***SOLD*** Gumbo (or Pot) Stirrer #1

A tree trimming crew brought me some very nice Paper Birch - it always pays to befriend tree crews if you need wood, BTW.  Even a lot of good firewood gets wasted from most every job, and they have to pay the landfill to dispose of it.  So, whether you need logs or woodchips it is very worth asking.

I decided the first piece of the Birch I carved would be one of my own favorite designs.  It is based on traditional Scandanavian cooking spoons, or "open ladles," but I modified my design specifically for stirring a roux.  Generally, we use a flat edged wooden spatula, with sharp edges, to stir roux so it can get into all of the corners and prevent scorching as the roux cooks to the desired level of darkness.  Roux is just flour and fat and will burn very easily if not carefully and diligently stirred.  But, I decided to go a step further so it wouldn't just be for stirring - the Gumbo Stirrer is a nice scoop, as well.

Part of the Scandanavian influence is the hook on the back.  This allows you to hang the spoon on the lip of the pot for easy access, or to hang it on a wall rack.  Birch is the ideal wood for such pieces.  It is smooth and strong, finely grained and has some beautiful color.  Greenwood taken from limbs such as this will often twist just a bit when drying.  So, I planned on that and if you look closely, you will see that it does twist just a tiny bit and that makes it fit the hand better!  Greenwood is a living thing, and its growth patterns and features rarely fail to assert themselves.  That is one of my favorite aspects of working with greenwood - each piece is unique, the carver's hands working in cooperation with the wood... not a machine made or mass produced item.

I think whoever buys this one will enjoy using it.  It is sealed with Walnut Oil.  As always, my woodwork is sustainably sourced from trees that are storm damaged or that must be thinned. Each piece is entirely hand made in the ancient greenwood tradition. I use only a hand saw, a small axe and knives. Each piece comes with a handwritten, numbered and signed document. These are heirloom quality spoons that, if properly cared for, will last for generations.

Price $30 with free shipping in the continental US. Click here to buy now.