Introductions
If you haven’t met us at a craft show, you might wonder who made these wooden pieces.
Here’s our story—who we are, who we were, how we met, where and how we live now, what we believe in. Also a bunch of pictures for fun.
Here’s our story—who we are, who we were, how we met, where and how we live now, what we believe in. Also a bunch of pictures for fun.
Meb & Tom
In the middle of the last century, a boy and girl messed about in opposite corners of the New England woods: climbing trees, building forts and exploring the natural world.
Later, we worked at various careers: Tom Vaiciulis in Connecticut as an engineer and designer, Meb Boden in Boston's theater and music worlds. We each married, parented terrific kids, divorced, lived abroad, started over.
Then on a drizzly Halloween night in a Rhode Island grocery store, fate intervened—though Tom still wonders if I really did lock my keys in the bookshop next door, compelling him to drive me home for an extra set!
The following Halloween, we sailed north from Trinidad and discovered we were grand partners at sea. The next sunny years featured Romance amid Caribbean palms and turquoise waters. A state-side wedding in an ocean-side grove. Total eclipse of the sun seen from an active volcanic island. Perpetual repairs on our home—a 35-year-old, all-teak sailboat. International friendships and intrigue. Woodworking and stained glass in our island workshop. For 3 years, I wrote a column for All At Sea, a Caribbean boating magazine, about the trials and wonders of living aboard a small boat. A compilation is in the works. However, we’d made an enemy and, while we visited up North, arson finished off our workshop.
Fortunately we’re “lemonade” kind of people: as in “Wow, that’s a pretty sour lemon—let’s make lemonade!” Now, many lemons later, we‘re back to messing about in the woods. Y2K found us clearing land to build a tiny (150 square feet!), elegant cabin a mile past the last power pole. Worthy partners on land as well as sea, we cut our own firewood, light with oil lamps and commute 3 miles to our rented, on-the-grid workshop.
Our 21-acre homestead is constantly changing with the additions of gardens and pathways, fruit trees and assorted outbuildings. In the spring of 2010, we had a fire in our cabin. We lost our roof, but we are fine and so are our belongings. We're in awe of our local volunteer firefighters. And so grateful to CERF (Craft Emergency Relief Fund) and our fabulous friends who stepped in once again to help us rebuild.
Later, we worked at various careers: Tom Vaiciulis in Connecticut as an engineer and designer, Meb Boden in Boston's theater and music worlds. We each married, parented terrific kids, divorced, lived abroad, started over.
Then on a drizzly Halloween night in a Rhode Island grocery store, fate intervened—though Tom still wonders if I really did lock my keys in the bookshop next door, compelling him to drive me home for an extra set!
The following Halloween, we sailed north from Trinidad and discovered we were grand partners at sea. The next sunny years featured Romance amid Caribbean palms and turquoise waters. A state-side wedding in an ocean-side grove. Total eclipse of the sun seen from an active volcanic island. Perpetual repairs on our home—a 35-year-old, all-teak sailboat. International friendships and intrigue. Woodworking and stained glass in our island workshop. For 3 years, I wrote a column for All At Sea, a Caribbean boating magazine, about the trials and wonders of living aboard a small boat. A compilation is in the works. However, we’d made an enemy and, while we visited up North, arson finished off our workshop.
Fortunately we’re “lemonade” kind of people: as in “Wow, that’s a pretty sour lemon—let’s make lemonade!” Now, many lemons later, we‘re back to messing about in the woods. Y2K found us clearing land to build a tiny (150 square feet!), elegant cabin a mile past the last power pole. Worthy partners on land as well as sea, we cut our own firewood, light with oil lamps and commute 3 miles to our rented, on-the-grid workshop.
Our 21-acre homestead is constantly changing with the additions of gardens and pathways, fruit trees and assorted outbuildings. In the spring of 2010, we had a fire in our cabin. We lost our roof, but we are fine and so are our belongings. We're in awe of our local volunteer firefighters. And so grateful to CERF (Craft Emergency Relief Fund) and our fabulous friends who stepped in once again to help us rebuild.
How Meb’s Kitchenwares Began
Year 2000. We built this tiny cabin in the woods and worked as cabinetmakers —actually Tom designed and constructed, I did the finish work (sanding, then coating with the appropriate finish—pretty dull for me). Out of our cabinet leftovers, we made fancy laminated cheese knives for our family presents.
I LOVED making the freeform pieces—no straight lines, no measuring—and began selling them locally. Next I made a piggy cutting board with a curly tail for our son-in-law’s birthday. Friends gave me great advice on how to get started in craft shows and that was it! I was hooked on the making and the lifestyle. Tom kept us going with cabinets for a bit, then joined me full time.
