So I have been working on this since late 2010, (slow, I know,) but I have made some progress lately and wanted to share it. The basic idea is to come up with an Arts & Crafts style cabinet to fit in with the Dard Hunter Rose stencil that is a border just below the ceiling. I decided to make the cabinet mostly of cherry to match the picture rail below the stencil, and then to carve the stencil pattern into basswood panels to surround a small mirror. Here’s my plan in Sketch-Up format.
So the cabinet came together quite nicely at first, then I came to the panels. I’m afraid to say that it took me most of 2011 to learn to chip carve, but now the panels are done and I still have all 10 fingers. Here are some photos of the dry fitting:
And here’s how the door comes together:
It will be a few weeks yet before I post this as a completed project. I have to glue up the door, then turn the ebony handle for the door, mortise and fit the hinges, and of course sand and finish the piece. Let’s hope to have it done a bit after Easter but before Memorial Day.