Carve, by Melanie Abrantes

I was really excited to get this book.  With the tagline of "A Simple Guide to Whittling", it was pretty clear what the book was about.  It was a simple, and beginner's, guide to whittling.  I'd never tried whittling before, but I'm a big fan of trying new things, especially when I get to use my hands and create artwork of some sort.

The book itself is lovely.  Nice feel to the cover, thick pages, beautiful photos.  It would actually make a great coffee table book, and conversation starter.

It was very clear that the author is both knowledgeable and passionate about the art of whittling.  The instructions are clear, easy to follow, and everything makes sense.  The book is well organized, and takes you through the basics, including supplies, techniques, and safety.  Finally, it includes several projects to try, with detailed instructions and specific tips, starting with the most basic and increasing in difficulty.  At the time of this writing, I am close to completing my very first whittling project:  a pair of chopsticks.  The process has been both fun and challenging.

Wonderful book, and hopefully the start of a rewarding new hobby.



"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."