Boxes and Booze 6/28/15 Boxes and Booze 6/28/15

Byways Secret

Today I present a box which at first appears to conform to the “standard” moves found in traditional Japanese puzzle boxes, but holds a secret (!) which turns the convention inside out.

Boxes and Booze 6/21/15 Boxes and Booze 6/21/15

Electric Circuit

In the very first post of this blog I suggested that there were many metaphors to be had at the expense of boxes and booze, and that we would explore them all. There may be a few in this post, so you have been warned.

Boxes and Booze 6/15/15 Boxes and Booze 6/15/15

New Secret Box

The Japanese puzzle box has its origins in the Hakone – Odawara mountain region of Japan over 100 years ago. The region is home to numerous species of colorful hard woods, and has been a center for woodwork in Japan for centuries.

Boxes and Booze 6/7/15 Boxes and Booze 6/7/15

Duet Box

The “duet” box is a lovely puzzle composed of two interdependent cubes which are fused together, and which require one another for each to open and reveal their individual secret compartments.

Boxes and Booze 5/31/15 Boxes and Booze 5/31/15

Triskele

A triskele is an ancient Celtic symbol with three interlocking spirals. The box has lovely raised panels on each face, which alternate directions in a spiral fashion, and overlap the corresponding edges of each side thereby locking the panels in place.

Boxes and Booze 5/24/15 Boxes and Booze 5/24/15

The Lost Treasure of One Tin Soldier

Inspiration comes in many ways. In this case, it was from a song, “One Tin Soldier”. The song was first recorded in 1969, sung by the Canadian group The Original Caste and subsequently covered by a number of different artists.

Boxes and Booze 5/17/15 Boxes and Booze 5/17/15

Havanas Box #2

Sometimes the box begets the cocktail, and sometimes it’s the other way around. The Old Cuban Cocktail is a modern classic, and is also one of my wife’s all-time favorite drinks.

Boxes and Booze 5/10/15 Boxes and Booze 5/10/15

Pandora

The Pandora secret box is a clever puzzle. Made of laser cut panels and metal bolts, it has a solid and satisfying feel in your hands and the distinctive smell of laser cut wood.

Boxes and Booze 5/3/15 Boxes and Booze 5/3/15

Egg

I decided to combine my two recent pass times, making craft cocktails and collecting puzzle boxes.

A spirited journey through the world of collectible artisan puzzles