The Art of Spoon Carving Workshop with Raleigh Campbell of the Hearth Folk School

Traditional European woodwork was accomplished with hand tools, green wood (wood that is still wet), and knowledge of craft & woodland care passed down through generations. During this one day spoon carving course we will cover skills necessary to fill your home with beautiful and useful wooden objects. From tree to spoon, we will be working with freshly harvested greenwood (wood that is still wet) from California. We will discuss what to look for when selecting wood, tips for spoon design & how to carve with confidence. Learn to safely use the tools for proper technique to begin carving. Then, move on to designing and carving your own wood spoon from freshly cut wood using only hand tools and imagination. No carving experience needed. This course is great for continuing and beginning spoon carvers. We will touch on purchasing appropriate tools, sharpening, and sourcing wood. We hope as well as to spark interest in all the available crafts with green wood. All the raw materials and tools are provided.

Raleigh Campbell has a background of working with her hands, designing, and creating beautiful things. At 18, she joined her mother in a jewelry business. Given skills, guidance, and a freedom to create through school and mentors led her to a life work of working with her hands. Her first spoon was carved at an Art of Mentoring in 2013. “Many thought I was crazy that I wanted to become a professional spoon carver!” she says, but since March of 2018 her focus has been to spend as much time with professional Green Woodworkers as possible. Much of that year was spent living in the UK to learn from the masters. Now back in Sonoma County she runs Hearth Folk School with Nick Lahaise and does woodwork in their workshop and around the state.