Relax the old fashioned way

Whether on your front porch-or in the back woods-the Little Book of Whittling will help you learn to how to create fun and useful objects with nothing more than a pocket knife and a twig.

Author Chris Lubkemann will help you "whittle away the hours" with clear guidance on becoming an expert whittler.

Inside, you'll find easy-to-follow instruction on:
- Tools and Materials: including what wood is best to carve
- How to Start: including choosing and sharpening the best knife
- Projects: including knives, forks and spoons; birds and animals; trees and flowers; whistles and walking sticks; and much more

Lubkemann brings nearly 40 years' whittling experience, and shares his knowledge in a friendly, down-home style. Whether you're a beginner looking for an easy way to get started in the most basic form of woodcarving, or an advanced carver looking for a relaxing way to spend your free time, the Little Book of Whittling will give you the how-to instruction you need to become an accomplished whittler.

Author Chris Lubkemann was born to missionary parents in Brazil where sawing, planing, hammering and building were a part of daily life. Scraps of wood became ready playthings as they took shape in Chris' young hands. There were boats, furniture, treehouses, traps and slingshots. He received encouragement from his parents to build and create.

In1972 Chris first published his notes on carving when he wrote and illustrated an instruction sheet on how to whittle a rooster from a small forked branch. In the 40 years since then, his original sketches and instructions have expanded. fine-tuned and changed. In addition to producing a number of his whilttling instruction sheets in English, thousands of copies in Portugese have been distributed around the Iberian Peninsula.

Chris is a regular contributor to Chip Chats magazine's Branching Out feature column. The Little Book of Whittling is Chris Lubkemann's second published titled. He previously wrote Whittling Twigs & Branches.

Chris' work in the ministry has taken him to many foreign countries and throughout the United States. Wherever he has gone, he has always had a pocketknife close by with a handful of twigs and branches. So, the simple craft picked up more than 37 years ago continues to be shared and passed on to people from all over the world.

A fool-proof guide for even the complete novice. This book could not make it any simpler to turn out neat projects. Using this book, anyone can create a unique, classic gift for a friend or family member. Highly reccommended for the novice woodworker.

This little book has 18 projects you can make with nothing more than a few small limbs and a sharp pocket knife. Another plus for this volume is that Chris has made it a traveling companion for the camper, the guy stuck in traffic, etc. There are directions for some knots, words for some songs, cooking a hotdog on a stick -- just all sorts of clever little things.

While whittling a "tree", I learned the insidious truth about this book. Chris Lubkemann has a secret mission. While you're having fun satisfying your urge to just put a knife to a stick of wood and whittle, he's teaching you techniques. In fact, the book is sprinkled with sidebars about knacks for safety and having fun outside. I actually suspect him of a deeper plot to get us all into the outdoors away from the tube, enjoying ourselves while building skills! I recommend this for beginners. Experienced carvers would probably find it too simple, but I would give this book to a kid who I like a lot.

I ordered this book when I was a Campground Host and it has made whittling so much fun! I had no idea how many fun things are hiding in branches and twigs. This book is great for biginners or the more advanced whittler. It has step by step color pictures of each project with easy to understand instructions. This book is a must as you will return to it for years to come! I look at trees and branches in a whole different way now and find that I am picking up branches to save for future projects from everywere I go.

Chris Lubkemann was a child of missionaries. He grew up in the forest of Brazil and Peru, where sawing, hammering and building were part of daily life. He quickly developed an appreciation for wood as entertainment as well as economics. Chris has written "Whittling Twigs and Branches." He has contributed to Chip Chats magazine, Woodcarving Illustrated and on the DIY Network. He is the 1981 Guinness World Record holder for the smallest branch rooster carving.
"The Little Book of Whittling" covers choosing wood, types of wood, choosing a knife, sharpening and honing, basic cutting strokes and wood burning as well as recipes and some tips for camping out. There are many projects to try as a new carver or a seasoned carver. There are as many as 18 or so projects ranging from knives, whistles, and birds to slingshots. If you like to relax and enjoy life, this is the book for you. It's all about sitting and whittling and even enjoying a good book. Chris gives recipes for lemonade, a banana boat, and hot dogs. There are several clips on how to do things such as building a fire, making a knot, types of animal tracks, dealing with snakes, campfire singing, tracking and baiting a hook. The book is not only a good source for projects but also a book to enjoy reading. Chris and Fox Chapel have made this book very interesting.