Hawthorne Crafts

Finely ^. Crafted ^. Boxes

+44 (0) 28 90 836987     ian@hawthornecrafts.com

Our Blog

We're so excited about creating our own blog and promise to keep it up to date on a regular basis.  It will contain details on what boxes we are currently working on, the exhibitions/galleries we are involved with and any good news stories that are related to our box making.  We hope you enjoy our updates and please send any comments to ian@hawthornecrafts.com.  So, here goes...

Mid August 2010 - We have made some changes to our gallery section. It now shows a collection of thumbnails of previous commissions and original pieces. This should hopefully make it easier to find something you like or at least give you some ideas. When you select a thumbnail you will be take to a new page with details on that box and a price guide, as all our customers add their own touch this will give you a good starting point.

I have been asked by quite a few cabinet/boxmakers where I get my nickel hardware from as it is quite hard to find, so I will soon be adding a page to our website with a small selection of good quality nickel plated hardware.  These will include siderail hinges, right sliding button catch and full mortise locks.

On a lighter note we have been offered a short stay at a friend’s holiday cottage on the Antrim coast. which was once owned by Winston Churchhill and has some remarkable views.

Speak to you again soon.  Ian and Kate.

Mid July 2010 - I took a trip to our local wood supplier at the Woodshed, Templepatrick.   Sam is a really great guy to deal with and although the shop deals mainly in wood turning supplies he has also milled specially for me some nice creamy white Sycamore as well as some amazing Yew.  (If you live in Northern Ireland then he is well worth a visit).

I have just completed a Yew cufflink box for a customer (a very patient customer) who originally wanted the box for last Christmas but was happy enough to purchase one of our Art Deco ring boxes in the meantime and then have a cufflink box created by us along the same lines at a later date. I am currently working on two Sycamore cufflink boxes, which again came about from a customer who initially purchased one of our ring boxes.  They will be finished soon, so keep an eye out for some new images in our gallery.

We have been making a few changes to our website and will soon have a new gallery section which will make it a lot easier to browse and choose a box(es) you like.

Speak soon, Ian.

Early July 2010 - We were on our holidays this month and stayed at Croan Cottages in Kikenny, Ireland.  This is a wonderful spot and you can read more in our review on www.Tripadvisor.co.uk.  On our way there we visited the Designyard, Nassau Street, Dublin, to hand deliver our Upwards Box which is now available to purchase from them.  Frances, Ann and everyone else are simply lovely and we look forward to meeting them again soon.  While in Kilkenny we visited the local craft shops and the headquarters of the Crafts Council of Ireland.  The crafts there are amazing - (Kate particularly likes the handbags).  

Now that we're back there's lots to do on customer boxes. Just to mention a few - I am working on a pair of matching Sycamore cufflink boxes with Mother of Pearl inlays and escutcheons. They each have 3 Macassar Ebony trays.  I am also french polishing a lovely Walnut cash box while Kate's adding some lovely emerald green lining  to a cufflink Yew Box.  We have also started taking Christmas orders so it looks like another very busy Christmas ahead.

If you have any constructive comments or suggestions regarding our website please email - ian@hawthornecrafts.com

Speak to you again soon.  Ian and Kate.