I finally got bored of the crap on my fireplace mantle today, and decided to reorganize.  Instead of the usual myriad of knick-knack shit that ends up on the mantle, I decided to be a bit more selective.  Here’s the result:

OK, so it’s not the height of cool, but I did try to be thoughtful about my selections.

The first thing is the little toy tractor.  A few years ago I got back into woodworking, and this little toy was one of my “signature” pieces.  This was a one-off that I did in cedar, and I’m rather pleased with the way it came out.

Next up is one of my favorite old cameras.  I still put film through this camera once every few months, and it always delights and amazes with its nearly-inaudible “click”, and its ability to fold up into a “pocket” sized camera.  Slight caveat around “pocket”, since it would have to be a purse-sized pocket to fit.

This little Welch clock was a fairly recent restoration project that came out rather nicely.  The case is covered in a mahogany veneer, and with a light oiling it really comes to life.  It still keeps pretty good time and has what many would call an “obnoxious” hourly chime.  I like it, and it reminds me of my good days as a watchmaker.

This box is made out of wenge, and the hinge was my own design.  Everything is handmade out of wood, including the dowel pins.  I never used screws or nails in my woodworking; the only thing holding it together is a traditional hide glue.  Another nod to my woodworking past.

And finally, the aloe plant.  It brings the freshness of life to my mantle!