Sometimes it amazes me what can be created from such a large ordinary object (shown below) that most people overlook.


I built the hope chest below from the above pin oak tree that I had cut down at a friend's house a couple of years ago and had it air drying since. The bulk of the work was done in my very small (10x14) workshop located in the basement of my house. Finished with 3 coats of clear gloss polyurethane and Golden Oak stain.
It has been a great challenge and very rewarding now that is completed. The only plan I followed was the on that I had pictured in my head, which was altered many times to produce the finished product you see below. Honestly I am very amazed that it came out like it did since it is my first project of this size and detail.
Oh one more detail in case you were wondering, I cut that huge letter B from the same lumber and spent a couple of hours sanding to get it to look just right. My fingers are still raw.
This one was built for my 15 year old daughter as a Cristmas gift. My wife and I are very anxious to see the look on her face when she see it on Christmas Day. I do have another chest planned for a friend of mine from the same lumber and armed with the leasons learned from this one.
Anyway here is the closest thing to art that I am capable of.



