Thomas Cummings has been making puzzle boxes for his family and friends in his Georgia workshop for years.  Some recipients of his handiwork have apparently deserved particularly devious designs, and Thomas seems to relish the opportunity to inflict his puzzle passion on the willing. 

How? does one describe the results of a seasoned puzzler teaming up with an expert craftsman to produce a new puzzle box?  Exactly.  The How? Box is a collaborative effort hatched in the deviously puzzling mind of Englishman Peter Hajek.

This perfectly Patrick’s Day worthy puzzle box is one of Japanese master craftsman Tatsuo Miyamoto’s most famous works.  His “A Chance Encounter” is truly elegant.

You’ll have to excuse me for a moment.  It’s rather urgent, and there’s really nothing I can do about it at this point.  It’s just a fact of life, after all.  I know there are plenty of you out there who will understand.  Someone who I know for sure will understand is Tracy Wood Clemons, who created the “A Man’s Got To Go!” box.

We are going back to Cuba again here on B+B.  In July, 2015, the United States and Cuba resumed diplomatic relations after over 50 years of silence.  Perhaps this year we will see the long standing embargoes lifted.  Time will tell, as they say, but rather than wait, let’s get puzzling.

This week we are featuring a beautiful wooden book created by up and coming woodworker Jesse Born from Rome, New York.  His “Book” puzzle is an elegantly crafted delight to hold and explore.  Made from maple, cherry and pine woods, it has additional accents of mahogany and spalted maple.

Kamei created a number of “Love Box” puzzles shaped like little hearts.  No. 5 is a cute little piece in dark wood, with a bright yellow wood ribbon, and a red cloth lined secret compartment.

Way back in the “days of old”, according to the story, the city’s valuables were held in safes which were duly guarded by designated “Keepers”.  The Keepers were personally responsible for the security of these safes, and holding onto the key that opened them. 

Japanese master Yoshio Okiyama, was a third generation secret-box maker who was taught by his father, Yoshitaro Okiyama, who in turn was taught by his father, Tatsunosuke Okiyama, one of the 3 original founders of this art form dating back to sometime after 1870.

Aloha from paradise.  For this week’s installment, Boxes and Booze has gone on location.  It was time to discuss another one of master puzzle maker Perry McDaniel’s fine confectionery creations, the “Hawaiian Hijinks Cake”.  In order to fully appreciate the puzzling nature of this finely crafted delicacy I felt compelled to seek out its inspirational source.

Let's take a little excursion off the beaten path this time.  In fact, it will be more like ducking under the roped off barrier and wandering in the off-limits area where we aren't necessarily supposed to go, only to find something very interesting. 

In many parts of Japan the New Year’s Eve celebration includes a very traditional dish of soba noodles, called “toshikoshi”, which translates as “climbing” or “jumping” from the old year to the new.

A great example of one of these annual puzzle box treats with a sense of humor is the “Wrapping Box” by Kyoko Hoshino.  It was created to resemble an actual present, wrapping paper and all, complete with a ribbon and little bells.  Hoshino likes to incorporate cloth and other unusual materials into her designs.  In this case, the puzzle box is all wrapped up in festive cloth.  You can feel the box inside, but you can’t unwrap it.  How will you open it?