This blog adds the construction details for a project posting. 

The fun thing about this project is that it requires very little materials. This was a first gift for a grandchild.
 
 There are three blanks cut from bird's eye maple. I ended up cutting the middle one a little thin so I added a veneer of mahogany to each side. The caps have recesses formed by a 1" core box bit in a drill press.

 

The caps are cut to length.

Next caps are glued to ONE side.

Then I add dried beans to each cavity. I made a note on each blank so I didn't forget! Notice the marks to create the handle. You can see that the recesses in the caps are cut undersized to allow for mismatch (both in glue up and turning).

Then lop off the corners and cut the handle out.

 

Next up is to put each one on the lathe. Check the location and size of the large diameter - you don't want to cut through. On the other hand, thinner walls allows for better sound.

Here are the final shapes.

 
The next part is a storage/keepsake box.