Just finished a 2 day carving class with Mary May at Ben Hobbs school in Hertford. She is fantastic! If you can study with her, do so. If not, check out her online school. Never cut a cabriole leg or carved anything. A stick of mahogany became a cabriole leg with a pretty good (if I do say so myself) Philadelphia ball & claw foot. Can't say enough good about Mary's instructional and interpersonal skills.