Sloydcast

Enjoy this chat with blacksmith and tool maker, Adam Ashworth. He shares his story of woodworker-turned-blacksmith that was sparked, like many, by an obsession with green woodworking and spoon carving. He shares his insights into mastering the craft of knife making and the niche he has, pun intended, carved out for himself making sloyd knives. We discuss some of the specifics of being a self-employed craftsperson and, as always, we dive into the technical aspects of his craft, most notably Adam's recent foray into the ancient craft of metal etching. We hope you enjoy this chat!

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https://www.instagram.com/adamashworth97/

https://www.ashandiron.co.uk/

We're back with our first in-person guest, Zach Chrisinger. We hear his story of going from first time carpenter to full-fledged green woodworker and how he fell in love with the pole lathe. We discuss the pros & cons of learning from the internet, being on social media, and what really drives Zach to pursue and hone his craft. We get into the finer details of teaching green woodworking skills as well as our usual foray into the nitty gritty of tools and the accessories skills required to master pole lathe turning. It was a real pleasure to have Zach down for the first in-person chat!

PLEASE NOTE: Being our first time recording 3 people in the same room, the audio is not the most stellar we've put out, but with a little finessing it turned out OK. We hope you can look past this and enjoy the contents of the chat!

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https://www.instagram.com/chrisingers.cuts

https://www.chrisingerscuts.com/

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

https://www.mainecoastcraft.com

https://www.instagram.com/thebodgingbigfootllc/

We are back! And joined by the one and only spoon carving, coppiced Christmas tree growing maverick, Emmet Van Driesche. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, starting by learning about Emmet's journey to becoming a full-time spoon carver, to the trials and tribulations of making a living using social media. We discuss his unique path as a professional spoon carver, how he brought his skills as writer to create Spoonesaurus magazine and his three books and how craft and spoon carving contributes to one's mental wellbeing. Emmet also shares some insights into his workflow, what inspires him to keep progressing and growing his business, and how he manages his unique Christmas tree farm. + more!

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FOLLOW EMMET

https://www.instagram.com/emmet_van_driesche

https://www.emmetvandriesche.com/

https://www.instagram.com/spoonesaurus/

https://www.spoonesaurus.com/

Mike & I hosted a small informal gathering here in Sedalia, VA the weekend before the summer solstice. A great group of local sloyd enthusiasts gathered and we carved, cooked, swam, and pole lathe turned for a couple days. This is a short bonus episode introducing everyone who was there. Enjoy!

Join us for this chat with crafty axe maker Julia Kalthoff. We learn about her lifelong craft journey from her mother's fabric store to working for Wetterlings. We get into all of the the details of the inception and production of the axes she makes--from the long process of refining each aspect of the design and production, to the rigorous refinement of the metallurgical alchemy of tool making, to some of the finer points of grind geometry, fitting the handles and more. We also touch on the subject of preserving a strong and healthy body whilst pursuing handcraft beyond the hobby scale. And she offers a refreshing to our famous last question... We really enjoyed speaking with Julia, she is a wealth of knowledge and experience!

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https://www.instagram.com/kalthoffaxes/

https://www.kalthoffaxes.se/

Mentions from the episode:

Beth Moen

Wetterlings

Hultafors

Gransfors Bruks

Copy lathe in action

Handle horse

Join us for this lively conversation with none other than Zed Shah. We get into a wide range of topics, learning about Zed's inroad to bushcraft, spooncarving and the broader sloyd world from his background in social work and marketing. We explore how the geographical & cultural distinctions influence craft in different parts of the world, and in particular why the UK is such a hub. We learn about Zed's journey as a film maker and the evolution of his approach to documenting the craftspeople and skills he documents and shares, the influence of social media on craft, the importance of photography and marketing for craftspeople, the value of developing skills vs buying expensive tools, and a bunch of other little side discussions along the way. Towards the end, Zed shares nuggets of marketing wisdom, which leads to a future episode concept! All around, a really fun and engaging chat with a little bit of something for everyone.

