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My youngest brother Mark has been working with wood for all of his adult life. (Our "adult" life started early). He is and has been a very talented contractor and cabinet maker for many years. I on the other hand have as long as I can remember a artistic nature that has see the use of many medians throughout the years. Mark lives in our home town in Louisiana and I now live in a suburb of Dallas, TX. We see each other fairly often and talk on the phone just about every day. After I got into wood working, I focused on the more decorative aspect while he focused on the functional aspect of construction type wood working. He then started the cabinetry and decorative style type. He is BY FAR a better wood worker than I'll ever be. With that said, I asked him if I did an inlay, could he incorporate it into a piece of furniture. I should have said "would you" instead of "could you". Duh! Well, it has taken almost a year of nights in the garage and several trips back and forth from LA and TX to get to this point, but we did it! The first part was the research on how to make decorative inlay banding. After several trials and failed attempts, I was able to hash out a fair representation. Next was the inlay addition of the ever so important and Louisiana historical "Fleur De Lis. This design came from a coaster that I saw at a winery in Louisiana (that don't even sound right). I took a picture with my phone, brought it home and photo shopped it into a scroll saw pattern. Alas, the pièce de résistance, the center piece, the focal point, the cherry on top of the sundae! The inlay center piece. (AHHHHhhhh…."Angels singing") I stuck with the theme of Walnut and Poplar with all of the pieces. After all these pieces were complete, it was yet again, off to Louisiana for a delivery and a much looked forward to visit with my little bro.

Mark graciously accepted the pieces and put them in a "warm dry place" for safe keeping. After a few months of procrastination, lolly-gagging and putting it off, he got to work on the entertainment center. Working long hours during the day, taking care of his Family and his dirt track racing career (besides being a super hero) takes a toll on his time. But as always, he came through with flying colors! The overall design was of Mark's creation. The tedious miter cuts, the long hours of sanding into the wee hours of the morning, the gluing, hand sanding and finish work were all left to his enjoyment. If he said he'll do it you can count on it getting done. If he tells you a chicken can pull a wagon, you can hook him up. This boy can fix anything but a broken heart and he can mend that!

Well, like the title says… This is "The combined effort of two brothers love of woodworking". It is also the combined effort of two brothers who love one another and would give each other the shirt off their back. I enjoyed every minute of working with Mark on this project! We are now planning on pooling our efforts on the construction of a king size bed. I can't wait!! Stay tuned! Same wood time, same wood channel!

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It is absolutely a beautiful piece, Cosmo! A great combined effort! I found that since I have a partner, it has not only expanded the type of patterns I offer people, but it also stimulates my creativity. Not everyone can work with a partner, but when it does work it seems that things come out better than ever and you and your brother are fine examples of this. You each have your strengths in woodworking and you two did a fine job combining them to create this beautiful piece. I am sure you will treasure it always.

Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story with us. It certainly shows that "two heads can be better than one!"

Sheila :)
 

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Great story, great woodworking, and I'm a sucker for a great fleur de lis! What else can I say? :)
 

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Beautiful Job from the both of you, Coz!!
Great Story too, my Friend, not all Brothers share such a closeness!! Well Done!!
 

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very complimentary work

good you share this
with each other
and with us

no sleeping on the bed
let's see it soon
 

· In Loving Memory
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You are to be commended for your combined effort because your work turned out great, so congratulations; not only so, however, you are to be commended for the both of you having such a close and mutually respectful relationship with each other. I love my brother and we have worked together for 40 years. We are totally different yet so much alike. It always warms my heart to hear of these wonderful relationships between siblings. May it ever be so.
 

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Mike, you and your brother most definitely make one "Bad To The Bone" team. You two not only built a beautiful piece, but got to experience it together. That my fried makes it priceless. I cant get over how cool it all mashes together. There is no doubt you two make one awesome team.

Ohhh and you had to mention another project upcoming. Now you are going to have us all on edge waiting on it….lol

Good stuff Mike…. Most definitely thanks for sharing with us all….
 

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Exquisite detail and design. You guys did a beautiful job so far. Looking forward to the finished piece. Thanks for sharing.

God Bless
tom
 

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Good story & an amazing piece! The Fleur de Lis is beautiful. Being from Louisiana myself I am partial to them. Very Saintly (if you get my drift).
 

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Thanks for all the great feedback!

dpwalker - WHO DAT!

TJ65 - He gets to keep this one at his house.
 

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very nice.
Chuck
 

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Yeh! nice job, what a team
 

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That is a beautiful piece of furniture glued together with love and respect. You guys did an awesome job.
 

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Very nice work there Mike. The scrollsaw is NOT my friend. For now I'll stick with things that don't take so much skill. LOL! I should fix that one of these days.
 

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Beautiful work… fantastic!

Thank you very much.
 

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Nice work, I have a brother that works with wood about what your doing , but the only time we have combined efforts is when he needs some help with a projector to figure out how to something, since the last time I had to help him he has changed what kind of stuff he makes, He's making religious stuff now out of coryion . That might be spelt wrong, it the solid surface countertop material.
Nice to hear that family members can work together, even with miles between them.
I'm a professional furniture builder, and re finisher.
 

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Cozmo,
Love the story! The inlay banding and Fleur De Lis is outstanding.
Did I say the story was great?
Your write as well as you do wood! Both skills yield wonderful results.
 
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