Product Description
This creative guide to fashioning a hand-carved wooden nativity scene includes 15 patterns for every character present in the traditional Christmas story from the holy family and the three kings to shepherds and barnyard animals. An overview of tools, sharpening techniques, wood selection, and basic carving cuts is provided. The figurines of Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus are included with step-by-step instructions from the first to the final cut. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Resource
I purchased this for my ex-wife's father who lives overseas.Although he is a limited English speaker, he was able to follow the patterns and really enjoyed the projects.

I wish I could make beautiful works of art like this, but I'm all "thumbs" when it comes to something like this.

Good Book
Have carved several of the figures and am getting better with each one. The instructions are easy to follow. Only drawback is there are only instructionsfor Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. Some of the other figures can be made by following Josephs instructions Overall the book is worth the money ... Read more

Product Description
This book presents vintage, often whimsical, and one-of-a-kind wooden figurine carvings by ANRI, the world-renowned company founded in 1912 in the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy. Among the more than 2,500 carvings featured are bottle stoppers, bottle openers and corkscrews, bar sets, calendars, letter openers, bookends, humidors, ashtrays, lighters, cigarette boxes, pipe rests, salt and pepper sets, pepper mills, napkin rings, timers, toothpick holders, brushes, salt and serving spoons, spoon and key racks, door knockers, and figurines, including monks and characters from novels by Charles Dickens. Collectors with a wide range of interests will be delighted with the amazing number of woodcarvings shown. This book will amuse and inspire todays woodcarvers and collectors, novices and experienced devotees alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

One eyed man
This book has some good pictures and is quite comprehensive (I think).However, the pricing of the items leaves a lot to be desired.The suggested prices are quite vague and incomplete.In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.Since there are prices suggested it is helpful to have some information rather than none which was the case before I got the book.For a collector, it is worth its cost for the wide range of Anri figures depicted.

Carving Inspiration
This book is written for collectors but as a woodcarver, I appreciate the history of woodcarving that is a part of this book.The book is filled with great color photos of carvings done over many years.On the downside, it cost me more money because after reading it, I ended up going to ebay and bidding on several anri carvings.I did note than a number of the carvings for sale were being sold by the books author. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Honest Opinion
This is an excellent book for all levels. There are two step by steps which are great for any one getting started. I would rate myself as an intermmediate carver and this book grades patterns from beginner to master. I have no fear and will eventually jump into one of these master projects in the immediate future. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Beginner's Book
I'm a student and on a limited budget. But woodcarving always interested me so I set out to try my hand at it. I was at a local bookstore when I found this book, and I'm glad I did. The author lays out simple guidelines to get the reader's feet wet in the world of woodcarving. She gives a list of basic tools that you will most likely need, and a few extraneous ones that you may like to have in a beginner set.

Another reviwer comemnted that the tools were expensive. The tools the author uses are primarily Flexcut and Swiss Made, both mid to higher end tools. The author states that if you pay more upfront for better quality tools, they will perform better, stay sharp longer, and be a better value in the long run. I happen to agree with that sentiment after having purchased some cheaper knives and gouges in the hopes of 'getting by'. Trust me - take the author's advice and pony up for some better quality tools.

The book also goes through the basics of stropping (or honing) the tools, and she has included instructions on how to sew your own tool roll and carving apron. I ended up buying my own apron at a local supply shop, but that's only because I don't have the slightest idea as to how to sew :)

Finally, the projects are a nice place for a beginner like me to start off. While the projects aren't exactly of the most masculine nature, they do provide good practice of the basics of woodcarving that will prove useful when I get to a point where I do my own projects and don't follow a template. All projects and techniques are broken down with nice-sized color photos that show everything needed.

All told, this is a solid beginner's book and a great place to introduce one's self to woodcarving. Good luck, have fun, and remember to wear that Kevlar glove!

