I enjoy thinking of new designs for spoons and I'm constantly on the lookout for my favorite wood of all time (free and left on the side of the road for me to just pick it up). Yes, I do dream about spoons. Seriously, I do.
I started woodworking around 1996 while I was stationed on the USS Dallas (SSN 700) at Postsmouth Naval Shipyard. The shipyard had a great woodworking shop run by a retired Master Chief. Jack taught me the basics and helped me to hone my skills over several basic projects. During this time I learned how to use a wood lathe. After I made my first bowl I was hooked and that was all I wanted to do.
Several years later, after I left the Navy, my wife and I were at a crafts fair. They had a booth full of beautifully made wooden spoons. After looking at the spoons and feeling them I figured "Hey I can make these too."
I went home and started to cut up some scrap 2X4's to make some basic prototypes. After I had three spoons that I liked I started making them out of cherry.
I made the spoons and gave them away as gifts to friends and family for Christmas, birthday, anniversary, and house warming gifts.
I expanded to six types of spoons and I experimented with other designs, making some that were partially turned. Then I saw a PBS program where the host showed how to hand carve spoons from tree limbs. Again, I said "I'd like to try that." So, after purchasing some quality knives and making a few trips to the ER for stitches, I am now able to make some very unique spoons made from wood that most people would never think of using.
After I had introduced my friends and family to the beauty of my hand made spoons, they suggested that I should sell them so that others could enjoy them too. So, I created Beaver Pond Spoonworks.
I hope you enjoy what you see. I enjoy making each and every spoon. The thrill that I receive after wiping that first coat of oil on the wood after all the time it took to shape them is still just as rewarding as the very first spoon I ever made.
Mike Quarles
Spoon Maker
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