Local Hardwood Boxes – a Walla Walla Artisan Creation

Earlier this year, our son Nick Emigh, began creating some wonderful wooden boxes.  His uncle Bob milled up a bunch local hardwood for him to use.  Nick also purchased some local hardwood and some imported wood (for color accents) from Mark of Jensen’s Hardwoods, in neighboring College Place.

Nick checking the fit of a wooden box top

These local hardwoods came from trees that were trimmed and/or storm damaged.  The wood was then air-dried which preserves its unique colors and grain patterns more than in kiln dried woods.  Nick likes to be able to use this wood to create decorative usable items.

Nick seems to be especially challenged by constructing difficult woodworking joints.  It seems that once he “masters” one joint, he moves on to another.  You can see the results in the variety of boxes pictured below.

Notice the unique precisely crafted wood joints on these boxes

Nick has developed a sensitivity to color and design in his creations.  He is careful to select contrasting yet complementary colors for the wood in his boxes.  He also positions the side and end pieces of his boxes so that the wood grain and color wraps continuously around the box.

The reclaimed wood that Nick uses is far from perfect.  It is the same thickness but not always the same width for the entire length of the board.  It may also have cracks, splits and bark still on it.  Nick looks at each board and decides which flaws to work around and which to include (as character).

There is a special joy in looking at and handling each of these boxes.  Each box is unique and no two boxes are or ever will be exactly the same.  He incorporates beautiful hardwoods, precise joinery and a smooth pleasing finish to create small “gem like” works of art.

This is a bonus look at Nick's Business Card Holders

Above you will see Nick’s business card holders.  No scrap of wood goes to waste – these were left over pieces from building the boxes.

You can see all of these creations at Shady Lawn Antiques.