We did our first craft show in 2003—at Roseland Cottage in our hometown, and loved the freeform lifestyle and the tight-knit community of craftspeople, a subculture similar to our yachting family.
In the workshop as at home, we exploit our “in sync” brains and fingers. We handpick each board, debate how best to use its grain & figure. We leave bits for each other to play with. We finish each other’s work. The result is a collaborative dance, with surprises along the way.
Our goal is to make cooking & entertaining a visual and tactile pleasure. We imagine unknown hands enjoying the sensuous shapes, smooth textures, and luscious wood grains. We picture our utensils creating delectable recipes in kitchens around the world and our serving wares gracing festive gatherings.
Though we live simply, when we’re at craft shows we enjoy luxuries that most take for granted—hotels with hot running water, central heating and wearing nice, un-dusty clothes, plus we enjoy meeting interesting people and getting feedback about our work. But we come home grateful for chainsaws and sunsets, the bounty of our gardens, the creativity of the workshop and the snug beauty of our tiny nest.
I LOVED making the freeform pieces—no straight lines, no measuring—and began selling them locally. Next I made a piggy cutting board with a curly tail for our son-in-law’s birthday. Friends gave me great advice on how to get started in craft shows and that was it! I was hooked on the making and the lifestyle. Tom kept us going with cabinets for a bit, then joined me full time.
We did our first craft show in 2003—at Roseland Cottage in our hometown, and loved the freeform lifestyle and the tight-knit community of craftspeople, a subculture similar to our yachting family.
In the workshop as at home, we exploit our “in sync” brains and fingers. We handpick each board, debate how best to use its grain & figure. We leave bits for each other to play with. We finish each other’s work. The result is a collaborative dance, with surprises along the way.
Our goal is to make cooking & entertaining a visual and tactile pleasure. We imagine unknown hands enjoying the sensuous shapes, smooth textures, and luscious wood grains. We picture our utensils creating delectable recipes in kitchens around the world and our serving wares gracing festive gatherings.
Though we live simply, when we’re at craft shows we enjoy luxuries that most take for granted—hotels with hot running water, central heating and wearing nice, un-dusty clothes, plus we enjoy meeting interesting people and getting feedback about our work. But we come home grateful for chainsaws and sunsets, the bounty of our gardens, the creativity of the workshop and the snug beauty of our tiny nest.
Our Work Force
Here they are—Meb’s Kitchenwares’ work force. Tom with the pencil, choosing the best possible grain. Meb carving the pig tail. Read further for the third hand.
We do have some occasional helpers, thank goodness!—mostly younger people who help out in between school or other “real” jobs, especially around the holidays. Since we're self-taught and together have totally made up our designs, methods and tooling, we've trained our helpers to do things OUR WAY.
Ethan has come in a few days a month for years—that’s his left hand on the cool sander (yes, he’s a leftie) and his hand is in the picture because, more than anyone else, he's a presence in our workshop.
Chelsea took most of the photos on this site. AND does the BEST wood burning. AND she drew our fork and spoon logo at the top of each page—long ago before she graduated from Art School. Her sister, Peri, helps out with tiny pieces like salt cellars and their small spoons. Mary calmly keeps me accurate when I make measuring spoons. Corlis is great at making cheese knives. And when I’m in a jam just before a show, Gina will come over to rub in a final coat of finish so I can pack the van. My secret dream is that someone will just love office work, so I can spend all my time in the workshop!
When Tom had his year of colon cancer surgery and treatments (2008-9) and I had my recovery (2007) from donating a kidney to a friend, these exceptional friends and others stepped in to help us through. Our grateful thanks!
We do have some occasional helpers, thank goodness!—mostly younger people who help out in between school or other “real” jobs, especially around the holidays. Since we're self-taught and together have totally made up our designs, methods and tooling, we've trained our helpers to do things OUR WAY.
Ethan has come in a few days a month for years—that’s his left hand on the cool sander (yes, he’s a leftie) and his hand is in the picture because, more than anyone else, he's a presence in our workshop.
Chelsea took most of the photos on this site. AND does the BEST wood burning. AND she drew our fork and spoon logo at the top of each page—long ago before she graduated from Art School. Her sister, Peri, helps out with tiny pieces like salt cellars and their small spoons. Mary calmly keeps me accurate when I make measuring spoons. Corlis is great at making cheese knives. And when I’m in a jam just before a show, Gina will come over to rub in a final coat of finish so I can pack the van. My secret dream is that someone will just love office work, so I can spend all my time in the workshop!
When Tom had his year of colon cancer surgery and treatments (2008-9) and I had my recovery (2007) from donating a kidney to a friend, these exceptional friends and others stepped in to help us through. Our grateful thanks!
