Boxes (not cigar boxes) repurposed for pen, ink, paraphernalia storage

[OakIris]

We already have a couple of threads about cigar boxes being modified for pen, etc., storage, so thought we should have one for non-cigar box storage too! Please show us the boxes that you have repurposed for our hobby/obsession/addiction.

Here are some photos of the only one I have done so far; it started out as a Naken Mfg. flatware or silverware chest:

A few of pictures showing the original box:

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A detail showing exterior of box after the old finish was sanded, steelwooled off and wood finished with a mixture of walnut oil and beeswax:

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Here you can see the lid of the box; I replaced the original pulls/handles with these pulls (there are two more of these used as handles on the side of the box) with nice solid brass ones that, to me, look like stylized fountain pens. I replaced the original rectangular metal name plate that was on the lid with some brass stampings - oak leaves and an Iris, of course, to make it mine (you know, user name OakIris, I had no choice! )

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The front of the box showing the bottom drawer, black pot metal knobs replaced with simple brass knobs:

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Interior of the lid; it (and the rest of the box's interior sides) were lined with microsuede cloth, and then I glued on cloth, pigskin leather and, just for fun, a reproduction of a Georgia O'Keefe poppy painting that was used for a USA postage stamp issued in 1996; I had had this framed picture for a while and this seemed the perfect use for it!

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The drawer, all finished and ready for pens:

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Here's the top compartment:

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The small square section on the left is for dip pen nib storage - here it is with a tile and an Altoid tin (full of nibs) in place:

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FPGeeks only allows 10 attachments per post so I will continue this in the next post. (Don't worry, not too much longer to go!

Holly

[KrazyIvan]

Thank you! You gave me ideas for a flatware box I have been saving but really did not have an idea what exactly to do with such a large amount of space.

[OakIris]

Part II, showing some pens in place:

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This was a lot of fun to do, I did it in my spare time, mostly on weekends, and it took about a month from start to finish including ordering/finding/receiving the supplies and "pretties" I wanted to use for the box. I hope you enjoyed the tour of my new pen storage box and weren't too annoyed with the length of my posts about it. (You are lucky - I posted about this on FPN with a complete tutorial on how I "made" this pen storage box, so I spared the folks on FPGeeks from that!)

I know I am not the only one that sees things and thinks, hmm, that would be just perfect for this that or the other thing for my pens, etc.. Please post photos of your creations, too, to share with and to inspire the rest of us!

Holly

[Uncle Red]

That's a great idea and you did a wonderful job. I think I need to look for one of these.

[KrazyIvan]

Please don't spare the details. I would love to see the tutorial.

[OakIris]

That's a great idea and you did a wonderful job. I think I need to look for one of these.

Thank you, Uncle Red! (And glad to see you are here, too!) I won the flatware storage box on eBay but I bet you would be able to find one in a local thrift store or antiques store for a better price and save on the shipping cost as well. I really enjoyed doing this work (play??) and would do another one or two if I had the room, and enough pens to justify doing so.

Please don't spare the details. I would love to see the tutorial.

I would gladly link to the thread I posted on FPN so that you could see more details, but, surprise, surprise, the site is still down, or down again, or....otherwise unavailable. When - or if- it stays up for more than a day, I will post the link, rather then duplicating it here and using up FPGeeks space.

Holly

[OakIris]

Thank you! You gave me ideas for a flatware box I have been saving but really did not have an idea what exactly to do with such a large amount of space.

By all means, do it! I don't know what to do with all of the space either, the box is empty now except for my dip pens, but I figure that sooner or later as I continue down this slippery slope of fountain pen addiction, I will acquire enough pens to fill it up!


Holly

[thagbert]

Nicely done Holly!

[MY63]

Hi Holly

Nice box
Here is my latest project I finished it a couple of days ago I really hope that you like it.

IMG_0471 by my0771, on Flickr


IMG_0480 by my0771, on Flickr

The outside is American Madrona and the inside of the lid is fumed oak in your honour.
Regards
Michael

[Bogon07]

MY63 , the American Madrona has an almost marblish appearance and the fumed oak is a rather attractive colour.
Looks like you can put around 30+ pens in that slim box. Very Impressive.

OakIris nice box too. Lots of handy compartments.

[MY63]

MY63 , the American Madrona has an almost marblish appearance and the fumed oak is a rather attractive colour.
Looks like you can put around 30+ pens in that slim box. Very Impressive.

OakIris nice box too. Lots of handy compartments.

Thanks Bogon07
I met Holly on another forum and adapted this box for her from this


IMG_9702 by my0771, on Flickr

So I really hope that she likes it

Michael

[Laura N]

These are excellent. I don't have those mad craft skills, but if you guys keep this up you might inspire me to try some day.

Here's one I came across at the Chicago Pen Show yesterday. The nice folks at Pendemonium converted a wooden jewelry case into pen storage, and it looked great.

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Note the handy mirror to ensure the pen you choose coordinates with your outfit.

[OakIris]

Hi Michael (my63) - Glad to see you are here on FPGeeks! Can't wait to see the box you repurposed for me in person - seeing the photos here and watching the project develop on the "other" forum has been wonderful. I hope we will see some more of your writing slope restoration and other pen storage box projects here in the Geek world as well. Good stuff!

@LauraN - I do hope we will inspire you to start your own pen storage box project. I can't do near the sort of things that Michael can do as far as woodworking, etc., is concerned, but I found this modification project that I did to be a lot of fun, and I bet you would enjoy it too. Start out with something simple, like a cigar box, perhaps.... (Did you buy that repurposed jewelry box from Pendemonium? That looked nice, too.)

Holly

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

I guess the cardboard shoebox that holds all my ink does not belong in this thread?

[Bogon07]

I guess the cardboard shoebox that holds all my ink does not belong in this thread?

I don't see why not, how about these re-purposed pizza boxes in this thread !
http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread....ll=1#post15914

[MY63]

[QUOTE=OakIris;28619]Hi Michael (my63) - Glad to see you are here on FPGeeks! Can't wait to see the box you repurposed for me in person - seeing the photos here and watching the project develop on the "other" forum has been wonderful. I hope we will see some more of your writing slope restoration and other pen storage box projects here in the Geek world as well. Good stuff!

Wow thanks Holly no pressure there then

I dont just want to repost items from other forums I am planning a new box as gifts for my daughters teachers, I am planning on posting the full story of their construction on this forum soon.
Michael

[jbb]

I'm inspired!!!!

[jacksterp]

Holly and Michael - those are both excellent and very creative. I wish I could find a box that would inspire me in a like manner.

Keep up the good work!

[OakIris]

I guess the cardboard shoebox that holds all my ink does not belong in this thread?

As Bogon said, why not? Maybe you can decorate it with some nice decoupage or pen and ink drawings.

I'm inspired!!!!

Go for it Jill! I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Maybe something for all of your beautiful dip pens!

Holly and Michael - those are both excellent and very creative. I wish I could find a box that would inspire me in a like manner.

Keep up the good work!

Thank you for your compliment. I bet you will find something that works for you - check out thrift stores, hobby stores, antique shops, even eBay, where I "found" mine.

Since succumbing to this fountain pen addiction....obsession....hobby, I am amazed by how many things I see that would be perfect to repurpose for something to do with pens or pen paraphernalia. (This obsession even leads me to look at the colours in the sky, such as the sunrises and sunsets and thinking, wow, that would be a beautiful color for an ink! I'm lost! :P )

Holly

[Nomdeplume]

Just ordered the Harbor Tool Chest and some inserts...my next project, inspired by all this creativity!