Custom Party Favors - Can't Beat a Hand-Turned Pen!

I call my business Mike's Woodwork By Design for a reason - the projects I enjoy the most, and those that set me apart from mass-produced production lines, are the projects where I work with a customer (or as I think of them, a client) to design a solution that fits their unique needs. This project was another good example of that. My "client" was fast approaching his 40th birthday, and was having a special party of his close friends. He wanted to give them a party favor that was really nice, something they would never get from any other place, so he ordered hand-turned pens. Those on the left are ambrosia maple, those on the right are birdseye maple, and all of them are beaded Artisan slimline pens. He was in a real hurry to get them delivered on time - placed his order on Tuesday, delivered on Friday. It was a success, and he had a great party.

Imagine the possibilities - corporate gifts, company Christmas presents for your employees, Best Man present for your wedding, or a way to say "thank you, job well done" to your project team after they go the extra mile to meet a deadline on a critical project. Design your pens, place your order, and I'll make sure to give every attention to detail for a unique, meaningful gift. Prices start at $25 per pen for large orders like this.

Ambrosia Maple and Chrome - LDS Consecrated Oil Vial

These LDS Consecrated Oil Keyring Vials are made from chrome-plated parts and Ambrosia Maple. A unique, handmade, a perfect gift for any Elder, whether dad for Fathers Day, brother for Mission Farewell, or a son for his ordination to the priesthood. Inside is a glass vial that can just as easily hold perfume or essential oils.

Ambrosia Maple is one of my favorite woods for turning. Ambrosia refers to the fungus that causes the black streaks. It's introduced by beetles that cary the spores with them. They burrow in to dead maple trees, lay eggs, and leave, and the spores they leave behind begin to break down the walls of the hole into food the larvae can eat. When they grow up and leave, they take the spores with them. The fungus only exists in symbiosis with the beetles, and the beetles can't live without the fungus. Cool stuff. The resulting staining pattern in the maple is distinct, dramatic, and beautiful.

Price: $25.00

Shape

Straight Hourglass Convex (round) Bead and Cove Other

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

Ambrosia Maple and Gold Keyring LDS Oil Vial

Looking for a consecrated oil vial that isn't mass-produced stamped from metal and manufactured by machine? The personal nature of these vials I make gives them special meaning, especially as gifts to new elders, departing missionaries, or as Fathers' Day gifts.

These oil vials are made with ambrosia maple and 10k gold-plated parts. Inside is a glass vial that can just as easily hold perfume or essential oils. Ambrosia refers to the fungus that causes the black streaks. It's introduced by beetles that cary the spores with them. They burrow in to dead maple trees, lay eggs, and leave, and the spores they leave behind begin to break down the walls of the hole into food the larvae can eat. When they grow up and leave, they take the spores with them. The fungus only exists in symbiosis with the beetles, and the beetles can't live without the fungus. Cool stuff. The resulting staining pattern in the maple is distinct, dramatic, and beautiful.

Price: $25.00

Shape

Straight Hourglass Convex (round) Bead and Cove Other

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

Ambrosia Maple Consecrated Oil Vial - Large

This Consecrated Oil Vial for keychain was made from Ambrosia Maple, and made to accomodate those who have large fingers or prefer larger keychains. As with other oil vials, the keychain and lid are 10-k gold plated, but unlike other oil vials, the end away from the keychain is solid wood instead of capped with a gold cap. This allows longer, larger diameter vials. Contained inside is a glass vial with stopper to hold the oil (or perfume or whatever other liquid you need handy). The shape can be varied to meet your specifications, and you can choose from virtually any wood I make pens from. Cost from materials in stock: $25.00.

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.