Sample 1  |  Sample 2

Close Window

David Hadden

Wood

Working with wood has been a central part of my life for the past 25 years.  My first project was a simple box for my then girlfriend.  This box was to allow storage of kitchen utensils and to hold a small refrigerator.  My girlfriend was in shock when the simple small box she had requested grew to three or four times the original size.  Not only did it barely fit in her kitchen, but it wobbled badly with the weight of the refrigerator.  After a few weeks of jokes and laughter I announced that I would be building a rolltop desk.  The looks from my girlfriend and her roommate made me feel I should check in for a psychiatric evaluation.  The rolltop desk turned out much better.  It is still in use today and the girlfriend has been my wife for the past 25 years.  Woodworking is a lot like marriage, it takes a lot of love and patience.

Working with wood for the past 25 years has been a consistent pleasure.  With all the challenges of delivery and quality the beauty of a finished piece is its own reward.  Wood is an ancient material that has been worked by people since the earliest recordings of humans. I believe that people respond to wood from a primordial instinct that is integral to our survival.    

For the past 5 years I have worked from my small woodshop which I built next to my home in East Tennessee. Nestled in the woods between the Clinch and Smokey Mountains it is a perfect setting to return to handcrafted custom woodworking.  The art cutting boards that I offer to your gallery were originally designed by me in an attempt to utilize scrap woods that were considered waste in commercial settings.  That theme continues today as all the wood used in the cutting boards is scrap wood from operations that consider these pieces too small for any practical use.  The use of this lumber makes the breadboards the ultimate green product.  All cutting boards will come with a hangtag with product information and care instructions. Initially probably 2 sizes of boards will be offered along with stands to allow the boards to be displayed on a countertop in the kitchen.  If all goes well I would like to see the booth develop to display art furniture.  The cutting boards are finished with mineral oil and glued with water proof glue, both FDA approved. The boards should not be placed in a dishwasher, but simply rinsed and allowed to dry thoroughly.  Apply mineral oil to maintain luster as often as needed. Following these simple rules should provide several years of use.