From celebrated artist Lora S. Irish comes a treasure trove of small and beautiful patterns for crafters of all mediums. Perfect for carving, woodburning, painting, quilting and more, the patterns are provided in two detailed varieties: a line drawing for transferring and a shaded variety for illustrating depth and shadow. For new carvers Irish demonstrates the whole carving process from start to finish with a charming Country Apple Quilt Square project. She also explains the tools you'll need, the appropriate woods to use, and how to achieve the appropriate levels of depth in a relief carving. While small in style, each pattern is large in style. The wildlife, botanical, mythical, landscape and corner designs can beautifully stand alone or be incorporated into functional and decorative items around your home.

Lora Irish is an artist who runs an internet carving studio with her husband at www.carvingpatterns.com. She is a frequent contributor to Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts and Wood Carving Illustrated and the author of Great Book of Dragon Patterns, Great Book of Fairy Patterns, Great Book of Tattoo Designs, Great Book of Woodburning, and Wood Spirits and Green Men. She lives in Mt. Airy, Maryland.

Lora Irish has done a great job here and she has provided us woodworkers with some great ideas. Keep this one handy, you'll love it.

In Irish's book you will find everything from a tufted titmouse leather pouch to a sunflower covered recipe box. The author initially lays out most of the tools that you will need to complete the great projects photographed in the book. She includes patterns like a sailboat in the wind, a bobwhite quail, a quilted heart and a whimsical mouse in the kitchen.

This is the author's seventh book of patterns and in this one she also suggests relevant border patterns that compliment her pattern work. The patterns of course can be used by carvers, burners, leather toolers and other crafters alike. This is a great reference library of patterns.

I found both the Modern Tribal Tattoo and 101 Artistic Relief Patterns to be an inspiring collection of designs, for both within and beyond their intended medium. To be sure, there were a number of patterns particularly in Lora Irish's book that could easily be applied as a decorative element to the ceramic surface, whether brushed or carved! In fact, it would be lovely to see a book that describes the techniques of creating these designs in clay as well!

Once more, all of us potters here at the Bamboushay studio were delighted to find fresh ideas for our surface decoration, especially from such an unexpected resource as tattoo and wood carving designs. We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and would certainly be happy to share in the same way should have any further inquiries into the world of clay!

101 ARTISTIC RELIEF PATTERNS, by Lora S. Irish, features a collection of more than 100 exquisite patterns that enables woodcarvers, woodburners and crafters to develop their skill so they can create beautiful projects quickly and efficiently. The small patterns allow for easy experimentation with new techniques, tools and supplies without a large investment of time or materials. Each design is perfect for adorning an endless variety of items, such as jewelry boxes, nameplates, house number plaques, wall hangings, trunks, tables and more. With landscapes, wildlife, sailing ships, fruit and flora, architectural scrolls, Celtic-inspired designs and handsome corner motifs, there's a pattern inside for any project.