In keeping with the tradition that has guided the rest of the process, we take the time to apply the finish by hand. This requires patience, skill, and a steady hand, but the quality of the end result is well worth the investment.

Case in point: We were commissioned to make a new shrine to match some late 19th Century altars in an old church downtown. The existing altars had been painted back near the turn of the 20th Century. A modern spray-finish wouldn’t have matched. Kelly painted the entire shrine by hand. Her brushstrokes, together with my carving, made it blend right in with the old work in the church.

And there is just something about the glow of hand-rubbed shellac and wax on natural wood that makes it worth the effort. So, we’ll keep with the theme: traditional process, traditional finish.