Thank you so much for all of your incredibly marvelous comments. I’ll try and answer your questions.
The cat motif was a specific design requirement from my daughter who is very much The Cat Lady!
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Trainee neophyte The cat motif was printed in reverse onto paper using a standard laser printer. This embeds the toner into wax on the surface of the paper. This is then glued image side down onto the prepared wood surface (Three coats of Liberon Finishing Oil, plus Modge Podge over the area of the motif) with Modge Podge. After the glue has dried thoroughly wet your finger and rub a layer of the paper off. Let it dry and repeat until only the wax embedded image remains and the paper has rubbed off. I found the method somewhere on the web.
@MikeG. Yes the spine is sappy oak rather than a different timber. Yes a lot of work but, to certain degree, a labour of love. Daughter wanted something that would last – probably longer than I will!
@Eshmiel You don’t have to change the design: I’ll not charge. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. In fact I’m happy to share my sketches (not sure I’d go as far as call them drawings) with you or anyone else who is interested. They will be sketches as my designs tend to evolve as the build progresses. The brass screws were necessary to stop staining in the oak. Steel was driven in first, removed and replaced. Can’t use those Pozidrive/Philips things in a 'Thing-of-Beauty’!
@AJB Temple It’s not too clear but the bottom ‘shelf’ does have a lip at the front. I don’t know how well it works. I did consider toggles but preferred the lip.
What did I learn? When making up the ‘pages’ from slats of wood make sure all of the grain is running the same way otherwise one slat will always tear as it’s planed. Thank God for cabinet scrapers. Try to simplify the design more: it’s far too complex especially around the hinges on the base.
