The Objective: Design a unique and functional spatula.
I started with sketches and spitballing ideas. The largest one, with a doodle of a pumpkin on the paper, was my design I went with. I sketch best with watercolor- I made over 30 sketches before I decided on the one above.
I knew I wanted to do something that emulated a wand. After deciding on the pumpkin vine spatula, I had to see if it would work- so I carved a model out of pink foam, using a rasp and sand paper.
Prototype Process:
Created a pattern and then tested it by cutting it out on a band saw, taping it back together, then cutting out the side profile. Then I refined it and sanded the swirls down.
It fit nicely in my hand when I tested the prototype, and had a a good size to the head of the spatula.
This encouraged me to continue with my design, onto the wood, and final, version.
Created a pattern and then tested it by cutting it out on a band saw, taping it back together, then cutting out the side profile. Then I refined it and sanded the swirls down.
It fit nicely in my hand when I tested the prototype, and had a a good size to the head of the spatula.
This encouraged me to continue with my design, onto the wood, and final, version.
Final Spatula Process:
I did the same process on the wood (beech wood), using a traced pattern (it ended up being a little large in places for my wooden block, but I made it work), cut it out on a bandsaw, then used a rasp, wood carving tools, and sand paper to refine it to the shape I desired. Below you can see the step by step of my process.
To create a food safe layer, I finished it with a couple coats of linseed oil.
When it was tested, it fit well in the user's hand, it hung from a rod nicely, and it grabbed and flipped pancakes well. It was also easy to clean, despite the tight corkscrew knots around the neck of the spatula.
When it was tested, it fit well in the user's hand, it hung from a rod nicely, and it grabbed and flipped pancakes well. It was also easy to clean, despite the tight corkscrew knots around the neck of the spatula.
