Would you like to make your own spoon?
Would you like to make your own spoon?
Would you like to make your own spoon?
We‘ve been showing friends and family how to make their own spoons, and they have loved it! We would like to share the joy of spoon carving with other people. Interested?
Who can come to our workshops?
Would you like to make your own spoon?
Would you like to make your own spoon?
Our one day workshops will be aimed at the absolute beginner aged 14 years and up (under 18’s to be accompanied by an adult). We will take you through how to be safe, how to make a billet and how to carve a beautiful cooking spoon
Workshops for 2019
Would you like to make your own spoon?
Workshops for 2019
We are planning to provide one-day beginner’s workshops for up to six people starting in spring 2019. If you are interested, please subscribe on our Homepage to receive information on workshops. We want to keep it affordable for everyone, so we are planning to charge £60 per person which will include refreshments with attendees bringing something for a shared lunch.
Beginner’s Workshop details
Pricing
The price for our workshops (up to 6 people) is £60 per person for a whole day starting at 10:30-5pm. Complementary refreshments will be provided, teas and coffee and a light lunch served during the day. Donations are appreciated for lunch and refreshments (suggested donation is £5 per person). There is no charge for helpers or personal assistants attending with people with disabilities. We have a family member with a physical disability, so at our workshop in Fersfield we have a ground floor bathroom and the front door steps have handrails. Our winter workshop Venue at Thornam Magna (Thornam Walks) is wheelchair accessible. We also don’t charge for non-participating adults who come with children between 14-17 years old.
Date of the next workshop
The next workshop will be held at Our base at The Old School, The Street, Fersfield, Diss, IP22 2BL on Sunday 30th August 2020. Courses are for the whole day and run from 10:30am - 5pm
Workshop structure
The day involves:
* An introduction to the greenwood [trees and types of wood for carving]
* How to use axes and cutting tools safely
* Sharpening axes and knives
* Axe and knife techniques
* Technical overview of the carving process
* Carve your own cooking spoon
Lunch
* Carve your own cooking spoon, continued
* Aftercare of your spoon which you take away with you!
Payments
Payment can be made by cheque payable to: Nicolas Gosman
Or by BACS:
Account name: Nicolas Gosman
Sort code: 401918
Account no.: 91570730
FAQs & tools information
1. Can I bring my dog or other pets? Guide or help dogs are welcome, however, please leave other pets at home, sorry.
2. Can I bring non-participating children under 14? Nursing mothers and parents with babies are welcome, however, we are unable to provide crèche facilities for toddlers and children under 5. All children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent, gardian or other responsible adult over 18.
3. Are there hazards I should be aware of? Our workshop is in a sleepy village in rural Norfolk, however, there can be fast moving farm vehicles in our lane, we also have an ornamental pond in our garden.
4. Is there parking available? There is space for 3 cars in our car park, other vehicles will need to be parked in the village lane.
5. Will tools be available at the workshop? Axes, knives (straight and curved), a draw knife and a froe will be available for all participants. However, if you have your own carving knife and axe, or can purchase them before the workshop, please bring them along.
6. Where can I buy tools? You don’t need much equipment to carve spoons. All you need is a straight knife, a curved knife and a small axe. We recommend the following:
Straight carving knife: Opinel Carbone, No. 07 available from quality hardware stores is a very sharp and strong blade for the price
Curved knife to carve the bowl of the spoon: we recommend the Mora 163S vailable on Amazon
Hand axe : a standard small kindling splitting axe can be obtained from any quality harware store. A wooden haft is better than plastic or resin as plastic can get sweaty and slippery with prolonged use.
Starter kits (straight and curved knives): http://www.woodlandcraftsupplies.co.uk
Carving axe: The blade of a carving axe is honed to provide the best cutting tool for carving and the haft is optimally balanced to reduce fatigue during use. For quality and price for the beginner, the Robin Wood carving axe is hard to beat: https://wood-tools.co.uk/tools/the-robin-wood-axe
7. Will tools be available to buy at the workshop? If you would like to buy an axe or carving knife at the workshop, please let us know three weeks before the workshop so we can have it ready for you.
8. Will personal protective clothing be needed? Whilst extreemly sharp , the safe use of carving tools is the best way to avoild injury, however, we recommend that parents or guardians purchase safety gloves for participants aged between 14-17. We reccommend ‘No Cry’ safety gloves : https://nocry.com
Advanced spoon carving techniques
Additional Information
About the Course
The workshop involves:
* Sharpening axes and knives: techniques & equipment recommendations
* Creation & use of the draw horse & safety chopping block
* Mark out and carve your own eating spoon with a canted bowl
* Aftercare of your spoon which you take away with you!
The price for our workshops (up to 3 people) is £20 per person for 2 hours. Day and timing is by arrangement with the participants. Complementary refreshments will be provided, teas, coffee and cakes served from the Hedgehog Cafe caravan (situated in our garden). Donations are appreciated for refreshments (suggested donation is £3 per person). There is no charge for helpers or personal assistants attending with people with disabilities. We have a family member with a physical disability, so the caravan has safety steps and our ground floor bathroom and front door steps have handrails. We also don’t charge for non-participating adults who come with children between 14-17 years old.
Testimonials & awards
Awards for our courses
Workshop participants feedbacks
Workshop participants feedbacks
Our Beginner’s Spoon Carving course has just received a Bronze Award for its excellent reviews by participants!
Workshop participants feedbacks
Workshop participants feedbacks
Workshop participants feedbacks
BEGINNER’S SPOON CARVING:
I had a wonderful time on this course. Nick and Sophie were excellent tutors - really knowledgable but patient and relaxed with us beginners. I'm really proud of my spoon and the lunch was delicious! Thank you for a lovely day! - Helen
Many thanks for a great day... Have seen many youtube videos but nothing beats actually first hand instruction and guidance. I strongly recommend visiting Nick and Sophie's workshop where you will come away not only with your own wonderful spoon, but the enthusiasm to make many more... Thank you both.... Steve..
Gosman Spoon Co workshops at Dance Camp East 2021
Dance Camp East, a transformative celebration of life & creativity in the heart of Suffolk
The Gosman Spoon Co will be providing spoon carving, and bender-building workshops at part of this years’s Dance Camp East comminity camp and festival. The contents of these spoon carving workshops will be the same as the beginner’s workshops and tools will be available for attendees to use. Dance Camp East is more than just a festival, it is a transformativ e experience and Campers often talk about the peace they take away with them at the end of camp. This year you can also take away your ver y own spoon and the skill to make you r own. How sponififul is that!
Learn More
Why not take the plunge and come to Dance Camp East this year? The organisers keep the ticket prices low and concessions are avaiable, check out the Dance Camp East website by clicking the action button below.