Here are a couple display cases for an American flag which include a space for a military service certificate. The completed version on the right is from my brother-in-law. Awhile back, he asked me to build 8 of these cases. I was so honored that he asked me to build them, and doubly so to receive one. The empty frame on the left is one that I recently completed. This was also a request from my brother-in-law, but this one will honor his Dad, a Vietnam vet, which makes this one of the luckiest pieces of Oak I've ever worked.

After talking over the situation, I asked if there were any way I could help. We discussed trim profile options and I brought in some samples for him to look at.

We agreed on a classical ogee profile for the trim. He brought in the cutoff from the newel post so I could cut the pieces to length.

Part of the reason was my experience earlier this week with this plane's big brother. In the picture below, you can see the shiny new plane sitting next to a larger version. That one is a Bedrock 607. I used the 607 last week to prepare the edges of a long panel. The 607 worked beautifully, creating a dead flat surface in no time. Everyone at work was impressed at my skill (said jokingly, the plane did all the work) and they could not easily identify the glue line. Job well done, big guy.

Bottom line, these hand tools allow me to work faster, and achieve superior results.

The paint was finally dry just as she was going to bed, so we snapped a couple pictures.

When she said that she wanted to build a birdhouse, I sat her on my lap and we flipped through google image results for styles we liked. I didn't want to build the run of the mill box. I wanted something with some character. Something that includes features you don't normally see on a bird house. This plan came from A Home For Wild Birds, check them out at www.a-home-for-wild-birds.com .

What I really liked about the book was all the historical detail they provided about how the wood was used by our ancestors. They also covered many good projects. I tried to get some bark peeled off the branch, but it wasn't cooperating.

Interestingly enough, when I find a piece like this, I get very excited, and then very, VERY nervous. I have just one chance at getting it right. One mistake and I could be weeping sawdust tears and tossing the wood (and my hopes for a great piece) in to the trash. So I squirrel the wood away and build up the courage required to take on the challenge.

You see......Kevin is what I would call a "brave and adventurous" artist. He is always ready to try new materials and continues to evolve.
Nothing can stop his art (it is like a train or something). Any size, any color, any medium, any surface any application method. Nothing is out of bounds and somehow he pulls it together into a cohesive style all his own.

I enjoy talking with Kevin about his art and I like helping him any way I can.

I'm proud to announce the re-opening of my Etsy shop. It has been a few months since I've listed something and I just couldn't contain my woodworking energy anymore.

Hurry over to www.wispwoods.etsy.com to check it out.

Made from Red Oak and featuring Stained Glass panels in the doors.

My best tools have come from antique stores.