11 episodes
Sloydcast Sloydcast
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- Leisure
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4.9 • 15 Ratings
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Conversations with greenwoodworkers, spoon carvers, bowl turners, tool makers and craftspeople from around the world.
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Episode 10 — Fred Livesay
Join us for a lovely chat with the savvy sloyder, Fred Livesay. We learn about his journey through the realms of handcraft starting from the ripe young age of 7, and the decades of exploration and experience he's embarked on since. We chat about the deep influence of Scandinavian wood working tradition in his work, the philosophy of handcraft and handmade utilitarian objects, immigrant culture and mindsets regarding materials, and some of the finer points of what it means to be a craftsperson beyond the realms of social media and internet algorithms. We also get some history on the beginning of folk schools and the history of North House Folk School. It's a sneak peek into Fred's mind, with heaps of subtle wisdom from a skilled craftsman who has spent most of his life immersed in the realms of working wood by hand.
www.sloydcast.com
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FOLLOW FRED
https://www.instagram.com/hand2mouthcrafts/
Mentions from the episode:
Frederick Grundvig and the beginning of folk schools
Danebod Folk School
Video about Danebod Folk School
Vesterheim
Tensegrity
Oak: The Frame of Civilization
Martin Hazell on St. Peter Damian
Mike Loeffler
Fred's class at Vesterheim later this summer: Unraveling the Knot Basket: Investigating the Scandinavian Knutkorg -
Episode 09 — Reid Schwartz
Join us fo this information packed chat with the maestro of metal, Reid Schwartz. We learn about his journey from art school to cabinet shop and his passion for metal working that was sparked early on, the video of a Russian ladle carver that blew his mind, his experience learning to make birch bark canoes, and the slew of friends, figures, and mentors who inspired him along the way. Reid is a fantastic storyteller and shares insights into what drives him and his approach to tool making and craft, plus we get a bit more technical at the end for those wishing to take a deeper plunge.
www.sloydcast.com
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FOLLOW REID
https://www.reidschwartz.net/
https://www.instagram.com/reidschwartz/
Mentions from the episode:
Tim Manney
César's Canoe
Wood Tools
Jean-José Tritz
Tool Making for Woodworkers -
Episode 08 — Mike Abbott
Join us for a lovely chat with the Godfather of Green Woodworking in the UK, none other than Mike Abbott. We hear about Mike's journey to the craft starting in the early 1980's and the long winding road that led him to establishing Living Woods Training in 1985. He shares countless stories of all the folks he has met along the way, inspiring, guiding, and encouraging him to forge ahead preserving and passing on dying skills and traditions. It's a recount of 30+ years building a green woodworking movement, teaching hundreds of students , and establishing a far flung legacy. We really enjoyed our chat with Mike and are excited to capture and share his story. Enjoy!
www.sloydcast.com
Follow us on instagram
Share the show!
FOLLOW MIKE
https://goingwiththegrain.org/
Youtube
and now, Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/abbottslivingwood/
Mentions from the episode:
Tamsin Abbott
Nick Gibbs
Quercus Magazine
Woodland Crafts in Britain by Herbert Edlin
St Fagans National Museum of History
Traditional Spooncarving in Wales by Gwyndaf Breese
Welsh Stick Chairs by John Brown
Drew Langsner
Jack Hill
Dave Sawyer
Stuart King
Don Weber
Jennie Alexander
Mike Abbott’s transhumance
Veritas Tapered Tenon Cutter
The Lumber Horse
Daniel Mack
Owen Jones
Nick Abbott -
Episode 07 — Owen Thomas
Join us for this in-depth conversation with bowl turner, spoon carver, and all-around crafty fellow, Owen Thomas. He shares his journey from commercial woodworker to sloyd craftsman over the past decade—we learn about the initial exposure that sparked his interest, his time learning from Mike Abbott, apprenticing with Barn the Spoon, and creating a livelihood as a green woodworker. We got into his unique approach to spoon carving, his passion for the pole lathe, and his venture into increasing his production of turned objects using a Japanese-style electric lathe. This chat covers a lot of ground and gives you insight into Owen's passion for his craft. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have.
www.sloydcast.com
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FOLLOW OWEN
https://www.owenthomaswoodcraft.com/
https://www.instagram.com/owenthomaswoodcraft/
https://www.youtube.com/owenthomaswoodcraft
Mentions from the episode:
Mike Abbott
Ben Orford
Robin Wood
Barn the Spoon -
Episode 06 — Yoav Elkayam
Enjoy this chat with the inimitable Yoav Elkayam. He shares the story of his journey into green woodworking and pole lathe turning and all of the places, experiences, and people that helped him along the way. We get into some of the nitty gritty of making a living as a craftsperson in the modern age, the challenges and benefits of social media, his life at Brookhouse Woods—where he, his partner, and daughter live in an off-grid cabin—and a whole slue of tangential subjects. We also delve into some of the details of end grain pole lathe turning, tools of the trade, pole lathe hook making, wood finishes, and so on. It was a real treat to get this chance to speak with Yoav and for him to share so much!
www.sloydcast.com
Follow us on instagram
FOLLOW YOAV
https://www.instagram.com/yoav.kafets/
https://yoavkafets.bigcartel.com/products
Mentions from the episode:
Brookhouse Woods
Spoonfest
Mike Abbott
Robin Wood
Jane Mickelborough
Sharif Adams
Adam Hawker -
Episode 05 — Jögge Sundqvist
We are excited to share this conversation with the godfather of sloyd, Jögge Sundqvist. We learn about his upbringing with his father, the rightfully celebrated Willie Sundqvist, his journey from rockstar to sloyd master, how his alter ego Surolle came to life, the ethnology of the term sloyd and it’s ancient colloquial roots, what his life is like as a professional craftsman, and much more! It was a joy and honor to have this time to chat with him and we hope you all enjoy it!
www.sloydcast.com
Follow us on instagram
FOLLOW JÖGGE
www.surolle.se
https://www.instagram.com/surolle/
Jögge and Willie's Books
Slöjd in Wood
Swedish Carving Techniques
Mentions from the episode:
Documentary about Willie Sundqvist: The Spoon, The Bowl, The Knife
Wille Sundqvist and Bill Coperthwaite Slöjd Fellowship
Beth Moen
Magnus Sundelin
Björn Svantesson
Anja Sundberg
Customer Reviews
Well done
I started listening to this on a whim and I was for sure thinking I would just set this down as soon as I picked it because I thought it might be boring. Instead I was delightfully surprised at the engaging discussion, history, tales and inspiration. Thanks guys. Keep it coming.
A+
As someone new to the spoon scene I’ve been devouring these podcast with relish! Please keep them coming. Would love to hear reviews for your favorite tools and makers as well.
Great Podcast
Well done. Keep it going.