Woodland Whittling

When the stresses of modern life get too much, what could be better than gathering a few simple tools, heading into the woods and literally whittling away a few hours? The gentle art of whittling is a relaxing and absorbing hobby that can be enjoyed almost anywhere from round the campfire to in a cozy armchair at home. All you need is a good pocket knife, a piece of wood and your imagination. Projects can range from the delightfully simple to impressively intricate--it's up to you. Woodland Whittling guides you through the basics explaining what equipment you need, how to hold the knife, and what timber to use. The projects are then all described in detail with clear step-by-step photographs. Projects include: letter opener, thumb stick, ring tree and egg cup.

Peter Benson set up the Essex School of Woodcarving in 1996. He is often travelling and runs many workshops overseas as well as judging competitions around the world. He also writes regularly for woodcarving journals. Peter’s passion is centred on carving miniature objects, especially the carving of netsuke, on which he has written a book, also published by GMC.