Thanks for joining me!
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
I want to begin this journey with past projects from my photo library. Each project has a story to tell. I have been asked to make many of these projects by friends and have started by asking where the finished project will be displayed. I also like to know how it will be used. This provides insight into design as well as choice of materials. (I once built a spice rack to display ceramic spice containers shaped as Victorian homes). I want my projects to be both functional as well as an artistic effort which the client and I will be proud to display and talk about. In the future I will be providing a written and photographic history of design and artistic concept. I will follow with my choice of materials, and building process pictorially and provide an explanation for choices made, so lets begin.
The Chess Table
One of my recent projects began with a request for a table to replace a tray table used for my clients chess set. I imagined building a full chess table. My idea was dashed when the client only wanted a table and not the board. His chess set was a civil war era replica which he wanted to display. So in development I set out to both build a chess table and a table to enhance the display of my clients chess set (board and pieces). Since I wanted to make a chess table I did both. I made the chess table which is now being used at the beach club my wife and I belong to and the table to display my clients chess set.
The Beach Club Chess Table
Ash & Wenge Chess Table
Framed in Padauk
The Display Table
The design for my client was based upon a 16X16 chess board and the need for additional dimension for pieces during play. I asked for a picture of location and chose my color combinations based upon the room furnishings. My client’s furnishing were dark cherry. So I chose walnut and wenge for the frame and legs. I added a multi-colored inlay to frame the center and highlight the chess set.
Keepsake Boxes
My mother first gave me a wooden box to help maintain paperwork. The design was for a bookcase and the door opened from the front panel. I liked the idea of this for the organization provided but not the design. I felt the box should be an artistic design that could be displayed on a side table, desk, credenza or coffee table, as a conversation piece. I changed the design to top opening and continued my use of hardwoods. I found snake hinges to accentuate the access to content.
I’ve made solid boxes of all one wood using zebra wood which I use for storage of monthly bills prior to payment. I’ve given others to friends, some have asked for something suitable for a specific space. My last gift was given to someone I work with and his comment was ” I can’t just use it for bill storage, my wife thinks it should be displayed as a conversation piece: Others have used theirs as a jewelry box.
The Industrial Wagon
Many years ago while paging through “Wood Magazine” my assistant spotted plans for a wagon and asked if I would make it for her so she could give it to her son. I said sure, little did I know that when I delivered it at the office, one of my patients seeing and liked it would asked me to build two more for his niece and nephew. I kept the plans just in case, and sure enough my daughter asked me to make on for my grand daughter.
The Jewelry Chest
I receive “Wood Magazine” which has may great ideas and plans. One of the projects was a floor height jewelry chest which I thought would be a great project for my wife. Of course years later my daughter asked for the same jewelry chest, however, I neglected to save the planes and had to work from the original and make my own plans.
CTFWoodDesigns 