My first love spoon

[pallin]

I volunteered to do a demo of carving at our local History Days next month. For past demos I had done some ball-in-cage or chain whittling, so I was looking for something different and decided to try a Welsh Love Spoon. The photo shows the beginning rough-out. It is spalted Sycamore. Spoon1.jpg

[mdallensr]

Nice design. I bet it will take a nice finish. Let us see your progress. Mike

[pallin]

Here is a progress photo after a couple hours work. I hollowed out the bowl with a 5-12 sweep gouge, but the rest has been shaped with a knife. This piece of sycamore is pretty dry and has some cracks, so I've had to glue some parts back together. It looks like I'll finish this sample long before the demo, so I'll start over on a new design. I've hung this one in the kitchen for my true love.

Spoon3.jpg

[bill#1]

hey thats great for a first spoon..I love it..bill#1

[Lightningbolt]

Great job on the spoon and wish that I could be there for your presentation. Thanks for taking time to share the pictures.

[minowevie]

Pallin, I am just looking at spoons, gosh that is a great start. and looking down in the post. I see you have started carving it. rounding it off. nice job. can't wait to get there. Evie

[Joy]

Wish I could watch your demo. I like your spoon design.

[Mark N. Akers]

Phil:
Excellent carved spoon.

[Irish]

Pallin, what a smile you brought me this morning!!!! I love seeing someone put one of our free patterns to use. And what a fantastic job on the carving.

I posted these links to another thread this morning but I think I will add them again here.

Welsh Love Spoons Tutorial
Welsh Love Spoons Introduction
Basic Cutting Techniques
Page 1 - General Outline Shape
Page 2 - Cutting Inside Openings
Page 3 - Celtic Designs
Open Linked Chain
Page 1 - Measuring the Block
Page 2 - Establishing the Central Cross
Page 3 - Creating the Links
Ball and Cage
Welsh Love Spoon Pattern Package

I, too, would love to see you post a WIP (Work in Progress) when you carve your next love spoon.
Susan Irish

[pallin]

Thanks, Susan, for your comment. I had forgotten where I found that love spoon design. As you can see in my gallery of photos, I haven't done love spoons in the past, but I have whittled some twists and braids that present similar challenges. My next love spoon will be a carving demo at our local History Days. It is a rather complex design I found in the "The Love Spoon Gallery." I'll post some WIP photos when I have something to show.
By the way, my sweetie and I are going to Wales next week.
Phil Allin