In 4 years blogging I have made some great friends around the world, quite a few of whom I have met in person and others I hope to meet in the future. I feel to be very much a part of a growing online craft community with links around the globe and I’d like this blog post to help strengthen that community and be a way of introducing all my online friends to each other, a virtual craft meet up if you like. It would be great if we could all meet in Edale village hall round a table with tea or a beer and lots of nice craftwork to chat about, I hope to organise that in 2012. I know there are some readers who are very talented woodworkers or skilled in other crafts whilst others are just starting out. I would love to hear from you all. In fact I hope to give you all a platform to say hello and maybe send me a link to your own blogs or websites if you have them.
You can get in touch by using the comments box below this post or by sending email to robin@robin-wood.co.uk I’d love to hear from lot’s of you and so my 500th blog post (this is 498) can be all about my blog readers.
I love to hear stories about folk that have been inspired in some way by my work or blog, it gives me the incentive to carry on writing. Here is a recent one Wilson Burnham of Brokeoff Mountain Lutherie is currently making a pole lathe to turn bowls.
and here are a couple of other woodworkers I have a lot of time for Jarrod StoneDahl makes wonderful pole lathe bowls and spoons in northern Wisconsin and one day I hope to visit and help him build one of his gorgeous birch bark canoes.
Peter Follansbee is the joiner making wonderful furniture using original techniques at Plimouth Plantation, his blog is well worth a read, particularly his posts with photos of original 17th century pieces like this. He also turns bowls every now and then.
Rivkah Mentzer is a medieval historian and homemaker. which involves many crafts, in my early days of blogging she encouraged me by posting nice comments. Later she visited the workshop and bought a bowl which she calles Mambrino and makes bread dough in, she posts pictures of the bowl from time to time and it is ageing nicely.
Next March for the Heritage Crafts Association spring conference at the V&A we have chosen the theme “Evolving Craft Communities” Richard Sennett author of “The Craftsman” will be our keynote speaker. I’ll be speaking about the way in which the internet has allowed me to feel connected with a wonderful community of folk in the UK and worldwide, my blog gets around 1500 readers a day so I am hoping some of you will join in the conversation, let me know who you are, where you are, what your interests are and maybe whether you draw inspiration or just a feeling of connectedness from following web blogs about subjects that have meaning for you. Over to you…….
robin@robin-wood.co.uk
Thanks
ps if any of you do facebook I do that a little too here
I'm a ready reader of your posts and frequently forward them. Thanks for your inspiring work and intelligent commentary.
I'm a reader.I'm a 40 year old software engineer / entrepreneur just outside of Boston, MA. On the weekends I turn on my Powermatic lathe (as well as doing a bit of other woodworking, some blacksmithing, etc.).Keep blogging!
Robin,I always watch out for new posts, I really enjoy your writing. You are one of the people that originally inspired me to pursue spoon carving, and now I feel as though I'm reaching some level of competency after a couple of years of practice. I have some photos posted up on my blog if you care to have a look. I would love to someday get together and talk spoons with yourself, Barn, and any number of the other excellent spooners over on the other side of the pond.Simon
Hi Robin,I've been enjoying your blog for a few years now, I really appreciate what you do! Here's my site, http://www.babushoe.com and you can see my woodwork and other crafts here, http://www.flickr.com/photos/babushoes/Thanks,Daniel Walling
I've read for the great images of spoons, bowls and carving. I also really like your posts that deal with the crafts as a piece of living history, their impact etc. As a craftsperson I'm into simple American furniture, Shaker blanket chests, harvest tables and things like that. I'm planning on doing some boarded furniture this year. Toolmaking, especially wooden moulding planes is another love of mine, I'm currently working on a half set of hollows and rounds. I really want to make some boxed side beads too.
Robin, your 4 YouTube videos really influenced me in getting started spoon carving. Your blog is in my Google Reader cue, so I see every one you post. My blog is at http://flyingchips.blogspot.com. I am a recovering engineer, and I find carving in general and spoon carving in particular a fine escape from the left-brain stuff I usually deal with.
Hi Robin,I'm Märt from Estonia. I found you from Youtoube and these videos inspired me to try some bowl turning. Also your videos cave very good pointers abount spoon carfting – my skill at this has gone up since. This year I finally made myself a lathe out of some scrapwood and made my first 3 bowls. It was fun! I am a software-engineer and re-enactor (late 13th and early 14th century.
