Category Archives: Lettering

Making the Best of It

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Dave Fisher

Limits encourage creativity.  This is evident in many aspects of life, such as when a resourceful home cook manages to create a splendid meal from the few things left in the cupboard.  Or when an aging athlete expertly adapts his … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, carving, finding wood, layout, Lettering, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged | 26 Comments

Revisiting Thoreau’s Tray

Posted on March 8, 2020 by Dave Fisher

Our life is frittered away by detail . . . I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on … Continue reading →

Posted in drying, figure, green woodworking, historical reference, Lettering, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

A Few New Spoons

Posted on February 12, 2020 by Dave Fisher

I just finished four new spoons.  All are from crooks with a surface straight from the knife.  Flaxseed oil finish.  Ready for action.  If you see one you’d like, send me an email at dandkfish@gmail.com or leave a comment.  I’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Lettering, spoons, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 7 Comments

8th Grade Sloyd

Posted on February 1, 2020 by Dave Fisher

As I cut the letters into this small panel earlier this month, I was thinking back to Mr. Howard Sokoloff, my 8th grade woodshop teacher.  Here was a man near retirement tasked with teaching every single thirteen-year-old in the school … Continue reading →

Posted in historical reference, Lettering, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 15 Comments

Ambrosia Maple Bowl

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Dave Fisher

A little bread—a crust—a crumb— A little trust—a demijohn— Can keep the soul alive— — Emily Dickinson, from Poem 159 (1896) Looking back, I was surprised at how long it had been since I’d carved a lettered bowl like this.  … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, figure, Lettering, quotes and excerpts, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Short Lettercarving Video

Posted on September 6, 2019 by Dave Fisher

At Spoonfest, Tom Hepworth filmed Barn and I talking briefly about carving letters with a knife.  I also demonstrated how I go about cutting a letter.  Tom posted the video to Youtube not long ago, and here it is.  Just … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, Lettering, tools, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Axe Sheath of Wood

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Dave Fisher

At last month’s Plymouth CRAFT Spoon Day, I saw Oliver Pratt’s cool wooden axe sheath.  It worked by pinning a wedge in place that secured the sheath.  Oliver had seen the concept somewhere and had created his sheath by chopping … Continue reading →

Posted in axe, green woodworking, layout, Lettering, patterns, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Welcome Sign

Posted on May 18, 2019 by Dave Fisher

I’ve never come across a redwood tree in my neck of the woods, but now I’ve carved the wood for the first time.  I’ve had this board (18″ x 9 1/2″ x 1″) kicking around since it was given to … Continue reading →

Posted in Lettering, trees, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Coffee Pot

Posted on January 17, 2019 by Dave Fisher

For many folks, the morning cup of coffee is one of life’s great joys, a sacred ritual and/or an absolute necessity.  I’m happy that this big shrink pot will become a part of the morning routine for one coffee lover. … Continue reading →

Posted in burl, Lettering, shrink box, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

The Nimble Fishtail

Posted on November 24, 2018 by Dave Fisher

Having just finished carving “necklaces” on a couple bowls, I thought I’d explain a bit more about the tool I use for the carving of the large triangular recesses that make up the design.  In the FWW  article and video, … Continue reading →

Posted in Lettering, patterns, sketch, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged | 9 Comments