Samuel Alexander first started whittling as a way to help him recover from depression, discovering that it not only lifted his mood but also yielded beautiful keepsakes like spoons, bowls, and ornaments. Soon he was selling what he made, and became one of Toast’s New Makers of 2022. He has since started teaching whittling and green woodcarving at workshops in East London, and his compelling, calming Instagram videos have attracted more than 47,000 followers. Now based in the Czech Republic, this is his first book on the subject. IG: @samuelalexandershapes