I Can Bend Spoons!

See, the trick is to use your hands. It's much easier than relying on the power of your mind.

Hmmm... maybe it's just the power of my mind that causes the problem...

I love the look of old silver spoons and can often find them by the bagful at thrift stores. This scrap of architectural moulding came in a box lot at the auction. I gave it a couple of coats of white paint and thought it would look great with a row of spoon hooks attached.


First, I took a hammer and flattened out the bowls of the spoons (very satisfying work). Then I drilled two holes in the now-flat bowls ot the spoons. This can take a while. Be patient and don't push too hard on the drill or you'll snap the bit. And make sure the holes you're drilling are big enough for the screws to fit through.

Mark where you want your hooks to go. Then start bending. You'll want to do this so that the pattern at the bottom of the handle shows when you attach it to the board. This can seem backwards the first time you try it.

I find most old spoons are soft enough to bend by hand. Put your thumbs where you want the curve to be and push gently. If you find you do need to use pliers, wrap a rag around the spoon first so you don't scratch it.

Once they're bent to your satisfaction (don't stress over this part - they won't all be the same or perfectly curved. In my mind, a bit of wonkiness just adds to the charm), screw them into the board (short screws - you don't want to go through the back!)

I added screws and some picture wire to the back of this piece for hanging. That makes it sturdy enough for kitchen towels or dog leashes. If it's meant to hold something heavier, like winter coats or pots and pans, you'll want to screw it directly to the wall.