Archive for the ‘custom’ Tag
Back in the day … back when I went a-vendoring at craft fairs … I sold Magic Bottle Openers. In fact, I sold a lot of them. They were quite popular, and my demonstration of them became a point of entertainment in the booth.
Honest.
Me. The Entertainer.
Who knew?
But I digress. I would demo the MBOs, people would laugh … and then a small voice was often heard asking, what do you have for wine drinkers?
Uh…..
Well, at first the answer was nothing. And the customers were not pleased.
Then, the answer was Wine Bottle Holders. They were a bit of fun, but, ultimately, I didn’t like making them, so I stopped. I’m an adult, you see. I get to choose. And the customers were not pleased.
So, then, the answer became Wine Bottle Coasters. I still have those (well, I will have them when I make more!), but they were not as much fun as an MBO. And the customers … well, you know.
Which brings me to my latest offering, Wine Gift Boxes. I got an order to make 200 of these a couple of months ago for a local business that wanted to give them to key customers. And you only have to hit me with one big order like that to make me think that I may have found something.
These Wine Gift Boxes come in 2 sizes, 1 bottle and 2 bottle. They come with a packing material called excelsior, AKA bird’s nest. Excelsior is long aspen wood shavings that is just perfect to nestle a bottle of wine into when you present the bottle(s) and custom box to your friend or client.
I am making the boxes out of Baltic Birch, which is a high quality, 7-layer plywood. The wood is left raw, but sanded smooth. I have made a few versions that are available now for immediate shipment … and I have a few designs that can be personalized and are perfect for weddings, anniversaries, house warmings, or other important celebrations.
All of these can be purchased today on my retail website, MrMsWoodshop.com. Click here to go straight to the page with the WGBs. If you are ordering a customized box, be sure to include all of the details for what you want carved or engraved on the lid in the notes with your order.
And … if you are going to a craft fair in May, I just might see you there! I will be at the Fresno Home & Garden Show as well as Bishop Mule Days. Details are on my events page, here.
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I get all sorts of odd requests when I’m out rubbing elbows with people at craft fairs.
Ah, memories.
Some of those requests I bring to life, as you can see from the unique projects below. Some are personalized, some are just personal.
Boards can be engraved with names as gifts for yourself, for weddings & anniversaries, for real estate closings ….
If you would like to order a special item for a special someone, email me and we’ll develop the idea. Some projects can be accomplished relatively quickly (like the board with “Hall” on it; that can be delivered in a very few days as I keep the blank boards on hand). Some boards require me to buy specific species of lumber, glue it up, smooth it, carve it, finish it … and when I’m busy that can take weeks. Months, even. But whatever the time frame may be, I’ll give you an estimate in advance and will always keep you informed of where I am in the process.
So, what have you got in mind?
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The thing about making big cutting boards … is I can only make them when I sell them.
After all, if I keep making them … storage would be an issue. In my small shop, that’s no trivial matter. I have no room!
So, I’m pleased to say that I keep selling big cutting boards, and I had to make more to keep my inventory at a good level.
That’s a very good thing. I love making big cutting boards, AKA BDBs.
BDB = Big Damn Cutting Boards.
These are approximately 16″ x 21″ x 1.5″, which is the size I end up with when I start with a “blank” that’s 16x24x1.75″. Two glue-ups, 3 sanding machines, one table router and lots and lots of hand work later, these are the hand rubbed beauties that I am left with.
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I have a plan, and it’s called Game Night. I’m going to launch another kickstarter campaign in 2019; it’ll feature a variety of games and game accessories … like my chess boards and cribbage boards.
The first new product to be introduced for this future campaign are these card boxes.
Yes, I can make boxes. Rarely of late, but I can do them.
Each of these boxes contains 2 decks of playing cards, and have a removable top that can be engraved with an image that you get to choose.
These first boxes are made from Cherry, Bloodwood or Birdseye Maple. The first box was designed to give to my mother … and she liked it.
She really liked it.
With that endorsement, how can these not be a big hit?
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I need better signage.
