Red Kite Craft

05/12/2025

New portfolio project posted: a primitive flatbow.

This is a rudimentary type of bow; slightly more sophisticated than a simple bent stick, but only just.

It was made under instruction on a four-day course in 2014.

Visit the post for more.

03/12/2025

A delivery

Today I received a delivery from the lovely people at Brisa. I've been using Brisa for the bulk of my knife blanks since I first started in 2013. They're Finnish, and as well as providing a source of materials that aren't particularly easy or cheap to acquire in the UK (such as reindeer antler), they stock blade blanks from a variety of makers including manufacturers producing affordable stainless steel blades that are stamped or cut from sheet stock as well as artisanal blacksmiths working in Scandinavia and the Baltic region....

Today I received a delivery from the lovely people at Brisa. I’ve been using Brisa for the bulk of my knife blanks since I first started in 2013. They’re Finnish, and as well as providi…

05/07/2024

Here's the slide deck that'll be playing at the fete tomorrow to explain what on earth it is I do!

05/07/2024

I've had to put the website into maintenance mode as the Wordpress theme I was using isn't compatible with the latest version of WP.

Planning on getting it back online asap after Saturday's fete at Sun Hill Infant and Preschool :)

09/03/2024

Made a thing!

03/12/2023

Thanks everyone who visited my stall over the weekend; it was great talking to you all and extra special thanks to everyone who made a purchase!

02/12/2023

We're set up and good to go at the Sun Hill Infant School Grotto & Christmas mini-market!

01/12/2023

As well as wood & ceramics, I also do a spot of leather crafting.

This week has seen this little clutch bag come together ready to be sold at the Christmas market at the infant school on Saturday

29/11/2023

How It Started vs How It's Going, Part 2: Stitching Edition

On the top, the incredibly rough and ready first attempt at a sheath for the wavy-looking knife I started with in 2013 - if I remember rightly, I tried to use an awl to make stitching holes as I went along. Even my second (not shown) was a huge improvement!

On the bottom, stitching on the sheath for the first knife I made from scratch (on a course with our friends at The Forge). By 2016 I'd discovered the benefits of using a groover and pricking wheel to get stitching beautifully even and almost hidden.
..now, if only I'd got the hanging loop in the right place! 😬

28/11/2023

Taken closer to home than yesterday's pictures, an autumnal walk through the New Forest is always a treat.

27/11/2023

As well as the various things I enjoy crafting, I've been into photography since being a child. Without a doubt, our trip to Tanzania in 2014 was a chance for some real once-in-a-lifetime holiday snaps.

Madam elephant was not impressed that there was a 4x4 on the road as she crossed it - not least because her baby was close behind her. Shortly after the wee one started to cross, momma here quietly broke into a trot towards the truck and our driver floored it.

The lioness on the other hand was much more relaxed, and paid us no attention at all. The temptation to hop down and give her head rubbies was *huge*.

26/11/2023

For our 'wood' wedding anniversary, I gave my wife a pair of steak knives.

Or rather, I gave her the promise of some steak knives (which is almost as good, right?!)

It took so long to get around to it I needed to make a third so that our daughter - not even a twinkle when Hazel and I got married - could have one too. Each of us chose the wood we wanted and the shape of the handle.

From left to right the handles are in Bocote, Zebrano and Marblewood.