It was a bright and sunny morning when I first met up with Andie, her hair in neat braids, steel-rimmed glasses perched lightly on her nose, and a large artwork folder tucked under one arm. We were meeting at a local coffee shop to discuss the design of a love spoon, a traditional Welsh token of affection, hand-carved from wood, commissioned as a gift for Mark and Cara, my brother-in-law and his wife, to celebrate their wedding in Australia and their shared passion for Wales and Welsh rugby.
Even before we sat down, I sensed Andie’s warmth and friendliness, and her genuine interest in the meaning behind the gift. Over pots of tea and plates of toast, we talked through ideas for the spoon, its motifs and messages, and I began to learn more about the woman behind the craft.
Dolphins in the Flowers
Andie explained how, in May 2023, she stepped away from a career that had shaped much of her adult life. Working as a Social Care Practitioner in the Complex Disabilities Team had brought her job satisfaction and security, but over time, the emotional demands of the work made her question her future in the role.
A deep love of carving had been growing alongside her professional work, sparked by a memory from her wedding day in 1994. Tucked into her bridal flowers had been delicate wooden dolphins, lovingly carved by her grandad. Many years later, one of her bridesmaids, Marie, remembered them with fondness, and contacted Andie early in 2017, wanting something similar for her own wedding in September 2018.
Andie explained that the dolphins had been made by her grandfather, but by then he was 96 and no longer able to carve. Knowing how important it was to her, she told Marie she was going to a woodworking festival later that year and promised to try and find someone who could recreate them for her.
The Mentor’s Workshop
In July 2017, Andie went along to Wood Fest, in the Flintshire town of Caerwys, where she discovered Caerwys Carving Club and signed up immediately, deciding to carve the dolphins herself. The club was led by Murray Taylor, an experienced and respected wood carver, and contributor to a wood carving magazine. Initially, he was sceptical that Andie’s talent could match her enthusiasm and ideas, but when she presented him with a set of beautifully carved dolphins after just a couple of lessons, he was amazed by what she had achieved and soon became her mentor. Andie carved four dolphins (feature image) for the bridesmaid’s bouquets, and a fifth, for Marie’s ‘something old’, since none of the 1994 originals could be found.
For her next project, a love spoon for her parents’ golden wedding anniversary, Murray invited her to work in his own workshop, a converted shipping container with specialist tools of all kinds lining the walls, where, Andie says, she felt “like a kid in a sweetshop!”. Under his guidance, she learned new techniques, including piercing, and the finished spoon was later featured in one of Murray’s magazine articles.
Though he sadly passed away in July 2020, Murray remains a strong influence on Andie, and his wisdom, kindness, and encouragement continue to guide her work.
New Beginnings
Andie’s early commissions came from supportive friends and family. One of the first was a large sculpture affectionately nicknamed Stumpy, commissioned by her close friend, Helen Sign. Carved from a single block of wood, it depicts Winnie the Pooh and Tigger in relief, with a planter on the top for a rose named Patricia, a touching tribute to Helen’s late mother. The finished piece took pride of place at Helen’s wedding, ensuring that Patricia was part of her daughter’s special day.
Today, commissions of all kinds are coming in. One of her latest, with a working title of Chunk, is a substantial piece of antique wood, part of a bed dating from the 1800s. The project was entrusted to her by William Benton, an American, now living in the UK. He previously ran Woodworthy & Company, an antique furniture restoration business based in Ohio, USA, where he would undertake carving as required for the more ornate pieces. Though he had originally planned to work on Chunk himself, William decided to hand the job to Andie after coming across her Facebook page, and being captivated by her thoughtful, story-rich approach to the craft. The design, a detailed family coat of arms, has been carefully researched and sketched by William’s mother, and Andie has been given the freedom to work it in her own distinctive style. The carving will take shape gradually, between other commissions, and Andie plans to share glimpses of the process along the way.
Love Spoons and Life on the Road
Andie’s style has continued to evolve, shaped by her years in social work.
“When I carve,” she says, “it is important to me that people’s needs are understood and met.”
Her work is highly personalised, with symbols, initials, images, and inscriptions that hold personal meanings for the giver and the recipient alike.
Now, she and her partner, Steve, live in their van, Phoebe the Green Goddess, travelling with their three dogs and their trusty tools. This way of life offers the couple freedom, a way to roam from the countryside of north Wales – their usual base – to the furthest reaches of the country, wild swimming in hidden lakes and pools, practising bushcraft, camping beneath trees, and of course, carving.
Andie plans to continue using her skills, offering bespoke love spoons, taking on new commissions, and running workshops, helping others to discover the quiet joy and patient focus she finds in working with wood, and in the stories each piece brings to life.
