Looking for something different to carve for Christmas? This is it. These fanciful ornaments double as whistles and are sure to delight children and adults alike. They can take a variety of shapes and forms, as you can see in the gallery. In fact, the idea of making carved whistles is not limited to Christmas ornaments. The tone and pitch of the whistles is determined by the size of the hole, so a variety of notes can be achieved by the carver. The toy soldier carved in this book has two holes giving dual tones. Kelley makes carving the whistles simple and fun. Each step is clearly illustrated and explained, using full color photographs. 12 patterns are provided, but once you get the hang of it you will probably be drawing your own. A fun book full of Christmas spirit.

Teddy bears have wonderful effects on people. Even the most hard-nosed pragmatist is moved to cuddle these bundles of fluff. With her great eye for character and her elegant simplicity of carving, Kelley Stadelman captures the spirit of the teddy bear in this step-by-step guide to carving. With color photographs illustrating each phase, from laying out the blank to painting and antiquing the finished product, the carver will enjoy transforming a block of wood into a lovable bear. One project, the "Teddy Bear Boy," is carved completely for the book. In addition there are patterns for other bears, with a gallery to show the finished creations. This is a great book for carvers of all ages.

Working in full-size is a daunting prospect for most carvers. But, fortunately, some creatures are made small enough to be manageable. So it is with elves. These delightful mischievous characters of myth are traditionally very small, and have a liveliness about them that make them perfect subjects for carving. Kelley Stadelman takes the carver step-by-step through the process of creating a life sized elf. After years of teaching, Kelley makes carving easy and enjoyable. She begins with the blank and ends with decorative painting. The result is a wonderful creature in the primitive style that will adorn your home or shop. Each step is illustrated with a color photograph and descriptive caption. Patterns are included for the main project and several similar projects that are shown in the gallery. This is a great project for the beginning or intermediate carver!

Though she has not knowingly seen Angels, Kelley Stadelman has received their help in times of crisis. She has felt their presence. These joyful little soldiers of God seem to have a childlike presence. Their personalities are uninhibited. They go about their duties energetically. Yet they are wise, committed to their tasks and reverent to their boss. The whimsy of angels is captured in the designs of this book. Kelley leads the carver step-by-step through the angel carving project, beginning with the blank and finishing with a beautifully painted heavenly being. With concise descriptions and clear color photographs, Kelley's experience as a teacher will lead carvers of every ability to beautiful results.

In hobby stores around the country there are resources for woodcarvers that are often overlooked. A great variety of shapes are turned from sugar pine, which make perfect blanks for woodcarving creations. In this new book, Kelley Stadelman transforms these blanks into Christmas figures. Illustrated with step-by-step color photographs, she carves a rotund Santa and stately tree. In addition she includes a gallery with several of the other possibilities that can be wrought from the turned blanks. Kelley came to carving from the world of tole painting and offers some of the techniques of that craft to the reader. They add a detail and charm to the finishing of the carvings that will delight and enrich your abilities. A perfect book for the person who carves for the sheer joy of it!