The good and the bad!
This was a very interesting book to look at - HOWEVER, the author recommends too many tools, and they are tools that are too expensive for me to buy.Just buying one tool at the prices I found on the Internet would have been my limit. ... Read more

Product Description
Over 1,000 detailed illustrations appear in this comprehensive sourcebook, offering artists, woodcarvers, and other craftspeople a rich and inspiring selection of forms, patterns, and motifs. Each design is identified by cultural and historical period, with descriptions of tools, techniques and materials. Hundreds of beautiful, functional forms include Viking carvings, designs of Northwest Coast Indians, Ivory Coast masks, and much more.
... Read more

Product Description
Over 180 photographs demonstrate the examples of design technique and step-by-step instructions for every kind of woodcarving challenge. This text covers both realistic and stylized carving and offers tips, tricks of the trade and inspiration to help the inexperienced carver. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Easy to Follow
This is a very good book for the beginner on up to moderately experienced. It is easy to follow and understand. I recomend this as a Christmas present for any wood carving enthusiast. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

truly excellent
Absolutely magnificent ... extremely helpful. I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone who wants to learn woodcarving (and I have many books on the subject), it is a shame it is out of print but chase it up on zshops or marketplace, it is worth it. Well written, enjoyable and useful.

I would say, if you are going to get a single book on woodcarving, get this one - it shows you everything from tool selection (even pointing out the differences in mallet handle shapes and their advantages) to tool sharpening, then goes through many different projects building your skills with each one. The techniques are explained in detail, with all the subtle differences required. Examples are shown of works gone wrong - even though only slightly wrong - and an explanation given for what went wrong. It is more important to show what goes wrong than just show perfect examples, otherwise you would not even know what was wrong with your piece or how it could be improved. The examples cover everything and build a great skillset.

Also, the many, many, many photos are COLOUR, and excellent quality.

Considering what you would pay to do a course such as this, it's a steal.

a unique experience
I am the author of DECORATIVE WOODCARVING THE COMPLETE COURSE.This book is unique as it describes the real life experiences of a group of my students during their learning process.It encompasses the things thatwent wrong, how they should have been, why, and how they were corrected. It is a description of the reality of the learning curve for decorativewoodcarving, about real people who started with no knowledge or skill andended with a considerable degree of both.If you follow the text andillustrations, you too can enjoy these new horizons.We start with thebackground essentials of tool sharpening, drawing, modeling, and wood, andthen move through a series of carvings each of which adds new skills andknowledge to complete the learning process. ... Read more

Product Description
This step-by-step guide for beginning and experienced carvers offers whimsical designs for treating imaginative creatures and their country backdrops. Carving projects feature Barry the Bear, a friendly bear complete with a pot belly and patchwork overalls, Christmas bear, patriotic bear, cub in a stump, Do-Nothin Rabbit, Busy Beaver, and even a well-dressed moose. From the first to the last cut, each step is documented with a color photograph and a brief instructional caption. For each of these projects there are also bandsaw patterns for roughing out the general shape and carving patterns for detailing the actual piece. After the carving is complete, woodworkers learn to paint their projects with step-by-step instructions and paint color suggestions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Mike Shipley
Loved the book and of course, the delivery and condition of purchase were as expected.

Awesome and Cute!
I love this book not only because I*m a bear lover, but because the writer gives excellent directions and tips to complete really cute projects! I totally would recommend this book! Thanks!

Enjoyable and helpful
The book gives what I feel are good instructions and illustrations that guide you to completing the projects.I copied and reduced the drawings to fit the wood I had available.I especially like the antiquing method he uses.I did Momma and Papa bear and a baby bear based on Papa and entered them in my State Fair and came away with a blue ribbon.Thanks, Mike.

Basic introductory carving book
Good book on introductory wood carving cartoonish bears. This would be a good book for someone who has just started woodcarving, has some tools, has done one or two carvings on his/her own and wants to improve his/her skills. Fun, easy projects when mastered, probably easily sold at country fairs, sidewalk sales, garage sales, etc.

