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I began making Shaker boxes to relax from the rigors of cabinetmaking, but in no way have I eased my penchant for precision! The fact that I'm a woodworker means that there's a lot of difference in what I choose to create, and how I see a piece of wood. When I make a nest of boxes, I'll cut all the pieces from the same board so it's a perfectly matched set, and not a mix of whatever wood is available. People at a show will look at a nest of my boxes and say, “I really like that, but I'm not sure why.” I tell them, “It's because it's all from one board”, and then they realize why my designs are so unique. I’ve been a cabinetmaker for twenty-five years. Before that, I built log houses and refinished antiques. I began making Shaker boxes fifteen years ago after I took a class from John Wilson. Precision remains a big part of my box making. All of my patterns are original pieces. One thing I do that's different is to carve my swallowtails to be very fine and delicate. I also take a lot of effort to make sure the line of tacks is dead center, so that when you stand the whole nest upright, the tack line runs exactly up the center. I prefer bird's-eye and tiger maple, cherry, and walnut. I finish every box, including painted versions, with light or dark lacquer. Over the years, I have expanded my line to include carriers, divided carriers, button boxes, sewing boxes, pin boxes, and an open-swing box popular with knitters. I gained acclaim in 2001 for creating a commemorative Shaker box for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. I have wholesale arrangements with several retailers and Shaker museum gift shops. I also sell retail at selected shows. Prices range from $20 to $140 for my high-end sewing box. I also teach Shaker box making at Mercer Museum in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and teach classes in the community about six times a year. Teaching is becoming a larger part of my interest, and I plan to expand my classes from New England to Florida. I've taught people from 15 to 75 years of age in the same class, and they love it! Some people have taken my classes six or seven times! |
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