Cuff link / ring box

Following on from my earlier box made from a piece Rhododendron branch (see blog),..
I made this version with a pivot hinge to create a 'lift-up' lid. This time I removed the bark completely and finished the box with a clear satin water based varnish. It is very tactile. 

The process was:-
1. Cut a length off timber from the branch and remove bark.
2. Plane a flat base.
3. Square ends.
4  Cut 1 cm ends off and retain.
5. Cut top 1/3 off to form the lid.
6. Hollow out the base with relief saw cuts and chisel.
7. Hollow out lid as with base.
8. Apply glue to reattach ends.
9. Create curve at rear of lid to allow it to rotate open.
10. Pre-drill and insert panel pins through the sides and into the lid to form pivot hinges.
11. Create a relief in front to allow lid to be raised.
12. Sand and finish.