Hi Robin,Not sure how long I've been following your blog now, but I'm sure it's been a while. I probably first came across it through the bushcraftuk site. You've definitely inspired me in my spoon carving. I've even made a few quaiches (not turned though). I think I posted examples of them on the fb wooden spoon carving page where you also seem to be active. Thanks for all the inspiration, keep up the good work, both here and through the Heritage Crafts Association.Tom
Hi Robin,I started reading your blog about 10 months ago, and since then haven't missed a post. Nearly everyday I even try to catch up reading one of the previous 3 years and still haven't gone through all the blog.You have definitely changed my view of woodwork as green woodwork is defintely not as common in France. I haven't got a lot to show at the moment, but I am having a lot of fun carving spoons and turning. I don't have the room here in London to build a pole lathe but back in France next year it will probably be the first thing I'll do. I am hoping to get in touch with old guys from a village next to mine where there is a museum of old crafts (you would love it):http://www.animagie.fr/bretagne/bretagne.html and where they run demos over the summer (including pole lathe but not making bowls as far as I know) I would love one day to join in as this will probably disapear after them.All what I've learn through your and other's blog over here makes me want to go from school to school one day, to run workshop, because I would have loved someone to show me all this when I was younger.But I still have a long way to go, and will have to keep reading you and the rest of the good folks and practising a lot in order to do so.This gathering idea sounds great!Thanks again Robin, please keep blogging!Jim.
I read your blog! Love it. But in actuality though you inspire me a great deal as do the people you highlight plus your sidebar links, I have yet to pick up a tool. What I am doing is trying to find the right tools to buy-to make spoons and bowls eventually. This will take time. My own blog is not really focused on crafts but general life on a homestead-and life in general too. I do spin, knit, crochet and my husband is a master bricklayer but we have had very little time to work on crafts of late. Hopefully we will start soon.
I've been reading your blog for a good while now. I'm an American folklorist living on the border of Missouri and Arkansas, not far from where the Ozark mountains end and the Mississippi Delta begins. I serve on the board of the Arkansas Craft School and direct the Arkansas Folklife Program where I coordinate a traditional crafts apprenticeship program with a special emphasis on perpetuating craft traditions within families and communities.
Hi Robin, I just recently found your blog, and am still going through all th' posts… My wife and I have always been fans of pre-industrial revolution technology, and i've been making wooden bows and arrows for some time now… I've just recently gotten into spoon carving, and that's how i found you- Thank you for all your posts and th' beautiful work- it's been more of an inspiration than you know to us.Our blogs can be found at http://www.survivalinthewasteland.blogspot.com, which is mostly about wild foods, but we're slowly adding crafts and th' like to it,Beth's clothing blog, http://www.clothetheliliesclothing.blogspot.com, thanks again and we look forward to all th' wonderful linksRico and Beth, Colorado, USA
I've read your blog for quite a while now, and it's always very interesting. I'm not a craft person per se, even if I dabble in medieval embroidery and sewing as part of a living history/re-enactment interest. Unfortunately lack of money and time keeps me from expanding into more areas. Perhaps when I'm retired? Then there's time at least, if not money. I keep an archaeology blog over at http://ossamenta.dreamwidth.org if you'd find that of interest. /Lena
Hey Robin I always try to catch up with your blog, I love the bridges bowls and spoons,also the old films you dig up, great stuff. I dabble a bit when I can with rustic woodcraft which can be chairs, stools, boxes, hobby horses and the occasional spoon. Please click on my name to take a look at my blog. And hats off to you for all your good work to keep crafts from fading away 🙂
Hey Robin,I’m from Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada and by day I’m a fisheries biologist on Lake Superior. I’ve been swingin past your blog for quite a while now. Your craftsmanship and the way in which you present it and your ideals are inspirational to say the least. I started carving spoons and bowls from green birch a couple of years ago after visiting family in Sweden and then sitting down with my bowl carving uncle down in Fridley, Minnesota. Since then, I have been chopping and carving away with some lulls thrown in, due to everything else that keeps us occupied in the off hours. The community in which you’ve helped to create using the blog platform is a special one, especially in this day and age, when it seems as though the person to person transfer of traditional knowledge is less common. That said, it is inspiring to know that there are people like you and our friends at the North House Folk School among others who have posted here, who see the importance of sharing and learning together with like minded folks. Keep up the good work.peaceeric
Hi Robin,Through the years your blog happens to be an interesting item to follow. Not only because it has content, but there is often something to see, something visible to complete or as a statement, it's not only interesting to read but also visually nice.Your choice of topics is also appealing, though you tend to write a lot about HCA, but as a chair you are forgiven, there has to be done a lot on that level! By the way, even up here in the Netherlands there is something growing in the politics, there was a call to reintroduce 'Mastership' as a high and honourble title/level.I've allways been interested in crafts, as a kid I was looking forward to the next photo of the Grollsch (beermark) series of 'Vakmanschap is meesterschap' something as 'craftmanship is mastership', scenes of masters with there own beautifull work.Now as a parttime woodturner myself, I'm looking around, I want to see what's happening on that plane. That's not to copy, but to stay inspired. Magazine's as Woodturning tend to be somewhat superficial, the german 'Drechseln' is much better. So I'm delighted with the web, so I found you and I hope you will continue.Greetings,Chris van Aarwww.chrisvanaar.nl
wow, thanks all there are some really interesting stories and links there. I am flat out building at the moment but look forward to having time to look through all your blogs soon. Thanks so much for taking the time to post.
