Anticipating the birth of our first Granddaughter, I decided to create a family heirloom with this cradle.  The wood is Sapele, finished with tinted wipe-on polyurethane.  The rockers are attached with sliding dovetails and the corner joints are compound box joints.

The Cradle was inspired by a design of Norm Abrams.  I removed the hood and eased the edges, giving it a softer look.  While in the process of milling the Sapele I decided to use some of it to add a decorative touch to the Gentleman’s Valet. 

I made two of these Gentleman’s Valets for my sons.  The red oak came from trees harvested in 1986 when we built a post and beam home in Massachusetts.  The Sapele inlay came from left over short cuts from the Cradle.  The finish on the Valets is amber shellac rubbed out with 0000 steel wool and wax.

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