Project by Matt | posted 01-01-2017 06:40 PM | 1203 views | 1 time favorited | 4 comments | ![]() |
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These two plaques were supposed to be completed in time to give to both my father and father-in-law before my wedding…well here we are a year and a half later! Oh well, at least they got them!
The first plaque is made with curly maple and purple heart inlay. It is to commemorate my mother-in-law. The inscription on the plaque reads in Arabic essentially “God rest her soul”. It is the phrase you say in Arabic when speaking of a loved one that has passed away. In the center of the plaque is a metal printed photo of my mother-in-law (hopefully it will prolong the life of the photo) framed with purple heart. The top of the plaque is a cross carrying a dried rose from my mother-in-law’s funeral I picked up almost 4 years ago. It is a miracle alone that that rose survived about 5 relocations during my college/early adult life!
The second plaque is made of bubinga and hard maple inlay. It is to commemorate my mother. The photo in the center is a picture of my mother framed with hard maple. I did not have a rose from my mother’s funeral since her funeral was over a decade ago, however like any wood worker I decided why not carve one! I started to carve the rose out of a solid block, but after realizing I would not achieve the detail I wanted I decided to make individual petals and glue the rose together. It turned out better than I could have hoped for (thank God!). The rose petals are made of hard maple set on a walnut “base” for the bud of the flower. The rose and “leaves” below the rose are meant to resemble a cross. The opposite corner of the plaque also curves out to mirror the curves of the rose/stem.
Both pieces are finished with a polyurethane/boiled linseed oil mixture to bring out the figured wood then topped with a semi-gloss spar urethane.
Both my father and father-in-law loved the gifts and I am incredibly glad I took my time in making the plaques in order to make exactly what was necessary!
Thanks for looking and God bless!
Matt
4 comments so far
Ivan
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#1 posted 01-01-2017 08:49 PM
Pretty cool shapes and inlay stripes. This rose looks fantastic.
-- Ivan, Croatia, Wooddicted
diverlloyd
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#2 posted 01-04-2017 12:27 AM
those are very interesting and look very nice. Good job
GR8HUNTER
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#3 posted 01-04-2017 04:29 AM
WOW .I’m with Ivan ….. the rose is excellent ….... GREAT JOB :>)
-- Tony---- Reinholds,Pa.------ REMEMBER TO ALWAYS HAVE FUN :<))
CFrye
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#4 posted 01-06-2017 11:13 AM
Lovely gifts and memorials, Matt. Are the shapes random, or is there some meaning to them? The contrast between the woods is strikingly pleasing. Thank you for sharing.
-- God bless, Candy
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