If you get nothing you either used something with the wrong things, are not close enough to something (like an anvil), or your not skilled to make anything concerning it.
The first menue with its items which appears while carpenting or smithing is only an overview of the different categories of items.
When clicking one of these categories, you see, which items you can craft.
If there are no items, your skill isn't good enough to craft any item in this category.
I don't think, that there are new categories in the first menue. You will see all from the beginning.
But in the second, where are the items, they increase. When your skill is rising, more items are added.
Sure, there aren't unlimited items in each category .
Because for example axe/mace ect.. handles wouldn't fit into any of my categories which i have present... except maybe as STAFF HANDLES... neither would fishing bows