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KITCHENWARES
GENERAL INFO |
MEB'S KITCHENWARES
Hello. Welcome to our website! Now it’s 2008 and a lot has changed since my son, Alex, helped me put this together 4 years ago. We’re just SO busy with everyday life, there’s no time to write! Tom has joined me more-than-fulltime in the workshop, has built a gorgeous new booth display (see pix at Photos 2008), and now attends shows with me. We’ll celebrate a dozen years of a great marriage this August. And more grandchildren keep coming to brighten up our lives! The biggest change, however, is in the finish of our woodenwares. I cringe when I read further on and remember when we soaked each piece in olive oil. We wanted something our grandmothers used, that was earth-friendly and safe for our bodies—an alternative to mineral oil (a petroleum byproduct) that most everyone uses. And we wanted our pieces to be easy to maintain at home. After several years of experimenting, we’ve developed a sealant that saturates the wood grain to prevent the grain from raising after washing. And then we shine it up with a true boiled linseed oil—not the kind from the hardware store—for a lovely shine. We trust you’ll like it as much as we do. At home, you can just hand-wash, then rub on some cooking oil (walnut oil is best if you’re not allergic to nuts), then buff it dry. Our homestead has grown only minimally in the last few years since we’re so busy in the workshop! But we now have a hand-pumped well, garden shed and a layout for our new workshop to be operated with alternative energy. You can join our mailing list (an occasional newsy letter which includes information on upcoming shows, new work and the continuing saga of our life on- and off-the-grid) by (preferably) emailing meb@mebskitchenwares.com or writing Meb’s Kitchenwares, PO Box 342, South Woodstock, CT 06267. Snail mailing is rare--and expensive! Hopefully this summer, we’ll make time to update this site. Right now, just the show schedule, photos 2008 and list of shops (galleries where our work can be found) are semi-current. So, please read on, enjoy our early enthusiasm, and come see us at one of the shows! From our hands to yours Hello and welcome to Meb's Kitchenwares. My husband, Tom, and I live and work in Woodstock, CT where we make custom wood creations of all shapes and sizes. You can find out more about us under General Info. Custom Orders a Pleasure Really, it's what we prefer. We love working with people to make items that are unique and special to them . New England Hardwoods For my kitchenwares, we use only wood harvested here in New England. We find it equally as interesting as exotics from abroad. Often we use lumber from trees on our property or in our town. We're always looking for local wood. Please call us if you're having a tree taken down--wouldn't it be fun to have some heirloom pieces made from your own trees!
This Website has been months in creation and I'm hoping to keep it fresh by putting in new photos and keeping you updated on new products and ideas. Here are the ways to reach us: Phone : (860) 974-3504 This is our workshop phone. We have no power at home, therefore no phone, but we usually work late. You can call anytime--if we're here, we're awake! E-mail : meb@mebskitchenwares.com Please sign the Guest Book and let me know what you think of the web page. All this technology is very new to me! I don't check E-mail every day, so if speed is important, use the phone. Mailing Address : P.O. Box 342,South Woodstock CT 06267 We check our mailbox only once or twice a week. Workshop Address : 135 Bradford Corner Rd, (behind the brick house), Woodstock Valley CT 06282 Click here for a MAP to get to the shop. We have absolutely no schedule, so it's best to call first if you plan to visit.
Thank You After Thanksgiving dinner, 2003, Barbara Swenson (Chelsea's aunt) took the professional photos of my spoons. They've made my first year of business simpler by getting me into craft shows and allowing me to show off my spoons (down to the fine details of wood grain) without lugging around a box of heavy wares.
My little brother, Paul Bodensiek, fortunately on the other side of the technology fence from me, is hosting the page. Check out his work at www.paragrafix.com. Without my son, Alex Moase, there wouldn't have been a website. He's terrific and has helped overcome some of my fear of technology. Site created 10/14/04 Updates: Retail Locations page added
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Chelsea Lewis (16 years old at
the time) drew the salad set that has become the Meb's Kitchenwares logo. The
booth sign, artwork on tags and cards, even the wood-burnt brand that marks each
of my wares uses her wonderful image. 
Rachel Lewis
(no relation to Chelsea), retired label
designer and talented artist, worked long hours with me to create a
"look" that's distinctive and fits my wares and the image I'd like.
Anything that's on paper--business cards, cookbook marks, tags, rubber
stamps--all came from her generosity. She took Chelsea's 8-1/2 x 11"
drawing (with a 4-tined fork) and scaled it down to the 3/8" x
3/8" brand (with 3 tines)
that identifies all my work.