Hi Robin- I'm from the US also, and I'm inspired by all the work you share- both yours and others. I love the craft videos and frequently share them with friends… I've made a springpole lathe, and I love using it, although I also like my powered one… I'm just doing it for fun, but I learn so much every time I make a new bowl. Really, though, I mostly get a renewed awareness and appreciation for all the crafts that people do- the videos and notices you post help remind me that everything that is now mass produced was once made by hand, and it has helped to changed my perspective on purchasing and supporting local craftsmen and artisans. Thank you so much for the work you are doing, and the blog posts sharing it!
I've read your blog for a while now, besides enjoying your posts both in the Bodgers and BushcraftUK. I'm a teacher, living and working in Jämtland in Sweden. Spend what free time I have to a large extent on bushcrafty stuff and crafts, mostly greenwood carving (spoons, shrink pots, bowls of various kinds, etc). Par(http://deepwoods.dreamwidth.org/)
I've been reading the blog for a while since my brother turned me onto it. I'm a woodcarver/postdoc researcher in image analysis in NYC. http://www.anthonysantella.comhttp://anthonysantella.blogspot.com/I enjoy the way the blog touches on both the technical and political aspects of craft.
HiI'm Arno from Estonia.Bedore browsing your blog, i had only seen ugly wooden spoons made with machines in a souvenire factory. I was inspired to try sharpening some crooked knives i had lying around in the house. Even made a video of greenwood carving at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0LKg9nOdIw I am learning hand tool woodworking and my goal is to make a living with it someday.
I read and enjoy your blog in my Google Reader. I seldom miss a post. I'm in the Mohave Desert, Arizona, USA.
Good day RobinBeen reading your blog for a few months now, and enjoying it tremendously. I've forged some spoon carving knives, and I'm getting materials together to build and a lathe and forge tools over Christmas, hoping to be up and running mid January or so. I'll post to the Bodger's ask & answer when I'm finished.Thanks for all the help, without guys like you willing to share your craft, I'd have no idea a pole lathe existed, much less how to build and use one.nnykampNW Iowa.
Hi, I'm Mikaël from France. Thanks a lot for your posts. Your fantastic work inspire me to begin green woodworking with hand tools. I always be happy to read you. Thanks againMikaël (geologist but woodworker passionate hobby)
Hi robin,I always read and enjoy your blog. I'm a carpenter by trade but I also love the more traditional aspects of woodwork and I love using hand tools. I find what you write interesting and I love your pieces on trades that are dieing out and others that are thriving. Thanks for keeping me entertained and inspired to do more.Kevhttp://sawdustinmysocks.blogspot.com/
Hi Rob,I'm a spoon and bowl carver from Cumbria, UK http://stevetomlincrafts.wordpress.comI remember meeting you for the first time, being pleased to meet another spooncarver and someone working wood without sandpaper. You took the time to answer my questions and since then I've continued to be impressed and inspired by you and your work. Now I'm lucky enough and feel honoured to call you a friend. The blog is always entertaining, thought provoking and intelligent – keep it up.All the best,Steve
I read your blog daily. I'm also a turner, and you inspire me regularly to try new things. Even demonstrated making quaches for the Rocky Mountain Woodturners a few months ago. Keep turning and promoting craft!!!!Bear @ StandingPeopleDesigns.com
Hi Robin,I'm from Russia, Moscow. Thanks for your blog. Here is my website: http://www.finecrafts.ru You can find there things of such crafts as leatherworking, woodworking and boneworking.
Hi Robin,i'm often in in Edale for walking weekends… And enjoying teh Nags head… may bump into you sometime…My blog is down at the moment but my Facebook page has lots of photos of my work.http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lee-Chadwick-Country-Crafts/196681780380900Lee ChadwickStickmaker
Hi,Im a teacher from the UK currently working in Qatar. I love carving and tinkering, but there arent many opportunities for me in Qatar! So i love reading your blog and getting ideas for the summer.
I'm so excited it has been this long! I've watched the HCA develop with interest from this side of the pond, but having been inspired over there to get involved in local craftsmanship here I'm afraid I've neglected the online world almost altogether. From spin-ins to fairs to little farms–and back to my own fireside with cat and spindle and tea–it is difficult to remember the appeal of sitting in front of a computer screen!I could not do what I do without people who are active in their craft, who genuinely love what they do and do it well. Thank you for showing me this part of the world. I've met so many wonderful people.Mambrino is doing well and happily–it is a kind of therapy to work with well-made handmade tools on a daily basis. I have now added handmade brooms to my broom closet and handmade fiber preparation tools to my spinning supplies. Hopefully I can get back into the blogosphere again and take some pictures. I would LOVE to go take one of your spoon-carving courses and not have to hurry through Edale like my dad and I did when we were there. Speaking of carving, I've started (in my spinning and knitting obsession) to spin with a drop spindle and I was wondering if you ever thought of carving and selling some? It would be easy–much easier than a spoon, I think–and so much better made than the sanded, chippy ones, or the over-varnished glamour of the store-bought spindles. A thought, anyway.Thanks again! I love seeing the progress of your work and of the HCA. Keep coming with the YouTube stuff! I'm saving up for more bowls and plates and some decent wooden spoons.