Repeat Customer!

I am so very excited to announce our first real Etsy repeat customer! We've had others purchase multiple boards at a time. We even had someone buy a board online, and then commission Michael to custom make four more (before the first even arrived)! But this was our first "buy one" who came back some time later and "bought another." It was a pleasant surprise to find her order in our inbox this morning! Ashely bought this air dried walnut cutting board first:


Then she came back and purchased this cherry board (one of my favorites) today:


Tomorrow Michael is headed to Mast General Store in Boone, NC tomorrow to set up and sell his cutting boards. Stop by and say, "Hi!" or go to our Etsy shop and take some time to browse around.

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Our Setup at Snowshoe

We are still at Snowshoe as I type this. We are meeting some new friends Erin and Chuck Ball for lunch. See his work at http://www.infinitrekarts.com/ We had a poor show here at the Food, Wine and Jazz Festival. It makes me rethink the "one show a month" idea that Michael and I had. With expenses such as the show fee, our drive up, and our stay, our income from the show has us breaking even, barely... Well, not really if you consider our time invested in preparation and being away from the studio/gallery. I am trying to be positive and look at it as a free family weekend getaway.

This show, after the Blue Plum in July, reinforces the thought that when mixing food, drink, and music, the outcome for the artist (financially) is poor. Are people attending these festivals really looking to spend their money on art? That question alone makes me think that we need to focus on ART Festivals. Those shows that focus on art. We need to work on getting into juried shows next year. We have some promising shows for the fall. Creeping toward the holiday season and gift buying, sales can only get better, right?

Here are show pictures:

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Weekend Plans

We are going to Snowshoe, WV for the weekend. Actually, this post is scheduled for Saturday, where we will be showing Michael's cutting boards at their Food, Wine & Jazz Festival! We are looking to the weekend, as it is a getaway of sorts. Quinn and Aaron will be going with us. I look forward to some tranquil time in the mountains and sun by the pool. I will post some of my own pictures when we get back. Hope you are having a good weekend too!

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Another ETSY Feature!

Wednesday evening, I found that we are featured in Etsy's Gift Guides. The category: Rustic Redux Currently we are on page 3, but I think it rotates. So, if you don't see us, below is a screenshot.

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I Am Totally Copying Another Blogger

I came across this blogger (Jessica Marie) who had a great idea. She featured a poem and correlating Etsy products. So, here I go copying her idea! My poem pick:

Nothing Gold Can Stay
Robert Frost
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.

My GOLD Etsy picks:

Being that I copied Jessica, I thought I could at least feature her cute golden bag!



This is a REAL Birch leaf! How cool is that?!? By Laurali Designs



I am a repeat/frequent customer of Crafty Yarn. I love that her products are 100% recycled material!



A previous (and soon repeat) customer of Xenotees as well, I had to feature the "French Pet Lobster Shirt."



Another personal favorite Etsy seller, I bought some of her prints for our loft.



I love Clare Stoker's Handcrafted Jewelry!




And finally, one of Michael's maple cutting boards.

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What is Wormy Maple?

Tuesday night, we attended the annual picnic at Maple Tree Glass Studio for our chapter of TACA (Tennessee Association of Craft Artists). Upon overhearing conversation among Michael and some of the other woodworkers, I was confused. I always understood "wormy" maple to be maple wood with markings left from some worm... I knew it was also sometimes called ambrosia maple. What was curious to me, is that last night I found out that is isn't worms at all that cause these markings, it is the ambrosia beetle. ( <--Warning: I don't like pictures of bugs, if you don't either, don't check this Wikipedia link)

Worm holes left from a beetle??? Even more confused, I began searching the web this morning. I found this from a site www.justthedoors.com "wormy maple aka ambrosia maple, this comes from regular soft maple trees that have been infested by the ambrosia beetle. The small beetle bores a network of tunnels and short galleries called cradles. A fungus is responsible for the black and gray streaks that accompany each tunnel and adjacent wood. The streaks add a unique look to this hardwood without affecting its structural integrity. This wood is mostly found in the central part of Eastern United States."

