Archive for the ‘Cheese Board’ Tag

Variety Is The Key For Me   Leave a comment

If you’re looking for same old, same old … don’t come to me.

I hope.

I’ve seen that my sales grow when I offer an incredible variety of wood designs, shapes, sizes and approaches to the things I make. I know that some woodworkers that do what i do make the same thing over and over … and, simply, that’s not for me. I would find that boring … and I believe that my customers would, as well.

Variety it is.

Here are a collection of serving pieces and shaped boards. Some are for cutting, some aren’t … their new owners will get to choose what they use them for.

Hover your cursor over the photo while on your laptop and computer (or click on the image using any device), and you’ll see the file name. That tells you what I call the piece. You can call it anything you like.

Sometimes, Small Is Good   Leave a comment

I make small cutting boards. Some people use these just for cutting fruit. Or, maybe these boards end up as a dedicated garlic/onion board.

Maybe it’s as big a cutting board as you need.

All good! These may not be big enough to prepare a holiday meal for a large gathering, but they have proven to be one of my most enduring, popular products. Many people add one of these small boards as a 2nd board, a holiday gift … or even use them as I name the thinner version: a cheese board.

In my lexicon, a Cheese Boards is about 8″ x 11″ x 5/8″. A Small Board is thicker, and no larger than 12″ x 12″ x 1″.

The names, though, are really only important to me. These are small cutting boards. This post catches me up with all of this type of board made at the end of the year for holiday giving, Kickstarter supporters and more.

The first few pictures are of a new design of small board that I’m trying. Each is 11″ x 11″ x 7/8″, and have a juice groove for those that prefer that, even on these relatively small boards. Enjoy!

Commissioned Pieces   Leave a comment

I do a lot of wedding & anniversary gifts. Here you see several different styles … as well as a couple of other special orders thrown in.

I have a love/hate relationship with special orders, honestly. Keeping track of them, their individual deadlines & extra steps required for the personalization is another record keeping system that I have to maintain to stay on top of these orders. It’s a wonderful thing, truly – who wouldn’t want to be a part of a wedding as a gift supplier? Lots of love there, and that’s a good thing.

A very good thing.

Also shown are a sign for a restored car’s dash (the Beach Bug sign). It’s a carved sign with painted letters. Similar techniques were used with the making of the final piece, that shows the longitude & latitude for the happy couple’s meeting, engagement & wedding.

Cutting, Display or Serving?   Leave a comment

OK, I’m behind.

Way behind.

I’ve been making stuff, and even taking pictures … and then hurriedly going to events so I have to make more stuff. This cycle has been repeating for 3 months now.

3 months.

So, yes, I’m behind. Many of these items were made months ago, and have already sold! … but I’m just now showing them to you here. Sorry about that.

This includes the very latest stuff for the holiday boutiques, as well, so please enjoy the pretties … because they will be gone soon, I trust!

Yes, You Should Have A Big Heart   Leave a comment

I see it all of the time.

People see my hearts on the table. They smile. They hold one over their own heart, look to their significant other, and smile some more.

Nothing wrong with a big heart. Nothing wrong with showing your heart.

Such is the human drama I inspire when I go a-vendoring. Who wouldn’t love that?

I’m sometimes asked if these are cutting boards. Well, yes, they could be. However, I believe cutting on hearts is not something we should want to do. Surgeons, perhaps. Cooks? Not so much. I think these are serving pieces, not cutting boards. Buy one, and then you’ll get to choose who gets to cut on your heart.

This weekend, I’m going a bit far afield as I go a-vendoring. It will be my first out-of-state solo event for Mr M’s Woodshop! I’ll be at Faire on the Square in Prescott, AZ. I’m leaving Mrs M at home so she can work at her “job,” and I’m doing a holiday weekend road trip.

Pulling the trailer. Putting up the big canopy, solo. Running the booth, solo. Staying at an AirBnB, bachelor style.

Who wouldn’t love that?

 

New: 5 Section Serving Pieces   Leave a comment

The banner on the front of the booth says “Cutting Boards, Serving Pieces & More.”

I am in search of the perfect cheese & cracker server. Today’s offering may not appear to be one at first glance … which is why these pieces need a second glance.

The front side has 5 sections for your various, uh, food offerings. It could be cubed cheeses, of course, but it could be veggies or chips or olives … whatever.

These pieces, though, are made to be used on both sides. When you flip the pieces over, there are no feet to mar the surface, so now you have a nice 14″ square serving piece that would be perfect for charcuterie – or, cheese & crackers.

Of course.

All I’m doing is giving people options. Then, they get to choose!

Each piece is 1-1/8″ thick, and is routed 3/4″ deep … leaving a 3/8″ thick bottom. The pieces are therefore very light to handle. Note these are not cutting boards: even though the flip side is flat and could be used for cutting, since it is so thin it would not hold up long enough to a fine cutting edge. For charcuterie, it’s perfect.

More

Just Finished: Large Serving Pieces

Yes, These Are Lazy Susans

Trays To Serve

 

Cutting Boards: Large & Small   Leave a comment

This is a week when I finally got some Cutting Boards done … in several sizes.

I made a couple of commissioned pieces, both of which were my large size: 16″ x 21″ x 1-1/2″. I talked about one of those in a blog post about The 350th Cutting Board.

