Koka-Bora Creations

I've been doing the most exciting thing for a business owner - TAXES... they will be done soon though... And yes the occasional distraction is required #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #ecommerce #onlineshop #onlineshopping #bareknuckles #streetsofrageremake

My improvised kiln. Works well for smaller items like that. Creating the Lichtenberg pattern, involves water - whether its to co duct the electricity, clean, or soak the wood. All that extra moisture has to dissipate and aside from air drying, the "kiln" works best.. #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #ecommerce #onlineshop #onlineshopping

Size matters and bigger doesn't always mean better. Throughout the years, I have made a "universal" size for my pen cases, but the slimmer writing instruments always felt out of place as the case is quite big (as seen from the case at the top). So I decided to make a slimmer pen case just the right size for those slim pens. The availability will be somewhat staggered as I plan to make another set with maple, and of course have the lichtenberg pattern burnt on them. I will h...ave a few ready and on display at the The Curated Market Co. sometime next week. #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #ecommerce #onlineshop #onlineshopping

Oiling this charcuterie board made from the Pau Ferro with pure tung oil. I plan to put 3 coats for better protection. Pure tung oil is food safe finish that resists water, alcohol, abrasion so no wonder why i use it for my products. However, keep in mind that the "boiled" or sometimes "double-boiled" tung oil are not food safe as they contain chemicals and drying agents.... #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #ecommerce #onlineshop #onlineshopping

The day I brought this peace of Pau Ferro, is the day I got an order to make something with it. What would it be - stay tuned!!! #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #ecommerce #onlineshop #onlineshopping

Pièce de résistance part 4: staining. Look at that colour and pattern. Simply gorgeous. The stain is medium oak from @huiles_de_finition_prato_verde Despite the lockdown, my workshop is going at good speed and you can always contact me for any projects or finishing products that you may have.. #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #ecommerce #onlineshop #onlineshopping #lockdown

Pièce de résistance part 3: sanded and ready for staining. And this time I used a bit more power to my sanding. Despite the lockdown, my workshop is going at good speed and you can always contact me for any projects or finishing products that you may have.. #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #ecommerce #onlineshop #onlineshopping #lockdown

Amidst the second lockdown, I'm attempting to expanding my online presence. I've linked my webstore to Facebook and Instagram now and every so often, you will see product added and tagged in my stories and posts. #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #ecommerce #onlineshop #onlineshopping

This means only one thing: The bench is getting glued. Despite the lockdown, my workshop is going at good speed and you can always contact me for any projects or finishing products that you may have.. #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #ecommerce #onlineshop #onlineshopping #lockdown

Sometimes things just need to be hand sanded. The sanders in this case are a bit too powerful and because of their size, quite easy to round off and edge. Now, the bench is ready for complete gluing. No turning back... Despite the lockdown, my workshop is going at good speed and you can always contact me for any projects or finishing products that you may have..... #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #ecommerce #onlineshop #onlineshopping #lockdown

Let's all KISS 2020 goodbye.... Happy new year everyone!!! #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #kiss2020goodbye

Pièce de résistance part 2: gluing. Special aligning and clamping procedures for gluing the pièce de résistance. It will be glued in two stages in order to ensure a proper fit... Despite the lockdown, my workshop is going at good speed and you can always contact me for any projects or finishing products that you may have..... #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #ecommerce #onlineshop #onlineshopping #lockdown

I have often been asked if I can fill the bansia seed pods with a different colour. Introducing, the colour blue (yeah you really need to look deep). I find that the blue doesn't seem to have that transference the red colour has. Next batch I'll reduce the amount of the dye and see the results. And also introducing, a slightly smaller sized version of the wooden pen cases. ... #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #banksia #banksiaseedpod #penbox #pencase

Skulls and dragons. These are the ballpoint version of the skull and dragon themed pens. I will be putting them on my website probably tomorrow... #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #dragonpen #skullpen

A wood thats slowly getting into "limited supply" - spalted maple that i got from my friends when they lived in Goderich. It has been one of the most colorful and unique and the wood is only reserved for high end writing instruments. #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #spaltedmaple

Pièce de résistance part 1: back to math class. In order to get the right angles there were several cuts that needed to be made which left me with a bunch of triangles... Despite the lockdown, my workshop is going at good speed and you can always contact me for any projects or finishing products that you may have..... #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #ecommerce #onlineshop #onlineshopping #lockdown

Part of my 'To do list'. With early holiday shopping, these large quantities are common place. I'm thinking I should be able to tackle those today. Here's a few ways to shop from me... - come and see me in person - visit my website: www.kokabora.com - visit The Curated Market Co in Toronto - visit my corner at the Holiday Handmade Market: https://shop.handmademarket.ca/artisan/koka-bora-creations #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #cocobolo #handmademarketniagara #handmademarketplaceonline Holiday HandMade Market (Nov 5-8, 2020)

Resting freshly oiled pencases. These have been quite the hot item as they make excellent presentation piece. The oil i use is tung oil. It seeps into the wood bringing all the colour from within. DM me if you want to get your finishing oils.. #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #tungoil @huiles_de_finition_prato_verde #pencase #penbox #pendisplay

IMPORTANT NEWS November is another month where you can enjoy shopping for handmade goods. Starts in 2 days and my corner is https://shop.handmademarket.ca/artisan/koka-bora-creations #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #handmademarketniagara #handmademarketplaceonline

And the moment you've been waiting for... This is the resulting image from my photo shoot on Thursday. It's portrait image so it may not be shown fully (but it fits perfectly as a wallpaper on my phone).. #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #photography #productphotography #photigy Photigy

Doing some stages photos. For background I'm using the stained case and the little conical device removes all unwanted reflections from the remainder of the object. The final image will be revealed when I finish with the post processing. All lessons learnt and adapted from Photigy.... #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #photography #productphotography #photigy Photigy

The next batch of pens and pencils from cocobolo wood from South America, may prove to be an interesting one. So much colour variation as well as a few knots here and there... If you wonder where you can get some of those, you can: - visit my website: www.kokabora.com - come and see me in person... - visit The Curated Market Co in Toronto #kokaboracreations #woodshop #workshop #woodworking #woodworkersoffacebook #woodworkersofinstagram #handmade #handcrafted #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #cocobolo #cocobolowood @stjacobsmarket @thecuratedmarketco #toronto #canada #beaches #torontobeaches #thebeaches #torontolife #thebeachestoronto #waterloo #waterlooregion #waterlooontario #kitchener #kitchenerwaterloo #kitchenerontario