Mike's Wood Gifts By Design: 2008

Hand-Turned Wood Goblet Set

This matching set of hand-turned wood goblets is made from ambrosia maple. It was made for a gift for a bridal shower, but also would make a dramatic wedding gift. I made it for my mother-in-law, hoping to make her sweat by saying that it's all about the grubs, beetles and fungus. (Ambrosia maple is maple that is stained by the fungus introduced and fed on by the ambrosia beetle and its larvae.) She was on to me though - so much for that.

In profile, the differences are more visible - it's called copy turning when instead of free-form wood turning, you try to make multiple objects of the same size and shape. It's a mark of hand-turned work that you can see subtle differences between the different pieces. This picture also shows the staining from the ambrosia fungus. These goblets are finished with oil and beeswax, and ready to be used or displayed. Sold individually for $60 each, a set of two is available for $100.00.

Hand-turned Wood Goblets can also be made from White Ash, Silver Maple, Pao Ferro, Satine, Oregon Myrtlewood, Osage Orange, Honduras Redheart, Claro Walnut, Cocobolo, Canary Wood, Bocote, and Birdseye Maple - prices for these available upon request.

Gift Set: Jumbo Chess Queen and Matching Bloodwood Pen

One of the things I enjoy the most about the business aspect of my woodwork is getting to see tidbits into the lives of my customers. You can't help but get to know them just a little bit, when they order personalized, unique gifts. This set of a jumbo chess queen and a matching pen is one of those cases. My customer volunteers for a school's chess club, and ordered this as a Christmas present for his best friend who he taught to play chess. His queen, he calls her. And she's an artist and a writer. I thought it was a great idea and feel priveleged to have had a hand in the experience.

The pen is an Artisan Beaded Slimline Pen, with 10K gold finish, hand-turned from bloodwood and finished with Mylands Friction Polish. The queen is also from bloodwood, and is 5-1/2" high with a black felt base, also finished with the shellac-based polish. I think it's safe to say that as a gift, my customer is giving something totally unique this year. As a set, the total came to $67.50.

Wood Consecrated Oil Vial - Purpleheart

A great gift for missionaries, or newly ordained Elders, or any Melchizedek priesthood holder for that matter, wood consecrated oil vials for keychains can be made from any commercially available pen blank material or hardwood. Keep it on your keychain or use a silk laniard provided - this tiny vial is a perfect way to send off your missionary with something personal that he can keep with him all the time. Hand-turned and made individually, you tell me what you want it to look like, choose the wood, and I do the rest.

Purpleheart, also sometimes called amaranth or violet wood, comes from several species of tropical trees native to Central and South America. The heartwood is a light purple when cut, and darkens upon exposure to sunlight, reaching first a darker purple and eventually a brown with a purple cast. It is hard and strong, and takes attention when turning, requiring sharp tools, gentle cuts, and careful sanding.

All keychain vials are made with chrome or 10-k gold plated metal components. Your choice of woods or acrylic pen blanks. $25 for most wood choices, not including shipping. Choose the styling too - straight and slim, beads, grooves, ogee shapes, it's up to you.
By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms.

Keyring Cologne or Perfume Vial - Purpleheart

Smell good all day with your own keyring cologne or perfume vial. Or keep anything else in it you can fit - medication, consecrated oil, cremated remains of your dog, whatever you think of. Or just use it on your keyring because it's cool.

Purpleheart, also sometimes called amaranth or violet wood, comes from several species of tropical trees native to Central and South America. The heartwood is a light purple when cut, and darkens upon exposure to sunlight, reaching first a darker purple and eventually a brown with a purple cast. It is hard and strong, and takes attention when turning, requiring sharp tools, gentle cuts, and a LOT of sanding. An interesting side note: every kind of wood smells different when turned. Maple smells kind of like pancake syrup, mesquite like warm raw meat, walnut like something sour. Well, the dust and shavings from this wood at first smelled kind of sweet, but as I kept smelling it as I was working, it started to smell more meaty, and then kind of like sweet warm old meat. Yuck. Wikipedia says the dust can cause nausea. I can see that. Don't worry, the finished work is scentless.

All keychain vials are made with 24-k gold plated metal components. Your choice of woods or acrylic pen blanks. $25 for most wood choices, not including shipping. Choose the styling too - straight and slim, beads, grooves, ogee shapes, it's up to you.By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms.

Priest Crafts

Not to be confused with priestcrafts, Priest Crafts is a name I jokingly contemplated for my business when so much of my stuff was being given to clergy.

My brother-in-law was recently called as an LDS Bishop - the equivalent of a priest or a pastor in a Catholic or Protestant congregation, only unpaid. I made this chess bishop for him as a gag gift for Christmas - about 6" high, with felt base, he loves it and keeps it on his desk. See my Toys page for more.

And what clergyman doesn't need a nice wood bowl on his desk for candy for the unlucky ones who are stuck sitting on the other side?

And a good wood pen is a must, of course...

So yeah, I toyed with the name Priest Crafts, but in the end settled for something that was a little less of a lightening rod. And really, the bowl and pen are a must for any desk-bound worker, don't you think?

Consecrated Oil or Cologne Vial for Keychain-Mesquite

Looking for the perfect Fathers Day gift? Your search has ended here - these keychains contain a glass vial with stopper, perfect for holding cologne to keep your dad smelling great, or for any number of other uses from consecrated oil to your daily prescription to your dog's ashes (eew).

The vials shown are made from mesquite wood, a hard wood often used for furniture and implements and for decorative woodworking and woodturning. It is highly desirable due to its dimensional stability. The hard, dense lumber is also sold as Texas Ironwood. It has a unique, almost pungent smell when cut or sanded, and when used to barbecue, the smoke from the wood adds a distinct flavour to the food. The finish is Mylands Friction Polish, a high-gloss, hard durable finish.

All keychain vials are made with 24-k gold plated metal components. Your choice of woods or acrylic pen blanks. $25 for most wood choices, not including shipping.

By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms.

Consecrated Oil Vial for Keychain - Maple

A great gift for missionaries, or newly ordained Elders, the Consecrated Oil Vial for Keychain can be made from any commercially available pen blank material or hardwood. Keep it on your keychain or use the laniard provided - this tiny vial is a perfect way to send off your missionary with something personal that he can keep with him all the time. Hand-turned and made individually, you tell me what you want it to look like, choose the wood, and I do the rest. It's good for more than consecrated oil - it's actually designed as a perfume vial, but you could keep anything small in it, from your daily prescriptions to your grandmothers ashes.

The Consecrated Oil Vials for Keychain shown are made from figured maple. The Sugar Maple produces sweet sap used to make maple syrup. Its wood is hard, and a creamy white to reddish brown color, and produces a sweet smell when cut or sanded. This wood is a favorite for fine woodwork and woodturning. Mylands Friction Polish was used to get a high-gloss, durable finish.
All keychain vials are made with 24-k gold plated metal components. Your choice of woods or acrylic pen blanks. $25 for most wood choices, not including shipping.By clicking on "Order Now," buyer agrees to these terms.