A memory box is the modern equivalent of a scrap book or baby book. Sized to hold a sheet of paper, it is a place to collect souvenirs, whether the lifetime record of a baby from the hospital record on, or whether for a wedding or other special collection.

This box is made of solid walnut, including bookmatched panels on the top and bottom (see the left side as a reflection of the right side.) The left and right halves will reflect light differently, since one side is the outside of the tree looking in, and the other is the inside of the tree looking out. Sometimes one side seems lighter, and other times the other side appears to be lighter.

Notice that the bottom is a special finished bookmatched panel, similar to the top.

A copy of the wedding invitation or other special announcement can be laser burned into the lid, with woods chosen to show the engraving to the best advantage. Here the box was walnut selected for dark grain, with birds eye maple in the lid.

This box was built for someone who loved the maple and lyptus combination. A couple years ago I took the opportunity to buy two "bad" boards (with curly grain) from a shipment of Lyptus (normally very straight grain wood). A piece of that curly lyptus was incorporated in the lid of the box, with the sapwood preserved and emphasized in the center of the bookmatched pieces.

The sides of the box are birds eye maple - an unusual grain pattern that is almost exclusively found in maple trees.

This box is slightly larger than many... about 11 x 15 inches by 3 1/2 inches high

The bottom of the box is "ordinary" lyptus, bookmatched. The photos don't do justice to the extraordinary grain pattern in the lid.

The bottom is solid wood, with the edges "raised" to fit into a groove in the sides.