Why I’ve Been Absent and What’s Next

It’s Tom here, and I’m hoping to reconnect with all of you. If you’re new to Sylva Spoon, welcome! If you’ve been following me for a while, you might have noticed I’ve been a bit quiet lately. I wanted to take a moment to reintroduce myself, share what’s been going on, and talk about what’s coming up.

A Little Background

For those who don’t know, Sylva Spoon began as a creative outlet during a challenging time. After moving to the US, I found myself in a bit of limbo due to immigration bureaucracy. While waiting for my Social Security Number, I couldn’t look for work in my field of sustainability within non-profits, which I had been doing back in London. So, I turned to spoon carving—a hobby that soon became a full-time pursuit. It was a surprising and wonderful twist in my journey, and I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way.

Why I Stepped Away

In 2022, I received an opportunity from a former spoon carving student that I couldn’t pass up—a job at Sharpening Supplies. However, this new role brought a significant shift. Spoon carving, which had once been a joyful creative outlet, had become work. Each time I entered my shed, I felt the pressure to produce quickly and efficiently, just as I had when it was my full-time job. This led to me stepping back from carving, and as a result, I also drifted away from social media.

But things have changed since then. I’ve slowly found my way back to the joy of carving, embracing the process without the rush. It’s reminded me why I fell in love with this craft in the first place.

Reevaluating My Relationship with Social Media

If you’ve read my post, My Social Media Dilemma, you’ll know I’ve been grappling with the ups and downs of social media. The constant push for likes and follows can be draining, yet it’s also how I’ve connected with so many of you. Recently, a quote from Seth Godin resonated with me:

"I am enough if I just decide not to work for a system that doesn't have my best interests at heart and instead lean into the possibility I can create for other people."

This quote has given me new focus. I want to help people get into spoon carving and support beginners as they progress. I’m not going to stress about algorithms or the “perfect” post. I’m here to share what I enjoy, and hopefully, inspire you to do the same.

What’s Next for Sylva Spoon?

Moving forward, I’m excited to get back into regular blog posts—because I love writing, and it’s a great way to share my rambling thoughts. I’m also planning to create more YouTube videos to demonstrate techniques and tutorials that are hard to capture in words alone. You’ll see me on Instagram too, though I might be just as likely to drop my usual sarcastic comments on someone else’s post as I am to share my own content.

And yes, I’m bringing back my email newsletter. I aim to send it out once or twice a month, with updates, tips, and maybe a bit of behind-the-scenes musings. If you want to stay in touch, signing up for the newsletter is the best way. You can always reply to any email, and I’ll see it.

Everyone Should Carve a Spoon

I truly believe that everyone should carve a spoon. Or at least try to. It’s a simple yet powerful act that can improve your well-being in so many ways. While digital media remains the easiest way to reach as many people as possible, I also want to encourage you to put down your phone and pick up your tools. The satisfaction of creating something tangible with your own hands is something I hope to share with as many people as possible.

Stay Connected

If you’d like to keep up with what I’m doing, sign up for my newsletter. It’s the best way to stay in touch, and I promise to keep it interesting! You can also leave comments on my blog posts, YouTube videos, and Instagram. Let me know if there are any topics you want to know about, or just say hi. I’m always happy to hear from you.

Thank you for your continued support, and I’m looking forward to carving (and chatting) with you again soon.

Happy carving,

Tom