This Walnut Watch Stand, May 2019, was my first commissioned project. I made it for a friend’s friend’s wedding (who I’m guessing had more friends beyond that). It’s a square cut piece of walnut with a pocket hole and a watch stand. My friend wanted something his friend could have on his night stand, so I made the pocket hole big enough for a phone and a set of keys, and I offset the steel rods holding up the watch stand to fit his watch.

My favorite part of this piece is how much difference there is in the woodgrain with and without the pocket hole (i.e., the difference between the left and middle picture). When I first cut into a piece of wood, I’m never sure what exactly it’s going to look like—what is in its layers. I’m sure there’s something to say about how this teaches us about a tree’s history and environment, but I won’t. I just think it’s cool.

I don’t often do projects like this anymore. I prefer live edge and epoxy-based pieces. But if you’re in need of something like this, I’m happy to talk!