Patterns & Projects

Sailor with Flag

Sailor with Flag

A clay model is a helpful tool to use when planning a carving By Ross Oar The composition for this carving was inspired by two events more than 40 years apart. The first was my service in the Navy from 1958-1960 as a torpedo man aboard the USS McCaffery. The second […]

by February 14, 2010 Patterns & Projects
Angel and Santa

Angel and Santa

Power carving offers many benefits and retains many of the same qualities as handtooled carvings By Jack Kochan Ornaments never seem to lose their popularity, especially ones carved from wood. The angel design, which I modified, originally came from an old magazine. The Santa was a piece of commercial art in […]

by February 14, 2010 Holiday Carving, Patterns & Projects
Dogwood Floral Egg

Dogwood Floral Egg

This practice egg is an ideal first project for beginners and a beneficial exercise for experienced carvers By Jean Boyd This practice egg is the first project that I teach my beginning students. While it appears to be simple, and repetitive work is required to get the shape, you also […]

by February 7, 2010 Patterns & Projects, Spring Carving
Little Black Duck

Little Black Duck

Handtools bring intimacy to a full-bodied piece of folk art By Bob Buyer Many of my students enjoy the little black duck project. A full-bodied yet miniature decoy, this duck can be carved with just the essential anatomical features of eyes, bill details, and slightly raised primaries, making it a […]

by February 7, 2010 Patterns & Projects
The Cat’s Meow Refrigerator Magnet

The Cat’s Meow Refrigerator Magnet

Your fridge will be the cat’s meow with this adorable fridge magnet Design by David Sabol Refrigerator magnets are popular craft items, particularly those that are carved. I enjoy felines, especially when they’re up to some mischief. Going after a goldfish fits the bill. A piece of 3/4″ (19mm)-thick white […]

by February 7, 2010 Patterns & Projects
FREE Pattern: Carve This Bald Eagle Portrait

FREE Pattern: Carve This Bald Eagle Portrait

An artistic presentation flows easily with rotary bits and a good paint job By Wanda Marsh The American bald eagle is a joy to carve. An enduring and majestic symbol of freedom, the bird captures our attention whether we see it in flight or sculpturally presented at a carving show […]

by February 7, 2010 Patterns & Projects
Extreme Pumpkin Carving

Extreme Pumpkin Carving

This October, showcase your carving skills with something special for Halloween Here are ten hot tips for people using woodcarving tools to relief-carve a pumpkin: 1. For most pumpkin carvings, select a tall, elongated pumpkin because it is easier to develop the pitch of the face in the horizontal plane. […]

by February 7, 2010 Fall Carving, Patterns & Projects
Quick Carve Spreader

Quick Carve Spreader

Carve this useful utensil out of a branch using only a pocketknife By Chris Lubkemann Most—if not all—of my carvings are done in green wood. That’s just my style and you can easily find it when camping, hiking, or even in your back yard. or this project, choose a straight, […]

by February 5, 2010 Patterns & Projects, Whittling
Carving a Caricature Colt

Carving a Caricature Colt

Simple stylized horse is easy to carve By Floyd Rhadigan This adorable little colt only requires a few tools to complete. Novice carvers can expect excellent results in a relatively short period of time and more experienced carvers can finish the project in a single day.  My first carving project […]

by February 4, 2010 Patterns & Projects
Saint Nick Cane Topper

Saint Nick Cane Topper

Carve and paint this great holiday gift in a weekend By Phil Bishop This great topper can be customized for a variety of uses. Reduce the pattern to make a bottle stopper—the perfect gift for wine enthusiasts. Because of their size, cane toppers make great weekend projects. The small investments […]

by February 2, 2010 Holiday Carving, Patterns & Projects