No woodworking or crafts in this post just some inspirational people living lives to the full, believing in what they do and going their own way. Maybe taking the road less travelled. First up Lloyd Kahn, I first came across his inspirational book “Shelter” 20 or more years ago. What a treat to find him on the internet, he took…
Yesterday I had the delightful experience of seeing behind the scenes at No.1 Saville Row home of Gieves and Hawkes. I was astonished at how many people work in the cellars below the shops on the Row and how much handwork is involved. This is the view down the long room where most of the work is done, there are…
Last weekend I was turning bowls at this wonderful woodland festival and wanted to share images of some of the other great craftspeople working there. This is John Richardson chair-maker, he was rushing a beautiful old ladderback chair. It had nicely turned back legs and off centre turned feet on the front legs. This is the mulch-talented greenwoodworker Steve Tomlin…
I have been making some replicas of Tudor bowls from the Mary Rose, Henry VIIIs ship which sank in 1545. I spent many years helping the archaeologists studying the originals to understand how they were made and wrote up the chapters in the book “Before the Mast” After turning them on my pole lathe I let them dry for about…
The past 2 weeks I have been turning in the workshop and loving it. This little bunch are in maple, sycamore, ash and hawthorn. The smaller ones are my normal size 3.5″ at the rim, these are perfect for a dram on your own or at their best passing round a group of friends perhaps round the fire, wonderful. I…
We have been working with the producers of this new BBC series since February and are quite excited about how it is looking. Today Paul Martin and crew came to film in my workshop for an episode which will air in October. He made a bowl and I carved the spoon, by the end of the day he was tired…
At our recent SPOONFEST event one of the highlights for me was having Jogge Sundqvist come and speak about his craft, the way it is routed in tradition yet he has found his own 21st expression of that tradition. I along with Jogge and many other carvers owe a debt of gratitude not only to the many generations that carved…
Vintage David Attenborough showing how the Dogon people in Mali approach wood carving from part one the seven-part series “The Tribal Eye”. (1975) The felling of the limb is impressive as is the finish straight from the elbow adzes and the strong bold design. Stick with it to 8 1/2 minutes in and Attenborough’s comments on art object vs living…
In a couple of weeks I shall be speaking at the V&A on the subject of the place of traditional craft skills in the 21st century. It’s part of a panel discussion with eminent speakers from the world of Art and Design, Sir Nicholas Goodison Tanya Harrod, Sir Christopher Frayling amongst others. I will be rather in awe but hope…
Last weekend I watched Phill Gregson tyring a wheel at the National Forest woodfair. This is the culmination of one of the most iconic traditional woodworking crafts. Wheelwrighting has everything, understanding of the raw material, oak for the spokes, elm for the hub or nave, ash for the rim or fellows (pronounced fellies). The wheel is dished rather than flat…
