Even if you have no experience with woodworking or using tools, Wood Carving Basics will teach you new skills and show you how to create handmade treasures. Starting with a list of supplies and tools, plus suggestions for setting up your work space, the chapters are designed to progressively increase your comfort level with additional techniques. More than 300 full-color photographs accompany the step-by-step instructions.
Eleven exercises range from carving to whittling to etching, followed by a selection of patterns — including animals, a decorative border, letters, and numbers — for your first wood carvings. Projects include whittling a letter opener from a tree branch and carving a wooden spoon, a decorative butcher's trade sign, and a duck decoy. This well-illustrated guide concludes with helpful advice for painting, finishing, and displaying your work.