Fresh Work for May 2025 – Shaker Boxes, Trays, Carriers & a New Button Box Design

A new batch of handmade Shaker-style boxes, trays, and carriers will be available for sale here on the website this Wednesday (May 14th, 2025). This group includes just over 100 items, spread across 60 different product listings, and features a mix of finishes, sizes, and linings—including some special pieces made with antique newspapers dating back as far as 1808.

Whether you're browsing ahead of the update or reading this post later on, here’s a look at what’s been keeping me busy in the shop lately:

New Addition – Size #3 Civil War-Era Button Boxes

One of the new additions in this batch is a group of Size #3 Oval Button Boxes lined with authentic newspapers from 1862. These are the same papers used in my earlier Civil War trays. While the trays featured larger headlines and illustrations, I had quite a bit of interesting material left that still told a story—so I put it to use here.

Each box likely includes some reference to troop movements, battles, historical figures, or related events. They make a nice companion to the earlier trays or a good chance to pick up something from the same batch of newspapers.

The boxes are made with ash bands and quartersawn pine tops and bottoms, and measure 7.5" long x 5" wide x 1.75" tall (1.25" interior height). I made 33 of these, and a few “seconds” with minor cosmetic issues will be available at a reduced price.

Painted & Natural Finish Boxes, Carriers, and Trays

This batch also includes a variety of divided carriers, fixed-handle carriers, oval trays, and oval boxes in both painted and natural finishes. Some are finished in historically inspired milk paint colors, while others feature the warm, antiqued natural finish that highlights the grain of the wood.

Whether you're looking for something colorful or a more natural look, there’s a good variety available.

Paper-Lined Boxes and Trays – Including Early U.S. Newspapers

Several trays and boxes in this update are lined with original antique newspapers, each one chosen for its historical interest or unique visual character.
Notable examples include:
•    A tray lined with a Zachary Taylor presidential campaign piece from 1848.
•    A Size #6 Oval Box featuring a newspaper from 1808, dating back to the presidency of Thomas Jefferson!
As always, no two paper-lined pieces are exactly alike. Each one tells a little story of its own and is sealed for durability and everyday use.