Some men take up golf when they retire; Bill Jones of Fayetteville decided to build furniture. His pieces are showcased in the modest but simply elegant home he shares with his wife, Nancy.

Jones' foray into furniture construction far surpasses the average handyman's attempt to assemble a picnic set or build shelves for the den. His 18th-century reproductions are museum-quality works of functional art in cherry and mahogany. Glance around the Jones' home and practically everything has been made handmade. From the stately 1810 Simon Willard Tall Case Clock to the Comb Back Windsor Chair, Jones has a story and history behind each and every piece.

Bill and Nancy Jones will open their home to visitors Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. both days, for the 14th Annual Christmas Tour of Homes in Fayette. The Tour is sponsored by the First United Methodist Church of Fayetteville.

The couple started preparing for the tour in August. "A lot of the work just needed to be done," they said, referring to the maintenance needed to keep a 20-year-old home in beautiful condition. New paint and carpeting, refinished cabinets and some eye-catching accessories have transformed the country-style home into a page from "House Beautiful."

Jones started his intriguing hobby in 1987 when he retired from Eastern Airlines as an engine shop specialist in airplane structures. "I was looking for a hobby; I've always worked with my hands and I believe there was a woodworker hiding inside me," he said.

Jones not only constructs the furniture, he often develops the tools and equipment needed to do a special job. "Part of the enjoyment is devising these tools," he said.

"I love turning wood on the lathe. To sit and watch something developing, turning on the lathe is amazing," he added, gesturing at the lathe he built from a plan in "Wood Magazine."

He built a wood steamer in order to properly bend the hickory for spindles fit into the crest rail of the Comb Back Windsor Chair he built from looking at a picture. "That chair is probably my favorite," he said. "It was the most challenging."

Reproduced from a photograph of a chair used by Thomas Jefferson when drafting the Declaration of Independence, Jones spent six months tackling the dimensions and proper shape of the chair.

Across from the chair in the comfortable living room, is a massive tall case clock. The 1810 Simon Willard style time piece is truly a Fayetteville original. While Jones used the hardware, face and workings from an accurately measured kit, the wood which forms the case comes from a fallen walnut tree discovered off New Hope Road. Local saw mill operator Charles Beck cut the tree into logs, which Jones proceeded to air dry for about a year.

The end result is a clock similar to one which occupies the White House. It contains an inlay which is .0025 inch thick, adding to the overall value of the clock.

If Jones' handiwork isn't enough to inspire awe, Nancy's hand-stitched quilts which adorn the walls, beds and quilt racks certainly will. "It's very relaxing," she said of her lap-quilting. She also has a growing collection of Blue Willow china which graces the tea table and cubbies throughout the house.

While Jones' handiwork is primarily a private hobby, he has given some pieces away as gifts, such as a sofa table to a retiring Methodist minister and a number of hour-glasses to special friends. A cradle crafted by Jones occupies his daughter's home.

But he isn't interested in building for profit. "I only build what I want to build," he said matter-of-factly. His next project is going to be a Bombay-style mahogany secretary. His wife already has a wall in the living room selected for its placement.

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