How It’s Made

Step 1: I find wood.

On the side of the road. Downed trees after a storm. Friends and family who “have a friend who is getting their black walnut tree taken down, do you want some wood?”

Step 2: I carve the wood.

I buck up the wood. Yes, with an axe. Then I use this nifty hatchet to get the rough wood down to the shape I want. After, using some fancy (very sharp) knives, I whittle what eventually becomes a spoon (or spatula, or whatever I want it to be).

Step 3: I finish the wood (so you can actually use it).

There are a lot of different opinions on how you should properly finish a spoon. Sharp knife finish or sanded smooth? Should you burnish? Oil or wood wax? I believe it comes down to preference – mine, and the future spoon user. I prefer sharp knife finish – a more rustic finish, but Ivy (my wife) prefers a smooth, refined sanded finish. You can see the difference in the picture above – my spoon on the left, hers on the right. Either way, I burnish all of my spoons before applying a food-safe citrus oil based mix from The Real Milk Paint Co. Sometimes I use wood wax or butchers block oil, depending on the type of wood, moisture level, and the use of the utensil. I will include finish in the product description!

Step 4: I packaged everything for you or your favorite person who needs a cool spoon.

Who doesn’t love unwrapping a cute present? None of what I make is fast. So the packaging is also thoughtful, custom, and adds a little touch to make receiving a hand-carved spoon even more special.