I looked around and people's faces were distorted...lights were flashing everywhere...the screen at the end of the room had three or four different films on it at once, and the strobe light was flashing faster than it had been...the band was playing but I couldn't hear the music...people were dancing...someone came up to me and I shut my eyes and with a machine he projected images on the back of my eye-lids...I sought out a person I trusted and he laughed and told me that the Kool-Aid had been spiked and that I was beginning my first LSD experience...

Tom Wolfe introduces a wide range of journalistic reportage by writers including Truman Capote, Terry Southern, George Plimpton, Norman Mailer and Hunter S. Thompson.

Very few carvers can carve animals and people with the same skill. Fewer still can convincingly carve realistic figures and caricatures. Tom Wolfe is one of them. Following his book on carving realistic horses, he now he brings the same talent to bear on caricature horses. As always, Tom takes the reader step-by-step through the carving process, with each step illustrated with a clear color photograph. From the blank to the finished painted figure, everything a carver must do is clearly explained. In addition to the standing horse project carved in the book, there are patterns for other projects, a seated horse, a rocking horse, and an Indian on horseback with a dog. A great book for carvers at all levels of expertise.

Tom Wolfe's Santa Claus carvings have enchanted carvers and collectors alike with their joviality and character. By popular demand, he revisits Old Saint Nick with a carving of the "jolly old elf" walking with a cane...perhaps to get the sleigh ready for its overnight journey. With 340 color photographs the reader is taken step-by-step through the carving process. Easy-to-follow instructions review some of the basic techniques of carving caricatures before introducing some new tricks for carving and finishing the figures A large gallery offering four-sided views of a variety of Santas, is a useful guide. The exciting variety of Santas will inspire carvers to produce full figure carvings, busts, ornaments, bottle stoppers, and more. A great book for woodcarvers of all ages.

Bottle spirits swirl around in bottles of all kinds. Sometimes they glimmer in the glass. You can always hear them if a breeze or your breath passes over the top of the bottle. But it's not too often that they show their faces. So how do you know at first glance what’s really inside a bottle? Once you decide what kind of spirits are living in your bottles, Tom Wolfe will set you to work carving charming faces to match. Using small pieces of scrap wood, basic carving tools and paint, and not much time, Tom guides the reader through the carving of a rebel soldier, a viking, and a laughing imp. The finished carvings could be hung around a bottle, a neck, on a Christmas tree, or anywhere else that could use a little personality! More than 200 color photos paired with step-by-step instructions demonstrate the process, and a full-color gallery of 20 different carved bottle spirits that would stimulate anyone's imagination. Ideal for both the novice or more experienced carver, this book explores Tom's basic approach to carving a face and the countless possibilities, simple or intricate, that follow.

Bottlestoppers offer a great opportunity for caricature carvers, and Tom Wolfe shows the process in his unique way. Preparing the wood block, carving, painting, and applying the hardware are covered in detail and illustrated in detail with full color photographs. The reader gets a clear idea of what needs to be done and how to do it! Tom brings his creative imagination to the project, along with well-honed skills, humor, and some new tricks that will interest carvers of all abilities. The result are bottlestoppers with character, to keep your "spirits" high and delight your guests or customers. A gallery of finished works shows a wide range of possibilities and inspires the carver's creativity.

After the great success of Santa and His Friends, Tom Wolfe presents a group of traditional Santas that have been found in American Art, literature, and advertising since the 1860s and have a warm place in the imaginations of children and the memories of adults. With easy to follow, step-by-step instructions accompanied by full color photos, this is a great book for the beginning and intermediate carver.

Tom Wolfe takes his creative talent to the National Game: Baseball. With easy to follow, step-by-step instructions. Tom helps the carver bring the classic ballplayer out of a block of wood. Each cut is illustrated with a full-color photograph, an important visual aid to learning this fun craft. These projects are exciting and challenging, but with Tom's guidance even the novice carver will find they have the ability to bring them to successful completion.

Tom Wolfe has been carving canes and walking sticks for almost twenty years. Among the hundreds that he has carved, no two are alike. Each one takes on its own spirit and personality. And each one shows the carver's creativity and skill. Tom introduced his readers to the carving of walking sticks in Tom Wolfe Carves Woodspirits and Walking Sticks. In response to the requests of readers he presents this book devoted to canes and walking sticks. Patterns for eleven figures are included with two of them carved step-by-step. The carver can follow the color photographs of each step, gleaning whatever additional information he or she may need from the concise caption. This is a fun book for all carvers, from the novice to the pro. It continues the long tradition of Tom's creativity.

