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!

Time...

I really enjoy time-lapse photography. Since I was a kid, it's always seemed a little like magic: flowers sprout and bloom, clouds gather and conjure a storm, and sun rises and falls within seconds. Here is a time-lapse video of me sanding down some old wood for the tray. It's easy to let your mind drift and let time fly when you're sanding. Notice the shadows shift. Click this link if the video isn't playing for you.

Always, Always Learning

Learning as I go: my father shows me an impromptu jig he's made to help make rabbet cuts for the legs of the tray.

Second pic: I get to learn how to replace a band saw blade after I snapped this one.

Assembly. Part 1

This machine is one that helps make old wood look new. It can shave off minute layers and create a fairly precise surface. After planing, the pieces of each leg are glued.

New Life

It's always been important to me to conserve both time and materials. When creating something new out of something old, however, one must sacrifice time in order to make recycled scrap look close to new. I decided to use as much repurposed lumber as I can in each of my sand trays. I have been lucky enough to find enough scrap wood in my father's old shed to complete this first tray. Much of it has nail holes and surface damage. But underneath is plenty of good stuff waiting to present itself. With time, care, and the right tools, it can again be useful and proud. Inside the shed: always an adventure. I found plenty of wood, and some of my late grandfather's shop tools.

Howdy!

It was two years ago during my graduate work at Texas State University that I was introduced to sand tray. It didn't take long before I discovered its history, its utility, and its power. But despite my new understanding, there was one aspect that still didn't feel right about it. The University counseling clinics had a few rooms dedicated to sand tray- some seemed geared for children, and a couple seemed more tailored to adults. As innocuous and inconspicuous as the sand trays themselves were meant to be, they stood out. According to our textbook, the tray was supposed to blend in with the room, not distract. They were to be plain and simple. The trays we used were indeed plain and simple, but so simple that they did not match the rest of the furniture in the room. Furthermore, having had a little experience with carpentry and basic woodworking, it was evident to me that the trays were poorly designed and prone to break. When I found out from a professor how much the University had paid for them, I made the decision to make my own. I knew I could make better trays for less. Now that I've graduated, I have a little more time to spend on avocation. This blog is my story of making better, less expensive sand trays in hopes that the therapeutic technique can be more available to clinicians and clients. The sand tray rooms were kind of magical, but this was my favorite nook of the University.