Art director Jon Deck made woodchips fly as he diligently carved a snowman, llama, unicorn, and penguin—a unique “family” of projects for his four unique grandchildren. Editor Kaylee Schofield and editorial assistant Hannah Carroll enrolled in Mary May’s online School of Traditional Woodcarving for inspiration and tutelage. They recommend that any carver, no matter their level of difficulty, consider signing up for a membership. Not only is Mary May prolific and competent—she’s an encouraging teacher. Her video tutorials are simple and straightforward, and offer a variety of useful tips, allowing the carver to follow along with confidence.

Kaylee selected one of Mary May’s simple star ornaments, and carved a bunch for several family members, while Hannah carved her very first project—a stylized Madonna and child—for her future in-laws. Hannah carved her project from a rich piece of mahogany, and Kaylee used cherry wood from around Kaylee’s grandparents’ lake cottage in Maine, where her family vacationed every summer. In addition to the stars, Kaylee carved a Scottie dog and a fox—two classic designs by the legendary Tom Hindes. (Get more of his projects by purchasing his new book, Whittling in Your Free Time—it’s great for beginners!)

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Christmas may have looked a little different this year, but Jon, Kaylee, and Hannah were overjoyed at the chance to delve further into the craft they value so much—and to share something meaningful with their loved ones in the process.

From the Woodcarving Illustrated team,
Happy Holidays and a Joyful New Year!

Have you made any carvings for loved ones this holiday season? Send us photos of your work at editors@woodcarvingillustrated.com!

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Tom Hindes’ new whittling book is a winner for beginners

Best-selling author and whittling wizard Tom Hindes returns with another great book.

Whittling in Your Free Time is essential for any woodcarving novice, or even those who have a bit of experience and are looking to try something new. This must-have guide showcases a beginner-friendly flat-plane woodcarving style, and features 16 animal projects, each of which can be accomplished in just one short sitting. With simple step-by-step instructions, a dash of Tom’s witty humor, coordinating photography, and guidance on finishing each piece, Whittling in Your Free Time is a perfect resource for sharpening your carving skills.

Sean Syman, prolific carver and new WCI contributor, said the book is full of “nice, easy, approachable projects” and walks you through the “fundamentals of woodcarving.”

“One of the things I really appreciate is the mention of basic cuts you can do with your knife, and also the discussion of carving with the grain and how to best use woodgrain to your advantage,” he said.

Watch Sean’s full review here:

Sean grew up in New Zealand and enjoys making things with his hands, playing guitar, hiking, camping, sailing, and traveling. He currently lives in Toronto, Canada, and intends to explore the United States while living out of a camper van.

For his unique carvings, Sean uses a combination of woods—instead of paint— to achieve a natural contrast of tones. He enjoys working with hard woods like cherry, maple, and walnut, as well as the traditional basswood. A lot of his designs are inspired by Pokemon and other pop culture characters, and most recently, native birds from his homeland of New Zealand. To learn more about Sean and his carvings, visit Instagram @symanwoodcarving.

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Power-carve an assortment of animals two by two

By Tom Hindes

Thousands of men and women have probably received a rotary tool as a gift and, not knowing what to do with it, put it in a drawer. This is unfortunate because you can use a rotary tool to have an enormous amount of fun and easily produce attractive carvings.

For example, a Noah’s ark with pairs of carved animals is an impressive toy that both the young and the old will appreciate. Once you cut the animal blanks, it’s simple to use a rotary tool to carve them into finished animals, creating a prized toy or collector piece.

If you make more animals, choose thicker wood for big animals such as an elephant and thinner wood for smaller animals such as a fox. Note that the legs are not separated on these animals. They are meant to be played with, and separated legs can break easily.

I like to use redwood for this project because the oils in the wood prevent it from fuzzing while I carve it. Cedar works well, too. However, you should not breathe the dust from these­—or any—varieties of wood. I recommend using a good-quality dust mask and/or a fan to direct the dust away from you.

Materials:
Redwood or cedar, 3/4″ (19mm) thick: one cheetah, 2″ x 3″ (51mm x 76mm)
Acrylic paint
Shellac (optional)

Tools:
Rotary tool and bit: 1/2″ (13mm)-dia. sanding drum with a medium-grit sanding sleeve
Scroll saw or coping saw
Paintbrush

CLICK HERE to download the Animals for Noah’s Ark Patterns (1).

CLICK HERE to download the Animals for Noah’s Ark Patterns (2).

Read 20-Minute Whittling Projects by Tom Hindes for more information on simple carving projects. Learn the quick-cut method for whittling expressive little figures from wood in just 20 minutes or less, with step-by-step projects for wizards, Santas, gnomes, and more. The book is available for $12.99 plus S&H from www.foxchapelpublishing.com.

Find the pattern and how-to instructions for a cheetah, as well as instructions for a simple ark, in Woodcarving Illustrated Fall 2012 (Issue 60).

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