Woodwork for Beginners - Green Wood Spoon Carving Workshop
Course Overview
Learn the timeless craft of carving your own wooden spoon from fresh, green timber.
Spend a day discovering one of the oldest and most satisfying woodworking skills: shaping a spoon by hand from a freshly cut log.
This beginner-friendly workshop guides you through every step of carving a beautiful, functional spoon using safe, traditional techniques.
What you’ll learn
- How to work with green (fresh) timber for easy carving
- Safe use of carving knives, hook knives, and spokeshaves
- How to shape the bowl, neck, and handle of a spoon
- Understanding grain direction and knife techniques
- How to manage tear-out and avoid accidents
- The drying process: preventing cracks and warping
- Final shaping, sanding, and food-safe finishing oils
What you’ll make
- You’ll carve the basic spoon form from a prepared green-wood blank on the day.
- Most students will take home a rough-carved spoon ready for slow drying and final finishing at home.
- Your finished piece will become a unique, personal tool you’ll use for years.
Tools required
Basic shared carving tools will be available for use:
- Straight carving knife
- Hook or spoon knife
- Spokeshave, sharpening tools, and leather strop
When you register, you’ll receive a list of recommended tools and links to reliable suppliers so you can buy quality tools that will last.
On the day
- David will start by demonstrating how to split, axe, and prepare spoon blanks (with pre-prepared blanks ready for you to carve).
- You’ll then carve your own spoon step-by-step, with guidance tailored to your skill level.
- Throughout the day, you’ll learn how to safely control a knife, how to read the timber, and how to achieve pleasing, functional shapes.
To finish, there will be a talk and demo on:
- How to dry your spoon slowly without cracking
- How to refine the shape once dry
- The best food-safe finishes
- Caring for wooden utensils
Who this workshop is for
- Complete beginners — no woodworking experience needed
- Adults looking for a calm, hands-on creative day
- Spoon lovers, wood enthusiasts, and slow craft hobbyists
- Anyone who enjoys making useful, beautiful objects with their hands
Take home
- Your own hand-carved spoon (rough-carved and ready to finish)
- The confidence and skills to carve more spoons at home
- Knowledge of tools, safety, drying, finishing, and design
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David Searson
I’m David Searson, a woodworker, maker and workshop teacher based in Sydney. I craft practical, beautiful pieces from local Australian timbers and have a particular love for traditional techniques, simple tools, and creating functional items for the home and kitchen.
My workshops are beginner friendly and focused on skills you can take home and keep using, whether you’re making a gift, restoring a well loved board, or learning to handle tools for the first time. I aim to blend creativity with clear technique, drawing inspiration from heritage forms, scientific ideas, and classic bush tools.
Helping people gain confidence through making is at the heart of what I do. Whether you’re 18 or 80, there’s something deeply satisfying about shaping wood with your own hands. Most weeks you’ll find me at the local produce markets, selling handmade pieces, chatting with visitors, and offering repairs to keep well used items in service.
If you’re curious, careful, and enjoy learning by doing, you’ll feel right at home in one of my workshops or with a handmade piece from my stall.
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