Features

2007 Santa Carving Contest Prize-winning entries and highlights from annual contest

Pursuing a Passion
By Bob Duncan
Innovative 3D patterns enable blind artisan to carve in relief

Woodcarving Hollywood-Style
By Bob Duncan
Local artists teach Sissy Spacek to carve for her latest role

First Cuts
CCA members Harold Enlow, Randy Landen, Gerald Sears, and Joe You share stories and tips on getting started in carving

PROJECTS

Simple Starter Santa
By Kathleen Schuck
Beginner Santa makes an ideal weekend project

Easy Evergreen Puzzle
By Sandy Smith
Carved, interlocking pieces create a folk-style ornament

Folk Art Santa
By Rick Jensen
An antique finish gives Santa the look of a treasured heirloom

Easy Weekend Nuthatch Pin
By George Calef
Basic power carving techniques create a fun and functional pin

Olde World Santa Ornament
By Mark Gargac
Pierced cuts add interest to this traditional Santa carving

Holiday Memories Santa
By Shawn Cipa
Carved Santa proudly displays your Holiday photos

Carving a Dogwood Leaf
By Kenny Vermillion
Power carved leaf adds realism and authenticity to your habitat

Decorative Floral Sled
By Charley Phillips
Colorful poinsettias highlight a relief-carved centerpiece

Simple Carved Moldings
By Chris Pye
Repeating designs are perfect accents for frames and furniture

Delicate Pierced Ornaments
By Barry McKenzie
Chip carve through the wood to produce stunning decorations

DEPARTMENTS
Editor's Letter
From Our Mailbag
News & Notes
Tips & Techniques
Reader Gallery
Judge's Critique
Calendar of Events
Coming Features
Advertising Directory & Classifieds
Teacher's Corner

Bob Duncan is the Technical Editor of Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts and Woodcarving Illustrated.

Sandy Smith lives in Lakeview,
Ark., with her husband, Gary.
As a member of the North
Arkansas Woodcarvers Club
(NAWC), she is webmaster,
newsletter editor, and serves on their board
of directors and the show committee
(www.northarkansaswoodcarvers.org).

Rick Jensen got his first taste of carving growing up along the Missouri River bottoms in North Dakota. His father supplied him with a pocketknife at the age of seven. Whittling on sticks started what would become a lifetime of woodcarving. Other artistic endeavors of Rick's include antler carving, bone carving and stone carving.

Shawn Cipa's carving repertoire shows his preference for all things whimsical. His latest book, Carving Fantasy and Legend, Figures in Wood is a showcase for Shawn's artistic talent, his imaginative mind and skilled hands. Shawn's first attempt at carving was a bearded "wood spirit" face which he scrawled into a piece of found driftwood. He continues to carve solely with hand tools in the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania.

Shawn Cipa was recognized as "Santa Carver of the Year" after he won Woodcraft's National Santa Carving contest. His work has appeared in Woodcarving Illustrated magazine. He is also the author of Carving Folk Art Figures and Wood Spirits and Green Men. Shawn accepts commissions for his work and can be contacted at www.shawnscarvings.com.

Chris Pye has been a professional woodcarver for than 25 years and is a member of the Master Carvers Association. His work is done mainly to commission, with clients including HRH the Prince of Wales. It ranges from architectural moldings to figure carving, furniture to lettering, bedheads and fireplaces. He has also written extensively about woodcarving for several magazines.