Still scouring the web to find more information, lastly, I found this: http://www.appalachianwood.org/species/species.htm which says NOTHING about ambrosia maple, but I like how it broke up the native Appalachian hardwoods, and it is a very informative site! Stay tuned... As I find more interesting information, I will pass it on. To check out our newest ambrosia maple cutting board, go to our Etsy shop, http://ripperarts.etsy.com

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Cherry Cutting Board

Sometimes the most simple boards are my favorite, although I do like the boards with a lot of character as well. I wanted to share our newest listing with you. This board is cherry with a maple handle. Read the full description and see more pictures on our Etsy product page. {Sorry, this board sold in the gallery today, July 2nd.} Fine art in the photo is by http://cdsaadeh.etsy.com. We are http://ripperarts.etsy.com

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Cool Photo

Okay, Michael made the cutting boards, but I really like the photo I took of them. I listed three BRAND NEW cutting boards today on Etsy. We had two online sales yesterday. Yippee!!! I love living our art.

Now, back to the picture. The bottom board is a gorgeous curly maple chopping block. The board on top is a solid cherry chopping block. I was trying to capture the thickness and shaping of the board. I think I did pretty good.

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More Center Cuts

Michael made lots more center cut cutting boards, and I just listed one on Etsy yesterday. Click on the picture to go to our Etsy page and see more photos. Keep checking back as more will be listed daily!

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Blue Plum FUN Pictures

Here are pictures of us at the Blue Plum festival:

Quinn playing in his "I love Etsy shirt."

Cute little dirty feet...


Enjoying a plum at the Blue Plum:





I wanted to try to share a bit of the crowd:



Look closely at his dirty little feet here:

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Blue Plum Product Pictures

These are pictures of our tent/display/items for sale. Tomorrow, I will post our Blue Plum FUN Pictures...

Set up on first day, Friday, June 5th...

Second day, Saturday, June 6th, set up slightly different:

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New Listing!

Copied from the listing on Etsy: Give a green gift! Or treat yourself! READY TO SHIP! More recycled oak wood flooring products! These are a great size for various functions! Use as a trivet or hot plate to protect your table and countertops. Use as a coaster. It will hold an extra large cup and protect your furniture from those unsightly rings! I think they'd also work nicely as a candle holder. Let us know if you find ANOTHER use for them. All pieces are handmade by Michael. They are finished with 100% food safe exotic nut oil. They are each one of a kind but are approximately 4 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches and 5/8 inches thick.This listing is for ONE trivet. Others pictured for display only. Each trivet has Michael's "potter's mark" burned into it. The trivets will have various natural markings including knots. Vase in background was also made by Michael, look for future pottery listings soon. Click on the photo to go to Etsy and see more product pictures!

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Come out and see us today!

Racks by the Tracks, Downtown Kinsgsport on E. Main Street, Saturday, May 16th from 3pm to 8pm. Ribs, blues and beer. I have made beer glass cozies per the suggestion of Angela Vachon and help from Paul and Amber Vachon. I will post some pictures on Monday. Have a great weekend everyone!

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Michael is "Setting Up Shop"

He has been in his studio for a week now (since we got our occupancy certificate, aka OC) getting his wood equipment cleaned up and running, organizing his tools, and even managing to design and cut some mahogany knives! He is even working on displays for my crochet chokers. I love my baby! He is such a hard worker! I have been leaving the gallery at 2, to go to my job as a nurse, and it is then he takes over the gallery and entertains Quinn. Considering the actual hours he is been in his wood shop/art studio, it is AMAZING the work he has gotten done! He took these pictures:

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Thankful for our FIRST SALE

We celebrated our first sale at Cindy Saadeh Fine Art (brick and mortar art gallery) opening week! Paul and Amber Vachon were our first official customers. We'd like to say thank you and link to their Downtown Kingsport business Appalachian Medical Massage Associates. They purchased the cutting board pictured. See more of Michael's cutting boards in the gallery located at 128 E. Market St., Downtown Kingsport, or online at http://ripperarts.etsy.com/.

