The very first project that we made in the shop after a Spring 2023 trip to Japan was this, something that I’ve been calling The Gratitude Box. The concept is simple: make a box for a pen and stationery to give as a gift and expression of gratitude to someone, that in turn encourages that someone to express their gratitude to others in the form of handwritten thank you notes.

The box itself is very much inspired by that trip to Japan. Made from maple, with the depiction of a cherry blossom inlaid in the lid with cherry wood and walnut, the inside of the box has a try for stationery that lifts out to reveal matching envelopes below. And there’s a slot milled to the side of the stationery to hold your favorite pen.

These boxes have become one of my favorite gifts to give. Thankfully I have a lot to be grateful for, and many people to whom I am grateful, so there are lots of opportunities to give them away.