My Niece's Rocking Chair - Hard Maple and Walnut $1000

Building the Form for the lower rails.

Gluing and clamping slats of wood to the form.

This form was used to make the back styles.

It took about 40 hours to make this piece.  To make curved pieces, I had to make forms (kind of like molds) to which I glued several thin slats of wood.  Curved work is fun but presents lots of challenges.  I finished this with high-gloss polyurethane and wax.  It is designed to fit a 2 to 3 year old.  Again, no nails or screws in the entire piece.  Any metal in a rocker would just make it feel cheap.  The next one should only take about half that time.

Walnut Coat Rack

We were in serious need of hooks for jackets and hats at home.  I found some scrap walnut, bought some nice hooks and fastened them into the front.  I key-holed the so that screws attached to the wall nestle into the back of the coat rack and remain hidden from view.