• 40 holiday carving projects, each a favorite from the archives of Woodcarving Illustrated, and with a variety of skill levels for beginner, intermediate, and expert carvers
• Step-by-step instructions, coordinating color photography, insightful tips, and more
• Ready-to-use patterns and festive projects including tree toppers, a candy dish, Christmas ornaments, Santa figurines, earrings, pencils, and more
• Contributions by today’s leading carving experts, including Shawn Cipa, Deborah Call, Don Dearolf, Janet Bolyard, Robert Biermann, Vicki Bishop, and others
• Updated edition features new projects from recent issues of Woodcarving Illustrated

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Santa with Cardinal, Page 83

Santa Collector’s Plate, Page 97

Old World Santa, Page 52

Playful Chris-Moose, Page 16

Power Carved Dove, Page 37

Santa Collector’s Plate, Page 97

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I am really excited to share this new group of projects with you! My hope is that there will be a takeaway for anyone and everyone to help build and expand their skills and ideas. I have always loved the cartoonish or caricature style of art, which has carried into my preferred carving style. There is (in my opinion) a greater level of freedom in how much or how far you can stretch the expressions and “silliness” of the subject.

This book is geared toward helping you become familiar with conveying expression and adding extra elements to your carving. These projects are intended to be stepping-stones, to help build an arsenal of sorts that you can apply to future carves and projects.

I wanted to provide a variety of different styles for eyes and mouths in these projects, and also convey a twist or new way of approaching ordinary subjects. With all of that said, below is a sneak peek into the projects in my book!

If you would like to try a free sample project, visit the Fox Chapel Publishing blog for the step-by-step ladybug wheelie wood carving project and free pattern!

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Ducks are a wonderful subject matter for caricature
work. On this particular project, take your time when
carving the delicate space between the jacket and the
duck’s head. Work slowly and don’t sink the tip of your
knife too deep into the wood. This will help your finished
carving to have a very clean and polished look without a
bunch of knife marks in the negative space.

I’m not sure if there is any subject matter that is more open to limitless imagination than that of the monster. They can be scary or cute and cuddly, tall or short, fat or spiky or soft.
This is an excellent opportunity to include a tiny human’s
perspective into your project—ask them for suggestions.

A chain link is nothing new in carving, but adding a simple
twist to an old classic can lead to easy and fun variations.
Get creative with this and see what kind of spin you
can add. . This is an excellent
project for getting used to where your knife tip is, how deep to make your cuts, and making clean cuts.

This is a fun little Santa Claus that can stand alone as
is, or, you can easily add a small eye pin to the top and
have a fun ornament. Once you’ve practiced stylized
human features on this project, you’ll be equipped to
try out other human caricatures—so have at it!

Each of Sara Barraclough’s caricature carvings beams with personality! It’s hard to believe that master carver Sara Barraclough has only been carving for 4 years.

Her carving work originally caught the eye of the Woodcarving Illustrated Magazine team where she made her debut in the Spring 2020 issue with her charming bear project. Since then, Sara has been carving her way into the magazine over a handful of times, published her first booklet Weekend Whittling Projects, and authored her very first book Learn to Carve Gnomes, Trolls, and Mythical Creatures and now her second book Quick Whittles!

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In this 112-page paperback book from flat-plane carver James Ray Miller,  you will find patterns and instructions for carving and painting these delightful whittling projects beginning with starter projects such as a camping and fork spreader or a fresh-picked strawberry and progressing in techniques with the stylized sunflower or curious Martian.

James begins with a “Beginner’s Toolkit” section of basic instructions that will make carving these basswood projects a breeze: types of wood, sharpening your knife, pattern alignment, and cutting techniques.

Beginner’s Toolkit

The “Beginner’s Toolkit” covers wood and tools for roughing out each projects, plus tips for using just one knife. Detailed instructions and photos in “Basic Cuts,” illustrate common carving terms such as stop cut, v-shaped cut, slicing cut, and sweeping cut.

