I’m posting this again. As this was an important post, the first after a long gap, and announcing as it does a very overdue new website, I decided to pay to boost it to widen my audience. The result was an email from Meta telling me:


"Your ad was rejected because it doesn’t comply with our Drugs and Pharmaceuticals policy. This means that your ad isn’t running and will not be delivered to your audience."
’

My every attempt to get it reinstated over 2 extremely frustrating days has failed. Anyone who has tried to extract any sort of engagement or coherent response from Meta customer service will understand my frustration ...


But finally I think I have the solution: during a long and often heated discussion with a META ‘agent’ a particular image was singled out as being the likely culprit.


On the third image of the original post, to the left about half way down, there’s a small image showing a coloured decorative line being levelled with a cabinet scraper. It was suggested that this COULD just look like someone preparing a line of coke ... Now replaced on this posting - still don’t know for sure, but we shall see ...


Algorithms do what they’re told, of course, so they can’t be blamed. But when an algorithm is shown to have ‘made a mistake’ as here, what’s so disappoinitng is that the hi-tec behemoth that is META seemingly doesn’t have the wherewithal to ‘pardon’ a particular post and tell the system: this one’s actually OK, ignore it. Or, more worryingly, it chooses not to.


So again: a new version of the smartBoxmaker website! Link in bio.


It’s much more representative of my activities, lots of information about the courses I offer, my smartWare box hardware and more.


Come and take a look around.



#boxmaker

#boxmakers

#boxmaking

#boxmakingcourse

#boxmakingcourses

#boxmakingskills

#cabinetmakingcourses

#fineboxes

#fineboxmaking

#fineboxmaking

#furnituremakingschool

#furnitureschool

#inlaidboxes

#jewellerybox

#jewelleryboxes

#jewelrybox

#jewelryboxes

#smartboxmaker

#veneering

#woodworkart

#woodworking

#woodworkingclass

#woodworkingclasses

#woodworkingcourse

#woodworkingcourses

full smartWare range available again from the all new smartBoxmaker website.




#boxhardware

#boxhinge

#boxmaker

#boxmakers

#boxmakersbrassware

#boxmaking

#boxmakingcourse

#boxmakingcourses

#boxmakingskills

#brasshinges

#brusso
#brussohardware

#brussohinges

#fineboxmaking

#finewoodworking

#hinges

#jewelleryboxes

#jewelryboxes

#jewelryboxhardware

#smartHinge

#smartLock

#smartWare

#smartButt

#smartWareusers

#solidbrasshinges

full smartWare range available again from the all new smartBoxmaker website.




#boxhardware

#boxhinge

#boxmaker

#boxmakers

#boxmakersbrassware

#boxmaking

#boxmakingcourse

#boxmakingcourses

#boxmakingskills

#brasshinges

#brusso

#brussohardware

#brussohinges

#fineboxmaking

#finewoodworking

#hinges

#jewelleryboxes

#jewelryboxes

#jewelryboxhardware

#smartHinge

#smartLock

#smartWare

#smartButt

#smartWareusers

#solidbrasshinges

A quick look at what goes on at the smartBoxmaker workshops...

#boxmaker

#boxmakers

#boxmaking

#boxmakingcourse

#boxmakingcourses

#boxmakingskills

#cabinetmakingcourses

#fineboxes

#fineboxmaking

#fineboxmaking

#furnituremakingschool

#furnitureschool

#inlaidboxes

#jewellerybox

#jewelleryboxes

#jewelrybox

#jewelryboxes

#smartboxmaker

#veneering

#woodworkart

#woodworking

#woodworkingclass

#woodworkingclasses

#woodworkingcourse

#woodworkingcourses

I decided it was time for a new box. I`ve not done much making recently. Since a short illness in 2016 I`ve been concentrating on running courses and developing and promoting my smartWare box hardware - a journey and a half as many of you will know! I will be posting more on THAT very soon.


But now I`m happy to be back doing some making - finding out if I can remember how! It seems I can, mostly! This is partly motivated by my recently introducing some new courses to produce my curved form boxes which are proving to be very popular. And also inspired by getting a very prestigious commission ... arguably the most prestigious there is, unfortunately the details of which I`m not at liberty to divulge ...


A long time ago I was given a small piece of very beautiful wood by Peter Cook [@scarab_studio_wood] which he’d collected from the Goldfields Desert region of WA. This particular piece - officially ‘species unknown’` [but perhaps Goldfields Curly Mulga - thanks to Stephen @armedwithabanjo for the research] has a beautiful tan colour similar to satinwood, and as a result of the extremely harsh and dry conditions in the region features an unbelievably tight flame figure.


I’ve been waiting for the one project that would be worthy of it ... but having done only a very limited amount of making in recent years the opportunity hasn`t present itself ... until now.
So, a tadpole hatchery was in order to make use of this regal and wonderful wood ...


