hinges

I didn't get any photos taken but more oil was applied and I've now started in earnest on the next box which is a box for a wedding album.

These pics ar the strap hinges for that box beginning to take shape.

Today - more on these hinges, more oiling, waxing and then photographing.

I imagine that thousands of people around the world are on the edge of their seats as their computers warm up waiting to read the next episode in the life of a box maker...

lots of cramps but no stick!

well - In the morning , exactly as planned, I clamped up the beading around  the glass. In the afternoon, again, exactly as planned I made a mirror frame for Chris' B&B guest bedroom (don't tell her - she hasn't seen it yet) and then in the evening I took the cramps off the beading, sanded it flush, and then it fell off! It hadn't stuck properly. The glass was fractionally too thick for the rebate. 
I'll glue it again today. And then oil it as well as some dovetailed boxes awaiting their next coat, and, of course -  the mirror frame. I'll photograph the new dovetailed boxes for the website and that just might be all I get done today.

Trying to keep posting . So what happened on Friday? I managed to get the workshop tidy and vacuumed - it's been deep in sawdust for too long now and I finally fitted the glass to the upstairs landing . I think that job has been waiting about a year! so -not much in the way of boxes...When you're self employed you have to be ultra disciplined - I really shouldn't have worked on the stairs but they had to be done because we had nine guests over the weekend!
Maybe I should write in the morning what I hope to get done that day and then the following morning write what actually got done...

So, today I'll try to finish the big secret opening box which will house the visitors book. I really ought to make the long mirror for one of the guest rooms - but that's not boxes so I guess I should do it tonight - but going back into the workshop  after dinner doesn't appeal....

I'm Back!

The longer you stay away from diary or blog writing the harder it is to restart - unless it's months and months, in which case you just start again... so I shall.

From ungloved to gloved!

Yesterday I handed over my commissioned jewellery box to Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery - finally... It was about three months late! Life is getting the better of me.

shelf unit

A shelf unit with a difference! Unbalanced was a couple of comments that I've had but I don't agree. In fact after the second remark like that I balanced the little model I'd made on a knife edge and it's fine!

A little while ago now I said that I had got distracted into making shelves so I thought the least I could do was post a pic!

Don't worry - I'm back on jewellery boxes now and there will be more updates soon.

spaceman

I really wish I'd bought a powered respirator 20 years ago.
But I've got one now!
And the Tullie House jewellery box progresses.

dust!

Why oh why didn't I make one of these 20 years ago? It only took 10minutes to make and it works beautifully .
I do a lot of sanding using a rotary sanding machine with the wood held in the vice and despite the sanding machine being connected to an extractor there's  always dust that flys up into my face. So I made this little hood , connected it to an old vacuum cleaner (one that I picked up from outside a bank that had left it out for the bin men - recycled!) and it works very well.