Loved this book
I absolutely love this book. The illustrations and instructions are wonderful. I love the bears and kritters and can't wait to carve them all. I was really surprised and happy about how detailed the instructions were. Perfect for someone who is just beginning woodcarving. I really appreciate that the author tells you exactly what tools you need and the wood and everything. I did find out that although I had most of the tools I need I am missing a couple...guess I will be ordering some more tools. I highly recommend this book, you wont be sorry you bought it, I wasn't. ... Read more

Product Description
Increasingly prized by collectors worldwide, Oaxacan woodcarvings are among the most popular form of folk art available today. These fanciful, brightly colored figures created by rural Mexican woodcarvers reflect the myths and traditions still very much a part of the carvers' daily lives. A spectacular gallery of over 160 full-color photographs beautifully portrays these artisans and their work, while an informative text examines the intricacies of the carvers' craft. The only volume devoted exclusively to this distinctive and magical art form, Oaxacan Woodcarving will inspire and inform anyone with an interest in folk art, photography, or anthropology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Great Photos, but not for Children
I purchased this book as a resource for my elementary school Spanish classes. The photos are excellent examples for our art projects with a few exceptions. Some of the pictures are painted nude or are half nude from the waist up. While not offensive to adults or an older audience, they are not really appropriate for all age groups.

I disappointedly found myself "defacing" several of the photos by adding bikini tops and bottoms with a permanent marker.Better this than children seeing things they shouldn't and having to explain things that I would prefer not to do. Much better to draw tops and bottoms than parents calling me to complain about their children seeing things they shouldn't!

So, make sure you preview all the pages before letting children see the photos. And, use your best judgment if you are a school teacher.

Amazing, Insightful, Fascinating.
...I bought this book in a discount house on a whim. It has turned out to be one of the most worn books in my library. This is NOT an encyclopedia of Oaxacan woodcarvings, or a catalogue of such, which may have been to the disappointment of one of the reviewers. The writer does an OUTSTANDING job at studying this group of people and their craft/artform as an anthropological survey, that is not in the least bit dry. Great stories, and imaginative professional photography of numerous pieces. This is the book, that caused me to travel 2,000 miles and spend thousands of dollars to meet the people that the author writes about....and that is the only caveat I have towards this book; it will introduce you to a culture steeped in poignancy, depth and every bit as 'magical' as its' title suggests. 5 stars. No, 10 stars.

Take this book to Oaxaca!
My copy of Oaxacan Woodcarving: The Magic in the Trees arrived just before my husband and I left the U.S. for a 3-month RV tour through several states of Mexico.Much of our 4 weeks in Oaxaca were spent in small villages enjoying the colorful works and the artisans who created them.We saw a wide variety of styles and themes, many of which are represented in this book. What gorgeous colors and what a sense of humor!

Oaxacan Woodcarving
This a beautiful and colorful book about Oaxacan Woodcarvings. It illustrates their vivid history and humble beginnings by folk-artisans in Mexico.

Latin American crafts are special because they're created by people who have a passion for life. They express it in their art with vibrant colors and whimsical expressions.

I sincerely appreciate the work that goes into creating these figures. This book captures all of the above and more.

Not just a picture book, but a book about people...
I picked this book up just recently and was rather delighted by what I found.Vicki Ragan's photos are lovely, but it is Shepard Barbash's text that is the real delight here.How many of those who buy this book will be like the lady below who, apparently without reading the text, complains that the book does not feature all her favorite artists and all the little alien figures which she is sure are the most important images coming out of Oaxaca?

Please do buy this book, enjoy the lovely pictures, but then read the text.Barbash raises, rather subtlely, the question of whether these woodcarvings are folk art or a response to a commercial demand; he questions whether we are right to put our own "surrealist" readings on these wonderful little figures which are hardly conceived out of some sort of pychological dream matter.

Instead he puts this work into its proper context.These wonderful, brightly colored woodcarvings are the work of individuals with their own stories, hopes and fears -- for whom the incomprehensible wealth and technology of the United States is far more surreal than anything they might produce.

I have one of the cute little aliens the reader below speaks of.They are nice, but superficial beside the personal stories and personal expression that occasionally finds its way into this fascinating art that exists somewhere between folk and commerce. ... Read more

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Product Description
If you're a woodcarver seeking inspiration for that next carving project, look no further! This book is full of ideas for designing and creating a myriad of unique and handmade projects, all of which can be used in and around the house or given as gifts. A total of 155 different projects are illustrated, including desk accessories, boxes and cabinets, tableware, coin banks, walking sticks, and nameplates. Appropriate for experts as well as new carvers, the book covers important principles in design and decoration. The text is presented in easy-to-follow language and supplemented with over 200 photographs and 70 drawn patterns. The book also illustrates different methods and styles of carving as applied to the items shown. Written by an experienced woodcarver, designer, and author, this comprehensive book provides a wealth of information for all who want to use and enjoy their carving projects. ... Read more

