The tale of the welsh lovespoon

Picture this scene at the end of the day

When the farm boy is resting from cutting the hay.

Both tired and dusty, his mind would wander

To the girl of his dreams, who lived over yonder.

Too shy to talk and unable to write

How could he win her, think as he might.

On a cloudless night as he looked at the moon

It came into his head that he could carve her a spoon.

First came the hearts to say ‘I love you’

Then came the bells to say ‘Marry me, do’.

Each night thereafter, he’d look at the moon

And think of symbols to add to the spoon.

A horseshoe for luck and the joy it would bring

For hopefully now, she’ll be wearing his ring.

The key says my heart is safely with you

And diamonds for the wealth they’ll hope to accrue.

The twisted stem shows two lives becoming one

A wheel means he’ll work to get it all done.

A flower shows love and affection

A shield means he’ll offer protection.

The chain expresses together forever, my love

And the Cross shows faith in the heavens above.

Balls in a cage he’ll have to face,

One for each child they’ll wish to embrace.

As he explains the story carving in the spoon

While stealing a kiss by the light of the moon.

He vowed then that he would pass on this gift

For others to follow and give love a lift.

And so it has passed from father to son

And four hundred years later, it is still being done.

So that tells the romance of the lovespoon

And what went on by the light of the moon.

Clive Griffin

Welcome to the shop

In a mere 20-foot by 18-foot space, a craftsmanship can flourish through meticulous planning and skillful execution. This compact area allows for the creation of intricate wooden kitchen utensils, where each tool is thoughtfully designed to combine functionality with artistry. With the right tools and a keen eye for detail, I can transform raw timber into stunning spoons, spatulas, and other unique pieces. The limited space encourages efficiency and focus, enabling me to pour my passion into every hand-made item, ensuring that each piece is not only durable but also a cherished work of art.

A few spoons in a birch holder.

I started carving spoons over 10-years ago in my small 10x10 shed in the backyard. 

A look staging for a spoon production run.

Rough cut bowl of spoon

My template wall. Over 125 templates and counting. I use these templates to make my utensils. My oldest template dates back to 2010.

A look at my serving tray set up for a small production run.

A look into my current shop through my entry door. I've come a long way from my old shed space in the backyard. 

Set up for cutting out the spoon rest recess. 

Showing rough cut bowls.