Cherry and Spalted Maple Jewelry Box

[Garasaki]

I made this for LOML's birthday. First "fine" (ie non garage) project. Actually used more or less scrap wood in making this. Made LOTS of mistakes along the way and sort of wish I could have this one back. Fortunately the mistakes essentially aren't obvious to those who dont work with wood.

I did learn a ton making this and generally enjoyed the process.

Hinges are Brusso w/95 degree stops, inside bottom is red velvet lined. Heart piece is cherry sapwood (wont darken with age).

[chalkhappens]

I <heart> the spalted wood. Nice work.

[Pappy]

Beautiful! The way the spalted corner posts are part of the box joints looks great.

[drumpriest]

You did a fine job, that's a wonderful piece.

[linear]

I love the legs. that figure is visually arresting, and you used it well.

[John Hunter]

Very nice.

[Tony Ward]

A nice box.

Just proves there is no such thing as scrap wood! I like to think of the so called mistakes as "opportunities for creative solutions".

Well done, when can we see your next work, will it be another box?

[Ken Massingale]

Beautiful piece.

[mater]

Very nice work. It is beautiful.

[lrogers]

AWESOME piece of work. The heart on the inside lid is a nice touch.

[jhart]

Nice job. Really like the heart.

[T-Bone]

Man, that is beautiful. I love the legs and how they are tied in with the finger joints. And that wood is just amazing - you used it well.

[Garasaki]

Thanks for the comments guys.

The way the spalted corner posts are part of the box joints looks great.

I have to admit I'm pretty proud of the DESIGN of this box. I've never seen that technique done anywhere, not sure how I thought of it, but the idea was just there in my head. The biggest thing I'd like to redo on this box is cutting the box/finger joints to accept the corner piece. There was A LOT of tearout on them...

I love the legs. that figure is visually arresting, and you used it well.

The legs turned out to be my fav part too. I got REALLY lucky with making some cuts that accidentally turned out to be exactly the right size. The legs were tricky to work with due to their small size (1 1/4" long and I think 3/4" square) and I rounded all the edges except the inside edge, so they have a sort of teardrop cross section thruout that dosen't really show up in the pics. I also took my time selecting the most highly figured pieces to use for the legs and that really payed off.

The hardest, or most labor intensive anyway, part of the project was shaping the cutout on the inside of the legs for the box to sit in. Lots of chisel (I got REALLY lucky and had a rounded corner chisel that was the right size) and sanding work...chisel, check, chisel, check, sand, check, chisel, sand, check...etc.

Well done, when can we see your next work, will it be another box?

Well I dont have any plans for anything else right now, but I did enjoy this project so I'll probably do more. It was fairly easy, with excellent opportunitys for artistic expression, so I think boxmaking might be a new hobby for me. Also, I really consider asking to see my next work a real compliment!!

The heart on the inside lid is a nice touch.

The box is meant to be displayed with the lid open at all times. I gave it to her with the lid closed though, the heart is sort of intended to be the focal point of the piece.

[crokett]

Very nice work. I love the figure. I have some spalted maple and some cherry. It is nice to know how good they look together.

[Wood_workur]

that is a beautiful jewelry box