Traditional & contemporary craft courses in north Wales
handmade by you in
wernog wood
Carve a spoon and bowl from fresh greenwood
See course details, dates, costs, tutors & stories from students below
Over an immersive and sociable weekend, David White will teach you to carve a breakfast or soup bowl from greenwood and an accompanying eating spoon which you can use every day.
On this two day course, you will take the classic Scandinavian ‘Sloyd’ style eating spoon as inspiration to make a comfortable and pretty eating spoon. Wooden bowls have been made for nearly as long as humans have used tools and you will make a mid-sized eating bowl with similar hand tools to those that have been used since medieval times.
Over the weekend you will learn to use a carving axe and block, carving knife and bent hook knife, as well has an adze and bowl gouge giving you a versatile skillset to continue carving.
You will take each piece from a round of fresh wood through to the finished bowl and spoon, and David will guide you on choosing and sourcing green wood, as well as how to finish and oil your pieces. He will leave you with a reminder video for carving hand-holds and information sheets for you to continue your progression at home. He will bring along some carving tools for you to buy, should you become smitten.
20-21 April 2024
or
8-9 June 2024
If you would like to do a shorter course,
there are different single day
£285 - Tuition fees
£235 special offer for last spaces in April
This includes all course materials
Tools will be available to buy during the course
Tea, coffee and simple lunch included in your course price.
We also offer accommodation & evening meals
Click here to see what we offer
This course is aimed at adults, aged 18yrs + and is suitable for beginners to those with experience
David White’s The Whittlings is a tiny company in North Wales, making unique handmade tableware using traditional green woodworking techniques and native broadleaf species sourced from local woodlands.
David's work is a reaction to his belief that life is getting more and more connected, online, and rushed, and that our use of the natural resources are more and more abstracted and commoditised. He sees that the things we use and surround ourselves with in our day-to-day lives are getting cheaper, mass produced, destined to last less and less time. His reaction to this is to spend time making the most basic things in life – something to eat with, something to eat from, something to sit on. To make them well, with an understanding and respect for trees they came from.
Stories from our students
This is the first time we have run this course with the additional element of learning how to carve a bowl, but the stories written here are from other spoon carving courses taught by David.
We look forward to hearing the stories you tell about the exciting new spoon & bowl carving course.
Stories from David's spoon carving courses
A great course in a fantastic location delivered by a friendly and experienced carver.
As a beginner I learnt so much about all aspects of carving from wood choice, axe and knife techniques I would recommend it to anyone novice to expert. - Graham
I’m already planning to return- its my new therapy. - Sian
Excellent - fun, engaging and learned a lot. Really good structure, and provision of excellent and sharp tools. David White was a fabulous tutor - very positive in his approach and highly knowledgeable. - David
....
I always love spending time at Wernog Wood, the atmosphere is so relaxed, caring and inclusive, set in beautiful countryside- it is a real retreat and my time spent here relaxes and inspires me.
The knife, fork and spoon course was excellent- I was really surprised how I managed to create something I was proud of even though I had never worked with wood before.
The tutor- David was excellent and I felt that I was guided through the process with expertise and a friendly and relaxed manner.
Thanks everyone- loved it - Verity
Upcoming Dates
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