Forever fascinated by canes, the author has always collected them and made many of his own. Walking sticks come in three basic categories: the cane; the staff or hiking stick; and the chest-high quarterstaff. Each of these types is generously represented among the 86 patterns in this book. Their designs include everything from fish to dragons and birds to beavers. This is a valuable reference book for all carvers.

In this issue: Powercarve a Bear Head Six pages are devoted to detailed instructions and techniques for power carving Lori Andrews' bear head. •Carving a Realistic Rabbit •Put to the Test: Walnut Hollow Creative •Craft an owl pendant in an afternoon •Chip-Carved Picture Frame •Power Carving a Bear Head •Adorn your favorite staff with •a Celtic-inspired braided handle

Discover how to create unique and beautiful canes that will be treasured as useful works of art. Legendary carving artist Lora S. Irish introduces you to all of the essential components and woodcarving techniques of cane topper carving in this comprehensive guide with 4 step-by-step projects and 6 joinery methods.

FEATURES 2008 Santa Carving Contest Prize-winning entries and highlights from this year's contest Woodcarving that Gets Noticed By Rex Branson Team mascots on a large scale promote woodcarving and community pride. Preserving a Historic Art Form By Christle A. Johnson Bob Johnson shares his passion for carving fish decoys with students Carved Nativities By Kurt Eberling and Helli Mayr Exploring the tradition of Krippel Schaun in Tirol, Austria First Cuts Gary Batte, Steve Prescott, Joe Schumacher, and Desiree Hajny share their first carvings PROJECTS Saw Whet Owl By Gordon and Marsha Stiller Chip Carve a Star Tree Topper By Roger Strautman Carve through bleached wood to highlight chip cavities Happy Christmas Gnome By Ross Oar Easy beginner character can be carved as Santa's helper or a garden gnome Whimsical Santa Holds your Christmas Stocking By Shawn Cipa Delightful folk-art style carving is a functional addition to your holiday décor Power Carving a Dove Ornament By Hugh Parks Classic symbol of peace makes a beautiful Christmas ornament Carving in High Relief By Chris Pye Produce a dramatic effect by lowering the background and undercutting the subject Santa Brings Home the Christmas Tree By Mark Akers Charming details highlight this action pose Carving Candy Cane Ornaments By Hershal Borders Practice basic carving and painting skills with easy Christmas ornaments Hershal Borders bonus cane gallery Carving a Snowman Collector's Plate By Robert Biermann Learn the basics of intaglio carving with this cheerful winter relief scene Carving a Traditional Lovespoon By David Western Classic heart design is a great project for novice carvers Gilding a House Sign By Francis S. Lestingi Learn gold-leafing techniques with a handcarved plaque DEPARTMENTS Editor’s Letter From Our Mailbag News & Notes Tips & Techniques Reader Gallery Product Review Relief Column Calendar of Events Coming Features Advertising Directory & Classifieds Teacher’s Corner Woodchips

FEATURES Saluting the Best By Mindy Kinsey Announcing the winners of the 2012 Best Carving Design Contest 2012 Woodcarver of the Year: By Bob Duncan Honoring the flat-plane carving pioneer for keeping a dying art alive Gifts for Carvers A handy guide to popular gifts for the carvers on your list PROJECTS Learn to Carve Low Relief By Chris Pye These progressively harder projects teach basic relief techniques Creating a Layered Relief Carving By Wayne Culley Combine individually carved layers to add depth and dimension to your work Unique Bark Houses in the Round By Rick Jensen New technique combines two pieces of bark to create freestanding carvings Whittling Lovespoons By David Western Quick and easy project makes a meaningful gift for a loved one Quick & Easy Ark Animals By Tom Hindes Use one technique to power-carve an assortment of animals two by two Creating a Tricky Troll By Floyd Rhadigan Crafty caricature hides a sinister surprise Making a Caricature Amish Man By Don Dearolf Learn to carve this iconic figure in 20 steps Quick-Carve Pumpkin House By Tim Jackson and Dennis Cabot Simple steps turn a bark house into a festive jack o’lantern Carving a Caricature Canine By Lori Dickie Use a premade blank and simple cuts to carve this adorable dog TECHNIQUES Carving a Woman’s Eyes By Ian Norbury Learn to carve these difficult but expressive features Using a Carving Arm By Laverne “Sid” Sidler How – and why – to attach a project to a carving arm