I Am Trying My Luck Making Boxes . . . Again

A few years ago, I made alot of boxes that I took to some craft shows. The shows I picked were not good ones, so I didn't sell many boxes. I haven't given up, though. I am thinking about selling boxes again. I made the box above over the weekend. I borrowed the picture idea from Donna Dewberry. I am going to practice some of her ideas until I get better at making pictures, and then I will do my own compositions. The photo above is a little blurry, I know. My camera does a terrible job on close ups. The box still needs to have the hardware installed and a lining put inside, but I wanted to post it anyways. I'll be interested in comments on it.

2 x 4 Furniture Can Be Fun!!!

I didn't design this bench. It is a pattern from a 2 x 4 furniture book that I bought at the local co op for a couple dollars. 2 x 4 furniture is simple furniture you build using standard lumber dimensions. I didn't build it to impress anyone, but to sell. I made another one just like it that I left the hearts off of, and put the two benches out by the road to see if they sell. I have had some people stop and price them already. I am asking $60 for this bench, and $55 for the one without hearts. I didn't think that was very much money, but a few people gagged at the prices. There is a danger when you put stuff out by the road in that people tend to think the stuff should be sold at yard sale prices. Not everyone acts that way, but alot of people do. I also designed, built and painted a coffee table to go with the round red table below that has roses painted on it. It didn't turn out very good, so I broke it up and put it in the garbage.

A Country Inspired Bench . . .

I made this bench a few weeks ago. I gave it a weathered look, because I couldn't think of anything else to do to it. If I painted it in colors it would tend to look kind of circusy rather than country. My daughter put the seal coat on it and she said she didn't care for the bench. Oh well, you cannot satisfy everyone.

Finally . . . I got the round table painted . . .

I finally got this table painted in a pleasing manor. I painted it three times before this. I figured out how to do simple roses and decided to put them on the top of the table. I think it came out ok. I will be anxious to hear what my daughter has to say when she sees it. Below is a picture of the top of the cabinet. I am almost done, except for some touching up and a seal coat.

A Country Bench . . .

I haven't made anything but stuff for around the house over the last couple months except this country bench. I finished it up yesterday. Thanks alot to my daughter Valerie for painting the black part of the bench . . . she is a very neat painter and does a good job. I still need to put a sealer on it, but other than that it is done. The scene I painted on the back isn't as light as it appears in the photo . . . that is the best shot I could get of the bench with my camera. At least you can kind of get the idea of what it looks like from the picture. I don't care if this bench sells right away or not . . . I had fun making it and that is what counts, having fun doing it. I am presently working on a round lamp table and will post that as soon as I get it finished.

Something Different . . .

I had some difficulty getting a photo of this bench. Since it is black, the details tend to disappear. The style is a little different than I have done for this piece in the past, but I think it turned out kind of nice. I am trying to concentrate more on the overall design of the decoration than on technically perfect painting. The idea for this came to me in a dream. I decided not to cover the whole piece in leaves, but just do a couple selected areas. The design seemed to need the black spaces.

A Shelf for Joel...

A friend of mine asked me if I could make him a small shelf in the shape of the Chevrolet Bow Tie Logo and this is what I came up with for him. He said he would paint it if I made it, so it is shown here unpainted. It is just big enough for him to put a few Matchbox cars on the level areas. I had fun making it for him, but the angles to cut the wood were really difficult to figure out. He wants me to make a few more things for him and I will post them when I have them completd.