Bottle Stoppers
These stoppers were a single order, made to hold a commemorative coin struck to honor the members of a rescue flight that went down, killing everyone aboard. The stoppers are for the families who lost loved ones. The woods range from domestics, such as Ash, Maple, Holly and Walnut to exotics such as African Blackwood, Cocobolo, Bubinga, and Bocote, and even one from Colorwood, a laminate of Red Birch veneer dyed to different colors before laminating them into a solid piece. Each piece is made from two book-matched pieces, drilled to hold the coin, glued together, and then turned on the lathe to get the shape. Once turned the faces are dished out by hand so that the coins sit in a concavity, rather than in a hole. This was a sad project. I was approached by an individual at a festival who told me the story of the loss of her brother and the others on a medical rescue mission in Oklahoma who were all killed when their helicopter crashed. She asked if it was possible to make a stopper that held a coin in such a way that both sides of the coin would be visible. After several mockups we felt that mounting the coin upright in the stopper, with the sides concave so that the coin would be readily visible was the way to go. We then decided on woods matching the personality of the individuals who were to receive the stoppers. I made the set and, hopefully, they have brought some tiny degree of comfort to those who now have them.
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I have been making from wood for as long as I can remember. I take a great deal of pride in my work and will not accept a commission if I am not entirely sure I can complete it to your satisfaction. ShopDog Turnery is a one-person, one-dog operation making all sorts of custom items, primarily lathe based. This includes bottle-stoppers, wine glasses (with glass or wooden bowls), platters and plates, bowls, boxes, and whatever else springs to mind.
In addition to lathe work I make various flat pieces; tables, specialty boxes, cutting boards and, again, whatever else springs to mind.
I make for the joy of the making, using sustainably harvested and reclaimed or historical woods exclusively.
Molly was the ShopDog, but is no longer with us. She did all the "RUFF" work in the turnery.
- M
Melanie
For Kaleidoscopes5.0Thank you, Thank you! We love the Egg Kaleidoscope you made for us.
The process was easy efficient and produced a beautiful treasure. - S
Stacey
For All wood toasting glasses for bride and groom5.0I loved working with Jim! What a talented, kind man. He kept me posted the entire time and I felt like I was working with someone I had known a long time. I asked Jim to make my daughters toasting glasses for her wedding.
My only regret was not discussing size. I felt they turned out too small (but that's maybe because I drink wine from a HUGE glass). BUT my daughter loved them and is so happy with the results! That's all a mother could ask for, right?!
I have to mention that upon my concerns I mentioned to JIm, he was willing to (without cost to me) correct my issue and make me new glasses. But that was not necessary, due to my daughters delight with her toasting glasses.Thank you Jim for making these special gifts for our daughters wedding!!
Stacey
- TH
Taylor Huber
For Muddler5.0 - JJ
James J (Jimmyjon, thats really my first name) Hoctel
For Alpha Walking Stick5.0My expierience with Jim was totaly fantastic! I asked for something that was not his usual style, but he worked with me though out the entire project. He found out that I was a vet expiencing trouble walking so when I asked him to make me a walking staff he found a pice of ironwood that is absoluty beautiful. I relly wnt people to know about his work so when I actualy make it out of the woods to go to town I will be telling everyone about Custom Made and Jim Barbour. Thank You Jim!
RBRandi Barish
For Randi's A GOLF TEE5.0This project turned out better than expected..he put his awesome work into something that he had never done and the finish project is just what my son wanted…thanks again!!!
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