In between bowls, I came upon a few good branch crooks that I’ve carved into spoons — two in cherry and two in rhododendron. They’re all straight from the knife and treated with flaxseed (pure linseed) oil. The lettering and chip carving on all of them was done with my pen knife. They’re all serving/cooking spoons, way too big for eating spoons. I’ll mention each spoon’s unique characteristics with the photos below. Rather than listing them separately on my website, I’ll offer them right here in the blog post. If you’d like to purchase one, send me an email at dandkfish@gmail.com. All prices include shipping in the U.S. Orders outside of the U.S. will pay an additional shipping charge, but it’s not usually too high for small items like spoons. I’ll get back to you to confirm, and you can pay by mailing a check or through paypal.
Spoon #1 (below): I carved “Tiramisu” into the handle of this cherry spoon. Most people know it as the name for a dessert, but I thought it also appropriate for the handle of a spoon. Tiramisu is Italian for “pick me up” or “lift me up.” 9 1/4″ x 3″ $155 includes shipping. SOLD
Spoon #2 (below): “Fabas indulcet fames” is the Latin proverb meaning “Hunger sweetens the beans.” Whether one is focused on the literal or figurative meaning, I like the reminder on a cooking and serving spoon. After I cut the letters, I experimented with this rhododendron spoon by texturing the surface around the letters with the filed end of a small bolt. I held the spoon in my lap and repeatedly moved around the “stamp”, hitting it with a small hammer. 13″ x 2 3/4″ $155 includes shipping. SOLD
Spoon #3 (below): This spoon comes right out with it in English: “Hold Me.” Cherry 10″ x 2 1/2″ $155 includes shipping. SOLD
Spoon #4 (below): This rhododendron spoon is non-verbal. Chip-carved handle. 9 1/2″ x 2 3/4″ $90 includes shipping. SOLD
David Fisher, Carving Explorations 
Hi Dave,
Are Hunger sweetens the beans or Tiramisu available?
Thank you,
Ouida
Sent from my iPhone
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The texture on the long one was a nice touch Dave!
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Thanks, Emil. Like a lot of things, I learned that from Peter Follansbee’s work years ago. He uses that technique on the background of some of his carvings.
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fabulous spoons. the best…
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Amazing work, as always
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Dave I have a ton of rhododendron on my land. I have tried to work with it some, but find it hard to get a good split. Advice would be helpful. By the way for any of your readers who may think that the wood is poisonous – it is if you eat the spoon and even then you would have do consume several dozen at one sitting. It also ok to burn (do not eat the leaves – or flowers)
Gary
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Gary, I know what you mean. Rhododendron is known as “spoon wood” in some areas because it tends to grow with lots of great crooks, and it’s also a good hardness with relatively fine grain. But those crooks can also grow with twisted grain, which often just doesn’t work out no matter what you do. I haven’t worked a whole lot with rhododendron, because I rarely find it large enough. I lucked into some big stuff in a brush pile that had recently been discarded. It isn’t really a tip, I suppose, but I almost always use a froe to split spoon-size branch crooks — right along the pith. Some require more persuasion with wedges, axes, crowbars…
Thanks for the information. I’m just bummed that I’ve got to stop eating Rhododendron flowers:)
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Beautiful work, again.
Form and function in true balance. I see your spoons don’t hang around once they’re on the website, perhaps just carve this into them next time – Fugere off in plute … Fly off the shelf!
And have you inadvertently mentioned the secret of your carving? I can’t wait until our Rhododendron flowers, and I’ll report back with any improvements in my carving, or if Gary’s right … it’s been nice knowing you.
Rob
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Dave,inspiring as always. I see you got a new boker,Thanks for helping Karla to make my Christmas joyful. I like the North Forge knives also. Any thoughts for the Fest yet? Good luck to your Stillers today.Go birds!
Bill
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Glad you enjoyed your gifts from Karla, Bill. My thoughts for the Fest at this point amount to excitement that they’ve invited me back. Woo Hoo! Peter, Paula, and the rest of the amazing crew are working on getting the basics all set for the opening of ticket sales in a couple weeks, but there is already a lot of information on the site https://www.greenwoodfest.org/ The pre-fest courses are all listed. Mine will be the log-to-bowl course like last year, but I plan to focus on some of the post-drying refinements and techniques during the Fest demonstrations and such, among other topics.
Thanks for the good luck wishes. After the way the game began in Pittsburgh today, I escaped by taking a walk in the cold, snowy, sunny woods. That put it in perspective, but I have to admit it stung a bit. Human nature is a funny thing!
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Gorgeous work my friend!
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Each one unique and wonderful Dave. Great work. Spoons expressing philosophy.
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Beautiful spoons, as a fellow spoon carver I am always amazed at the work or others and yours is amazing. Thanks for sharing.
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