Future Episode Concept

Have any burning marketing or media questions? Want to hear from Zed on them? Send your questions to us and we'll compile them for a topic-focused Q&A episode with Zed in the near future. Send questions to [email protected]

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https://www.youtube.com/c/Zedoutdoors

https://zedoutdoors.com/

www.zedtutorials.com

Keep an eye on: www.spoontemplates.com

Mentions from the episode:

Ray Mears

Not Just Bikes

Spoonfest

Werner Fuchs

Sharif Adams

Pro Camera by Moment

Classic Hand Tools

Spoontown UK

Yoav Elkayam

Join us for this engaging chat with Mark Krawczyk—Renaissance man of permaculture, wood craft, and agroforestry. We delve into his journey from college to study permaculture with Bill Mollison in the early 2000’s which eventually lead him to the UK to learn from the likes of Ben Law, Mike Abbott, and back to the states to intern with Drew Langsner. We explore the finer points of greenwood working in the tradition of chair-making, hickory bark harvesting, and seat weaving—then into the principles and practices of coppice agroforestry and his upcoming book Coppice Agroforestry: Tending Trees for Product, Profit, and Woodland Ecology. We finish it off with an insightful discussion on the tenets of managing a woodland from a holistic perspective. All in all, a wonderful chat! Mark is an amazing wealth of knowledge and experience. Enjoy!

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FOLLOW MARK

https://www.valleyclayplain.com/

https://www.keylinevermont.com/

http://www.rivenwoodcrafts.com/

Pre-order his book: http://www.coppiceagroforestry.com/

Mentions from the episode:

Helen & Scott Nearing

Ben Law

Ben Law Grand Designs

Mike Abbott

Brookhouse Woods

Harvesting Hickory Bark

Make a Chair from a Tree by Jennie Alexander

Woodlanders Docu-series

Woodlands by Oliver Rackham

Forestry Prism

Eric Sloane

Join us for this chat with the amazingly talented coppice and green woodworker Rosie Rendell. We learn about her journey from gardener to coppice woodworker and the burgeoning businesses she has built since. She gives us a lesson in what coppicing is, what hedgelaying is, and some of the basic principles and practices that define these crafts. We learn about the seasonal flow of her work and get a sense of how deeply connect her work is to the ecosystem, her raw material, and the ancient crafts she is carrying into the future. We top it off discussing her new endeavor producing charcoal and how important this process and product is for closing the loop of a coppice woodworking profession. Last but not least, we flesh out how important it is to remember that these crafts are as much a part of the constellation of sloyd practices as spoon carving or bowl turning. We hope you enjoy this chat!

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FOLLOW ROSIE

https://www.instagram.com/the_coppiced_wood_company/

https://www.instagram.com/wildwoodcharcoal/

Join us for this chat with the multi-talented craftsman Lee Stoffer. We get into Lee’s first introduction to green woodworking and sloyd via the illustrious Mike Abbott, how he went from the pole lathe to spoon carving to tool making and leather work. We learn about how he came to develop his now celebrated spoon scorp. And we also get into the weeds on some of the finer points of being a self employed crafts person, marketing our craft, how social media fits into the life and business of craft, and much more. Lee is passionate about his craft and lifestyle that surrounds it, and shares his knowledge with humility. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we did chatting!

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https://www.instagram.com/stoffercraft

Lee's Youtube

Mentions from the episode:

Mike Abbott

Brookhouse Woods

Svante Djarv

David Fisher’s bowl horse

Nic Westermann

River & Journey Knives

Paul Adamson

Magnus Sundelin

Wayne Barton

Sean Hellman

Zed Outdoors

Jill Swan

Martin Damon

Werner Fuchs

Join us for this wonderful chat with the one and only, Magnus Sundelin aka Sloyd Magnus. We get into the lifelong journey of sloyd for Magnus, starting with whittling in the woods alongside his grandfather, and the long circuitous path that lead him to where he is today as part crafts teacher, green woodworker and tool maker. We get deep into the philosophy of what sloyd means to Magnus, to culture, and to humanity at large. We get into the weeds with his passion for blacksmithing and tool making and his approach to designing and making the best tools he can. We also learn about Magnus' favorite type of music and how that has imprinted his work in an iconic way. Magnus is a humble and talented craftsman with a deep connection to the craft, it's lineage, nature, and the future of it going forward. We hope you enjoy this chat!

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https://www.instagram.com/sloydmagnus/

Mentions from the episode:

Mocotaugan (Bent Knife) Book

Nic Westerman

Adrian Lloyd

Spoonfest

Scottish Spoon Hoolie

Täljfest

Jane Mickelborough

Join us for a lovely chat with the savvy sloyder, Fred Livesay. We learn about his journey through the realms of handcraft starting from the ripe young age of 7, and the decades of exploration and experience he's embarked on since. We chat about the deep influence of Scandinavian wood working tradition in his work, the philosophy of handcraft and handmade utilitarian objects, immigrant culture and mindsets regarding materials, and some of the finer points of what it means to be a craftsperson beyond the realms of social media and internet algorithms. We also get some history on the beginning of folk schools and the history of North House Folk School. It's a sneak peek into Fred's mind, with heaps of subtle wisdom from a skilled craftsman who has spent most of his life immersed in the realms of working wood by hand.

