Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

[MackTheKnife]

Getting back into love spoons. Again. So I thought I would post some early pics of what I'm doing. The bowl will be two-hearts-combined-as-one surmounted by a Celtic eternal knot symbolizing love, faith and hope, intertwined with a winged heart topped by a wedding bell.

I have holes bored in the pierced areas because I don't have (nor do I want) a scroll saw. I cut out all those areas with a knife.

I'll post more photos as the piece progresses.

It's carved out of 3/4" alder, 3" wide.

Bob

[brianrickman]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

A scroll saw makes that kind of thing so much easier . But what you've done looks great. I'm sure the lucky lady will be thrilled to receive it.

[LBlake]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

Very nice design! That'll be lovely. Looking forward to seeing it further along! You've got some tight knotwork in there - have fun!

[MackTheKnife]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

Laura I have some really small knives to do that tight knotwork. Besides, These knots are generous compared to some I've done.

BTW, have you ever painted one of your lovespoons? In David Western's book he shows a couple of old spoons that still have some red paint on them. I got curious and carved one from bass wood (wouldn't want to cover up spalted maple with paint!) and colored it with acrylic washes.

[BrandantR]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

Great looking work Bob. Very elegant.

[MackTheKnife]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

Thanks, Brian. Call me perverse, but I just can't see using a scroll saw. It's noisy, then, just as you get to cutting good you have to stop, dismount the blade, insert it into another hole and remount it. It'd just harsh my mellow, man.

Bob

[MackTheKnife]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

Thanks, Brandant. I feel the same way about your scimitar-bladed knives. If one of these babies sells, we may be talking.

Bob

[David Stanley]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

Off to a good start Bob. Before actually reading your post, I wondered why you hadn't used a scroll saw or at least a fret saw. Then again, I can see why you don't find making lots of inside cuts – fun. Sometimes slower methods are safer to the work and the absence of machinery can have you working in the comfort of an easy chair.

Nice design by the way.

[MackTheKnife]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

Thanks, David. To me carving is just as much zen exercise as anything else. Noise and dust are unwelcome distractions from the work. In addition the lack of an electrical cord allows me to carve anywhere I happen to be.

[kdispoto]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

I'm with you all the way Bob - Enjoy the journey!!!

[SlowMover]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

Very nice work, they look good and I know you are proud of them, as you should be, Thanks for sharing.

[Bob K.]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

Beautiful design Bob...Can't wait to see the finished product! The painted spoon is very nice but I definitely think love spoons look much better unpainted.

[fly fisher]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

Looks good so far Bob im looking forward to seeing it finished.

[Robert Cahill]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

Very nice looking spoon so far Bob. Funny I love fret work on a scroll saw but often refuse to use it on a spoon as sometimes it just doesn't feel right.

[MackTheKnife]

Re: Winged Heart Love Spoon WIP

Well, here's the next installment. The bowl is about 90% finished, and I've continued modeling the bell and the ribbon. I've also refined the wings a little and started working the knots.

The saw cuts you see in the knot work were done by hand. I broke a coping saw blade, so I converted the broken end to a keyhole saw by attaching a crude wooden handle. It's ugly, but it works. That saw cut into the corners is a big help in finishing out the corners cleanly.