Carving Storybook Mice

Mice make wonderful carving subjects. Their high-speed antics and busy, scampering ways always attract attention and are the stuff of countless stories. The carving project presented here features an industrious mouse who, having gathered up a plump strawberry for dinner, has paused to enjoy the cooling shade of a strawberry leaf before heading home. The mouse, strawberry, and strawberry leaf are carved separately from unseasoned (or green) white pine. Over 230 color photographs and clear, concise instructions guide the reader through each and every step, making the process both enjoyable and rewarding. Techniques for soldering brass, placing glass eyes, and applying color stains to the finished mouse accompany the wood carving instructions. Twenty-one patterns and a color gallery of additional storybook mice caught in the midst of their busy lives are provided to fire the imagination. Carvers with basic skills will enjoy the challenges and advanced carvers will find David’s detail work fascinating.