Whittle a beautiful spoon, comb, pair of dice, and more with this fresh introduction to a folksy craft.   Carve modernizes a mindful hobby that people have turned to for generations to help them slow down, relax, and connect with the outdoors. Choose from a dozen projects with bespoke details, all are designed to be useful at home or while camping. And because these objects are small, they require only a few hours and a tool or two to complete. You'll also learn how to choose the right knife and wood, helpful information on techniques and safety, and tips for refining, personalizing and maintaining your piece. Whether you're headed to the woods or just to the porch, this pocket-sized guide will have you carving your own unique designs in no time. " Carve  takes striking wood projects and teaches you how to make them at home with your own hands . . . The step-by-step photos make the end result feel attainable, and the gorgeous imagery makes you feel like it wouldn't even matter if it isn't." -- DesignSponge Praise for Melanie Abrantes: She loves to make objects that are as practical as they are elegant — which is why we adore here."  -- Brit + Co "A crafty Jane-of-all-trades [who] specializes in handcrafting a plethora of one-of-a-kind goods, ranging from cork planters to wood bowls and vessels."  -- Apartment Therapy "[Melanie's] commitment to sustainably farmed materials coupled with her genuine curiosity keeps her one-of-a-kind bowls, plates, cups, and planters constantly changing." -- Better Homes and Gardens Named one of Country Living 's 100 Most Creative People, product designer and maker MELANIE ABRANTES runs her own wooden spoon carving workshops in Oakland, California, and sells her designs in small shops and retail stores nationwide, including Urban Outfitters, Need Supply Co., and West Elm. She's been featured in Martha Stewart Living , Anthology , Domino magazine, Dwell , Sunset , and Bon Appétit . SPATULA Intermediate   I designed this spatula with a slanted head and a beveled edge for more precision and versatility. The flat end is perfect for stirring soups or stews and deglazing pans for braises. Feel free to adapt the template by lengthening the handle or widening the blade to fit your biggest pots. While plastic spatulas often warp from heat, this workhorse should last for years with proper care. A few tips: don’t soak it in water for very long, never put it in the dishwasher, and treat it with mineral oil every couple of months to prevent the wood from drying out and becoming brittle.   o   Pencil o   1 piece of mahogany wood (see Tip on page 56), cut lengthwise with the grain to 2½ x 12 x ½ inches o   Carving gloves or leather thumb guard o   Whittling knife o   100-, 150-, and 220-grit sandpapers, cut to 2 x 3 inches o   Soft 100% cotton cloths o   Food-grade mineral oil o   Beeswax mixture (instructions follow)   1. Using the template on page 118, draw the handle and head of the spatula onto the wood. Whittle the wood with the knife to roughly the drawn shape by using power cuts (see technique below) and push cuts (see technique below). (A quicker option is to use a handsaw to shape the wood.)   2. Use push cuts to refine and round out the handle of the spatula into the dowel shape (A). Whittle the end of the handle to round it out using push cuts (B, C), tapering the tip to be ¼ inch wide (D).   3. Use push cuts and pull cuts (see technique below) where nec­essary to refine the neck of the spatula, creating a slight curve in the wood where the head meets the handle (E). To better refine the neck, you may want to use the stop cut (see technique below) to help you carve into the tight space.   4. Slice off the long edges of the head (F) to create a double-beveled head that is thickest at the base and thinner toward the edge, so that the edge comes to a V and creates the bevel (G).   5. Slightly round out the four corners of the head using push cuts (H).   6. Sand the spatula with the grain until the wood is even and smooth. Begin sanding with the 100 grit and work your way up to the 220 grit as each sand-paper dulls. Make sure to sand the neck of the spat­ula well, so that you have a smooth transition from the handle to the head.   7. Use a cotton cloth to rub the spatula with a layer of mineral oil, and then use another cloth to add a layer of beeswax for extra protection. Let the spatula dry overnight before using.   TIP: Don’t use exotic woods like rosewood that may leach harmful oils into your food or reclaimed lumber that may have been chemically treated or exposed to toxins. Instead, choose mahogany or another hardwood that is naturally food safe.     Beeswax Mixture   To preserve your piece and to create a stunning finish, apply two coats of a beeswax mixture. Because wax is very difficult to clean, you’ll need to dedicate a ves­sel for just this purpose. I use a small Crock-Pot that I found at a yard sale for five dol