Category Archives: historical reference

Cigar Box Reminder

Lately, my evenings and weekends have been filled with non-carving matters, including tending to the needs of our house that was built in 1905.  When Kristin and I bought it in 1996, the same year we were married, we became … Continue reading

Posted in historical reference, Persons, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 22 Comments

Treasures from Millersburg

These T-handle augers weren’t the only treasures I found in Millersburg, Ohio last weekend at the Early American Artisans Fair.  I included some links in a previous post.  The Artisans’ Guild has some exciting plans, so its well worth a … Continue reading

Posted in events, historical reference, teaching, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Täljfest 2019

In my lectures at both Spoonfest and Täljfest, I referred to an excerpt from Mary Oliver’s poem Sometimes: Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. Astonishment comes easy at Sätergläntan, the traditional crafts school in … Continue reading

Posted in classes, events, green woodworking, historical reference, paint, shrink box, sketch, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 15 Comments

Spoonfest 2019

I’m back from my first ever overseas adventure, and it was a thrilling and enriching one.  The English countryside, London, Stockholm, and the Swedish countryside.  Almost a week after my return, my head is still spinning with all I saw … Continue reading

Posted in classes, events, green woodworking, historical reference, teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

Thoreau and the Wooden Tray

Not long ago, a friend referred me to an unabridged entry in Henry David Thoreau’s journal.  Here’s the first paragraph: October 19, 1858: Barrett’s apprentice, it seems, makes trays of black birch and of red maple, in a dark room … Continue reading

Posted in adze, axe, green woodworking, historical reference, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Yup’ik Bentwood Bowls

Among the many traditions of bowl carving is the Yup’ik method of bending a separate length of wood that attaches to the hollowed base and serves as a higher rim.  The interaction between material, hands, eyes — and teeth — … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, historical reference, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 17 Comments

Let Follansbee be Your Guide

About a decade ago, my mind was blown by the boxes and furniture that Peter Follansbee was talking about on his blog.  There he was splitting up oak logs into boards and joining them together.  Well, how do you not … Continue reading

Posted in books, carving, green woodworking, historical reference, publications, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Beaver Connections

Since sharing some photos of beaver activity in a blog post a couple weeks ago I’ve made a few more beaver connections.  One goes way back to Aesop. If, like me, you weren’t familiar with that unsettling story, this should … Continue reading

Posted in finding wood, green woodworking, historical reference, nature, spoons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Transferred Touch

Things men have made with wakened hands are awake through years with transferred touch, and go on glowing for long years. And for this reason, some old things are lovely warm still with the life of forgotten men who made … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, finding wood, historical reference, patterns, proportions, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 28 Comments

Look What Arrived From Brittany

Yesterday, a package arrived from Jane Mickelborough.  After having the pleasure of getting to know Jane at Greenwood Fest 2017, I requested a porte-cuillères, a traditional Breton spoon rack that is meant to hang over the table.  It incorporates a … Continue reading

Posted in historical reference, spoons, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments