I've been busy with order from all over the United States and overseas this month.  Recently, I've had time to come up with another ambitious new product schedule for this year.  Below are just a few new items that have already been released on my website and in my Etsy Shop.  My ambition is to have 6 new products every month..well we'll see how that goes.  If you have any ideas or designs you'd like to see drop me a note. I'd love to hear your suggestions.

In 2019, I'll be using my newly designed Spoon Mule 2.0 for classes in traditional spoon carving.  The spoon mule has a lot of different features over a traditional mule.  The internal wooden vice allows for easy grip of material top-side.  The large head and quad-legs are superior for stability when carving outdoors.  I prefer a larger seat with rounded edges.  Plus, the Spoon Mule 2.0 has an attachable chopping block.  If you are interested in taking a spoon carving workshop visit my workshop page for current class schedule.  

Spoons For Soup Kitchens is a fundraising campaign to help those looking for food and other essentials in Mid-Coast Maine area.  The program is meant to help people who can't meet their basic needs with either food or other general assistants.  100% of your donation goes directly to Mid-Coast Hunger Prevention Program.  In return for your generous donation, a handmade spoon will be mailed to each donor as a thank you for supporting this campaign.*  Your direct financial support will helps those in most need.

WHAT IS "SPOONS FOR SOUP KITCHENS"?
"Spoons For Soup Kitchens" is a fundraising campaign founded by Jason Weymouth owner of Carved Wooden Spoons of Brunswick, Maine. The campaign started in 2015 to help those looking to find basic food assistants and other essential needs.  Carved Wooden Spoons of Brunswick, Maine has generously donated time, resources, and other costs to make this campaign a success.  Jason says, "It's critical that we as a community offer a helping hand to our brothers and sisters who, for what ever reason, find themselves trapped in poverty." Carved Wooden Spoons covers the cost of materials required to make the spoon, the time required to make the spoon, and the cost to mail each spoon to each donor!  This years spoon is made from Maine Maple and hand engraved with "Spoons For Soup Kitchens 2018". Last year Spoons For Soup Kitchens had a successful year but still more is needed.

HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
1. Click the Donation Link above to make a donation.  
2. After you donate, you'll receive an email confirmation from the Mid-Coast Hunger Program - MCHPP.
3. Forward your donation confirmation email along with your mailing address to: jason@carvedwoodenspoons.com

Once your donation confirmation letter has been verified, you will receive your 2018 Spoons For Soup Kitchens handmade spoon like the one pictured above within 2-weeks. It's that simple!

HOW MUCH SHOULD I DONATE?
This years campaign suggested donation amount is only: $50.00, however, prayerfully consider what you are able do give and remember no amount is too small. With your help we can make a difference.  Please consider giving to those in most need this year.

CAN I DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE PROGRAM?
Yes, this is how the program works! You donate directly to the Mid-Coast Hunger Prevention Program MCHPP! I only require you to email me your donation confirmation email along with the mailing address to where I can mail your FREE maple spoon.

Thank you!

*Limited Quantity Available. Only one spoon per household. Donation must be made between Nov 1, 2018 & December 31, 2018 to qualify. 

New item for the month!  Cheese & cracker tray with handle.  Handcrafted in your choice of maple, cherry, or walnut.  Serve in style! These serving trays always start a conversation around the table.  Makes a great housewarming gift. 

In an effort to keep my new spoon creations consistent from one to the next, I'll be employing a new design that is my signature style. This style comes from the early Arts & Crafts era and is reminiscent of a simpler time in the furniture movement of the 1970's. You may notice this style has several unique features.  Rounded over ends and back along with curved angles and curved handle. Notice the prominent contrasting wood plug that brings to mind fine joinery and the hiding of screw heads.  Although this plug doesn't hide anything and is purely cosmetic without any functionality, but it does serve as a reminder of this technique used by so many woodworkers.

I use the country style server style to expand into a new realm.  A spoon that has softer curved handle, contrasting wood...because I love this look, and same serving capacity as the country style server.  What a joy to create and experiment. I hope you enjoy this creation as much as I have creating it for you and your kitchen cook! Bon Appétit !!

As I review the functionality of my utensils, I frequently find designs to improve upon what I already created.  The "Fantastic Flipper" is one of those designs that I often wanted to visit again and change up a little.  In an effort to improve my design and "brand" I've decided to make the inlay accent a part of my overall feature of my collection.  I will be re-creating a few designs to be lefty or righty utensils while at the same time adding a much needed and requested contrasting inlay to the design.  I'll be starting with the circle inlay plug with contrasting wood in left or right handed, then I'll be moving onto more intricate inlay...maybe waves in contrasting wood, or maybe something unexpected.  Stay tuned.   There's more to come from the studio in the months to come.  

Just competed another smaller 11 inch cooking or serving spoon to start out the new year!  It's a combination of my longer crockpot spoon and my wider griped spoon.  This spoon can be made for right-hand or left-hand.  The egg-shaped bowl is 2-inches wide with my signature inlay. 

2018 will be a growth year for Carved Wooden Spoons.  The year will be full of opportunity and change.  The few changes will include a category changes to include "FURNITURE"...oh yeah...."WOODEN GIFTS" category expansion...and a new "Limited Edition" category.  The Limited Edition will include short production runs of less then 30 utensils and/or other gift items, and will include numbered sequence with my unique artisans mark identifier.  Last year I produced 8 new designs and I was very focused on custom commission work for both retail customers and benefactors.  

An excerpt from Dave Fisher's video discusses options for food-safe finishes for his bowls and spoons.  A full video membership can be found at Fine Woodworking.