Forever fascinated by canes, the author has always collected them—he even has his grandma's and grandpa’s walking sticks. And, as a professional woodcarver, he knows there’s a good market for them. Walking sticks come in three basic categories: the cane, which is a walking aid or a gentleman’s walking stick; the staff or hiking stick, which is head-high; and the chest-high quarterstaff, which Tom’s grandpa used to call a “thunk stick.� Each of these types is generously represented among the 86 patterns in this book. Their designs include everything from fish to dragons and birds to beavers. This is a valuable reference book for all carvers.

House spirits are magical creatures who watch over homes and families. They come in all manner of shapes and sizes. With a keen eye, house spirits can be found almost anywhere in the wood and timbers throughout the home. Tom Wolfe shows you how to coax them out of their hiding places with power tools. Five patterns are included. Tom provides step-by-step instructions with over 230 color photographs. One project is carved to completion and patterns for two other spirits are included. These projects are a great learning experience for the beginner picking up power tools for the first time. They present the more advanced carvers with plenty of opportunities to stretch their creativity. No carver will see wooden objects around the house in the same way again. These projects will challenge the beginner and will fascinate the more advanced power carver.

For over a hundred years the story of Alice and her adventures has enchanted children of all ages. One of those who has been captivated by its charm is Tom Wolfe, and now he brings the characters to life through his carving. And more he shares his fascination with his readers. While many illustrators have brought their own imagination to Lewis Carroll's characters over the years, Tom goes back to the drawings of Sir John Tenniel for his inspiration. Of course he adds his own interpretation, giving them a unique personality that Carroll would have appreciated. As usual, Tom leads the carver through the project with easy to follow, step-by-step instructions, illustrated in full color photographs. This is a great book for the beginner and intermediate carvers, but the patterns and guidance Tom provides will be valued by all.

Tom Wolfe has been carving signs and other flatcarvings for many years, bringing to them the same creativity and skill he brings to his three-dimensional work. Sometimes practical, sometimes whimsical, and sometimes a little bit of both, this country flatcarving is loved by everyone. Country Flatcarving shares some of Tom's patterns and techniques. The three projects include a potholder holder (practical), the man in the moon (whimsical) and a welcome sign (a little of both). You will find step-by-step instructions, all illustrated in full-color, and will be able to design and carve your own patterns when you are finished.

When the well-known wood carver, Tom Wolfe, turns his talents to a new medium the results are wonderful. The almost limitless medium of polymer clay and Tom's eye for character and caricature combine to produce some endearing and delightful creatures. For years Tom has been using clays as a modeling tool for his wood carving. At the same time, though, he has created some characters in clay that are just meant to stay that way. The polymer clay comes in a variety of colors and can be shaped in almost any way imaginable. For those thousands of hobbyists and artists who use polymer clay, this new book will open new doors of expression. So, for woodcarvers and clay modelers alike, this is a welcome new book. Fully illustrated with beautiful color photographs, it takes the modeler step-by-step through the process of creating a male and a female caricature bust. A gallery will spur the imagination even further.

For caricature carvers the greatest challenges and the greatest rewards come from carving the head and face. This is where the personality of the figure resides. The exaggerated nose, the enlarged ears, the toothy or toothless grin...they all combine to give the figure a story we can understand at a glance. In this new book, Tom Wolfe concentrates on the caricature head by carving busts. About 8 inches tall, these carvings give plenty of room for detail, and allow the carver to explore new ways of giving expression to their work. One figure is carved step-by-step, with clear color photographs illustrating each technique. They carry the reader from laying the pattern on the blank to the final painting. Also included are patterns for 15 other figures, including military, western, and Victorian characters, and a full color gallery of 23 finished busts, each shown from four angles. This is an important guide for caricature carvers, and will lead to hours of learning and pleasure.

Tom Wolfe returns to an old friend of his, Santa Claus. In his own special way he leads the carver through each step of the carving process. The result is a traditional Santa in stride, heading for the reindeer pen to hook up for the Christmas flight. He is accompanied by old Rudolph, who looks a bit bewildered by the night that lies ahead. Every step, from the blank to the painted Santa, is documented with a color photograph and a clear instruction. Patterns are provided for the project, the reindeer, and several other interesting Santas. A gallery of the other Santas is included for reference to the other possibilities. This is a book for all to enjoy and learn from!

The cane is a simple accessory with a lot of personality. Some are sleek and elegant, others are twisted and gnarled, others are bright and silly. Canes make great carving projects for many reasons-they have endless creative potential, require only a relatively small time investment, and they are good pieces to practice on. They make terrific gifts, and are always top sellers at shows. In this book, Tom Wolfe guides the reader through the carving of a particularly clever cane, a fancy bird that doubles as a nutcracker. He explains carving, painting, and finishing the piece, as well as fitting the handle to the spindle. The step-by-step instructions are clear enough for the beginner to follow, while more advanced carvers will learn from Tom's expert techniques. A huge, colorful gallery illustrates dozens of canes of all skill levels to give you plenty of ideas for carving your own.

