Saturday September 27th and Sunday September 28th 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Class Description:

Join us for an immersive and fun weekend workshop where you’ll learn to design and hand-carve your own wooden spoon, with the possibilities of creating more than one if time allows, using traditional Japanese tools and techniques. This beginner friendly carving class will give you all the tools to embark on a carving practice at home or hone the skills you already have.

The class begins with an introduction to wood selection, an overview of the specialized tools, and a discussion of the techniques used to cut and shape your blank. From there, you’ll design your spoon and be guided step-by-step through the carving process: shaping the bowl with a Japanese spoon gouge, refining the handle and top with a carving knife, and finishing your piece with sanding and an all-natural wood butter. 

Topics and skills covered will include:

• Wood species selection

• Layout and design

• Bandsaw techniques

• Hand tool safety and usage

• Sanding

• Food-safe finishes

What you’ll need:

The below tools are recommended for this class and are a minimum that you will need to continue a carving practice at home. They are available for purchase from the school, and feel free to bring your own carving tools from home if you have them. There will be limited number of carving tools to borrow from the school.

• Japanese spoon gouge

• Carving knife

• Sandpaper and wood butter