T Rex And Pterodactyl Toy Box
Six year old Jackson is a dinosaur collector who needed a toy box to store his most valuable specimens. So, for Christmas I made him a toy box with a T. rex on the outside of the lid and a flight of pterodactyls on the inside of the lid. The box measured 16 X 14 X 8 inches and was made of African mahogany. The lid was made of maple burl and the animals were composed of walnut burl, ebony, and holly. The project was completed by inlaying the name Jackson across the front of the box so there would be no mistake about who the dinosaurs belonged to. If your child or grandchild has a special hobby and you're looking for a unique gift, drop me a note and I'll see what I can do to help you create a special surprise.
Material
- maple
- oak
- walnut
Type
- wood
Material
- mahogany
Meet the Maker
Dennis Chenoweth
Dennis Chenoweth
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.
Customer Reviews
Nick Horlings
Jan 16, 2023Absolutely 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.
Linda Conti
Jan 21, 2015Working with Dennis was a wonderful experience. I really appreciated his detailed and frequent communication as the project progressed. I have other marquetry pieces, so I feel I am a good judge of the quality of wood inlay. His work is outstanding. I look forward to commissioning another project in the near future!
Annabelle Lee
May 21, 2020I am very happy with the work. He made exactly what I wanted - and delivered it early.
Dana Cassel
Jan 28, 2021Dennis is a professional and was an absolute pleasure to work with. I read many glowing reviews about him before contacting him and am happy to add mine to the list. The jewelry box he made for me (a wedding gift) is perfect, exactly what I specified, and reasonably priced considering the obvious craftsmanship that went into it. This is a personalized gift which could not be found in any store. You will not be disappointed!
Janet Barnhart
Jul 16, 2016I am extremely happy with every aspect of my project with Dennis Chenoweth. The jewelry box he made for me is beautifully designed, superbly crafted, and supremely elegant -- perfect in form, function, and quality. Dennis is a pleasure to work with. He consulted with me and sent photos of the work-in-progress throughout the project. I highly recommend working with him, and would go back to him for future projects.