Clowns are the ideal subjects for caricature carvers. They give the carver a limitless variety of faces and situations to create. The only boundaries are the carver's ability and imagination, and the realities of the human form. Like all of us, clowns are complex figures, happy and sad, comic and tragic, all at the same time. Because they capture both sides of us, the clown has been a powerful figure through many years of human history. One clown is carved from beginning to end, with each step illustrated to help the carver. Most of the figures are in various comic settings and the gallery has several different clowns in various situations. Also included is a brief section on carving the letters used to label the pieces. This book promises hours of enjoyment and challenge for woodcarvers of all abilities.

The most ambitious carving Tom has ever presented in a book, this may also be the most charming. Tom leads the carver step-by-step through the process of constructing and carving a kid's size rocking horse. This is the perfect project for a Christmas present that will be cherished generation after generation. And even though it is ambitious, the instructions and illustrations will enable even the novice carver to complete a work of which they can be proud. The book covers every step from cutting the lumber through carving, assembling, and painting. Measured drawings are included as is a pattern for a smaller toy version of the rocking horse.

Do animals have their own Santa Claus? One look at these creations by Tom Wolfe and you will believe that they do. Santimals capture all the charm of the season in a new and delightful way. Tom takes the reader step-by-step through the carving of the raccoon Santimal, from the pattern to the painting. Each step is clearly illustrated with a full-color photograph and helpful description. In addition there are patterns and multi-angled color gallery photographs for several other Santimals. These include a goose, a hound dog, a duck, a pig, a mouse, and a bear. In addition, the raccoon pattern can be easily converted to a fox. This creative new project is perfect for the holidays and a welcome addition to the carver's repertoire. It is a great book for carvers of all skill levels. Everyone, from the beginner to the veteran, will enjoy its delightful projects.

Few things capture the charm of Christmas like the old-world Santa Claus. You might also know him as St. Nicholas or Father Christmas. What better way to say "Merry Christmas" to a friend or loved one than with one of these beautiful Santas you carved yourself. It is a timeless Christmas decoration that will be cherished for many years to come. Tom Wolfe guides the carver step-by-step through the carving, painting, and finishing of an old-world Santa. The basic figure will challenge the beginning carver, and there are plenty of fascinating details included for the more advanced. As always, Tom provides advice and techniques throughout the process that are useful for any carving project. A colorful gallery features several old-world Santa designs that will fuel your imagination and help you develop your own designs. Have fun and merry Christmas!

Tom Wolfe's cane carving books have been popular with readers. in this new one, Tom starts with a sapling straight from the hillside and takes the carver through each step to create a charming cane. He begins with prepping the sapling, helps the reader think through the design of the spirit that will emerge, and explains the various carving techniques that are needed to do the work. Finally he shows the painting and finishing steps, including ways to conceal unexpected problems. Each step is clearly photographed in color, with a concise, easy-to-understand explanation of what is happening and how to do it. This is a clear and informative guide and will be valued by carvers of every skill level.

Jointed dolls are an ancient concept. As a folk art in the American Appalachians and elsewhere, Dancing Sams have used the jointed idea to create a dancing motion when moved by a vibrating board for hundreds of years. When Tom Wolfe was visiting the British Museum in London, he came upon an Egyptian doll that was constructed just like the Santas in this book. The jointed Santas in this book are delightful. They can be easily posed and made to do a variety of things. And they are easily carved, following the step-by-step color photo illustrations. From the carving to the joint construction to the painting, Tom makes it easy for even the novice to carve these Santas. The more advanced carver will also enjoy the carving. In addition to the Santa carved in the book, there are patterns for 8 other jointed Santas, plus a nice sleigh for Santa to ride in. The gallery photos give perspectives on each of the carvings, an invaluable aid to the carver.

You've got to crack some eggs to make an omelet, and that's just what author Tom Wolfe has done. Tom finds out what is inside those wooden eggs found at craft stores and woodworking suppliers. This an interesting and informative book goes from the blank egg, through drawing, and finishing. Step-by-step the reader is taken through two projects, a caricature head and a bird, learning the techniques of good caricature carving from one of the best. Each step is photographed in a clear, color image, with concise, easy-to-understand explanations of what is happening and how to do it. This is the perfect book for beginning carvers and old dogs looking to learn new tricks!