Hugh Hollowell

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30 Spoons, done and all in one place.

This essay published January 24, 2021

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, as a mental health move and to improve my skills at carving, I made a spoon every day for 30 days. (There were a few days off for Christmas, New Year’s, and the odd unforseen thing, but 30 spoons, 30 days all the same.) I learned a lot during this experiment, and not all of it was about spoons.

  1. I learned that daily practice can allow you to make dramatic changes in skill level in a very short time.
  2. I learned that having a goal that you told other people about, so they can hold you accountable, really is more powerful than just saying, ‘I want to be better at carving”.
  3. I learned that I am better at design than I think I am. Trying to come up with designs for this project (so I didn’t make the same spoon over and over)
  4. People really liked following along and seeing my process. I know of several people who were inspired to begin their own 30 day projects in their own respective crafts.
  5. I like making things that people think are beautiful.

Some folks have asked if, now that it is over, if I will be selling these spoons, or if I have spoons for sale. And the answer to both questions is yes! I’m still working out the details, but for right now I am encouraging you to put your email on this list if you are interested in buying a spoon, or having me make one for you, and I will be sending out an email in the first part of this week with the arrangements.

Here are all 30 spoons, in reverse order. If you click on the picture, it will take you to a large version of the image.

 

#30
#29
#28
#26
  #27
#25
#24
#23
#22
#21 (the bottom spoon)
#20
#18
#19
#17
#15
#16
#14
#13
#12
#11
#10
#9
#8
#7
#6
#5
#4
#3
#2
#1

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Filed Under: woodworking

Hugh Hollowell is a writer and speaker based in Jackson, MS. His writings have appeared in, among other places, The Washington Post, Sojourners, and Ethics Daily. He only publishes here sporadically, but does publish a weekly newsletter. Some people like it.

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