Cape Blanco Lighthouse Jewelry Box
This jewelry box was made for a lighthouse enthusiast. The wood that was used for the box itself is quite unique - curly fir. Because it has a very twisted grain pattern, this wood cannot be used for furniture or other building purposes. For this reason, it was pulled from the "green chain" at Weyerhaeuser timber in North Bend, Oregon about 40 years ago and has been stored and dried since then. The original owner asked me to use a piece of it to make a jewelry box for his daughter-in-law, Kricket. I selected this design because the Cape Blanco lighthouse is a distinctive landmark on the Oregon coast. My version is made of birdseye maple, ebony, and African mahogany set in book matched veneers . The "light" is inlaid mother-of pearl and the lighthouse dome has been subtly inlaid with copper. The fir tree is maple burl. The marquetry is framed with ebony and maple.
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I am a retired physician who makes jewelry, keepsake, memorial, and decorative boxes that are typically commissioned by people who wish to give them as gifts. I have been doing this for several years, but have focused on working with exotic hardwoods and more intricate designs since I retired about three years ago. While there are a lot of woodworkers who enjoy making small boxes, I believe that I have been able to differentiate myself from them because I have developed my marquetry skills and now do almost all my decorative and inlay work with a double bevel technique that I learned from the artisan David Marks.
I work alone and handcraft every item to meet the unique specifications of my customers. Typically, they provide me with a reference image and a design request. I then execute the project in about 2 to 3 weeks, spending about an equal amount of time on the construction and finishing of the work. A typical example of this is provided in my project entitled “Keepsake Box for Sailboat Captain.” In addition, I make some of my own designs that I sell. The butterfly marquetry jewelry box project is a good example of this.
My goal is to have the joy of engaging in my hobby while recovering the cost of my materials while have a bit extra to add a few new tools. But, most importantly, I want to be able to provide a unique prized decorative box that fills a special need.
- MK
Mark K
For Display case (jewelry box like)5.0Dennis’s expertise with intricate boxes was perfect for a special display case I requested of him. Dennis was fun to talk to and easy to work with right from the beginning even though I gave him incomplete information which added complexity and difficulty to the task. He seemed to thrive on solving problems and adding creative ideas. He was very detailed in his descriptions and every commitment he made he followed through exactly.
The end product was perfect and has the look and feel of a true craftsman-made product. Sure, it was a bit expensive, but you get what you pay for and I'm certain he spent tons of time on this. I'd go back to Dennis in an instant. 
AAnita
For Anita's shelving5.0Use Dennis for your woodworking projects. He communicates every step in the process and does a first rate carpentry job. I have used him twice and I'll use him again.
- CM
Christine Mollo
For Custom Wedding Box5.0Dennis was extremely professional from the initial contact through delivery. He kept us informed throughout the process, was great at communicating, and was very straight forward and clear.
His talent and artistry are exceptional. We wanted a custom wedding box, gave him a concept and a few things that would be meaningful to us and he far exceeded our expectations. He explored new techniques to come up with some unique elements. Among these special features: a Grand Canyon design, had the closing vows for our wedding etched in the box lid, engraved our names, creatively incorporated Morse Code in the box frame and other areas, and embedded turquoise. We would enthusiastically recommend Dennis!
- NH
Nick Horlings
For Honu Turtle Jewelry Box5.0Absolutely hands down the best experience I've had with a merchant. The quality of the craftsmanship is remarkable, and my wife loved everything about it.
We encountered issues with the postal service & international shipping, with USPS & Canada Post having damaged the item. Dennis patiently kept on top of these issues, despite them carrying on far past the order and delivery date. We originally ordered our item in June and even in January of the next year he was still in touch to ensure everything was in order.
When we encountered difficulties claiming the insurance on the package, Dennis kindly offered to fully repair the item for free and paid for the return shipping out of pocket.
I couldn't ask for a better experience from someone online. Communication was nothing short of excellent, and the entire experience was phenomenal.
10/10.
- EB
eric brock
For You Are My Sunshine Music Box/Jewelry Box5.0Received the project yesterday as we were told. Great workmanship. Was done in the timeframe and as we discussed. Completely satisfied and sure my granddaughter will enjoy for years to come.
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