Traditional & contemporary craft courses in north Wales
handmade by you in
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wernog wood
Carve a spoon from fresh greenwood
See course details, dates, costs, tutors & stories from students below
On these relaxing and sociable days, David White will teach you how to carve elegant spoons, the design and scope of which will depend upon the day you choose to join him.
You can choose to carve either:
A simple and elegant traditional Welsh Cawl (soup) spoon
and butter spreader on one day
and/or
A pair of salad serving spoons on the other day
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Starting with part-made green wood blanks, you will learn to use a carving knife and hook knife, giving you a comprehensive skillset to carve functional objects. David will guide you on choosing and sourcing green wood, as well as how to finish and oil your pieces. He offers a reminder video and information sheet to continue learning at home, and will bring tools to buy if you become smitten
2 November 2024
Welsh cawl spoon and butter spreader
David has adapted his Cawl spoon designs from examples of well loved spoons that can be found in museums, collections and houses all over Wales. He particularly likes the generous bowl and simple rounded, cranked handle, with the eating angles just so. This single day course is designed to self-contained but timed to progress to second day carving bigger salad servers.
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and / or
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3 November 2024
Salad servers
David makes his larger spoons as a multi-functional salad server sets which can also be used as elegant day-to-day kitchen cooking spoons. These spoon designs draw influence from traditional and contemporary spoon makers around the world and examples will be brought along for consideration.
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... come along to both for a relaxing escape...
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£125 - Tuition fees
This includes all course materials
Tools will be available to buy during the course
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Tea, coffee and simple lunch included in your course price.
We also offer accommodation & evening meals
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Click here to see what we offer
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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.
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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
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
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
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I’m already planning to return- its my new therapy. - Sian
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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
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I just spent a wild weekend at Wernog Wood, an amazing venue for practical learning. I’m so fortunate to live only minutes away!
With David’s tuition (and stylish laser cut templates that I pretty much ignored - don’t do this, he knows what he’s doing). I haven’t finished much as I was trying to cram too much in but I do feel far more capable with an axe now.
Thank you @thewhittlings for your patience and positivity which made for an empowering two days. - Michelle
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Upcoming Dates
Join the waiting list or express interest in future courses
If a course is full, please join the waiting list as we will contact you in case of any cancellation ... it does happen!
or
If you would like to attend a course but can't make it on the available date, you can register interest in future dates.