Welcome to woodworking 20 simple & stylish projects for your home & garden

"You don't have to be a man and have a whole machine shop at home to be able to do woodwork," promises carpenter Ott (Carving Kitchen Tools) in this intensive guide to the craft. In an overview of materials, Ott lays out the difference between softwood and hardwood, recommending that beginners opt for pine because it's inexpensive and easy to work with. The projects require a coping saw, which Ott explains is best for cutting curves and irregular shapes; a flush-cut saw, which works for cutting pegs and dowels; and chisels and mallets, which Ott advises crafters to practice with on waste wood. Technique how-tos include tips on hammering short nails (she advises using pliers to grip nails instead of fingers) and gluing wood pieces with a tension strap. Experienced woodworkers will appreciate the variety in Ott's modern and stylish projects--for the home, there are wall shelves, a TV stand with wheels, and a collapsible tray table, plus a planter box with a trellis for a garden. But while Ott aims to reach crafters of all skill levels, some of her written instructions will be tough to follow for novices ("with the board in a miter box, use a Japanese saw to cut down to the tenon on both sides. Make sure you don't saw into the tenon," she advises, without noting what a tenon is). Intermediate woodworkers will get the most out of this. (June)