Inside the Beginner’s Toolkit:

• What Is Whittling?
• Safety
• Types of Wood
• Tools
• General Overview of the Carving Process
• Design
• Roughing Out
• Basic Cuts
• Painting Techniques
• Finishing Techniques
• Carving Community

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Projects & Full-Size Wood Carving Patterns

• Camping Fork & Spreader
• Fresh-Picked Strawberry
• Egg-in-Cage
• Gentle Hedgehog
• Friendly Dinosaur
• Wizard’s Apprentice Wand
• Sleepy Owl
• Stylized Sunflower
• Sausage Pig
• Curious Martian
• Cozy Grandpa & Grandma
• Sven the Sailor
• Peppy Princess
• Enchanted Prince

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About the Book

Your ultimate beginner-friendly project guide to whittling flat-plane carvings—with a modern twist!

• 14 step-by-step projects for animals, people, aliens, wands, and other subjects that require minimal painting
• Made for beginners, this flat-plane whittling project guide only requires one knife to complete the projects
• Helpful guidance on whittling basics, making cuts, safety, painting and finishing, and how to find and join a carving community
• Author James Ray Miller is a protégé of decorated Scandinavian-style carver, Harley Refsal and a regular contributor to Woodcarving Illustrated

Whittling Workbook is perfect for anyone seeking a range of easy wood carvings they can accomplish with just one knife — including the roughing out stage!

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About the Author

“Carve whatever makes you happy. If you start a project but find that it no longer interests you, try to think of ways to tweak the pattern to turn it into something you are more passionate about. This is the key to a prolific carving career,” James wrote.

James Miller started carving at the age of 11 after being inspired by family members who dabbled in woodworking. A software developer by trade, James enjoys the creative challenge of simplifying and abstracting forms in unique ways. For more of his work, visit fb.com/jrm.woodcarving.

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• Combines a ball with a cylinder
• Use to make concave cuts and hollow out areas using the top
• Use the side to cut flat areas and round edges
• Creates a cut similar to a U-gouge with the top and a knife cut with the side

• Use to cut flat areas, round edges, and make stop cuts and V-cuts
• Creates a cut similar to a knife or straight chisel
• Hold the tool at an angle and use the top corner to make V-cuts
• Smooth-end or safe-end bits are the most useful

• Use to make concave cuts and V-cuts, and to recess areas
• Creates a cut similar to a U-gouge when using its side and a V-tool when using the tip

• Use to round edges, make concave cuts, and access hard-to-reach areas

• Use to access hard-to-reach and angled areas
• Create feather barbules and hair

• Use to round edges, create lumps and bumps, and make concave cuts

• Use to create concave cuts and to hollow out areas
• Creates a cut similar to a U-gouge

• Use to make V-cuts for feather barbules and hair

• Use to undercut feathers and make channel cuts
• Cut off thin pieces of unwanted wood

• Use to round edges and create lumps and bumps when bird carving

Carbide-point Bits
Brand names:
Typhoon, Saburr Tooth, Kutzall
Average price per bit: $15 to $20
Shank diameters:¼”, 1/8″, 3/32″
Durability:High: we have several bits we have used for more than ten years without a noticeable change in their ability to remove wood

• Most aggressive bits available
• Used for rapid stock removal when roughing out both hard and soft wood
• Produce a relatively rough surface
• Typhoon, Saburr Tooth, and Kutzall Extreme make cleaner cuts, collect less debris, and are easier to clean because the points are structurally aligned
• Kutzall bits cut fast, but leave a rougher surface and can be difficult to clean
• Cut wood, acrylic, plaster, and fiberglass

Carbide Cutters
Brand names:
Various
Average price per bit: $12 to $20
Shank diameters: ¼”, 1/8″, 3/32″, 1/16″
Durability: High: long-lasting bits are nearly as durable as carbide-point bits

