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.