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Jonathan’s Story
It all started the day I forgot to put a spoon in my lunch bag when I was working as an apprentice to a furniture maker. I took a piece of scrap wood and quickly shaped a spoon. I had majored in art and design at the University of Illinois, and wanted to create something both beautiful and functional, which led me to explore working with wood.
It all started the day I forgot to put a spoon in my lunch bag when I was working as an apprentice to a furniture maker. I took a piece of scrap wood and quickly shaped a spoon. I had majored in art and design at the University of Illinois, and wanted to create something both beautiful and functional, which led me to explore working with wood. That is when I remembered spoons.
After trading spoons for food, and barely surviving, I moved back to my home state of Pennsylvania where I began making spoons and selling them.
My spoons have developed over the years. Originally made of uncommon spoon woods such as lilac, plum, and honeysuckle, I have since chosen to make my spoons of cherry wood. This is a hardwood with handsome color and grain, durable, smooth, and strong. My utensils have a unique sense of balance and warmth because they are designed with the hand and purpose in mind. “Spoons” have become spatulas, tongs, spaghetti forks, spreaders, and more. Sometimes
I burn my spoons to give a flame-blackened finish.
My work has been influenced by the world around me as well as a truth held within. I grew up surrounded by magnificent architecture and design in my hometown of Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. The Bryn Athyn Cathedral and several local mansions built near the turn of the 20th century hold fantastic examples of wood, tile, and stained glass work produced during the American Arts & Crafts Movement. This elegant simplicity of design is considered in the evolution of my work. My father encouraged me to establish my own business. He taught me that God’s creation operates from a principle of individual freedom, with power from God, given as if it is our own power, from which we freely create our own lives. This philosophy remains a major inspiration for me in creating and growing my work and business. My father also taught me that ideas come from the desire for, and activity of usefulness. In all of my work I strive for a balance of the use in the tactile and esthetic qualities, with the use of utility and purpose.
From the start-up days of producing spoons in a chilly workshop in Maine, Jonathan’s Spoons has grown into a successful craft business. I have a shop in rural Kempton, Pennsylvania where two brothers; Shawn and Neil Claypoole have joined me in creating my many designs.
I exhibit my work at select craft shows around the country, to include the annual American Craft Council shows and Paradise City shows. A busy show schedule requires a lot of traveling; I find it rewarding to share in the offering of quality American made arts and crafts
Most of my time is spent creating new products in my Kempton, Pennsylvania shop, traveling to craft shows, and spending time with my grandchildren.
“Life is Amazing” ~ November, 2022
On November 7, 2022, my dear wife Julia died at home; painlessly and peacefully in my arms.
That autumn she was rapidly weakened by cancer. The evening she passed into the spiritual world, there was a miracle; the cherry tree in front of our house bloomed with thousands of flowers; this is so Julia. The cherry blossoms lasted for over six weeks until Christmas Eve when a storm blew them all away.
A week after her passing, while preheating my oven, smoke set off my fire alarm and I threw it outside. The next day
I brought it back into my home. Curiously, it went off again while at that very moment, miles away, a large branch fell behind my original spoon shop, breaking the propane gas line. This set my whole shop on fire. Thankfully my daughter was driving to the shop, saw the fire and called 911 immediately.
With the rapid response from our local volunteer fire companies, No one was hurt and we were able to save some of our equipment. Sadly, the shop is destroyed. We are working hard to reconfigure our main shop to accommodate the tools we were able to save. We will be back to making more spoons very soon. Most of our inventory was in our office so we are still in business, ready to fulfill your wildest utensil dreams. I am so grateful to Shawn and Neil for continuing to help me make my spoons and for Becky’s excellent customer service.
My whole world revolved around Julia.
While I miss her terribly, I am completely confident that I will be with her again.
I just have a few more spoons to invent before I get to go home.
Oh, and some scoops.
And boxes.
Maybe some small furniture.
And toys, I’ve always wanted to make toys and Christmas is just around the corner.
Life is amazing, who knows what is to come?
Why Choose Our Wooden Spoons
Handcrafted
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Good Customer Service
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Made in USA
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Quality that last years
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Jonathan finds a honey bear.
