(3 hrs) Mon 5 Feb - Whittling workshop at Beechbrae

A very enjoyable day being introduced to the craft of whittling today. I learned lots about making spatulas and spoons, but I was inspired to make a wooden fish for my downstairs loo, which will soon be redecorated with an undersea theme) (final pic shows finished item on 21 Feb). This was a bigger and chunkier project than most others', so I didn't get very far, it will need to be finished at home. I also learned about correct sharpening - my mind was blown by the discovery that you can sharpen tools on a strop made from a fungus, birch polyphore, which grows on dead or dying birch trees. We were each gifted a fresh slice of fungus for future use. I will now be more confident about trying whittling by myself, and taking care of my beginner's blades.