Product Description
8 full-color pages300 b/w photos20 drawings9 x 12Step-by-step photos, including full-color sectionPatterns for carving folk motifs from around the worldBack by popular demand, this is a reprint of the classic text based on the public television series. Master woodcarver Rick Btz guides carvers through 14 projects designed to help develop skills in various techniques, using basic tools. Easy-to-follow instructions and accompanying photos and patterns show the steps for whittling a Swedish doll horse and Russian dancing bears, chip carving an Early American salt box or Celtic love spoon, and creating relief carvings of a thoroughbred horse and a tobacconists Indian. Other projects include a cardinal, a lynx, and a merganser decoy from the Civil War era.Rick and Ellen Btz are the authors of Stackpoles Woodcarving Step by Step with Rick Btz series, which includes How to Sharpen Carving Tools, American Eagles, Santas, Woodland Creatures, and Woodland Warblers. They live in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Simple & fun
Rick has his own style & allows you to see how he does it. I had fun with this book & carved a couple birds. Pretty cool in that he explains the details too. Not the "end all" of wood carving books but a good place to start. You can accomplish the task & he explains his philosophy of such. I'm happy I bought the book. It was fun! (Fun to leave it on the coffee table so guests can see too! Good conversation ensues)

Woodcarving with Rick Butz
I enjoyed the book a great deal and gave a copy to my uncle this christmas.He also gives it a thumbs up.Rick does a great job at giving detailed instructions and the photos are excellent as well.The material covered ranges from beginning whittler to well seasoned carver levels. Whether you choose to carve with just a knife or you carve with a thousand chisels and goudges, you can find a great little project in Rick's book.I really enjoyed carving the wood spirit and merganser.Great idea book. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

carvingfor children
I Really like this book, it has a good instruction and interduction for woodcarving. Grandson gift to go with carving set he is getting for Christmas.

Carving For Kids: An Introduction to Woodcarving
This book is very informative, full of ideas to get one started into woodcarving. I'm 56 and I benefited greatly from the information to this hobby, that is new to me.

Carving for kids
Great little book - it's actually for my husband, who is a begging woodcarver.It has some great basics.
Book is in very good condition.

carving
Excellent book for the beginners.My 8 and 9 year olds loved it.This is a must have book for kids.

Good whitttling guide for kids.
Purchased to accompany a Christmas gift of a small pocket knife for a six-year old grandson who expressed an interest in whittling, Carving for Kids is written at the appropriate level, well illustrated and includes a suitable range of projects from simple to challenging. He immediately selected a project and went right to work on it. ... Read more

Product Description
An easy-to-understand, safe and effective system of sharpening tools to help carvers put a perfect edge on their knives, gouges, chisels and veiners, is provided in this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great book with excellent illustrations
I'm very glad I bought this book.I'll use it often. Has terrific instructions that are easily understood.

Great for beginners
Great for those looking for a way to sharpen odd shaped tools. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Awesome Black Forest Book
This is a very complete book on the history and types of Black Forest Carvings. It is a must for any Black Forest Collector or lover.

Extensive research work behind this book
This is an impressing book. While other books about black forest woocarving tend to be more of a catalogue, this book goes beyond into an extensive analysis of the black forest phenomena, including biographies of famous carvers and a deep analysis of the factors behind the development of that movement since its beginnings until its fall. Features hundreds of pictures, this book is a must have to both antique dealers, art collectors, and also -although to a lesser degree - to carving enthusiasts looking for inspiration. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

a must for beginners
When I wanted to learn how to woodcarve, I checked this book out from the library and found it so helpful that I bought it.It guides the beginner through all of the necessary skills, like picking out tools and wood,sharpening tools, the basic cuts, etc., then it goes on to show how to do awoodcarving, using detailed instructions and very helpful diagrams andpictures.Other books that I looked at recommended buying large expensivematerials (such as an electric grindstone and a full workbench) but thisbook starts you off with just the bare essentials and allows you to work upat your own pace. ... Read more