I will be posting images of the completed box in due course. In the meantime if you would like to learn how to make one of a similar format you can see details of the courses I’m offering on a brand new version of the smartBoxmaker.com
website.



#boxmaker

#boxmakers

#boxmaking

#boxmakingcourse

#boxmakingcourses

#boxmakingskills

#cabinetmakingcourses

#fineboxes

#fineboxmaking

#fineboxmaking

#furnituremakingschool

#furnitureschool

#inlaidboxes

#jewellerybox

#jewelleryboxes

#jewelrybox

#jewelryboxes

#smartboxmaker

#veneering

#woodworkart

#woodworking

#woodworkingclass

#woodworkingclasses

#woodworkingcourse

#woodworkingcourses

I finally got around to it - a new version of the smartBoxmaker website! Link in bio.


It’s much more representative of my activities, lots of information about the courses I offer, my smartWare box hardware and more.


More google-friendly than my previous site with its layers of dirty, legacy code, out of date plugins and so on ... Still adding more material ...


Come and take a look around.



#boxmaker

#boxmakers

#boxmaking

#boxmakingcourse

#boxmakingcourses

#boxmakingskills

#cabinetmakingcourses

#fineboxes

#fineboxmaking

#fineboxmaking

#furnituremakingschool

#furnitureschool

#inlaidboxes

#jewellerybox

#jewelleryboxes

#jewelrybox

#jewelryboxes

#smartboxmaker

#veneering

#woodworkart

#woodworking

#woodworkingclass

#woodworkingclasses

#woodworkingcourse

#woodworkingcourses

Designed for those who prefer the look of a traditional butt hinge to the now common side-rail hinges, and who require the highest, uncompromising quality, the new smartButt is superbly made and finished in the UK and has an elegant, fully rounded knuckle allowing fitting in the traditional position. That is, with the centre of the pin in line with the back of your box.

Beware! There are plenty of lesser stop butts on the market, including the awful Brussos, but they all depend on unsightly square knuckles. This means that it’s not possible to fit them with the centre of the pin in line wth the back of the box. Instead, the whole of the square knuckle juts out past the back of the box, which is ugly.

Additionally this means that a wide gap opens up between the box and lid when open, which is also ugly!

It’s possible to perform a secondary machining operation to remove material above and below the knuckle to allow it to rotate, but few go this route as this looks REALLY ugly!

All these ugly, unsatisfactory compromises are now unnecessary with the new, ground breaking smartButt. Note the elagant round knuckle at the back and the minimal gap between the open lid and base when the smartButt is used.

Incidentally- it is not my intention to criticise the makers of boxes that incorporate this type of hinge - there really has been no alternative. But now there’s no excuse!

I am introducing this hinge in advance of a major relauch of the smartWare range planned for May.

In stock now! Go to www.smartBoxmaker.com/product/smartbutt/ for more info.




#boxhardware
#boxhinge
#boxmaker
#boxmakers
#boxmakersbrassware
#boxmaking
#boxmakingcourse
#boxmakingcourses
#boxmakingskills
#brasshinges
#brusso
#brussohardware
#brussohinges
#fineboxmaking
#finewoodworking
#giftbox
#hinges
#jewelleryboxes
#jewelryboxes
#jewelryboxhardware
#smartHinge
#smartLock
#smartWare
#smartWareusers
#solidbrasshinges

I have a place available on my April 10-15 six day course, starting next Wednesday! Special offer price of £495 due to the very short notice, 1/2 the usual price of £895. Also a place on my April 27/28 weekend for £195, 1/2 the usual price of £395.


Details of the courses are here: https://www.smartboxmaker.com/product/box-making-courses/ - click on the appropriate tab.


All courses take place in my recently expanded and refurbished C18th barn-conversion workshops on the beautiful Acton Scott Estate, deep in the beautiful South Shropshire Hills AONB. We are surrounded by beautiful countryside, nestling as we are between Wenlock Edge and The Long Mynd.


The courses are run in an informal, friendly and spacious environment with a maximum of four people. Participants get to make a simple rectangular jewellery or desk box, with many choices of wood/veneer, lining and inlays. And fitted, of course, with my own designed, original and unrivalled box hardware, smartWare.


No experience necessary, beginners are welcome - so come and visit Shropshire and make a beautiful box - for a gift, for yourself, for fun. Whatever your level of expertise you are bound to learn many valuable tips and tricks along the way with the emphasis on precision, accuracy, jigs and repeatability ...


It`s safe to say that past participants are pretty happy with their experience here:


“Your course was most definitely the highlight of my trip and I thoroughly enjoyed it ... explanations as to the ‘why’ of things drove the message home and got me thinking and even dreaming of new projects in my own workshop. While inspirational might seem like hyperbole, that was my experience. Arthur T, USA.


Many more testimonials at https://www.smartboxmaker.com/testimonial-page/


Interested? - email me at ACfdb@fine-boxes.com, DM or call on 01694 781318.