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https://www.instagram.com/hand2mouthcrafts/

Mentions from the episode:

Frederick Grundvig and the beginning of folk schools

Danebod Folk School

Video about Danebod Folk School

Vesterheim

Tensegrity

Oak: The Frame of Civilization

Martin Hazell on St. Peter Damian

Mike Loeffler

Fred's class at Vesterheim later this summer: Unraveling the Knot Basket: Investigating the Scandinavian Knutkorg

Join us fo this information packed chat with the maestro of metal, Reid Schwartz. We learn about his journey from art school to cabinet shop and his passion for metal working that was sparked early on, the video of a Russian ladle carver that blew his mind, his experience learning to make birch bark canoes, and the slew of friends, figures, and mentors who inspired him along the way. Reid is a fantastic storyteller and shares insights into what drives him and his approach to tool making and craft, plus we get a bit more technical at the end for those wishing to take a deeper plunge.

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https://www.reidschwartz.net/

https://www.instagram.com/reidschwartz/

Mentions from the episode:

Tim Manney

César's Canoe

Wood Tools

Jean-José Tritz

Tool Making for Woodworkers

Join us for a lovely chat with the Godfather of Green Woodworking in the UK, none other than Mike Abbott. We hear about Mike's journey to the craft starting in the early 1980's and the long winding road that led him to establishing Living Woods Training in 1985. He shares countless stories of all the folks he has met along the way, inspiring, guiding, and encouraging him to forge ahead preserving and passing on dying skills and traditions. It's a recount of 30+ years building a green woodworking movement, teaching hundreds of students , and establishing a far flung legacy. We really enjoyed our chat with Mike and are excited to capture and share his story. Enjoy!

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https://goingwiththegrain.org/ 

Youtube

and now, Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/abbottslivingwood/

Mentions from the episode:

Tamsin Abbott

Nick Gibbs

Quercus Magazine

Woodland Crafts in Britain by Herbert Edlin

St Fagans National Museum of History

Traditional Spooncarving in Wales by Gwyndaf Breese

Welsh Stick Chairs by John Brown

Drew Langsner

Jack Hill

Dave Sawyer

Stuart King

Don Weber

Jennie Alexander

Mike Abbott’s transhumance

Veritas Tapered Tenon Cutter

The Lumber Horse

Daniel Mack

Owen Jones

Nick Abbott

Join us for this in-depth conversation with bowl turner, spoon carver, and all-around crafty fellow, Owen Thomas. He shares his journey from commercial woodworker to sloyd craftsman over the past decade—we learn about the initial exposure that sparked his interest, his time learning from Mike Abbott, apprenticing with Barn the Spoon, and creating a livelihood as a green woodworker. We got into his unique approach to spoon carving, his passion for the pole lathe, and his venture into increasing his production of turned objects using a Japanese-style electric lathe. This chat covers a lot of ground and gives you insight into Owen's passion for his craft. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have.

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https://www.owenthomaswoodcraft.com/

https://www.instagram.com/owenthomaswoodcraft/

https://www.youtube.com/owenthomaswoodcraft

Mentions from the episode:

Mike Abbott

Ben Orford

Robin Wood

Barn the Spoon

Enjoy this chat with the inimitable Yoav Elkayam. He shares the story of his journey into green woodworking and pole lathe turning and all of the places, experiences, and people that helped him along the way. We get into some of the nitty gritty of making a living as a craftsperson in the modern age, the challenges and benefits of social media, his life at Brookhouse Woods—where he, his partner, and daughter live in an off-grid cabin—and a whole slue of tangential subjects. We also delve into some of the details of end grain pole lathe turning, tools of the trade, pole lathe hook making, wood finishes, and so on. It was a real treat to get this chance to speak with Yoav and for him to share so much!

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FOLLOW YOAV

https://www.instagram.com/yoav.kafets/

https://yoavkafets.bigcartel.com/products

Mentions from the episode:

Brookhouse Woods

Spoonfest

Mike Abbott

Robin Wood

Jane Mickelborough

Sharif Adams

Adam Hawker

We are excited to share this conversation with the godfather of sloyd, Jögge Sundqvist. We learn about his upbringing with his father, the rightfully celebrated Willie Sundqvist, his journey from rockstar to sloyd master, how his alter ego Surolle came to life, the ethnology of the term sloyd and it’s ancient colloquial roots, what his life is like as a professional craftsman, and much more! It was a joy and honor to have this time to chat with him and we hope you all enjoy it!

