We really enjoy creating Shadow Box frames for Jacob at Honoring Service. Jacob was commissioned to create a unique Shadow Box to honor a retiring Marine. The Shadow Box was to include a display of the Marine’s Dress Uniform. To allow for such a unique display, the Shadow Box frame’s inside dimensions were 26″ x 60″. As with all the Shadow Box frames which we create for Honoring Service, the frame was milled to Jacob’s specifications from solid 6/4 Cherry.

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Jacob also requested that we provide two additional Shadow Box frames which incorporate a display of our American Flag. You may want to visit his website and see the beautiful Shadow Boxes which he offers.

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We thought we would showcase some of our recent custom projects. Whether you are looking for an inspirational Wall Art, or if you are considering a custom carved wooden Serving Tray with your personalized design, we are here to create for you.

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Jim & Rebecca

There is always a bit of a challenge in a custom order. We enjoy challenges.

This particular customer wanted a special gift to give to their client. They chose one of our wooden Serving Trays to be custom carved featuring their client’s sailboat’s name and a sailboat image.

We wanted to personalize this with an image of their client’s actual sailboat. This gift was to be a surprise for their client, so our customer could not ask for a photograph. Instead, they emailed an image from the manufacturer’s brochure. We worked from this image –

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Our next step was to create vectors from our customer’s image –

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As with all our custom work, we provided a few digital renditions to our customer for their review and approval. They chose this design –

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Here is the finished Serving Tray –

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Jim & Rebecca

This particular project called for the creation of custom wall-mounted bookshelves on a reduced budget. Since the shelves were to be painted, I decided to use MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) for the shelves and corbels and to use Maple for the front edge to provide additional strength.

Once the overall shelving design was complete, I designed the corbels and cut them out on the CNC router.

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I routed a nice profile on the cleats and attached the cleats and corbels to the wall.

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It was a blessing to work with my son, Jameson.

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The Maple front edge was painted to match. The Maple provides additional strength for this bibliophile’s book shelves.

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What can I do for you?

JIM

Our Oval Wooden Serving Tray prototype is nearing completion. The stain and a couple of coats of the hand-rubbed finish have been applied. The blacksmith is busy working on the wrought iron handles.

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We are also working on a different method of construction for another Oval Serving Tray.
You may want to check back and follow the progress of that prototype as well.

Jim & Rebecca

A Prototype in Progress

We have long planned on creating an Oval Serving Tray. This is still a work in progress.

To make our prototype, we used a solid block of Cherry measuring 23″ x 16″ x 1 3/4″ (three pieces were joined together).

The two images below represent the Serving Tray after the initial carving.

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An edge profile was then routed on the inside and outside surfaces of the Tray’s wall.

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The inside dimensions are 14″ x 21″ yielding 230.79 square inches of hospitality.

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In the words of John Howard Payne ~

There’s No Place Like Home

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You will soon see the entire piece on the Wall Art section of our products page.

Jim & Rebecca

Sola Gratia (By Grace Alone)
Sola Fide (By Faith Alone)
Solus Christus (By Christ Alone)
Sola Scriptura (By Scripture Alone)
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory To God Alone)

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You will soon find our new Five Solas Wall Art on the Wall Art section of our products page.

Jim & Rebecca

Occasionally, I am asked about book-matching. What exactly is book-matching?

To enhance the beauty of wood’s grain, I choose to resaw one solid piece of wood and book-match the two resulting halves. I use this particular technique on our wooden Serving Trays and on some our inspirational Wall Art.

Here are the steps taken:

In this particular application, I start with 6/4 Cherry –

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After sizing the lumber and squaring it up on my jointer, I set the fence on my band saw to resaw the Cherry vertically, right down the center –

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After the cut –

I liken it to opening the pages of a good book – revealing the mysteries within –

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I then machine a glue joint on the two halves and join the two. The image below is of the joined pieces with a clear hand-rubbed oil finish –

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The image below is of the joined pieces with our warm stain and hand-rubbed oil finish as used on our wood Serving Trays –

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JIM

The Five Solas is almost ready for assembly. The carving is complete and the hand-painting is almost finished. The frames are assembled and will soon be mounted.
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We plan to have our new Five Solas Wall Art ready to ship late next week. This new piece will be featured on the Wall Art section of our products page.

Jim & Rebecca