In December of 2019 I was introduced to carving at a community event in Duvall, Washington through the Wilderness Awareness School craft night. In 2020, my work became remote due to Covid-19 and in the summer I began putting efforts into learning how to carve functional objects from wood as a meditative practice and way to connect with the natural areas in my local community. The spoons I crafted became gifts for friends and family as a way to share meals together despite the distance and isolation we experienced during lockdowns and time apart.

Since 2020, I have focused my woodworking on using salvaged materials gathered after storms moved through our valley and trees removed by property owners for various reasons. Each piece of wood is unique and I try to feature the beauty of the wood in functional objects such as eating spoons, cooking utensils, and bowls.

Below are some images from specific projects that showcase my approach to carving and craft of Sloyd, green woodworking.

In-Progress: Port Townsend Woodworkers Show in 2022

I was invited by the Seattle Spoon Club to make several pieces as part of an exhibit in the fall of 2022 showcasing the beauty of wood sustainably harvested in the Valley View Forest provided by the Jefferson Land Trust, Splinter Group, and The Seattle Spoon Club. This Western Maple has small ripple and quilting patterns in the wood grain from unique forces on the tree as it grew.

Vasa Shipwreck Artifact Reproduction Carving Project

Design Inspired by the recovered artifact Slev 15557.

A virtual spoon carving club I am a member of, Rise up and Carve, was invited to participate in carving replica spoons inspired by the archive images of objects salvaged from the Vasa. We were joined by maritime archeologist Stephanie Gandulla who wrote her Masters Thesis about the treenware that was discovered on the ship.

Using a piece of locally salvaged Pacific Madrone I designed a spoon inspired by a cooking Slev (label) at a scale for use in a modern kitchen. I scaled the handle down slightly and envisioned a bowl shape that would connect the missing right and left lip. I included a pot hook which would have been used to balance the cooking spoon on the outside of a large soup pot while in use and a hanging hole used to display the spoon in the kitchen between uses.

A screenshot of the image documentation of Item 15557 a Vasa Slev (Ladle). Only one of two cooking spoons was found on the ship. This particular artifact was broken in multiple areas along the handle and was missing both the right and left edge of the bowl. I approached the reproduction project with the intention of carving a new piece as it would have looked originally.

Salvaged Apple with a natural twist

At times, trees are removed by property owners. I saw a post online from a man who had to cut down a beloved old apple tree after the roots of the tree punctured his neighbor’s septic system. He asked for local artists to come and collect the wood rather than relegate it to firewood. The apple wood was twisted, knoty, and extremely difficult to work. However, by working with the natural twists and grain changes I was able to create a few beautiful pieces with unique characteristics.

Dave Fisher Virtual Bowl Carving Course hosted by Elia Bizzarri.

My carving journey has been in a large part self-directed. I participate in a virtual carving community where tips and techniques are discussed, and YouTube has a wealth of information from around the world.

I was lucky to participate in a three-day virtual workshop over the course of a month to carve my first large bowl from white ash. It was a joy having an opportunity to learn from a master carver from my own home and to practice skills that I may not have taken on independently. Digital access can break down barriers to provide craft opportunities to larger audiences and I’m super pleased with the work I was able to achieve in the format.

Carving Profiles and Videos

Over the past few years I’ve been honored to be a featured artist and contributor to the green woodworking world. Below are links to a few articles and videos. Many thanks to all the other carvers who have encouraged me to pick up my knives and create, even in the very difficult times.