We remember my father at his first desk, a small, oak, mission-style slant top probably built in the early 1900s. He would work settling his accounts, preparing his sales reports and paying our family bills. Dad is gone, his accounts long closed, his reports long ago finished and the bills all paid. The desk is now sitting in my sister and brother-in-law’s house, holding papers, knick knacks and memories.

That desk was the inspiration for my latest woodworking project, pictured here (along with a photo of Dad's desk). I made it for Madeline’s birthday. It is solid cherry with accents, inlays and drawer/top pulls made of walnut. The drawers are smaller (hand cut dovetails), the legs are tapered, the pulls are wooden and the top is pegged – but the dimensions are the same as Dad’s.

The source of inspiration, the beautiful wood and the hand rubbed tung oil finish made the 4 ½ month project a pleasure.

Happy birthday, Madeline.

Rest in peace, Dad.

display table

Today I finished this table to place behind our sofa for display of small art pieces. It is 54" long, 9" wide and 31" high. It is made of solid mahogany with mortise and tenon joinery. It is finished with boiled linseed oil and wax.

Adirondack Trio

A picture of the clear cedar chair I finished today and two others that I built two years ago (with one ottoman) and painted with high gloss latex paint.

Adirondack Chair

An adirondack chair I finished today. It is made of clear cedar and finished with three coats of outdoor oil. I made it as a present for our neighbors, Dick and Shawn Roth.

Walnut Mirrors

A set of mirrors made for the Miller family from the walnut given to me by George and Susan Miller. The largest of the mirrors is walnut, cherry, and mahogany. The finish is oil and varnish.

Quilt Stand

A white oak quilt stand that I made for my sister Karen and brother-in-law Frank Kelley. My first attempt at through tenons. It is finished with boiled linseed oil, varnish, and mineral spirits. The quilt was made by my mom.

Dictionary Stand

A dictionary stand that I designed a built in the mission style. It is white oak with an ebony cleat and and ebony drawer pull. It is finished with several coats of water based polyurethane.

erin bed

This is one of my first projects a couple years ago. It was made for my daughter, Erin. It is a beech queen bed stained cherry. All the mortises are hand chopped and the tenons hand cut. The wonderful quilt was made by my mother, Monica Beery. The afghan was knitted made by my sister, Karen Kelley.

step stool

A step stool I made for my daughter, Erin. It is white oak with walnut accents. My first attempt (public) with handcut through dovetails. It is finished with boiled linseed oil/varnish and waxed.

hallway table

A hallway table I made for our home. It is African Mahagony with an ebony pull. Mortise and tenon joinery. Hand cut, half-blind dovetails for the drawer. It is finished with boiled linseed oil and varnish mixture.

Entry Table

An entry door table I made for our home. It is walnut (from the Millers) with ebony accents. It is finished with boiled linseed oil/mineral spirits/varnish mixture. Mortise and tenon joinery.

Moira's Bed

A bed I made for my daughter, Moira. It is walnut with ebony accents. The quilt was made by my mother, Monica Beery. The walnut is from George and Susan Miller's Tennessee tree in the 1970s.

Moira's Table

A table I made for my daughter, Moira. It is walnut with ebony accents finished with boiled linseed oil. The walnut was given to me by George and Susan Miller from a tree they felled in the early 70s. May my friend George rest in peace.

writing desk

A writing desk that I made for my daughter Erin's birthday. It is cherry with walnut accents, finished with boiled linseed oil/varnish/mineral spirits mixture (equal parts) and waxed.

Madeline's Baidarka Frame

A view of Madeline's baidarka before sewing on the "skin".

(You can learn more about this design and construction at www.skinboats.org)

Double Baidarka

A double Aleut Baidarka I made with my daughter, Erin. It is 20' 3" long, 29" at beam made of red cedar, yellow cedar and fir with an oak coaming and nylon/urethane skin. That's me in front and my friend, Paul Harrison in the back. I also made the traditional paddle that I am using.

(You can learn more about this design and construction at www.skinboats.org)

Madeline's Baidarka

An Aleut Baidarka I made for my wife, Madeline, for her birthday. It is made of red cedar and yellow cedar with an ash coaming and nylon/urethane skin. It is 15'2" long, 22" at beam and weighs 27 pounds.

(You can learn more about this design and construction at www.skinboats.org)