this lovely video, which will do a much better job than me of explaining what they're about.

I encouraged the wives of some of my friends to buy them one of the Guild's whittling gift boxes for Christmas. The gift box included a Mora 106 carving knife and a voucher for their whittling introduction course. We used this as an excuse to have a boy's weekend in London and spent a couple of hours whittling at their workshop in Stepney City farm.

Doing a bit of chip carving on the train

The course was a nice introduction to working with a knife as instructor Tom taught us some different   grips to use whilst carving a spatula. There was a really nice atmosphere and everyone had a great time. I would definitely recommend checking out their website, they offer a very enjoyable alternative to anyone spending a day out in London. They also run some longer courses (day and weekend) and for those that live a bit closer they do evening classes. 

Jeff demonstrates the chest lever grip

Vince demonstrates the thumb push

Jamie demonstrates the shoulder push grip

Dave demonstrates the pull the knife towards you without stabbing yourself in the chest  grip

Nick acts weird

Some of the woodenware on display

The finished article