But, a well stocked kitchen has a few cutting boards in various sizes, so this week, I’ve got options for you.

  • End Grain Cutting Boards, 13″ x 17″ x 1-1/4″.
  • Edge Grain Cutting Boards, 12″ x 16″ x 1-1/4″.
  • Small Boards, 7″ x 12″ x 1-1/4″.
  • Cheese Boards (which are just small cutting boards!), 9″ x 11″ x 5/8″.

You may need a couple in each size if you’re serious about your kitchen tools. Some cooks like to have dedicated boards for meat, fruit & veggies & bread. There’s no scientific reason for that, mind you, but if you like to have purpose-driven kitchen tools, then I’ve got some sizes to help you with that.

All of these boards will be at this weekend’s big event, the 55th Annual Tehachapi Mountain Fest. This will be our 4th consecutive Mountain Fest, and we can’t wait. Hope to see you there!

 

 

Custom Orders   2 comments

Yes, I do custom orders!

Special engraving. Unique wood combinations. Oddball requests. You name it.

To be fair, I often turn down oddball requests for special one-time constructions. I have trouble making enough pieces just to keep up with my totally out-of-control hobby, after all. Adding ideas that take extra TLC to make it to the finish line usually doesn’t make sense.

But who said I have to make sense? Adding the occasional odd request does help me use my creativity & expand my skill set. At the right time, doing a unique project can be fun. Since that’s why I’m doing this, I try and help people with fun projects as much as I can.

And, no, I still don’t make backgammon boards. Or rolling pins. Or toaster tongs.

But, apparently, if you want a Fire Pokin’ Stick, then I’m your guy.

Just Finished: Large Serving Pieces   3 comments

It’s a good thing I like making these … Large Serving Pieces.

The name is a problem for me. When I started making these, uh, LSPs, people started calling them Surfboards because they have a curvy shape … and we’re in SoCal.

We have surfers here, you see. Deal with it.

So, these were called Surfboards for a couple of years. Then I thought that they weren’t really shaped like surfboards – especially when I started making true surfboard-shaped cutting boards, so I started calling these Cheese & Cracker Servers.

Which is true … but limiting. Some people use these to serve the entree. Or the dessert. Whatever. They work great as Cheese & Cracker Servers, of course … but that’s not all that they are. So, for now, I call them Large Serving Pieces. You can call yours whatever you want!

Making this batch of 19 LSPs put a lot of sawdust into the shop, because each edge of each piece has to go across the table saw blade at an oblique angle multiple times. There’s no saw guard to help with dust collection when I make these “open faced” cuts. Plus, the work pieces go across the saw blade, not through the blade,  which means that a whole lot of sawdust gets made to shape those elegant curves under each edge. Those curves are actually made in the shape of the saw blade as the work pieces go across the blade. These cuts are called cove cuts, and you rarely see them used these days.

Which only means I’m old school. Or something. In any event, these LSPs are individually designed, hand shaped, hand rubbed, and they are now ready for your inspection!

I must note that they are one of the rewards in my current Kickstarter campaign which is almost over. The campaign ends July 31, so you have until then to become a Backer and select the reward that you would like to receive. Yes, you can receive one of these LSPs if that’s your choice. It’s one of the most popular rewards, though, so you may have to get in line if you like one of these Large Serving Pieces!

Each piece (except for the one that’s a bit wider) is about 12″ wide x 19″ long x 1-1/4″ thick. All are finished with my standard food-ready finish: mineral oil, with a top coat or my “Board Butter,” which is locally-harvested beeswax mixed with mineral oil. All pieces have non-skid feet held on with stainless steel screws for long life.

More

My Kickstarter Campaign

The Woods In The Woodshop

Kickstarter: Coasters

Kickstarter: Trivets

Kickstarter: Cheese Boards

Kickstarter: Handled Cutting Boards

Kickstarter: Large Serving Pieces

Kickstarter: Carnivore Boards

Kickstarter: Best Cutting Boards

Cutting Boards, Coasters & Small Boards   Leave a comment

Ah, the finish line.

I tend to make boards in batches. That makes it easier to cut lumber to size, and that makes me a bit more efficient.

Which would be a good thing.

After our successful Spring Fling, I was out of 12″ x 16″ cutting boards – my most popular size! That’s just not OK, so I made a few to get ready for this weekend’s event in Camarillo.

In the process of making the Cutting Boards, I made a few Small Boards, as I call them (usually about 8″ x 12″ x 1-1/4″). One cheese board got finished (9″ x 11″ x 5/8″). And then I finished a couple of sets of coasters, as well as a quartet of 3D-carved Wine Bottle Coasters. A little variety makes the whole working in batches thing a little more fun, in my estimation. I can’t make too many of one thing, or I go crazy.

As you can see here, every cutting board is unique. That’s a goal!

And speaking of goals (again, a very smooth transition!)….

My Kickstarter campaign is now 87% funded. I’m $611 from my goal of $5,000. Please consider becoming a Backer – and getting a cool reward from me in time for holiday giving. Note the clock is ticking: the goal must be reached by July 31. Check out the options here: Handmade Cutting Boards & Wooden Serving Pieces.

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