• Produce a relatively smooth surface on woods
• Available in fluted and cross-cut styles
• Large bits with ¼”-diameter shafts useful for roughing out carvings
• Smaller bits can be used to add detail to carvings
• Cut wood, acrylic, plaster, and fiberglass

Carbide-grit Bits
Brand names:
Dura-Grit
Average price per bit: $15
Shank diameters: 1/8″
Durability: High: tough carbide grit stays sharp and won’t tear loose, but wears out faster than carbide cutters and carbide-point bits

• Available in several grits
• Available in most shapes including cutting wheels
• Cut wood, laminates, fiberglass, gourds, and ceramics

Mini Saw & Carving Drills
Brand names:
Various
Average price per bit: $10
Shank diameters: 1/8″, 3/32″
Durability: High: Mini saw drills are made from high-speed steel coated with titanium nitride; carving drills are made from high-tempered steel. Both types of drills have great heat resistance and life

• Used to drill holes and carve out from the holes on pierced turnings and relief carvings
• Difficult to control on an in-the-round carving
• Cut wood up to ¾” thick.
• Come in a variety of sizes

High-speed Steel Bits
Brand names:
Various
Average price per bit: $11
Shank diameters: 1/8″, 3/32″
Durability: Medium: longlasting, but not as durable as carbide bits

• Available in more shapes than carbide bits
• Useful for cutting grooves and countersinking
• Less expensive, but less durable than carbide, diamond, or ruby bits
• Cut wood, bone, antler, plastic, and soft metals

Stump Cutters
Brand names:
Various
Average price per bit: $9 to $11
Shank diameters: 3/32″
Durability: Medium: vanadium steel cutters last longer than high-speed steel bits, but not as long as diamond or ruby bits

• Serrated edges remove wood quickly, but leave a smooth surface
• Cut most woods, bits wear out faster when carving hard dense woods

Diamond Bits
Brand names:
Various
Average price per bit: Plated: $7 to $10,
Sintered: $20 to $25
Shank diameters: ¼”, 1/8″, 3/32″, 1/16″
Durability: High: sintered diamond bits are almost as durable as carbide bits; plated diamond bits are less durable than sintered diamond bits

• Plated diamond bits feature a single layer of diamond particles embedded in the shaped metal head
• Sintered diamond bits feature diamond particles bonded with powdered bronze matrix, which are then bonded to the metal head
• Sintered diamond bits can be sharpened and reshaped slightly with a diamond dressing stone
• Plated diamond bits cannot be reshaped
• Used to texture and carve fine details
• Available in several grits
• Available in more shapes than any other bit
• Used for final shaping, texturing, and detailing
• Cut wood, hardened steel, glass, ceramic, bone, antler, stone, and precious metals

Ruby Bits
Brand names:
Various
Average price per bit: $9
Shank diameters: 1/8″, 3/32″
Durability: Medium: last longer than stones, but are less durable than diamond bits

• Particles of ruby bonded to a metal frame
• Remove wood quickly, but leave a smooth finish
• Available in fine, medium, and coarse grits
• Cut steel, ceramic, wood, soft and precious metals, bone, and antler

V Stones
Brand names:
Foredom
Average price per bit: $3 to $5
Shank diameters: 1/8″, 3/32″
Durability: Medium: last longer than ordinary aluminum-oxide stones, but less than ruby bits

• Made from a vitrified self-sharpening aluminum-oxide grain
• Cool-running and long-lasting abrasive stones
• Cut wood, metals, acrylic, glass, and marble

CeramCut Blue Stones
Brand names:
Foredom
Average price per bit: $2 to $3
Shank diameters: 1/8″, 3/32″
Durability: Medium: last longer than other stones, but less than ruby bits

• Made from ceramic and aluminum-oxide for strength and cutting speed
• Run cooler than other stones, which makes them less likely to burn wood
• Leave a smooth finish
• Cut wood, mild steel, steel alloys, and ferrous metals

