Because each of my spoons is an original work of folk art, no two of them are ever exactly alike. Each spoon that I sculpt is an adventure. For all the care and planning that goes into a design, they often surprise me and design themselves.
I carved my first spoon in 1997 and sold my first one in 1998, shortly after we moved to Montana. Since that time,the shop in our front yard in East Glacier Park, Montana, has grown as have the spoon sales. Everything that I know about carving has been completly self-taught, and the process that I use has developed out of many trials and errors.
In 2003, my husband Charley decided that what I was doing was more than just a hobby, so now he helps me with the spoons full time, and we are now able to offer a limited number of our spoons at wholesale.
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I first carve the spoon by hand then sand it smooth. Because water raises the grain of sanded wood, the spoon is then "water cured" at least three times. That is, I soak the spoon in water and allow it to dry. I then sand it with increasingly finer grits, between soaking and drying, until the grain no longer rises when the wood is wet. The final polishing is at a 600 grit so that the spoons remain smooth after use.
All of my spoons are finished with Spiral Spoon Snake oil, my own blend of mineral oil and beeswax. Actually, my "Snake Oil" has nothing to do with snakes; I just always wanted to sell snake oil. The mineral oil penetrates the wood and helps to preserve it while the wax seals and protects the wood, keeping it from feeling oily to the touch and additionally repelling water.
The spoons have evolved from that first one, but my love for them has remained constant. I believe that every truly good meal is art and that every artist deserves the best tools available. We do our best for you so that you can do your best for those you love.
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