Carving Wooden Finger Puppets and Cane Toppers: 20 Whimsical Projects From Basswood Eggs

by Ross Oar

Overview

Attention, woodcarvers! Here are instructions for a frog, a cat, a relief-carved covered bridge, and more, all carved from basswood eggs. Each pattern features detailed front, top, and side views; helpful carving tips; a handy list of paint colors; and a color photograph of the finished puppet to ensure that each project is a success. Design ideas and instructions for incorporating these endearing characters into coat hangers, cane toppers, and bottle stoppers are accompanied by five bonus patterns for miniature, relief-carved landscapes. Begin by learning basic carving techniques and following the detailed guides to make two wooden finger puppets: Tom Cat and Fred Frog. The instructions for these two animal puppets take you step-by-step to master the skills you need to complete more projects. Each design features top tips and advice from the author. There are also painting suggestions for finishing each wooden ornament too. Projects take a couple of hours each to complete. There are 20 cute ornaments to make, including a parrot, chimp, squirrel, dog, cat, alligator, panda, ostrich, and more. While the basic patterns are for charming wooden finger puppets, each set of instructions also shows how you can easily adapt your carvings to make bottle stoppers, cane toppers, and coat hangers. Once you've completed all 20 projects, there are a further five bonus ideas using wooden eggs. Follow the step-by-step tutorial to carve a charming covered bridge landscape scene. As you develop more carving skills, you can then create more lovely scenes. You can take pride in each beautiful item, and either keep the ornaments for your own pleasure or give them away as thoughtful, homemade gifts. Your children and grandchildren will be especially delighted by the fanciful, animal-themed woodworking.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781565233898
Publisher:	Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	06/01/2009
Pages:	80
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Ross Oar has had many years of experience in woodcarving. In 1984, he and his wife, Barbara, began West Falls Woodcarving, a part-time mail-order woodcarving supplies business run out of their home in Orchard Park, New York. Ross also carves commission pieces that range in size from three inches to five and a half feet high and depict all aspects of life, teaches woodcarving classes on a limited basis and participates in woodcarving shows.

Editorial Reviews

This is a perfect example of the finer things coming in small packages and you will love this one. Carving Wooden Finger Puppets and Cane Toppers Ross Oar Fox Chapel Publishing 80 Pages What a great little book! Ross Oar has 20 fun projects carved from basswood eggs. Whimsical finger puppets or cane toppers like a parrot, alligator, Roscoe the Raccoon and more. Each project has step-by-step instructions on how to turn simple basswood eggs into lively, fun puppets or toppers. Oar has a palette of colors to show you how to do the finish painting of the projects. There is a bonus in oar's book, he shows you how to carve five landscape projects into those same basswood eggs. All 20 plus projects can very easily be turned into bottle stoppers or even attractive coat hangers. Certainly a fun book.

For woodcarvers who want quick, easy, and affordable carving projects, this 80-page book has it all, from whimsical animal faces perfect for a puppet show, to beautiful relief-carved landscape scenes, and all are made with a simple baswood egg. Written by Ross Oar, carving expert and author of Carving Wooden Santas, Elves & Gnomes, this new book is a collection of delightful projects suited for the young and the young at heart. It includes three complete step-by-step projects that guide readers to make "Fred the Frog," "Tom the Cat," and a lovely relief-carved covered bridge. The patterns are perfect for making not only puppets, but cane toppers, coat hangers, bottle stoppers and more, plus they include design ideas and instructions for additional options. Other amusing patterns include a parrot, a golden retriever and dachshund, squirrel, chimp, alligator, wild cats and more.

Ross Oark began carving at the age of 10. He majored in art and practiced his carving while in the navy to pass the time at sea. He is a graphic artist and works in metal as well as carving. This book is the very best. There are a few pages dedicated to tools, materials and safety, but the majority of the book is dedicated to carving and projects. There are 20 whimsical projects from basswood eggs. Each project has beautiful color photos of the project and the descriptions are thorough. Ross has authored a small book made up of 79 pages but it is filled with just what the carver wants - projects, projects and more projects with lessons for each. Every carver would love to have this book. Don't forget to give your carver the book that they will always use all year - Father's Day, Mother's Day or that birthday that is coming up soon. Don't forget Christmas is just around the corner.

ThiS book is perfect for Woodcarvers looking for a fun way to break up those long assignments with quick and easy carvings. Each project is evolved from a simple basswood shaped egg, using different patterns to create some wonderful finger puppet characters. Detailed step-by-steps introducing Tom Cat and Fred Frog gets you on your way and once you have the basics under your belt, you can have a go at working on the varied templates of Allie Alligator, Ollie Ostrich, Peter Panda, Squeaker Squirrel, and friends. There is even a colour chart attached to each character for those who wish to add paint to their carvings, plus instructions on how to turn your designs into cane toppers, coat hangers and bottle stoppers. The book moves on to carving relief landscapes, again using the basswood egg as a base, to create scenes such as a covered bridge, a lighthouse and a train. Ideal for the beginner looking for a fun way into carving, or for the more experienced wanting to create novel gifts for the kids, this book is a nice addition to your carving library.

From the Publisher