Aluminum-oxide Stones
Brand names:
Various
Average price per bit: $1.50 to $2.50
Shank diameters: 1/8″, 3/32″
Durability: Low: least durable bit

• Available in various grits
• Red (coarse, 80 to 150 grit) and white (fine, 400 grit) are mostly used for wood
• Red used for fast wood removal
• White used for fine texturing, such as bird feathers or mammal fur
• Stones can be reshaped and sharpened easily to extend their life.
• Cut wood, mild steel, and soft metals

Silicon-carbide Stones
Brand names:
Various
Average price per bit: $2 to $3
Shank diameters: 1/8″, 3/32″
Durability: Low: last longer than aluminum-oxide stones, but are less durable than CeramCut Blue Stones

• Silicon-carbide mixture bonded to a stainless steel head and shank
• More aggressive than white stones but less aggressive than red stones
• Used to create lumps and bumps on bird carvings, with a limited ability to create feathers and hair
• Cut wood, aluminum, brass, glass, and gemstones

Ceramic Texturing Rods
Brand names:
Various
Average price per bit: $22
Shank diameters: 1/8″, 3/32″
Durability: Medium: last longer than white stones, but are less durable than diamond bits

• Used to create feather barbules, fur, or hair
• Available in three grits: 300, 800, and 1200
• Entire 2″-long rod can be dressed or shaped for texturing, giving the rods longer life
• Cut them in half and dress the four ends with different shapes and sizes
• Our top choice for creating fine detail for feathers and hair

Sanding Bands & Discs
Brand names:
Dremel, Foredom, 3M Cubitron
Average price per bit: drum: $3, sanding bands: $0.50 to $0.75
Shank diameters: ¼”, 1/8″, 3/32″
Durability: Medium to low: ordinary aluminum-oxide sanding bands last as long as ordinary sandpaper, 3M Cubitron ceramic aluminum-oxide bands last at least twice as long

• Require a reusable mandrel or rubber drum
• Available in many grits
• Drums available in many sizes
• Cartridge and tapered rolls available for split mandrels in various sizes and grits

Cushioned Sanding Drums
Brand names:
Various
Average price per bit: $16 to $17
Shank diameters: ¼”, 1/8″
Durability: Low: the drums are very durable, the sandpaper cover lasts as long as ordinary sandpaper

• Mandrel with soft rubber backing and a slot for the sandpaper to be wrapped around the rubber backing
• Work best with cloth-backed sandpaper
• Includes a metal template which allows you to cut any grit of sandpaper to size
• One of our most-used tools

Defuzzing Pads & Radial Bristle Brushes
Brand names:
3M, Scotchbrite
Average price per bit: $0.80 per 6″ x 9″ sheet: $1.50 per bristle brush
Shank diameters: 1/8″, 3/32″
Durability: Low: synthetic steel wool pads and synthetic or horse hair bristles wear out quickly

• Pads require a mandrel, clamp one or two squares on the mandrel
• Pads used to remove fuzz before texture is carved
• Brushes used to remove wood fuzz and clean area between barbules and hair before painting
• Create your own pads by cutting 1½” to 2″ squares of synthetic steel wool

Radial Bristle Discs
Brand names:
3M, Scotchbrite
Average price per bit: $1.25 per individual disc
Shank diameters: 1/8″, 3/32″
Durability: Medium: last as long as 3M ceramic aluminum-oxide sandpaper

• Require a mandrel, usually stack in groups of three to six on the mandrel
• 3M Cubitron ceramic and aluminum-oxide particles are embedded in the bristles
• Disc diameters range from ¼” to 3″
• Disc grits range from 80 grit to 1 micron (14,000 grit)
• Use slower speeds for control, faster speeds for aggressive wood removal
• Useful for defuzzing
• Cut wood, precious and soft metals, and ceramic

Recommended Starter Set

We recommend the following bits as an initial investment: