Ok - my first book review and giveaway! And how hip do I feel, getting to give this lovely work to some wanna-be-whittler! I grew up working with wood. Both my grandfathers had workshops (one made ostrich marionettes!) and I was able to take "woodwork" as a school credit when I was 12. So the material is close to my heart and I love the smell of sawdust. But I've never whittled or carved. Enter Tiny Whittling ... it's already so popular, Amazon is about to run out. Enter now to win a copy!
Steve Tomashek is an artist, photographer, and master carver of miniatures. Check out his website, Miniature Menagerie, for animated films of his work. Tiny Whittling is described as a "hip beginner’s guide to one of the world’s most relaxing, inexpensive, and rewarding hobbies." Remember how knitting somehow became cool again a few years ago? Well, I'm predicting that whittling is the next "it" craft.
This beautiful book puts a thoroughly modern spin on a what I've come to think of as a dying (dead?) art. It avoids technical jargon and is really easy to follow. And before you touch wood, you practice a little on soap and root vegetables (soap duck or a carrot rabbit anyone?)
Then, with just a sharp knife, a little practice, and the tiniest block of wood, you really can whittle your own whimsical creature ... in less than an hour. You work
through step-by-step instructions accompanied by great photographs. And Steve holds your hand all the way, providing easy-to-use templates and sources for tools and materials. You'll also learn how to sand, paint, and decorate your tiny carvings.
There's a lot to love in this gallery of creatures. I think the owl is my favorite, followed closely by the rest of the woodland clan. Please note: I was sent a copy of this book by the Independent Publisher's Group for review. My views are my own. Now, here's how to get your hands on a copy.
Giveaway opens 12:01am EST Mon, 3/18 and ends Sat, 3/23 at midnight. WINNER announced Mon 3/25. It's easy to score multiple entries and increase your chances of winning - see below for details... (Open to the citizens of the wolrld, 18 and older.)
I have always wanted to whittle!
ReplyDeleteWhat cute creatures, I would love to be entered! And I have some carving experience so will have less injuries hopefully.
ReplyDeleteI can do this! My kiddos would love this!
ReplyDelete- Mal
I have always want to learn how to whittle!!
ReplyDeleteMe and my kids would love to whittle little toys and such.
ReplyDeleteLilhottemomma@yahoo.com
I am no good at whittling but my mother is wonderful. I always associate it with summer evenings, sitting outside and reading or chatting while my mother whittled. She hasn't done it in a while and claims she's feeling rusty. It would make a really nice present for her (:
ReplyDeleteI love it,,i once tried to get my eldest son into it but he was not intrested
ReplyDeleteI'd never considered whittling, but now that I see the cute creations, I'd love to try it!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
everything with my son! he would be so excited!
ReplyDeleteI think whittling would be fun! Challenging, but fun! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI think whittling would be a great hobby. I'd like to learn how to do it.
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to try, thought it would be fun.
ReplyDeleteBring from the South.....something I have always been exposed to, my grandfather used to sit and make us neat little toys. And you could always drive by the courthouse square and see men sitting on benches......whittling away!
ReplyDeleteJust don't see like I used to!
I'd like to try whittling!
ReplyDeleteDeborah
His creations are so cute! I would love to try whittling. Perhaps something like a baby kitten inside of a cat or like a ship carved inside of a carved bottle. I am guessing I would have to be very experienced to be able to do that or maybe I can program a computer that can show me where to carve.
ReplyDeleteI have never tried whittling but it seems like it would be fun!
ReplyDeleteI used to love to whittle as a middle schooler!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely adorable looking.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried...but I think my dad would love it!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to try it.
ReplyDeleteWould love to learn how to do this.
ReplyDeleteMy sons would love to learn.
ReplyDeletelovelydomesticdiva (at) gmail (dot) com
I used to love to whittle!
ReplyDeleteI love whittling I just wish I was better at it
ReplyDeletemy great uncle whittled ....us kids always loved the little animals he made for us...i would love learn this art
ReplyDeleteI have always been entranced with whittlers and have wanted to try but had no idea how to start. This book would help out with that dilemma.
ReplyDeleteI have always thought this was a cool craft and would love to win this book to learn to make my own little animals.....it would be so neat and I have lots of scraps of perfect wood to work with.....I'd love to make some and take some picturee of my creations...hope I win! Thank you Dh_jax (at) yahoo (dot) com
ReplyDelete