If this piece looks familiar it is because I have done one of these before. The basic tray is the same, walnut with a 3form “Mari Seamless” bottom. I made a few changes that set it apart from the first one. The sides are not as tall and their top and bottom edges have been rounded over to give it a more flowing feel. The handles are bloodwood and the walnut in this version is highly figured, which you can only somewhat see in the pictures. Anyone who has ever bent wood will tell you, never use figured wood for bending, and for good reason. The wood has a mind of its own. Every time I went back and looked at the parts, they were a different shape. But I had the wood left over from a previous project so I thought I would give it a shot and see what happened. It was a good exercise--and the final piece turned out well--but I will not try bending figured wood again.
Friday, August 21, 2009