I started making trivets to protect tables & counters – and food! – soon after I got my CNC. They continue to be a top seller … even though they confuse many people who don’t understand what this odd looking thing is when they pick it up in my booth.
Maybe I’ll have more time for that soon!
Trivets are 8-1/2″ square, with heat vents in a diagonal pattern across the top and bottom of the trivet. Each trivet is 3/4″ thick, and they nearly always feature a fun color pattern of hardwoods. I do occasionally make trivets with just one species of wood, though I’ve found most people prefer the colorful versions.
Meanwhile, I am now making coasters with cork inserts to protect tables & desks from hot & cold drinks – and condensation.
Everyone knows what a coaster is, thank goodness!
These have always been colorful. I’m yet to try a single species of wood for a coaster. Hmmmm. Maybe next time.
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I do a lot of wedding & anniversary gifts. Here you see several different styles … as well as a couple of other special orders thrown in.
I have a love/hate relationship with special orders, honestly. Keeping track of them, their individual deadlines & extra steps required for the personalization is another record keeping system that I have to maintain to stay on top of these orders. It’s a wonderful thing, truly – who wouldn’t want to be a part of a wedding as a gift supplier? Lots of love there, and that’s a good thing.
A very good thing.
Also shown are a sign for a restored car’s dash (the Beach Bug sign). It’s a carved sign with painted letters. Similar techniques were used with the making of the final piece, that shows the longitude & latitude for the happy couple’s meeting, engagement & wedding.
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OK, I’m behind.
Way behind.
I’ve been making stuff, and even taking pictures … and then hurriedly going to events so I have to make more stuff. This cycle has been repeating for 3 months now.
3 months.
So, yes, I’m behind. Many of these items were made months ago, and have already sold! … but I’m just now showing them to you here. Sorry about that.
This includes the very latest stuff for the holiday boutiques, as well, so please enjoy the pretties … because they will be gone soon, I trust!
Carnivore Board 18 – 909
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Only a couple more new signs this time: the collection of signs for my booth is just about complete.
I’m out of wall space, for one.
And, now that the display is built out, it’s time to see if people really like these signs enough to buy them, or if they just like to point and laugh. Either way, I think I’ve accomplished my original goal of making the booth more attractive and interesting.
This weekend, I head north to do my first-ever Harvest Festival in San Mateo. This series of events is what the serious vendors do in California.
Time to see if I am serious enough.
Nah. Time to see if I’m happy enough. That’s the ticket.
I’ll be taking my indoor booth setup with 4 mesh walls, and I’ll be setting up a 10’x20′ booth. Hope it all works: after a week in the midwest dealing with the death of a loved one, I’m not sure if going a-vendoring will be a relief or another in a long list of really difficult days.
Time will tell.
Meanwhile, these are the signs that are going with me. Some are new, some are replacements for signs I’ve sold … and all hope to be entertaining.
CNC Siugn 18 – 90 Bless The Food
CNC Sign 18 – 91 A Banana
CNC Sign 18 – 118 The Answer Is
CNC Sign 18 – 92 A Banana
CNC Sign 18 – 93 Tis An Ill
CNC Sign 18 – 114 Many Have Eaten. Black Walnut with Gold lettering. Commissioned piece.
CNC Sign 18 – 94 Coffee
CNC Sign 18 – 95 Steak
CNC Sign 18 – 96 Pig.
CNC Sign 18 – 96 Chicekn
CNC Sign 18 – 96 Steak.
CNC Sign 18 – 121 A Banana Is
CNC Sign 18 – 99 The Secret Ingredient is Always
CNC Sign 18 – 112 Bless The Food
CNC Sign 18 – 113 Many Have Eaten. Cherry with Burnt Umber lettering. Commissioned piece.
CNC Sign 18 – 115 Tell Me What Brand
CNC Sign 18 – 99 Cooking
CNC Sign 18 – 116 Why Limit Happy
CNC Sign 18 – 119 The Answer Is
CNC Sign 18 – 120 A Banana Is
CNC Sign 18 – 122 Calories
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A year ago – A YEAR AGO – I brought out my first cribbage boards. They were simple pieces, and I knew I could do better. So, it was back to the drawing board computer for some Research & Development.
