Carved Spreaders and Spatulas Workshop with Maeve Gathje

Try out Scandinavian-style woodcarving in this one-day hands on workshop. Students will work with fresh “green” wood, a carving knife, and a few other simple hand tools to make a variety of kitchen tools. Starting with the basic knife grips, each student will carve a spreader for butter, jam, or soft cheeses, then move on to using a drawknife and shaving horse to create a spatula. This is a terrific introduction to foundational hand tools and techniques that will take students on to spoons, bowls, and lots of other interesting projects.

Additional information:

• A $30 materials fee is payable to the instructor during class and covers all tools and materials.
• Physical ability: Woodcarving requires good hand strength and dexterity, for example being able to open a jam jar.
• Skill level: This class is appropriate for students with no carving experience and a great next step for anyone who has taken ASI’s Intro to Green Woodcarving class or otherwise dabbled with woodcarving. This is a recommended class before taking any of our spoon carving courses. See more info about picking an intro woodcarving course below.
• Ages: Suitable for ages 16+, or ages 14+ if registered alongside an accompanying adult. A discounted tuition price is available for students 14-17 at checkout.
• Advanced registration required.

Wondering which green woodcarving course is right for you?

Intro to Green Woodcarving (previously titled Green Woodcarving 101) is meant for students seeking a few basic tips to start carving on their own, or for anyone considering a longer carving class who wants to try a short course to see if it’s a good fit.

Green Woodcarving Foundations (previously titled Green Woodcarving 102) is open to new carvers for a more in-depth introduction (offered quarterly; can be taken after or instead of Intro to Green Woodcarving), and is suggested as a prerequisite for our spoon carving courses or for situations where previous green woodcarving experience is recommended.

Half-day “Flat Plane” classes are perfect for carvers interested in trying dry wood (i.e., figure carving).