Hi everyone,
This month's challenge is a sort of sequel to the February 2025 Box Challenge. In this case, I want you to focus on making one type of box: Cindy Drozda's style of finial box. It is characterized by a rotund body and a tall elegant finial. Her signature box usually incorporates two types of wood (the foot and an inset collar are one type of wood, and the body and finial/pull are a different type). It is also fairly small, but doesn't have to be. More important than the size is getting the proportions right. I'm not going to require specific measurements, but you should strive to make something as close to her design as possible. Likewise, you are welcome to use only one type of wood for the box and forgo the insert and separate foot; however, I challenge you to go with here design. The piece is small enough so that you should be able to utilize small scraps. Here are a few examples for your inspiration (all made by Cindy, but I believe photo credit goes to @Tib G Shaw for the 3rd version with the CD for scale):
Attached to this announcement is a helpful link to a finial box handout (including instructions and a scale drawing) that I found on Cindy's website. As with all challenges, the most important thing is to have FUN and do your best work. Everyone that participates wins; the forum itself wins! Here are the challenge rules, as determined by AAW Forum legal counsel Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe:
This month's challenge is a sort of sequel to the February 2025 Box Challenge. In this case, I want you to focus on making one type of box: Cindy Drozda's style of finial box. It is characterized by a rotund body and a tall elegant finial. Her signature box usually incorporates two types of wood (the foot and an inset collar are one type of wood, and the body and finial/pull are a different type). It is also fairly small, but doesn't have to be. More important than the size is getting the proportions right. I'm not going to require specific measurements, but you should strive to make something as close to her design as possible. Likewise, you are welcome to use only one type of wood for the box and forgo the insert and separate foot; however, I challenge you to go with here design. The piece is small enough so that you should be able to utilize small scraps. Here are a few examples for your inspiration (all made by Cindy, but I believe photo credit goes to @Tib G Shaw for the 3rd version with the CD for scale):
Attached to this announcement is a helpful link to a finial box handout (including instructions and a scale drawing) that I found on Cindy's website. As with all challenges, the most important thing is to have FUN and do your best work. Everyone that participates wins; the forum itself wins! Here are the challenge rules, as determined by AAW Forum legal counsel Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe:
- Entries must be posted in this thread by 12 AM Coordinated Universal Time on Monday, September 29, 2025.
- Feel free to post a two photos of your piece in this thread, one with the box close, and one with it open. Please don't crop your images tightly (meaning, leave a bit of room in the image so I can add your name later).
- Your turning can be any size, can be made of a single species of wood or multiple. Feel free to dye/color/pyro as desired, but this time no carving allowed.
. Include the dimensions in your entry post. - As always, this is a turning contest, not a "moldy oldie" photo contest, so in fairness to everybody, make sure your work is something you have made since this challenge was issued on September 9, 2025.
- You may not post any photos of your entry in this month’s challenge in any other thread or in the gallery until the voting has ended and a winner has been declared.
- Voting will take place from September 30, 2025, through 11:59 pm EST on October 2, 2025.
- Solicitation of votes will result in disqualification.
- The winner might have to pass a lie detector test before collecting the grand prize: this month it is a vintage glass medicine bottle I found in a nearby Tennessee stream. Good luck, have fun, make shavings, and let the chips fall where they may!!
Last edited: