The thing about making big cutting boards … is I can only make them when I sell them.
After all, if I keep making them … storage would be an issue. In my small shop, that’s no trivial matter. I have no room!
So, I’m pleased to say that I keep selling big cutting boards, and I had to make more to keep my inventory at a good level.
That’s a very good thing. I love making big cutting boards, AKA BDBs.
BDB = Big Damn Cutting Boards.
These are approximately 16″ x 21″ x 1.5″, which is the size I end up with when I start with a “blank” that’s 16x24x1.75″. Two glue-ups, 3 sanding machines, one table router and lots and lots of hand work later, these are the hand rubbed beauties that I am left with.
One of my pet peeves is when a person enters my booth, looks at my work, and says, “this is a good way to use scrap.”
In a cooler moment, I can reflect on the word “scrap.” In a cooler moment, I can say without reservation,
I. Do. Not. Use. Scrap.
At. All.
It’s all in the definition. Some people call anything that’s not an 8′ board … scrap. To them, you use lumber to make a table or build a house … and when you cut a piece, what’s left is scrap. Every time.
Hogwash.
When I get hardwood to use, the first thing I do is cut it. Typically, I cut lumber (which is generally somewhere between 9′ and 16′ long, and 4″ to 10″ wide) into 6′ lengths, which are easier for me to process and store. When I’m ready to cut those 6′ lengths (or the shorter lengths I get when I cut a 10′ piece into 2 pieces), I cut them into pieces no longer than 24″. Those are easiest for me to work with in my small shop.
I collect pieces that are between 18 and 23″ long in one cabinet, and those “end cuts” or “off cuts” are eventually made into pieces like these surfboards, Lazy Susans, or trivets.
They are not scrap.
I save shorter pieces, too, down to 12″ in length. The smallest pieces go to Dr H, who turns them into pens that are gifted to people around the world. And anything shorter than 12″ and narrower than 3/4″ … well, that’s scrap, because it’s too small to use.
I don’t use scrap. I start with lumber, and I end up here:
With all due apologies to Shakespeare, Cracker Things are proving that the cracker’s the thing!
I took Cracker Things to the Harvest Festival in Sacramento … and sold so many at that one event, I had no choice but to make more.
It’s a wonderful problem to have.
Cracker Things are always on a colorful base of many hardwoods. The crackers go into an angular holder that’s 10-1/2″ long, and perfect for holding crackers of all sizes, and keeping them neatly in place during your next party … even if it’s a party for 1.
Our last event of 2019 is this Saturday at Valencia High School. This event is a fundrasier for the award-winning VHS Choir, and you’ll find both Mrs M’s soaps & lotions and my food-ready products on display. Hope to see you there!
I started making cheese slicers in January … and it’s very clear that people like to pretend they are slicing cheese when they see them in the booth.
They lift the handle. The lower the handle. They comment to their companions, “Look, a cheese slicer!”
It’s an interactive display. The slicers invite touch, which I love. When people touch the kitchen tools that I’m making, they tend to like them.
I know some vendors stand at the front of their booth and hand items to people as they pass by, to “make” them touch them. I don’t do that; I will not be an annoying huckster.
My sales may suffer, honestly, but I don’t care. I have to do what I do.
And what I do, is make things that are so delectable that people want to touch them. That’s me being me.
That catharsis out of the way … here are the latest slicers, hopefully available for touching at a holiday boutique near you!
All of these slicers are approximately 7″ wide x 11″ long. They have non-skid rubber feet. Cost is $45 for any of these slicers. A frequent question is about replacement wires, which I do offer for sale at my cost. Those wires are also available (at a higher cost, I would add) from CheeseSlicing.com.
I’ve been busy … but it always seems to be not quite enough.
I keep making stuff, I keep selling stuff … and I’ve never felt caught up in the 6 years that I’ve been doing this. I’m certainly not ahead, as I don’t have extra inventory to replace what I sell. So, when I have a good weekend where I sell 34 pieces (!), I have to get right back into the shop and make sure I have at least 34 more for the next event.
At least I have a goal! Maybe next year I can get ahead. Dreams are a wonderful thing….
You know I’m in search of the perfect serving piece for Cheese & Crackers … and I’ve got several variations in the booth at every event. All good.
The corollary to making cheese boards, of course, is what to do with the crackers. For most people, that’s either a pile of crackers on the board, or a small bowl or two.
That’s never really satisfied me. I’ve always thought there had to be a better way … and I’ve got one I’m excited about.
I’ve gotten some comments about the name, but I’m sticking with it.
The base of the Cracker Things is a multi-colored selection of exotic woods. Most have an assymetrical, “chaos” design. Others are symetrical, but are always very colorful. The cracker holders, currently, are made from Hard Maple, Cherry, Black Walnut and Sapele.
Each Cracker Thing is 11″ long, which happens to be the length of the cheese boards that I make. They are 4″ wide and 2-1/2″ high … not including the crackers.
I was very happy when lady after lady entered the booth this weekend, and the universal comment was, “Those are cute!”
They are great gifts; I’m introducing them at $35 each. After one event … I know I have to make more.
Ask Mrs M. She’ll tell you that I need a lot of help.
It’s just me in the shop, of course … me and my CNC (computer numerically controlled router). I call it my assistant, and I get it to work by pushing a button (well, a lot of buttons, actually). Then, it stays busy while I’m doing something else.
Oh, it needs supervision from time to time – mainly when I’ve made a mistake. Some of those mistakes are simple programming fixes … some make more firewood. A few mistakes break things (mainly router bits). Luckily, those mistakes are not that common, and the results of my “collaboration” with my assistant have proven to be rather popular.
Thankfully! I would hate to have all of those electrons getting lazy in the shop.
Serving pieces help turn an impressive array into a finished presentation.
I quickly learned that cutting boards are great … but many people need serving pieces to complete the process of getting great food to the table.
And, of course, if the food looks good when it’s served, that will help it taste fantastic as well.
We are a visual people. Food needs to look, smell, feel and, finally, taste good to maximize our eating experience. I may not be an expert … but I know good food when I have it!
Sometimes, a pair of serving pieces is required. In this case, it’s the flip side of a 5 Section Server, paired with the flip side of a Garlic Dipping Board.
A surfboard is the base for this presentation.
The first board I sold was a cheese board. It’s just a small cutting board, really … but it can be so much more when you have a presentation in mind!
There’s really no wrong answer here … my job is to provide a variety of options so your table can look wonderful. I’ve done some research into what makes a good presentation of cheese & crackers, or charcuterie, or whatever … the link is below. Enjoy!
I started making Garlic Dipping Boards just a few months ago, and they’re a hit. If you missed the story of the Boards and their Great Garlic Graters, then please follow the link to read about the launch of the GDBs.
Go ahead, I’ll wait.
The “A” side, if you will, is perfect for sliced bread, oil, garlic and your favorite spices for dipping.
However, there are times that you need a presentation board … without the Great Garlic Grater.
Got’cha covered. These Boards are made to flip … unlike most of the cutting boards I make, these are made to use on both sides.
The “B” side is perfect for charcuterie, bread, or an appetizer like Velda’s Bruschetta. And, yes, they were delicious. I love photo shoots.
24 new boards just made it to the finish line in time for this weekend’s event, and they’re shown below. I have paired each board with one of the Great Garlic Graters (12 Boards have square Graters, and 12 have hexagonal Graters). But, you get to choose the set that you like when you make your selections. Some people like a matching/complementary Grater, and some people prefer a more, uh, colorful statement in their pairing.
You’re an adult, you get to choose.
If you see one you like, don’t delay: 3 are already spoken for!
I love it more when people actually use them. They are made to be of use, after all.
Here’s a wide variety of cutting boards that I have ready for this weekend’s event. Every person that does what I do has heard it, “Oh, these are too pretty to use!”
No, they’re not. And even if they are … I can ugly them up for you, if you like.
