With joyful anticipation we returned to Little Sparta this September to teach our second letter cutting in wood course. The autumn equinox was some weeks away, and the garden was still green and dense, its stones and secret sitting places hidden in swathes and full flowers, available to be discovered.
Our students this year came from a range of backgrounds. Some were complete beginners, with no experience of carving, letters or working with wood; others were engaged in significant lettering training or working in heritage carpentry. It was a delightful group: convivial, keen and impressively committed.

Over three days we explored together safe handling of the chisels, and how to fully control them for the best results. We covered all the foundational techniques for carving incised and raised letters, we looked at chisel care and sharpening, and we discussed and tracked down grain direction.

That crucial third day, a development of last year’s course, allowed us time to graduate cooly from lime wood to cherry, to unhurriedly get to grips with curves, junctions and serifs and, later, to each produce a thrilling raised letter. It was lovely to see students helping each other to understand how to see and respond to grain direction; simultaneously and mysteriously so simple and yet so tricky to grasp. We discovered that while fast and furious chisel work may be exciting, wood responds so much better, and ultimately, more quickly to a slow and gentle treatment.

We tried to encourage coffee and luck breaks but mostly failed to persuade people to put down their chisels and come out from beneath their lamp light! Liberal biscuits and coffee were always available! And Ian Hamilton Finlay’s garden, which continues to flourish under George’s hands, provided the ultimate peaceful and intriguing place to eventually stretch our legs, swing our arms and look long.

Thank you George, Pantea and Sticky O’Reilly for your organisation and your
warmth.

Robbie Schneider and Beatrice Searle