I Need To Find A Good Plan.

Q: I am planning to build a jewelry box as a wedding present for my fiance. I need to find a good plan. I've looked around and all I can find is simple box with an open top, or a humidore that does double duty. I want something elegant with glass, several drawers and a necklace holder. I'm thinking about designing it myself but my self designed project always seem to be a little out of skew. Let me know of any information or any sites that could help with this.

A: -Go directly to your nearest bookstore and buy or order Doug Stowe's Creting Beautiful Boxes with Inlay Techniques (about $25 US and worth every dollar) for 16 different "boxes" -plans, how to info etc.. He's got another recently released or soon to be released book on making boxes. Can't find the URL for the boxes but here's one of his URLs. http://www.dougstowe.com/furniture/hall_table.htm He also contributes to rec.woodworking so if you get stuck he may be willing to bail you out. -My new book, Simply Beautiful Boxes, will be available around the first of May. A preview of it can be found on my website at http://www.dougstowe.com/book/book2.htm Tony Lydgate's books also have some good design ideas. They feature a wide range of designs by lots of different boxmakers. "Jewelry Box" has become such a broad concept. I can see why it would be difficult

for someone to find plans for just "the right box". Box plans are a good way to learn techniques, but to make a jewelry box for one's bride can be a very personal thing. If I were in his shoes, I would review as many design ideas as I could, then take the parts that best apply to the needs of She Who May Be Worshipped and Adored (SWMBWA) and create something new. The great thing about jewelry boxes is that there are no hard and fast rules that apply. Make it functional and from beautiful wood--add elements of fun to it. We are in an anything goes period with jewelry boxes. And they are a great way to cut loose in the design world. thanks for plugging my books!