I made this for a priest friend of mine as she began a new family service. 18" tall and made from red oak with an oil finish.
The same priest asked me to disassemble the pulpit and create an altar. This is the result—Walnut with a hard wax oil finish.
I made this while in the Navy from Home Depot Poplar—my first woodworking project. The Navy supply system wanted thousands of dollars to get me an altar. So rather than spend our tax dollars, I took out my Visa and spent a few dollars to create this. Finished with poly.
I created this matching font to go with the altar. Poplar and poly finish.
New Yankee Workshop plant stand! :) It was our offertory stand at the back of the chapel. Pine with oil finish.
The Episcopal diocese of San Diego commissioned an outdoor bench to honor the camp director as she leaves this ministry to join her spouse in Nevada to accept a new calling.
White Oak and finished (partially) with a 50/50 mixture of Spar Uerathane and Tung Oil. I only had two weeks to complete this commission, and we had an early heat wave in the desert (100+ degrees in the shop), so I only had time to apply one coat of finish before I had to deliver it before her leave-taking.
A 48" and 60" Prie Dieu I made for friends for their outdoor prayer garden. White Oak with three coats of a mixture of Spar Urethan and Tung Oil.
I have made a couple of these mangers. It is made from "dunnage" wood. The wood comes from the recycled-wood pile at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, CA, where I was stationed in the late 90s.
The military ships its munitions encased in wood—in this case, a SMAW (shoulder-mounted assault weapon). I find the tension of creating a manger for the birthplace of Christ made from recycled wood from a weapon of war a great example of "Anglican tension."
In the parish where I serve as Priest in Charge, when they search for their new lead priest (rector), I made a simple manger out of Ash for Advent straw. I resawed 4/4 Ash and left the rough side out to give the manager a more rustic, barnyard feel.
In the small parish where I serve as the Sunday Supply Priest, I made this smaller version of the manger for their much smaller space. Resawn ash, but planed and smoothed this time. The legs are Poplar, making this manager much lighter than its predecessors.
36" tall Child's Bible Stand. I made this commission for a local church's Sunday School program. White Oak and hard wax oil finish. The "natural" wood filler to close up the small gap in the front of the mortise sticks out like a sore thumb. The sawdust-and-glue trick sometimes looks better but still sticks out. Ug.
The Rt. Rev. William Swing retired his travel crosier at Holy Cross in Castro Valley, so I created a case for the Parish Hall to display it.
Alder with oil finish.
Alder with oil.
Communion chalice and paten case made for my colleague at Holy Cross, Castro Valley. Alder with oil finish.
Five sides for brochures, a flat surface for sign-up sheets, and a cut-out in the middle for a greeter to stand and help folks. This was a great project for my parish. Skinned with ½" Baltic Birch panels, trimmed with Birch, and finished with poly.
2X4s and 5" casters. Ready for the next earthquake! :)
For the top of the Welcome Center! ¾" Baltic Birch and poly finish.
I am NOT much of a cabinet maker; I like furniture better. Birch-panel doors, composite-covered particleboard carcass, and composite top. Poly finish.
Mailbox cabinet I made for my parish. Birch and poly finish.
Butcher block cutting boards for our home parish in Palm Springs.
Our home parish in Palm Springs asked me to make some brochures and advertising racks for their new Welcome Center. Of course, they painted all this beautiful oak!
Created for a priest friend of mine to give to her God-children. Maple with poly finish.
We are starting an Episcopal Service at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (boot camp), and we did not have a pulpit/lectern. So, I came up with a simple design for this new service.
White Oak and hard wax oil finish.
The back of the pulpit has a small shelf to clear the top for the preacher.
3' wall cross for the MCRD service. White Oak and hard wax oil finish.
My former parish asked me to create a marker for our parish cat.