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I just finished this box yesterday. The other boxes in this style were smaller and would not hold a 3"x5" card and several women said they would like to have one big enough. So i made this one to see if they were serious, I put it on my FB page and said I would have it at the Farmers Market. 5 minutes after it opened one of them showed up with checkbook in hand and said she wanted the recipe box, wrote the check with a very happy look on her face. I did not think anyone would pay that for a recipe box and figured I would be stuck with it for a while.

The flowers and butterflies are dyed veneers and the background is English brown oak burl. On the top I shaded the burl on the right edge where the flowers and burl join as if the light is coming from the left. On the 4 sides I shaded the bottom edge. I have never done this but I thought I would try to make the flowers look like they were raised above the burl. Let me know what you think.

This is the Brit Box Maker's style shell box and I just love this style for marquetry.

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Wow-that's some amazing marquetry! No wonder that lady came, checkbook in hand!

You should be very proud of this one!
 

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Very nice Don. I think your shading worked well. Congrats on the sale.
If you have a market you should start making multiples. That's one of the nice things about marquetry.

Well Done.
 

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Don that is really amazing. Wish I had the eye for doing marquetry. Your box is beautiful.
 

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Great Job! I really like the way the flowers wrap around the edges of the box. How do you get them to line up so well? I have tried and not done so well.
 

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Well done. This style really showcases your fine marquetry for sure.
 

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Magnificent work! If you build it they will come! Especially if it looks this nice!
 

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I am not surprised it sold immediately. It is really attractive. I am sure the lady is thrilled to have it.
 

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great design and glad it was accepted by the masses.
 

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This marquetry is extraordinary, very colourfull.
 

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Thank you everyone for your comments, I appreciate them.

Paul I think making multiples would be the way to go on these. Just use different veneers for each box to make each one unique.

John I cut the waster pieces to size using the box as the template. I cut the end pieces first and tape them to the box so they can't move. Next is the front and back so they will hide the edges of the end pieces. Last is the top to hide the edges of the four sides when you look down at the top. I tape (1/8" strips) the flowers down in an arrangement I like. Remove the top. I take a group of flowers from the top and join and shade them where they overlap. Tape them back in place on the top waster, score around them, finish the cut and glue the group in place. After the top has dried and pressed overnight I tape it back onto the box so it doesn't move. Turn it upside down and carefully slice the overhanging flowers off and lining these pieces up with the top piece tape them to the sides. Then I will put tic marks on the top of the box where the two sections of the flower line up. Do the four side the same in the reverse order you taped them on. After all this glue the ends on. To make sure they stay in place and lined up with any tic marks tape the edges in place before I clamp it down. Do the other 3 sides and the top last. I hope this helps and if you have any questions please let me know.
 

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Love Your marquetry boxes don .
The colours give them such a fun and unique look .
A build blog would be great .

Klaus
 

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Beautiful box! The fact that it sold so quickly may mean that you were asking too little for it. I know how much work goes into this sort of project, and getting paid a decent amount for it is always a problem.
 

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Thank you guys for the comments.

Kiefer I was just thinking that I would do a blog on the next one and take lots of pictures. But I have a couple of projects to do and some work at the Art Center on their permanent collection storage system.

Dark_Lightning I came up with a price and took 1/2 of that and added that to get the total. The woman that bought it has purchased other things from me and from what I understand the cost is not a concern to her.
 

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This box is no exception from your style.It's as beautiful as the other . You convinced me to try butterflies on my future boxes.Congratulations!
 

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Don, I always look forward to seeing your work. I especially like your sense of color and style. What a great looking box!

I think a blog of your work would be a great idea. How about posting a picture of you selling your work. Glad you are having fun making and selling your beautiful work. Thanks for taking us along on your adventures. Keep boxing and keep posting.
 

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Beautiful work, Don. You have exceptional skills my friend. Thanks for posting.
 

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Thank you for your comments, I enjoy reading each one.

Bud_3 After butterflies comes bees, ladybugs and other creepy crawlers.

Big Al I am planning on a blog when I make the next box. I have 3 projects I need to do before I make another one. One of the guys whose project is on the list told me to hurry. My response was that I have heard that word all my life and never have figured out the meaning of hurry. He just laughed and said something I won't repeat here.
 
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