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Thursday's Photo Feature

Well, I've taken a lot of pictures in the last 24 hours... Over 300 in fact! We are re-vamping or "Spring cleaning" our Etsy shop. So, here is a product pic I was very happy with. It is of a cherry cutting board Michael made. I also played with it a bit in Photoshop and made it black and white. I just love the contrast of the wood and brick.

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Help with Packaging

We had an order that we shipped out on Saturday. Usually, Michael takes the cutting boards to work to package and ships via UPS. Well, this time he brought packaging material home to ship out via USPS on Saturday. We recycle packaging material whenever possible, and Michael has easy access to boxes and bubble wrap from the gallery where he currently works in Banner Elk, NC.

Sometimes, I wonder why we, as parents, even spend money on toys :) when a roll of packing tape, old box, and used bubble wrap will more than suffice and entertain. Oh, and excuse the dirty face and floppy socks, just downtime at the house. Real life with the Rippers. Living our art!

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Another Center Cut!

This board is handmade by Michael, and pieces of wood are handpicked by Michael to emphasize natural beauty and contain knots and curl. This board is made from solid, mineral stained {by nature}, wormy aka ambrosia maple {if you look closely, you will see a few bird's eyes} with two handles made from black walnut! This piece has very unique markings in the wood. Dimensions are approximately 9.5" by 15.5" without handle, 23.5" long with handles, and 3/4" thick. Hole in the center is approximately 4 1/4 by 1 1/4 inches.

"What?!" You may exclaim, "You want me to buy a cutting board with a HOLE in it?!" Well, the hole serves a purpose. You can place your cutting board on top of your pot or bowl and rake ingredients into it THROUGH THAT HOLE! No more messy stoves or countertops! The two handled design also makes it the perfect size to place over your sink. Add the convenience of the hole in the center, and you can quickly and easily scrape food into a colander or your waste into the garbage disposal! Very clever, if I can brag on my husband and his ORIGINAL design.

To see more photos, go the the listing page: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22310046

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Go Green!

Sorry to have skipped yesterday's post, but I took a much needed computer vacation! Now, back to blogging...

This is what we are all about! Michael loves to re-purpose whenever possible, and here is an example. He saw this amazing wood from a shipping crate at work. He thought he could make some very cool cutting boards (yes, we have more than one) from it...

This board is made from an unknown exotic wood (sometimes referred to as "jungle wood"). It is very lightweight. There are very cool nail marks on the back (seen in last picture). Handmade by Michael and hand finished with 100% food safe exotic nut oil. The board pictured is the one you are purchasing. It measures 13" by 4 3/4" and 5/8" thick. Perfect size for use as a sandwich board! Or if you'd rather, use it as a display board. Place candles or incense on it. Decorative and functional!

If you'd like to see the listing on Etsy, click on photo. If you'd like to see the listing on ArtFire, click here. See affordable price and more pictures!

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Inspired to List

Yesterday we sold a cutting board! It was our first cutting board sale on Etsy since before Christmas. This sale inspired me to list two new items. Michael created new cutting boards last week for a custom request/sale from a repeat customer. She only wanted one cutting board, but he made three. We intended to list the other two, but hadn't gotten around to it.

When this sale came through, Michael got the email notification on his Blackberry Storm first, and texted me. I looked it up online from home on the laptop. That inspired me to pull out the poster board, camera, and new cutting boards. While Quinn was napping I photographed and listed these two new boards. I am very pleased with the photographs! One board is cherry with an ambrosia maple handle. The other board is cherry, with a beautiful knot and a mineral stained {by nature} curly maple handle. I think they are beautiful, but then again, I think ALL of my husband's work is beautiful!

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