Handcraft seems to defy rigid categories as when simplified to its essentials; the craftsperson becomes a forester, toolmaker, woodcarver and weaver of sorts. Experience a handmade life with Bill Coperthwaite as the focus of this course is on tree to bowl. You will explore the traditional uses of the most versatile carving knives used widely throughout the northern hemisphere across traditonal cultures - from Lapland through Siberia to the Bering Sea and down the Northwest Coast. You will learn to make a simple loop knife to use with the Lapp shoulder harness, a carving scorp and a cold hammered crooked knife. From these tools, each student will learn to make bowls and spoons from freshly harvested green birch wood - a wholistic craft experience that's rewarding when finished.

Crooked knives are basically nomadic tools, easily fashioned and widely used, they can be used anywhere without the need of a woodshop and large investment of tool making equipment. In his search of simple tools, Bill Coperthwaite has found that the crooked knife is one of the most versitale and widely used tool across the northern hemisphere throughout traditional cultures. There is great satisfaction in shaping your own tools and then using them to carve a useful object with. Each student will take home a bowl and a spoon.
A variety of tools collected by Bill will be available for study and inspiration, and time spent exploring their uses. Day one of the class will focus on use of the loop knife (aided with a shoulder harness for increased power in carving a bowl), the scorp and a crooked knife. The scorp will be used for cleaning up the inside of the bowl. The crooked knife for carving the spoon. We will explore 'cold hammering' - working with the steel cold (no heating necessary).

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