Centuries ago, young Welshmen began the tradition of creating beautiful wooden spoons to give to their sweethearts. As well as being functional objects, lovespoons were filled with symbolic meanings that expressed the carver’s feelings. Today, these hand-crafted tokens are given as romantic gifts and as thoughtful keepsakes to celebrate various special occasions.

Professional lovespoon carver Dave Western has spent many years perfecting this unique artform, and Carved Lovespoons is his guide to creating these timeless, treasured heirlooms. Here you’ll find everything you need to carve your own spoon, including sections on selecting woods, using and maintaining tools, and applying long-lasting finishes.

So, if you’re looking for that personal, heartfelt gift, then a bespoke lovespoon carved by hand is a particularly special one.