As a hobbyist with a close family, my time in the workshop is limited to an hour or two in the evenings, with a little more than that on weekends.  But I began this piece at a time of relative tranquility at work and progressed quickly through the build of the lower frame.  By the time I reached the more complex upper cabinet, I was suddenly confronted with an opportunity to lead a major new project at work, that consumed much of my time in the workshop.  My pace slowed to a near-halt, and this piece sat unattended for over a year.  Gradually I found a happy balance between my work, my family, and my passion for woodworking, and was able to reengage on this project.

 

There are three features of this piece that I’m particularly proud of.  The first of these is the carving on the crotch mahogany tombstone doors.  I expected this to be difficult, but found that by breaking it down to a series of small, repeatable steps, the work went well (if not especially quickly).  The second feature are the three hidden drawers.  The project plans didn’t provide instructions for hidden drawers, but I knew it’d be fun to have them, so I incorporated hidden-drawer designs from other spice chest plans.  Lastly, I’m particularly pleased with the cohesive color that I achieved despite the differing hues presented by the natural timber.  To achieve this effect, I applied lessons in color toning in shellac that I learned at Olde Mill Cabinet Shoppe (which also supplied the plans).

I included the three hidden drawers for fun, with full expectation of showing them off to anyone who views the piece in my living room.  In truth, there is a fourth hidden compartment that will only be discovered if the piece ever needs significant repair or restoration.  In that compartment I’ve left a special gift along with a personalized message .  I expect and hope that these will not be found for many decades, or even centuries.

Launch Gallery