Hilltop Spoonworks

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Poland, ME
Hilltop Spoonworks

Located in Poland Maine, my goal is to bring a little elegance to your utilitarian kitchen utensils.

04/12/2026

The deer skull I carved a few weeks ago was only partially finished when I posted the pictures. I didn't want to ruin the original skull by cutting the antlers off wrong, or messing it up in any way without the customer being here while I did it. He made it by yesterday, and together we got the antlers attached just like they were on the original. It looks so much better like this, and now I can let it go home with him for good. I'd love to give one a go in walnut next, stay tuned. Thanks for lookin!

04/08/2026

After finishing off the cherry measuring cup set for the donation the other day, I decided that if this cause is good enough for someone to buy a set like that just to donate, I should add a little something from the shop as well. Here's what I went with.

Full seven piece cooking spoon set (3 of which are right handed) in curly yellow birch. I hope it helps raise some money for the cause!

03/30/2026

Cherry measuring cup set with walnut center strip headed to a raffle drawing very soon. I don't know much about the raffle honestly, as I am not the one donating it. My very generous customer purchased it specifically to raffle it off! I do hope it brings in lots of money for the cause though! One more coat of finish on the backer tomorrow and its ready to go!

(U.S. Patent # D897,871)

02/04/2026

Something a bit different off the bench tonight. I got a commission for a deer skull recently. The original had damage on the snout area and some of the right side of the face, so my customer wanted to see if I could do a wooden replica of the original. As this is only my 8th or so "sculpture" type piece, and my first attempt at an animal skull, I didn't get super detailed, and used fine permanent marker for the suture lines. It looks much bigger than the real one because so much of the original has broken off.

I carved it out of bass wood because it's soft , yet stable, and I had a decent sized chunk on hand anyhow, lol.

12/18/2025

Some highly figured tiger maple cookers, thin spurtle, and serving spoon after a week of drying. Just a few more days of curing and they're off to their new home!

10/15/2025

Light coat of oil for a picture, then back into the oil for 24 hours. I just finished with these Tiger Maple cookers, strainer spoon, and spaghetti spoon. I wasn't quite sure how well the spaghetti spoon would match with the rest because I used the same piece of wood for the spoons, but a thicker plank for the spaghetti piece. But I was pleasantly surprised to see that the inside of the thick plank was also nicely figured! It is definitely darker, but the customer was okay with that before I even started.

Right handed #6, right handed #5, strainer spoon, and spaghetti spoon. Thanks for lookin'!

09/26/2025

Something a bit different this time. I have been commissioned to carve a replica of a swan sculpture that a client currently has at his home. I have photos and measurements of it, but that's all. I haven't seen it or held it personally yet, which would definitely help. He wants one exactly like his current piece, but wants multiples of the same piece half that size to gift to friends. This was my test piece for him, it's a half size piece. I went with cherry for this one because that's what I have the most of right now. The final pieces (if he likes my first attempt) will be in a different wood because they will be painted and all of them carved in solid cherry would be very expensive for him. I will be keeping this one for myself. It still needs a little more fine sanding, then I'll stain the beak and face black and then clear over the whole piece. Something about the darker cherry on the bottom is appealing to me, and I'd hate to paint over beautiful cherry wood, lol.

09/02/2025

Latest piece off the bench is my version of a quaich, which is a small drinking cup with two handles that is used in celebratory ceremonies between two people.

I carved it from mahogany for it's beautiful color and strength. I added a sipping well on both sides of the cup while still maintaining the spill saver edge on the inside. On the outside, I added a Celtic knot heart to the central faces of both sides because this will be used in a renewal of vows ceremony later this year in Ireland.

This was the first time I've ever done one of these, but hopefully won't be the last. It was great fun to do the research and learn about new vessels I can add to the ever growing list of items I offer up to anyone interested. Thanks for lookin'!

07/31/2025

Latest kuksa ready to go to its forever home. This one is carved from one of my favorite woods to work with, Mahogany. It carves much like frozen butter, and is tough as nails once finished.

I went with a slightly different design on the handle this time. I combined the original style for the finger hole, but took a few ideas for the rest of it from past pieces that had completely different handles. As for the rest of the cup, I kept it pretty simple. The outside is basically a potbelly design that also swells on the inside which matches the shape evenly, creating an even wall thickness all the way around. The inside still has the spill saver lip, but this time I carved sipping areas that allow for smooth transitions from cup to mouth. I've noticed on some of my personal kuksas that the spill saver lip sometimes stopped the liquid too well, making it impossible to sip without opening your mouth very wide. Problem solved from now on! I hope the recipient enjoys it as much as I enjoyed carving it. (It was purchased as a gift)

07/29/2025

A few pieces going out this weekend. I cannot show finished photos of the extra large centerpiece bowl as it is a gift, and currently has names woodburned onto it, but these are photos from right before going into the oil. The 7 piece spoon set with two spurtles are also a part of the gift set. They are all cherry.

On the bowl, I added scalloped areas to both sides of the handles to add a bit more to the design. They serve no purpose besides esthetics. It measures 3 inches tall, 20 inches long handle to handle, and is 7 3/4 inches wide. The spoon set is a full set that I offer (in right hand versions), and the spurtles are two of my most popular sizes, 12 inches for the thin one and 14 inches for the wide one. The skinny one is by far my most popular. It is great for spreading anything on bread or toast and is strong enough for stirring and mixing as well, which is their intended purpose anyhow. They are also slightly curved to get to the sides of mixing bowls. Thanks for lookin'!

05/30/2025

Centerpiece/serving bowl carved from cherry. This is for a wedding gift, so I couldn't show the rest of the woodburning because it's the recipient's name and date of the wedding and I'm not sure if they follow me or not. (I'll share after the date comes and goes) The ones I can show are two doves facing one another on one face, and I hid my logo on the underside of one of the ends so it wouldn't distract from the rest of the decorative stuff.

These bowls make great salad bowls, or simple center piece decor on a large table. This one is (inside the bowl) 6.5 inches wide by 12 inches long by 3 inches deep. Outer dimensions are 15.75 inches long by 3.25 tall and 7.25 wide.

Since I carved my own out of birch years ago, this has been a go-to style for many other customers. The oblong shape makes it quite versatile as to what you can display or serve inside.

Address

Strout Road
Poland, ME
04274

Website

https://www.hilltopspoonworks.com/

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