![]() |
$40.00 $24.00 |
Bird decoys, which were first fashioned by Native American hunter-artists at least 1,500 years ago, are the only major folk art form to originate in North America. Today, decoys made during the heyday of decoy carving--roughly from 1840 to 1950--rank among the most avidly sought of all folk art collectibles, with some rare and outstanding examples fetching upwards of $8000,000 apiece at auction. These humble hunting tools, intended to deceive wildfowl by luring them into shooters' range, are now appreciated on many levels: as compelling works of sculpture, as exacting portraits of living and extinct species, and as irreplaceable historical objects. Successful decoy carvers of the past knew their prey intimately--spending countless hours observing game birds in the wild and then bringing their accumulated knowledge of different species' appearance and behavior to the carving bench. Because the works these artisans created were meant to attract avian eyes--conveying the essence of a bird's plumage, form, and attitude at a glance--older handmade decoys are deeply observed symbols of living birds that no merely decorative object, no matter how photographically accurate, can match. In this definitive, lavishly illustrated work, folk-art expert Robert Shaw chronicles the now-vanished era in which the great decoy makers pursued their craft. Shaw traces the natural history of North American bird species--more than sixty of which are represented in antique decoys. He relates the history of wildfowl hunting on this continent, detailing the excesses of nineteenth-century commercial hunting and the rise of a conservation movement aimed at ensuring bird species' long-term survival. He examines the distinctive forms produced in each major hunting area, from the Maritime Provinces of Canada to the Chesapeake Bay to the bayous of Louisiana and beyond. And, with a storyteller's gift for the entertaining anecdote, Shaw puts us in touch with the lives and circumstances of the decoy makers themselves.
![]() |
$27.99 $16.79 |
Get inspired to create your own chainsaw art with the help of author and artist Hal Macintosh as he guides you through the chainsaw basics and step-by-step projects that show you how to create "scratch drawings," relief and pierced relief carvings, step-cut carvings, life-sized three-dimensional carvings, and totem poles. An extended photo gallery features the works of 23 chainsaw carvers, and this expanded edition includes new projects with detailed line drawings that show you how to make eight craft projects out of one log, as well as benches, planters, and fire wood holders. You'll find that everything imaginable can be created by a skilled chainsaw artisan -- glass-topped tables, stately bed frames, old-world Santas, soaring eagles and more.
![]() |
$24.95 $14.97 |
For absolute beginners looking to become confident woodworkers relatively quickly, this self-teaching guide will do the trick. Woodworking 101 combines the best material from the four books in Tauntons Getting Started in Woodworking Series (Getting Started in Woodworking, Your First Workshop, Projects for Your Shop, and Furniture You Can Build). Highly visual and easy to follow, the book includes detailed step-by-step photos, illustrations, shop schematics, and exploded drawings. Readers will learn how to set up and maintain their own shop, work with basic tools, and finesse their skills building a chair, a table, a bookcase, a bencheven a simple bed. With the basics mastered here, theres no end to what new woodworkers will accomplish for years to come.
![]() |
$24.95 $18.95 |
The Tinkering Woodworker delivers original plans and expert know-how for 15 cleverly designed projects that make the home, office, and leisure time more efficient and fun. The projects for the home include an entryway organizer, a knife block, Lego-style storage cubes, a clever wooden frame for hanging family art, and a stylish tripod lamp. For the home office, a standing desk, laptop and iphone stands, and headphone hooks make getting work done more efficient than ever. Remembering that all work and no play is a bad approach to life, The Tinkering Woodworker also includes a beer tap and growler caddy, a bike rack, cathouse in the shape of a teardrop trailer, and a slingshot that would make Tom Sawyer proud. With each project presented in a crisp, easy-to-follow design that guarantees success, The Tinkering Woodworker is the woodworking book that today’s makers have been waiting for. The Tinkering Woodworker was created by The Tinkering Monkey, an Oakland, California based woodworking/industrial design duo with a passion for designing and crafting smart, functional wooden products that are built to last.
![]() |
$24.95 $14.97 |
From Spring House Press. By Vic Tesolin. To enjoy woodworking, all you need is a few essential tools, a little bit of space, and the desire to make something with your own two hands. The Minimalist Woodworker is about making woodworking clean and simple – from the tools and the workspace to the easy-to-follow instructions. It eliminates the fears and excuses as it demystifies the craft. Written by Vic Tesolin, aka the Minimalist Woodworker, The Minimalist Woodworker is a stress-free approach to woodworking. Beginning with an understanding of the minimalist mindset, The Minimalist Woodworker quickly details how to make a small space productive and outlines the most efficient tools for a woodworker. Each piece of equipment is explained and instructions provided. Techniques for keeping each piece sharp and well-maintained are also detailed. Once space and tools are covered, seven projects are presented: a saw bench and matching saw horse; a Nicholson-style workbench; a shooting board/bench hook; a shop mallet; and a small hanging cabinet. Each project not only develops woodworking skills, but also outfits a small shop. With step-by-step instructions, photos and illustrations, and an easy-going tone, The Minimalist Woodworker offers an informative, but stress-free point of entry into the life-long craft of woodworking.