Wood of the Month: Olive Ash Burl

The term Olive Ash does not refer to any specific species of Ash (Fraxinus genus), but instead is in reference to the darker heartwood found in some Ash trees, which tends to resemble the wood of Olive trees in the Olea genus. And it should come as little surprise that Olive Ash can be a dead ringer for actual Olive, (with the exception of the porous grain structure, which gives its true identity away easily), because both Ash and Olive are placed in the same family: Oleaceae.

The dark-on-light stripes of Olive Ash are also vaguely reminiscent of Zebrawood; though interestingly enough, the darker portions of Olive Ash do not correspond to the growth rings on the tree, but are independent of them, as can be observed from the endgrain scan seen below.

Olive Ash is a sought-after veneer, as well as desired for turning blanks. Olive Ash burl in particular is a highly valued veneer for its unique colors and swirly grain patterns.which make finishing a problem since glue will seep throught these areas and bead up on the outer surface. The glue seepage problem is aggravated by the fact that the warping creates a requirement that strong uniform pressure be applied during glue curing so as to avoid an uneven final surface. For very small projects (a few square inches), I've solved the problem by laminating two or more pieces of veneer together with plastic food wrap keeping the glue from seeping onto the clamping blocks and then sanding off most of the glue seepage.

Special Gifts

As you can see, I have been busy with all my helpers building boxes to meet all your gift giving needs this season. Most of my boxes have been bought by someone wishing to purchase a special gift.

They liked the fact that all my pieces were signed, dated and all the different exotic woods used were listed on the bottom. This extra bit of detail shows the recipient, you went out of your way to get them something really unique.

Visit the galleries below to see this seasons gift offerings.

 Jewelry Box

Tea Box/Caddy 

Valet Box

Keepsake Box

Humidor

Watch Box

Safe Natural Tea Caddy

If you like loose-leaf tea, you need to store it somewhere. You may have heard a lot in the media lately about BPAs being harmful and how you should be careful where you store your food as chemicals can leech into the food from the container. This is absolutely accurate. With our products you can be sure that we use only the safest and most natural items to make your boxes:

• No dyes
• No stains
• No glues
• No adhesives
• No chemical treatments
• Only all natural wood. 

Whether you choose to store your loose leaf tea directly in the box, or in its original containers, you can be sure it will be safe to use in our boxes.

See our assortment of tea caddies HERE.

Contrasting Woods

I just finished a new series using contrasting ebonies from Africa and Laos. Gabon ebony and black and white ebony create a visual impact as seen below. A great gift to give or keep.

See these wonderful boxes HERE and some samples below.

Valet Box

A writer from Info Barrel tells us what a Valet Box is and why all men need one:

I was in my brother-in-laws bedroom the other day helping him with a computer problem that he was having when I looked on top of his dresser. It was a mess of items ranging from credit cards to watches, tie clips and pins as well as a plethora of other items that I could not even see since they were buried in a heap. Having just received a valet box myself not too long ago and resisting using it for as long as I could until my wife forced me to and then becoming a convert, I knew how much a valet box could help him. So expecting and prepared for some resistance I said "You know, a valet box could really help you clean up that mess and bring some organization to your life". Then I got the exact answer that I gave when my wife said the same to me a couple of months ago: "What is a valet box and why would I ever need one?" So here I am to explain to the masses what a valet box is and why every man needs one.

As an executive of a company I often need to dress up for client and company meetings. Being an executive, I am expected to dress the part (even thought I hate it) which means that I need to look good. Wearing a watch, nice cuff links, a tie clip and even a company pin is often a part of the attire that I am expected to wear in order to fit in with the crowd. Over time I have obtained quite a collection of these items and much like my brother-in-law, I used to throw them onto my dresser or in one of my dresser drawers in a big heap of a mess until my wife forced me to use a valet box that my mother-in-law purchased for my birthday.

A valet box is simply a men's jewelry box. I assume that if we called it a jewelry box, no man would ever use it no matter how helpful it was to their life. Although this sounds somewhat effeminate, I can assure you that a valet box is anything but feminine. Valet boxes are created with a man in mind and are usually made from a high quality wood or genuine leather. They are very simple, sophisticated and manly boxes that lack all of the frills and girly aspects of a woman's jewelry box. Valet boxes have all the space inside that a man needs to store his jewelry with spaces for watches, tie clips, credit cards, pins and other small items that men collect over time. Valet boxes usually have a lock with a key which provide additional security for items such as cash and credit cards that are being stored when not in use. Most importantly, valet boxes bring some organization to a man's life and help to protect valuables such as watches so they do not get scratched and dinged.

Although I was hesitant to use my valet box at first, I must admit that now that I have used it for a period of time that it has helped me tremendously with organizing my life. I no longer spend time searching for lost cufflinks or matching tie clips when I am in a rush in the morning. All of my unused credit cards are always stored where I can find them and locked away. Additionally, my watches and other items are continually protected in a proper manner ensuring that they will last a lifetime by being properly cared. This is important because in the long run it will ensure that I never have to go out and shop for another pair of cuff links or a tie clip as a replacement for on that I have lost or broken when I would rather be sitting on the couch and watching the big game on TV.

Wood of the Month - Ebony

There are two main types of ebony and a very small number of others. The main two are:

"Gabon ebony", which is the common name I use for what is also called "Nigerian ebony", "East African ebony", and many other names depending on country of origin. This is what people normally mean when they say "ebony". It's the black kind, although it actually frequently has lighter streaks. It is generally VERY expensive and requires some care in working as it is slightly brittle and prone to cracking.

"Macassar ebony", which is usually a very striped wood with widely varying amounts of light and dark wood. This name is to be distinguished from "Madagascar ebony" which is just another common name equivalent to "Gabon ebony". Macassar ebony is also expensive (all the ebony's are) but is somewhat less delicate to work than Gabon ebony.

