Sunday, May 25, 2008

Show and Tell

I'm not sure what took me so long to find Mel at Stirrup Queens and Sperm Palace Jesters but I finally did. Yeah me!

So, here I am joining my first Show and Tell!

For my first time I'm going to show off Baby Brothers cradle.



That's my brother Mike in the picture. He made this masterpiece! Are you impressed?

He made it from the wood of a cherry tree that grew on our family farm. He cut the tree, sliced it up (damn if I can remember the term for that), dried it, then spent a couple months deciding what design to use to make the cradle. He finally decided to recreate a design by Sam Maloof (shown here). With only that one picture he made the cradle.

I'm truly beyond words when it comes to how impressed I am by what he did! Made even more so because Mike and I are really not close. We had a rather large disagreement when we were in college (17 years ago) and he swore he would never speak to me again. He's done a pretty good job following through with that promise.

Perhaps this is an olive branch in the form of a cradle? I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Unfortunately, BB refuses to sleep in it! The boy has no taste! We have tried multiple times with no luck. And now, I'm afraid he's almost too big for it, what with his sitting up by himself and scooching around the room talents. I will never admit this to my brother though!

It does make an amazing clothes basket...*sigh*


30 comments:

  1. It is so gorgeous. I had these dreams to have a beautiful children's room like that with the wooden cradle (even if it is used as a laundry basket). The twins room is most just functional--very simple. Not decorated per se. That is amazing that he made it--not bought it. That has to be a sign of love?

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  2. What a beautiful olive branch/laundry basket! Seriously, that is an incredible cradle.

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  3. WOW,Mike is so talented!

    That is a beautiful cradle.

    I posted a picture for you on my blog! Gave me something to contribute in the show and tell! Thanks

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  4. That is gorgeous! I can't believe that he cut the wood and the whole nine yards! That is gorgeous! I am beyond amazed!

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  5. The cradle is amazing, I would treasure it always. Even if it is a laundry basket.

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  6. What an absolutely beautiful cradle...wow! I'd say that's definitely an olive branch. Even if it is used as a laundry basket...that doesn't keep it from becoming a family heirloom. :-)

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  7. This was my first time doing Show and Tell too. Go Newbies!

    I would definatly call that an olive branch. What a great way to extend it too. The cradle is wonderful.

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  8. My hisband and I are also going through both IVF AND international adoption, so I find your blog to be fascinating. Glad I found you (courtesy of the Stirrup Queens, of course!). Hope we can keep in touch.

    I am a brand new blogger (I got started just in time for NaComLeavMo), so please stop by and say hello if you get a chance.

    http://lupuspie.blogspot.com

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  9. Wow that is beautiful. What a talented brother!

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  10. That is an amazing laundry basket. It was so kind of your brother to make it for you... Hopefully that will be your olive branch. And you're right - he never has to know that PN refuses to sleep in it.

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  11. Ok, when I read that first part about him "making" it, I translated that to "put it together." I cannot comprehend how incredible it is that he MADE made it.
    I think it absolutely has to be an olive branch. One of the most beautiful I have ever seen.
    I'm so glad you found Mel at Stirrup Queens. I remember finding her and thinking that I was finally home online.

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  12. how pretty!!! as for being a clothes basket, i think SOMETHING always turns into that.. lol.. too bad PN didn't sleep in it as much.

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  13. Here from NaComLeavMo, and that is an absolutely gorgeous cradle! Your brother is extremely talented, even if PN doesn't appreciate it now ;-)

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  14. Thank you for sharing such a ral and honest story...you're awesome! From someone who understands, sometimes that olive branch is hard to extend....thank you for sharing...

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  15. It is absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I love it. I wish we'd done something like that for our little guy. But then, he'd have destroyed it!

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  16. Wow, what a beautiful cradle, and even more beautiful gesture!

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  17. I here from NaComLeavCom
    My Little Drummer boys

    What a beautiful cradle and what an olive branch that was. Still it will make a lovely hold all stuff basket.

    PN looks adorable even if he has no taste in cradles.

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  18. Wow!! That is such a beautiful piece of furniture. I can't believe he started with a cherry tree and ended up with a beautiful cradle!!

    And it sounds like more than an olive branch to me . . .

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  19. What a stunning cradle. Your brother is a talented craftsman. I love cherry wood it always seems to glow!

    Sorry he won't sleep in it, glad you found a use. :)

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  20. What a beautiful cradle! My sister has a cradle that we borrowed for Boo that was handmade. He slept in it for a bit and then it turned into a laundry basket too.

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  21. That cradle is absolutely beautiful and to have it be handmade by a family member makes it beyond priceless. Keep it, your grandbabies will enjoy it too. Talk about a family heirloom... wow!

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  22. Wow, that is so amazing that he built that! I love it. Thank you for sharing with all of us.

    And thanks for stopping by my blog as well! I'll be checking in :)

    NCLM

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  23. Wow! That's a beautiful cradle ... and definitely an olive branch, or so I think.

    One of these days I will have to join the Show & Tell with y'all. But I'm already having a hard time keeping up with NaComLeavMo!!

    Ah ... if only I had all the time in the world ...

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  24. What a beautiful cradle, truly a work of art! Sorry you are having troubles getting your little one to sleep in it. My 2nd daughter refused to use a crib. The only place I could get her to sleep even a few hours was the living room floor if you can believe that one, lol. Visiting from NaComLeavMo

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  25. That cradle is gorgeous! Thanks so much for visiting my blog. I hope that things work out for the best with your brother.

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  26. (over here from nacomleavmo)

    that cradle is stunning! what a treasure! what a shame it's not being used "properly."

    I'm sorry to hear about the blog vs job situation. that's pretty crappy. stories like that make me happy to be self employed.

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  27. Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm in *love* with this cradle, it's beautiful. It looks like a great family heirloom, even if the little guy won't sleep in it now, eventually someone will. ;)

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  28. Ohmygosh! That is absolutely gorgeous!

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