I worked for Pennsylvania furniture maker and designer who kept a basketful of small, organically shaped cutting board on the floor of his office. They were made from choice hardwood scraps he couldn't bear to chuck in the burn pile. I really liked them. They reminded me of the shapes Alexander Calder used for his mobiles and sculptures. Later on, seeing the cutting boards Wharton Esherick made, the idea of making beautiful, one-of-a-kind objects out of something as basic and utilitarian as a cutting board hit home.

Many people who see our cutting boards say they are too pretty to cut on. Once they give in to doing so, a long-lasting relationship is formed. I love the look of a cutting board's surface after years of use!