Some of the other specialty woods that are occasionally available in the USA, are "pale moon ebony" (aka "black and white ebony"), "mun ebony", and persimmon, which is not normally thought of as an ebony, but which does belong to the same genus.

Some of the wood-producing species that are sold under the names discussed above. All of these have more than one common name (most of them MANY more than one), but I list only one, sometimes two, for simplicity. Many of these are not black. Persimmon, for example, is almost all light colored with a tiny pith area of black. Some of these have no black at all.

NOTE: the names "black ebony", "African ebony", and "streaked (or striped) ebony" are so widely applied to many of the species in this genus that they are almost meaningless.

Watch Boxes

If you are looking for a totally unique Watch Box to own or give, check out one of my handcrafted creations above. Each watch box is a one of a kind heirloom quality piece constructed using traditional joinery and modern adhesives. Each watch box is fitted with hand sewn pillows to support and display each watch.

See all the current styles available here, or request a custom-made box by contacting me here.

Texas Woods

This April, we have 2 shows in Texas. That got us to thinking about the kinds of woods that come from Texas. Since all of our boxes feature wood that is not stained or dyed, the beauty of natural wood shows through, and we think the types of wood that goes into each box is essential.

We use the following types of wood from the continental US:

• Ash
• Cedar
• Cherry
• Maple
• Olive
• Rosewood
• Mahogany
• Hack Berry
• Holly
• Walnut
• Walnut Burl
• Madrone Burl
• Ambrosia Maple
• Birds Eye Maple
• Curly Maple
• Curly Ash
• Curly Cherry

The following types of trees grow in Texas:

• Oak
• Pecan
• Ash
• Mesquite
• Palm

Only Ash is grown in Texas that we also use in our boxes. In fact, most of our hardwoods come from Asia, Africa, and South America!

Wood of the Month: Olive Ash

Olive Ash is a hardwood found in the USA that is most prized for it's burl. It is found in many veneers and is a popular wood for making furniture.

Please note: we use no veneers, but only authentic wood in our pieces!

March 2012 Shows

We do hope you'll come out and join us in March for either of two wonderful shows.

March 3-4
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
Tampa, Florida
This outdoor festival features live music, the chance for a child to be an artist-for-a-day, and of course, loads of craftsmen showing their wares.

March 9-11
Vero Beach Art Club
Vero Beach, Florida
Another outdoor showing, this event is under the famed live oaks and will feature over 200 artists!

Additional shows added:
March 16-18
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
Winter Park, Florida
Located in Central Park, this show is a community project that features a children's workshop.

March 24-25
Downtown Naples Festival of the Arts
Naples, Florida
In addition to all the art, be sure to catch the lecture series in this arts and culture festival.

Wood of the Month: Chechen

Wood of the Month-----Chechen

(Caribbean Rosewood)

This is a dark-red or brown hardwood, derived from tropical trees. Heavy, hard, and dense, rosewood is noted for its stability and excellent decay resistance. Though commonly used for Oriental furniture, rosewood is now used for traditional European designs, as well as cabinetry. Quality rosewood furniture can be distinguished by silver lines, achieved by polishing with Chinese Tang Oil. This firm luster surface is different from the glossy imitation paint used on more inferior rosewood furniture.

A Brazilian import, is somewhat similar to mahogany, but contains tell-tale nearly black streaks across its reddish wood. Common to nineteenth century European antiques (also used in 18th century), rosewood can be difficult to polish.

Strength: Very strong and hard.
Color: Dark, with some curl. Purple to black.
Texture: Straight grain, medium texture and streaked figure.
Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, paneling, mathematical instruments, brush backs, inlay, sculpture, boat construction, hammer heads, and decorative flooring.

Au Naturel

No stains or dyes are used in my Award Winning designs. 

 While there are many chemical stains and dyes available to alter the appearance of wood, I prefer to reveal its innate beauty. 

By doing so, I am able to emphasize the natural colors, textures, and intricate grain patterns as well as showcase any of the imperfections that give the piece a unique personality.

Workshop

You know that Santa's workshop is filled with elves making toys. But Boudreau's workshop is a one-man establishment. All of the boxes you see displayed on these pages are created by me in my shop in Hollywood Florida.

It's a quiet area overlooking the inter costal waterway which gives me lots of solitude and serenity when I have to work out the details of that new design.

I have been creating boxes from this location since 1999 and have amassed quite a collection of power and hand tools. I presently own and use the following:

• Delta 10" Unisaw cabinet saw with Wixey digital readout
• Rikon 18" band saw
• Jet 14" band saw
• Grizzly 6 X 89 oscillating edge sander
• Jet 22-44 oscillating Drum sander
• Jet 15" planer with/Byrd Shelix cutterhead
• Delta 6" Jointer with/Byrd Shelix cutterhead
• Jet Floor Model Drill Press
• Delta Bench model drill press
• Norm Abrams design router table
• Hawk Routershop Table
• Dewalt scroll saw
• Paasch spray booth
• Beall wood buff system
• Porter Cable Orbital sanders
• Joe Woodworker Vacuum press system

Plus lots of other small tools too numerous to list.

Leave milk and cookies for Santa, if you want toys. And place your order for a hand-made box with me if you want quality boxes for all your collectibles, jewelry, and gifts. 

Upcoming Show: Washington Craft Show

On December 2-4, 2011, Donald and Carol Boudreau will be one set of only 15 artists displaying pieces in the the category of wood. The show will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and tickets are only $15. Other categories include: glass, leather, metal, ceramics, furniture, jewelry, and paper. There will even be fashion shows of wearable art. We hope you will come out to join us!