Right, so...

...it's been another year. Oye. Good news is: my workshop is finally in order, and projects abound! Sand tray 2 completed, thanks once again to my father for his help welding the frame/legs. The tray is already in use at my office, and the sleeker design really helps to make it inconspicuous. The two-toned blue stain I think looks great, especially against the Kona.

Yikes!

A whole year without posting? Time flies, especially when you're building. My first tray is complete and in faithful service. It's so much a part of the room, I can't remember a time without it. I am so glad to have it, and a great set of miniatures- almost half of which was gifted by my supervisor. I've started another tray, much more bold and interesting looking. Right now I'm waiting for my father to finish welding the steel setting and legs that will support it. So, in the meantime, I've started building a sailing trimaran for my first Texas 200. As soon as it's done, it's back to sand trays!

Strength Test

All together, before stain and finish. Joy Dog helps me put the tray through strength testing. Next I'll finish it with several coats of polyurethane, and two-part epoxy resin on the top for an extra durable surface.

Finishing Up...

Here we are before applying the finish, and setting the plugs to hide the screws:

Get Your Zen Boards Here

About a year ago I was visiting a very dear friend of mine in Portland. It was my first time there, and it luckily coincided with a pretty rough patch in my life. The beauty of the city and the time spent with loved ones was more than just a distraction from my problems. It really helped to gain a fresh perspective and grow from my experience. One evening while sitting on the porch watching my friends' son play with all the neighborhood kids I saw a girl painting on a small framed sheet of paper. She sat for a few minutes after she'd finished, and waited until her marks dried- and disappeared. I loved it! I asked to play with her magic frame, and about where she got it. As soon as I returned to Austin I looked and found one. It seemed over-priced, especially considering its construction. A little more searching revealed the magic, and I was able to get what I needed and build a better one for a fraction of the cost. I think part of what drew me to the Zen Board when I first discovered it was its message to me: all things are temporary, these things will pass. I didn't really get it at first. But after reflecting on how strongly I wanted one, I started to realize it'd helped me on some level process what I'd been going through. I haven't invited any of my clients to use one, but plan to when the time seems right. I'd like to sell these (brush included) for around $30. Message me if you'd like one, and I'd be happy to see what I can do (different woods, different colored paper, etc.). Here's a spotty time-lapse of the Zen Board in action (inaction?). If the video below doesn't work for you, click on THIS LINK.

A More Organic Form

I prefer a more organic form, but clean lines can also make me feel stable and grounded. I have chosen for this first tray a straight forward design, strong and simple. Mechanical fasteners (in this case screws) are used to secure the legs to the tray, and wooden plugs cut from the same lumber are used to conceal them. I don't like seeing screws or nails, and don't completely trust glue. I made this jig to carve the plugs that will hide the screw heads.

I also prefer a more organic finish. The trays I've seen have a flat, artificial looking baby blue interior. The stark contrast between the wood and the inside finish creates a jarring gestalt, and prevents the tray from residing in the background. I've chosen to use stain rather than paint to let the wood grain show on the inside of my tray: two coats for the bottom (a darker blue to represent water), and one coat on the sides (a lighter blue, invoking the sky). The bottom is allowed to float in a dado, rather than being rigidly attached or glued in place. This allows for the natural expansion and contraction of the wood in different temperatures and humidity without splitting. After the stain dries, the entire tray gets several coats of polyurethane waterproofing.

The Form Emerges

Pieces are cut and roughly shaped. Not ready to assemble yet, but it can be clamped together to get an idea of what it'll look like!