Features: *A Traditional Master - Russian woodcarver Vladimir Rusinov Techniques: * Making Custom Knife Handles *Sharpening a V-tool Projects: *Bobbing Woodpecker Toothpick Dispenser *Carving a Scandinavian-Style Troll Queen *Carving and Painting a Birdhouse Napkin Holder *Super Simple Fish from 2 by 4s *Sculpting a Stylized Otter *Cute Caricature Chipmunk *Building a Portable Carving Bench * Ribbon and Flowers Frame *Carving a Native American *Creating a Musical Mouse

Inside this issue of Woodcarving Illustrated you'll find: Features Comparing Carving Gloves Formula for Success - carving detailed scale replicas of legendary race cars Gifts for Carvers Miniature Masterpieces Vic Hood - 2011 Woodcarving Illustrated Woodcarver of the Year Carving Faces in Softballs Projects Cute Shelf-Sitter Cats Carving a Gnome Carving an American Indian Making a Chip Carved Welcome Set Making a Cowboy Bottle Stopper Carving a Bathtub Buddy Carving a Witch Super Simple Santa Ornament Create a Poseable Robot Techniques Carving Thumbnail Accents

Features: *Pat Scott Scores Big Former baseball player carves with Hall-of-Fame right hand *Carvers Unite to Honor Veterans Injured veterans are presented with handcarved eagle canes *Best of Show Impressive projects inspire woodcarvers everywhere Projects: *Great Horned Owl *Carving a Rabbit in Cottonwood Bark *Making Patriotic Pins *Carving a Folk-Art Chickadee *Recipe Chef *Chip Carved Photo Frame *Carve a Tower of Teetering Turtles *Making a Mechanical Bottle Stopper *Roly-Poly Hedgehog *Carving Tree Spirits in Found Wood Techniques: *Dealing with Tree-Killing Insects *Carving Eyes *Using a Contour Gauge *Making Controlled Cuts *Maintaining a Sharp Edge

FEATURES Saluting the Best By Mindy Kinsey Announcing the winners of the 2012 Best Carving Design Contest 2012 Woodcarver of the Year: By Bob Duncan Honoring the flat-plane carving pioneer for keeping a dying art alive Gifts for Carvers A handy guide to popular gifts for the carvers on your list PROJECTS Learn to Carve Low Relief By Chris Pye These progressively harder projects teach basic relief techniques Creating a Layered Relief Carving By Wayne Culley Combine individually carved layers to add depth and dimension to your work Unique Bark Houses in the Round By Rick Jensen New technique combines two pieces of bark to create freestanding carvings Whittling Lovespoons By David Western Quick and easy project makes a meaningful gift for a loved one Quick & Easy Ark Animals By Tom Hindes Use one technique to power-carve an assortment of animals two by two Creating a Tricky Troll By Floyd Rhadigan Crafty caricature hides a sinister surprise Making a Caricature Amish Man By Don Dearolf Learn to carve this iconic figure in 20 steps Quick-Carve Pumpkin House By Tim Jackson and Dennis Cabot Simple steps turn a bark house into a festive jack o’lantern Carving a Caricature Canine By Lori Dickie Use a premade blank and simple cuts to carve this adorable dog TECHNIQUES Carving a Woman’s Eyes By Ian Norbury Learn to carve these difficult but expressive features Using a Carving Arm By Laverne “Sid” Sidler How – and why – to attach a project to a carving arm

FEATURES A Monumental Miniature By Kathleen Ryan Animated carving depicts folk life in Slovakia A Bird in the Hand By Kathleen Ryan Woodcarving offers comfort to those in need Award-winning Carvings: Woodcarving Illustrated’s Best Carving Design Contest By Bob Duncan Contestants show a broad range of creativity and superior craftsmanship PROJECTS Making a Comfort Bird By Frank Foust Smooth lines and a polished finish make these little birds a joy to hold Creating a Chip Carved Christmas Tree By Bruce Nicholas Highlight this festive plaque with color and delicate stab cuts Carving a Spiral Beard Santa Ornament By Dave Francis Unique ornament will be a family favorite Whittling Snowman Earrings By Claude Freaner Fun gift is easy to carve Carving St Nicholas By Harold Enlow Master the techniques to carve this classic Christmas icon Sculpting Stylized Evergreen Trees By Dennis Carlson Graceful spiral is easy to carve and makes a striking display Build a Dancing Santa By Shawn Cipa Turn the handle to make the carved Santa move and groove Relief Carving an Angel By Maureen Hockley Beautiful wall hanging displays delicate features and graceful fabric folds Carving a Low-Relief Santa By Bob Biermann Creating the illusion of depth with careful carving and painted shadows Making a Nostalgic Christmas Pull Toy By Tina Toney As the toy moves, wooden ball rotates to display the relief-carved scene TECHNIQUES Using Compasses, Calipers, and Dividers By Bob Duncan Transfer measurement and maintain proportions with these simple tools Customized Greeting Plaque By Deborah Pompano Add a border or message to personalize your design

A good illustration is worth a thousand wood chips! Here at last is a woodcarving book that lays the projects out chip-by-chip, with drawing-after-drawing to teach the craft in the most accurate way possible. With this book beginners don't have to guess how to position the knife or where to chip away. Clearly, explicitly, taking an many drawings as necessary - sometimes up to 50 for one project - the authors guide you through each project to the completion of handsome, useful, realistic finished pieces. The ten projects are actually ten lessons for building skill in carving techniques and developing confidence and proficiency in this age-old craft.

Whether you're a woodcarver expanding your talents, a seasoned carver refining your skills, or a beginner newly introduced to this fulfilling craft, this is the only carving book you need. Brimming with expert instruction and 8 attractive step-by-step woodcarving projects, you'll learn all the classic carving styles and techniques along with the fundamentals of wood and tool selection, sharpening, creating a workspace, and finishing your completed work. Also included is a complete chapter on power carving.