We've got a LOT of non-rattle projects going on right now. However, when people need a rattle, they tend to really need it. Babies have their own schedule, and the timing of the rattle gift can be very important.

So, in the past week we got word from a friend in Denmark and a friend right here in Knoxville that rattle time was nigh... and thus we found ourselves finish-sanding these three rattles on Saturday.
The two on the right are maple, with a fascinating flecked-grain. The one on the left is cherry, but a slightly lighter colored cherry than we sometimes use. It has amazing contrast, really striking, and the straight grain forms a perfect contour map of the rattle's shape. Nifty!
The two on the right are maple, with a fascinating flecked-grain. The one on the left is cherry, but a slightly lighter colored cherry than we sometimes use. It has amazing contrast, really striking, and the straight grain forms a perfect contour map of the rattle's shape. Nifty!
Regarding the photo: my camera has so much fine saw dust inside its lens assembly that it really can't gather much light anymore. Thus, the lower light photos turned out very soft. I chose this one, which used the flash (bleh), and then I tweaked the photo within an inch of its life. It may not very closely resemble the colors of reality, but it's certainly dramatic.