The handled boards are inspired by a recent reading of Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers by Leonard Koren. Says Koren, "Things wabi-sabi can appear coarse and unrefined. They are usually made from materials not far removed from their original condition within, or upon, the earth and are rich in raw texture and rough tactile sensation."

Made from scraps of walnut cast off by a large furniture studio in Gowanus, Brooklyn, I found wabi-sabi expressed explicitly in these pieces. Both shapes were cut freehand, resulting in balloon-like, asymmetrical shapes. One of the pieces had some rough but lovely saw marks on the face, so I kept these marks in the final piece to reflect the irregular and inevitable nature of wabi-sabi. 

Boards measure 12 inches from end to handle, and are 8 1/2 inches at the widest. Both boards have a face with equal parts sapwood and heartwood, and the opposing face with more dark heartwood. Choose either "Polished" or "Saw Marked" from the drop down menu. 

*allergy note: finished with walnut oil.