Meet the Craftsman

Many of you share your enthusiastic appreciation for the craftsmanship in our gift boxes, cutting boards, and artisan pieces and ask for more behind the scenes. Here we highlight different aspects of the shop, like craftsmanship, care tips, and the design process - all the things that go into making your one-of-a-kind gifts. From the wood selection to the finishing process, here’s your look behind the workshop doors…

New Product Inspiration - Our Luxe Serving Boards

You might be surprised to hear where new ideas come from and how they go from creative concept to final product in our workshop. It’s not a complicated, formal process, that comes from a book or a YouTube video. It’s about being open to see what’s around you. When designing our anniversary edition serving board, I had a few things in mind.

First, we’ve been visiting New York City quite a bit lately. Going for long neighborhood walks and looking at the skyline factored into my decision-making. I knew I wanted to make something unique in texture and color.

Next, it was time to put the idea down on paper. I sketched out a drawing of long thin pieces against a light background - the buildings against the sky. I decided to use white maple as the background, or sky, and black walnut to represent the buildings in this new serving board design. To add to the richness, I included cherry wood at both ends. Anytime you put white maple, black walnut, and cherry together, you’re going to create a rich, beautiful piece.

To upgrade the look even further, the board and the handle include an inlay of walnut going through the center. This is the subtle detail that makes this piece unique. I decided to finish the top of the serving board in a beveled-edge trim. (This piece was so popular I made it in opposing wood colors, as you can see from the photo below.)

Overall, this process was several months in the making, maybe even a year. It’s not something you can rush, and you never know when it will happen. You have to be aware of what’s around you when you’re traveling, touring, outside for a walk, or in whatever environment inspires you. Then, be ready to act when creativity strikes. I keep a leather notebook handy for this very reason.

Photos L to R: From ideas in a notebook to a sketch on a notepad, then the loose placement of wood blocks in the workshop, and on to the final luxurious product.