Serving Tray

In December of each year I head to New Jersey for a weekend at my sister’s. While the adults tend to work and pre-Christmas activities, my nephew and I spend time together. One of the highlights of the weekend is for us to work on a project – something he can give his parents as a present. Pictured here is the boy working on the tray we made in 2005. The design came out of a book of Arts and Crafts furnishings (but since I’m writing this at work I don’t have the title in front of me). This was my first attempt at through tenons, and though I don’t have a good picture of them they worked out pretty well.

The frame is mahogany. The painting on the tray bottom was all done by my nephew using acrylic paints. The bottom is set into dados and secured with brads. (Note to anyone else out there working with kids the small tack hammer may seem like a good idea but a heavier hammer makes it easier for the child to drive the tacks.) The whole thing got two coats of shellac.

-- Chelle http://artsgranddaughter.blogspot.com