#boxmaker

#boxmakers

#boxmaking

#boxmakingcourse

#boxmakingcourses

#boxmakingskills

#cabinetmakingcourses

#fineboxmaking

#furnituremakingschool

#furnitureschool
#inlaidboxes

#jewellerybox

#weekendcourse

#weekendwoodworking

#woodworkingclass

#woodworkingclasses

#woodworkingcourse

#woodworkingcourses

#woodworkingforbeginners

These matching cases were made for a keen amateur player.
The flute case is for a beautiful John Lunn flute @johnlunnflutes and has John Lunn’s logo inlaid on the lid.


The piccolo case is for a Rudall Carte instrument that once belonged to Wilfred Smith - the lid features an inlay of a giant African land snail. Really.


Both are in cherry decorated with simple white/black/white lines.



#beautifulwoodworking

#boehmflute

#bookmatch

#bookmatched

#boxmaker

#boxmakers

#boxmaking

#boxmakingskills

#britishmade

#byhand

#customboxes

#custommade

#dowoodworking

#drumsander

#fineboxmaking

#finewoodworking

#flute
#flutecase

#flutecases
#johnlunn

#handmade

#rudallcarte

#veneer

#veneering

#woodwork_feature

In advance of announcing course dates for the first half of 2024 in my next newsletter [along very soon - sign up at smartBoxmaker.com] I’m posting this about a very special new course I’m offering.

I’ve been asked many times over the years whether I run courses to teach my domed top and ‘double curved’ boxes. Well, I’ve taught a fair few on a one-to-one basis, but never as a group course.

Recently there has been a significant increase in the number of such requests, and I’ve been teaching 2 students to make one - this has given me the opportunity to fine-tune some of the processes with a view to making the project better suited to a group course.

So, the time has finally come to offer the course. I have some dates in the diary and some bookings already - please DM me if you’d be interested and I will send details.

I think it’s fair to say that these boxes [most, but not all, for jewellery] have become a sort of signature piece. A few have made boxes of this basic shape, and most are kind enough to credit me with the design and kindly refer to it as an ‘Andrew Crawford’ box.

A box of this format features on the cover of my 1998 book, Fine Decorative Boxes, although not a project in the book! An awful publishing crime for which I will never forgive Sterling. It will feature prominently in the next book, “The Incomplete Guide to Box Making”, currently making good progress!

Shown is a double-curved jewellery box veneered with richly figured pale myrtle and decorated with dyed veneers. It measures 13" x 9" x 5" and is french polished. Pre-smartWare!


#boxmaker

#boxmakers

#boxmaking

#boxmakingcourse

#boxmakingcourses

#boxmakingskills

#cabinetmakingcourses

#fineboxes

#fineboxmaking

#fineboxmaking

#furnituremakingschool

#furnitureschool

#inlaidboxes

#jewellerybox

#jewelleryboxes

#jewelrybox

#jewelryboxes

#smartboxmaker

#veneering

#woodworkart

#woodworking

#woodworkingclass

#woodworkingclasses

#woodworkingcourse

#woodworkingcourses

“LAVA”


I posted a few individual images of this when I very first started to use Instagram back in 2017 when I didn’t know how to post multiple images and had only a very few followers.


Now I have a few more I realise I never did a full post of this. So, here it is.


It was commissioned for an exhibition in US at the Centre for Furniture Crafstmanship, `Boxes and their Makers` [also a book] - mirroring the `Celebrating Boxes` exhibition and book that I set up with UK box maker and friend, Peter Lloyd, back in 2001.


The basic construction is simple - a domed birch ply and oak carcass was first veneered all over with a claret coloured dyed sycamore veneer.



Then followed the time-consuming task of applying around 50 separate pieces of amboyna veneer. Amboyna is normally made up of rich dark red/purple heartwood and pale honey-coloured sap. This bundle from @capitalcrispinveneer showed a lot of grey, stone-type colours, perhaps caused by mineral staining, and a strong suggestion of flow in the figure. I’ve been buying veneer for 30 years and I’ve not seen anything approaching the colour, figure and flow in this veneer before or since.


It could only mean one thing - LAVA!


If done right, when the straps are applied the brain is fooled into assuming a continuity and the discontinuous patchwork of mis-matched veneer scraps magically transforms into something continuous and flowing ...


When I’ve shown this box almost everyone assumes that the straps, hinges, ‘nail heads’ and so on are metal. They are all ebony.

#amboyna#amboynaburl#andrewcrawford#beautifulwoodworking#bespoke#bespokedesign#boxmaker#boxmaking#boxmakingskills#britishmade#byhand#cabinetmaker#centreforfurniturecraftsmanship#craftsman#craftsmanship#customboxes#dyedveneer#dyedveneers#fineboxes#fineboxmaking#handmade#lava#lavaflow#lavaflows#veneer#veneering#woodart#woodwork#woodworkart#woodworking