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FOLLOW JÖGGE

www.surolle.se

https://www.instagram.com/surolle/

Jögge and Willie's Books

Slöjd in Wood

Swedish Carving Techniques

Mentions from the episode:

Documentary about Willie Sundqvist: The Spoon, The Bowl, The Knife

Wille Sundqvist and Bill Coperthwaite Slöjd  Fellowship

Beth Moen 

Magnus Sundelin

Björn Svantesson

Anja Sundberg

Enjoy this chat with green woodworker extraordinaire Jarrod Dahl. We talk about his journey into green woodworking, how he helped propel spoon carving with his Scandinavian influence, pioneered pole lathe turning in the US, his foray in Japanese traditional wood turning techniques and how his philosophy and trajectory have changed over the years. It's a snippet of the breadth of Jarrod's experience and wisdom, with lots of details for all skill levels. We'll definitely be having Jarrod back in the future to discuss all that we didn't have time to get into with this episode!

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FOLLOW JARROD

www.instagram.com/jarrod__dahl

www.instagram.com/woodspirithandcraft

www.woodspirithandcraft.com

Youtube

Mentions from the episode:

Tom Dengler

Fred Livesay

Milan Spoon Gathering

Gifu Academy of Forest Science and Culture

Tomio Imaru

Jarrod's Japanese Lathe: here and here

Videos about urushi laquer: one, two, three

Jarrod's Japan Travels:

Japan! The Three Week Craft Adventure

Urushi Lacquer

Japan - Gifu and Urushi

Japan - Kobe and Miki City

Japan - Kyoto and Takayama

VALUE FOR VALUE

If you enjoy Sloydcast, please show us some love by subscribing  wherever you listen to podcasts, share the show, and leave a rating and  review on your favorite podcast app. Every bit helps spread the word and  the sloyd!

Join us for this month’s episode where we chat with the one and only, Barn The Spoon. This was a lovely chat where we covered a lot of ground and got to know a lot more about Barn’s journey as a greenwood worker and spoon carver. From his first taste of wood working with a lathe in his parent’s garage, to walking around and carving spoons as a traveling spoon peddler, to his infamous London spoon shop, and much more. We get to hear about Barn’s philosophy, what inspires him and fuels his passion for his work. Many know and love Barn, and we truly enjoyed having some time to get to know him and share it with you all.

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FOLLOW BARN

Instagram

www.barnthespoon.com

Green Wood Guild

Spoon Club

Mentions from this episode:

Tim Sanderson

Tom Hepworth

Ben Law’s handmade home

River Cottage

Mike Abbott

Say it with Wood

Grain and Knot

Adrian Lloyd

Anna Casserly

Adam Hawker

Sams Spoons

Nic Westermann

VALUE FOR VALUE

If you enjoy Sloydcast, please show us some love by subscribing  wherever you listen to podcasts, share the show, and leave a rating and  review on your favorite podcast app. Every bit helps spread the word and  the sloyd!

Enjoy this chat with spoon carver, pole lathe turner and all around crafty woman, Amy Leake. You may know her as Woodmungler on facebook and Instragram, and we learn why that is. We also learn about her path to green woodworking, what inspires her, and about the techniques she uses to make her wares. Not to mention, we learn what mudlarking is, what a brooch is, and get context for what it's like to be a green woodworking who lives in a seaside English village. She is humble and gracious with her knowledge which makes for an enjoyable conversation.

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FOLLOW AMY

Instagram

www.woodmungler.co.uk 

Amy on the cover of Spoonesaurus magazine: 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-W8Y82DC5L/ 

Mentions from the episode:

Algirdo Juškevičiaus—comb maker and green woodworker in Lithuania: Algirdo amatai

Fritiof Runhall

Ted Sandling

London Mudlark

VALUE FOR VALUE

If you enjoy Sloydcast, please show us some love by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts, share the show, and leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast app. Every bit helps spread the word and the sloyd! 

We have a lovely chat with blacksmith, toolmaker and pole lathe turner Matty Whittaker. We dive deep into the lifestyle of a small-holder in rural England, Matty's long journey into the world of green woodworking, managing a woodland, and the philosophy that fuels him. We also touch on the more technical, getting a peek into Matty's tool making process and work space. Overall, a lovely chat!

www.sloydcast.com

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Follow Matty on Instagram:

www.instagram.com/matty.whittaker

Matty's Toolmaking Video:

Forging a bowl lathe hook for nesting bowls

VALUE FOR VALUE

If you enjoy Sloydcast, please show us some love by subscribing  wherever you listen to podcasts, share the show, and leave a rating and  review on your favorite podcast app. Every bit helps spread the word and  the sloyd!