I bought some Cribbage Pegs. I bought some playing cards. I wanted to offer complete sets.
I got better at using the CNC.
And today, I’m pleased to show you the first 4 new prototypes of the Cribbage Boards I’ve developed. There are 2 sizes.
- The oval board has a 3-player track, and is 9″ x 14″ x 1-3/4″.
- The round board has a 4-player track, and is 14″ in diameter, and 1-3/4″ thick.
Both styles offer you the opportunity to customize both the top and the bottom.
- The top can be engraved with your name or other words that celebrate an occasion, anniversary, etc. The top can be engraved on the top side or even on the bottom side of the lid, if you prefer. If you’d rather have visuals engraved, I can do 3D engraving as you see below. Since the engraving is the star, wood designs shown here are simple, in either Hard Maple or Cherry. Note that woods can be stained, as the carved bass design is. Carved words can be painted, as the name is painted on the example, below.
- The bottom can be any wood design you like. Here, you see Hard Maple, Black Walnut or a striped version that has Hard Maple, Cherry & Bloodwood. Any combination is possible.
Pegs & playing cards are included with both sizes (the large round board comes with 2 decks). Finish is a penetrating oil stain (in the case of the bass & alligator), and then all pieces are finished with spray lacquer.
Cribbage 18 – 01. Hard Maple Bottom, Cherry 3D carved top.
Cribbage 18 – 01a detail.
Cribbage 18 – 01b detail.
Cribbage 18 – 02. Alternative top, Hard Maple with 3D carving of oak leaves & acorns.
Cribbage 18 – 02a detail.
Cribbage 18 – 03. Hard Maple top is stained Mahogany. Bottom is Hard Maple, Bloodwood & Cherry.
Cribbage 18 – 03a detail.
Cribbage 18 – 04. Black Walnut bottom & Maple top with bass carving, stained very lightly.
Cribbage 18 – 04a detail.
Cribbage 18 – 05. Hard Maple. Carved name is backfilled with gold acrylic.
Cribbage 18 – 05a detail.
More
New: Cribbage Boards (2017)
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There’s hot stuff out there, and I intend to protect it.
It’s an important task.
We remodeled our kitchen several years ago, and were hosting a dinner party soon after. Mrs M had cooked a vegetable lasagna, as I recall, in a glass 9×13. She took the dish out of the oven and sat it directly on the counter. The hot dish touched the cool stone counter, and the glass dish cracked immediately.
The dinner party was fine, but this dish … not so much. It broke, for wont of protection.
These trivets were on display at our last event, and the last pair on this page are made from Hard Maple. Only. They are noticeably plainer than most of my trivets … but I do like to shake it up for those that want a simpler design. In any event, one customer picked them up and said, “These just look like a mistake.”
To each their own. If you like them plain, or if you like them “stripey,” I am here to help protect your hot stuff.
These trivets are 8-1/2″ square, 3/4″ thick, and made from a wide variety of hardwoods. Finish is mineral oil.
Trivet 18 – 740. Black Walnut & White Oak.
Trivet 18 – 739. Black Walnut, White Oak, Padauk & Hard Maple.
Trivet 18 – 738. Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Goncalo Alves & Purpleheart.
Trivet 18 – 737.Black Walnut, Purpleheart, Hard Maple & Jatoba.
Trivet 18 – 736. Sapele, Goncalo Alves & Hard Maple.
Trivet 18 – 735. Purpleheart, Jatoba, Hard Maple & Bloodwood.
Trivet 18 – 734. Black Walnut, White Oak, Padauk & Hard Maple.
Trivet 18 – 733. Black Walnut, White Oak & Goncalo Alves.
Trivet 18 – 732. Black Walnut, Purpleheart, Jatoba, Bloodwood, Goncalo Alves, Mesquite, White Oak & Hard Maple.
Trivet 18 – 731. Black Walnut, Padauk & White Oak.
Trivet 18 – 729. Cherry, Hard Maple, Jatoba & Black Walnut.
Trivet 18 – 730. Hard Maple.
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