Meet the spoon jam gang
ALEX YERKS | KUKSA KING | NEW YORK STATE
Alexander Yerks, wood carver, photographer, and singer songwriter comes from deep in the forest near Woodstock in the Catskills Mountains, New York. A Northeast native, Alex was born and raised on a mountain in Upstate New York and grew up wandering around the surrounding woods. Alex quickly learned to conjure up things he needed - instead of hopping in the truck, and driving miles to buy things for the home. Brought up to rely on his natural surroundings, he instinctively works with the natural resources of the forest, utilising the unique qualities of each tree, in his projects. Utensils and cups have always been the focus of his craft, creating functional and beautiful pieces with the capacity to enrich our lives and our homes. If you follow Alex on Instagram, you will be familiar with his fantastic and much copied style of spoons and kuksas. Fitting the bill of what makes an awesome carver (a fantastic designer, craftsman and teacher), we are really very excited about setting him loose on our native timbers. Bring on October! Follow Alex's journey on Instagram at @alex_yerks. Video also by Alex Yerks.
KARIM HADDAD | BLADESMITH
We are so pleased to have Karim Haddad on board to teach slöjd knife making in our pre-Jam workshop. Making a spoon with a knife you've just made...doesn't get any better! Karim began his journey with knifemaking under Master Bladesmith Thomas Gerner in 1995. Thomas was the first Australian Master Bladesmith from the prestigious American Bladesmith Society. Karim has been teaching knife making since 1998, and created the Tharwa Valley Forge to provide further opportunities for teaching and learning in 2003. He currently teaches courses in knifemaking, forging, Damascus and sharpening as well as making custom knives to order. He is the President of the Australian Knifemaking Guild (AKG), and has previously held the position of State Representative of the ACT/NSW branch of the AKG. Follow Karim's journey on Instagram at @tharwavalleyforge. Video by Liam Edward Brennan.
Jeff Donne | spoonsmith & puppet carver
Jeff Donne is a professional spoon carver and puppet maker from the Far South Coast of NSW. His roving woodcraft school has run workshops throughout much of Australia, from the big smoke to Tasmania, Alice Springs and beyond. Jeff's focus is on using every part of the tree to make useful and playful objects with simple skills (slöjd) and simple tools. A student of master woodsman, Mike Abbott, who is among a small group of people who led the modern revival of green woodworking in the 1980s, Jeff has been carving and crafting objects from trees for more than 20 years, teaching and sharing his skills for the past six years. Jeff is the co-founder of Spoon Jam and this year he will be teaching advanced spoon carving and puppet carving pre-Jam workshops, and various slöjd classes throughout the Spoon Jam weekend. Follow Jeff's adventures into spoons and puppets on Instagram at @thespoonsmith. Video by Liam Edward Brennan.
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Pete Trott has been making wooden spoons since he was nine. Time and practice since those early days has led to Pete being one of the best spoon carvers in Australia, and now a maker of fantastic spoon carving tools. Pete is also a key member of the Lost Trades movement, bringing his craft to hundreds of people through his workshops held in Kyneton, near Melbourne. He's a fantastic teacher and incredible axe man and he's been with Spoon Jam since the beginning. We're looking forward to his return in 2019 and we may even have some of his spoon knives in stock at the Jam! You can follow his creations on Instagram at @von_trott
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Carol Russell is a very highly regarded spoon carver, teacher and woodworker from Brisbane. She started her journey into woodworking in the 1980s as a restorer of antique furniture and later she adventured into the fluid shapes of making spoons and utensils. Carol's work is strongly influenced by nature and a long history protecting natural landscapes. Her work is stunning and highly sought after, and she brings to Spoon Jam her unique way of carving spoons from seasoned wood and off cuts. We're really thrilled to have Carol join us as a member of the Spoon Jam gang! Follow Carol on instagram at @carol.a.russell
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Brad van Luyt. On his instagram page, Brad says he's 'just another bloody left handed spoon carver', but we know he's much more than that! Brad, from Sydney, is a walking talking spoon carving machine with a passion for turning woody weeds into beautiful hand carved spoons. His beginners workshop was a real hit in 2018 so Brad will be there again helping folk who are new to the craft. And as he's one of the fastest spoon carvers out there, there will no doubt be lots of his beautiful spoons in the Spoon Jam store. Grab one before they're gone! You can follow Brad on @bvanluyt
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Jules Donne. Without Jules, Spoon Jam simply wouldn't happen. She is the co-founder, brains and organising supremo behind the festival. Jules will be there making sure everyone is having an awesome time by offering advice on lots of carving tools and knife grips as well as being the face behind the spoon and tool shop. Jules returned from Spoonfest a few of years ago where she learned the craft from master carver, Peter Follansbee. She will also be taking care of the behind the scenes work, so those of you who bag a ticket will be hearing from her soon!
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