Gift for my Mother-in-law

[Woodnknots]

My mother-in-law requested a new shelf for her desk at work. I don't think that she is expecting what she's getting. I know that she likes to show off some of the things that my wife and I do for her because it makes her co-workers jealous (she works in a lawyer's office). I figured if I was going to help make someone jealous, I may as well put some effort into it. This is a shelf made from curly ambrosia maple and walnut, dovetail joinery, with a walnut maple leaf inlayed into the top front of the shelf. I know that you can't see it in the pics, but there is an arch cut from the bottom of the "legs" as well. After doing this, I realized that with some curvacious cuts, this design would make a nice sitting bench.
critiques are welcome. I know that the photo's suck, sorry. I put in a cherry bowl in one of the pics to show some contrast.

sorry about the post size. I tried putting them as thumbnails, but I couldn't get them to come up on the pull down menu.

 

[mrcook4570]

Very nice work! How'd you do the leaf?

 

[Woodnknots]

Originally posted by mrcook4570
<br />Very nice work! How'd you do the leaf?

I cut out the leaf on the scroll saw, then used an exacto to trace around it on the maple. Then hand routered it out with a 1/8" spiral downcut bit. I had to cut out the stem with the exacto knife, because the router bit was too big. I then fine tuned the recess by hand, then glued the inlay in place. Overall it took about an hour or so total.

 

[woodwish]

Very nice, and love that leaf.

 

[Doghouse]

Way to go Dave. Was that the maple we took off the wall of the shed? If you want the rest of it, let me know I won't be getting to using it any time soon. SWMBO has discovered another pile of projects for me.

 

[Woodnknots]

Originally posted by Doghouse
<br />Way to go Dave. Was that the maple we took off the wall of the shed? If you want the rest of it, let me know I won't be getting to using it any time soon. SWMBO has discovered another pile of projects for me.

No, this was some ambrosia maple that I bought from woodcraft over a year ago. I did use that maple I got from you to make a butterfly inlay in that slab walnut table, though. The walnut is some from your stock, though. Speaking of which, I may need to talk to you about getting another board or two.

 

[Dario]

WOW!!![:0]

 

[alamocdc]

Beautiful inlay and dovetail work, Dave! Very nice piece and I'm sure she'll love it.