Gingham (2nd edition)

About the Design

The vast majority of my life has been in the south.  Though my parents are northerners and I don't believe I have a southern accent, I connect with the celebration of food and community here.  Gingham, when seen covering a table, has become an immediate visual indicator I'm about to be uncomfortably full of delicious food.

This is my first food-specific design.  It's a technical challenge in the level of accuracy needed to have 400+ squares all the same size and inline and also choose wood species that can meet the aesthetic requirements while being endearing to the subject matter.

This is certainly a piece I'm proud to share.


About the Wood

In addition to meeting the visual criteria needed for this design the specific woods were also chosen for their relationship to food.  Red Oak is a very common wood used for smoking meat.  Cherry and Maple both represent flavors and foods common in southen cuisine.

The Red Oak is from my property and the cherry is local to my community.  This wood was acquired as urban salvage and sawn, dried, and then milled by myself.

The curly maple was chosen for it's very light tone and the chatoyance in its figuring which give the illusion of a rippling table cloth.


What's new in the 2nd Edition?

The first edition of this board had white oak on the out edge.  It was a nice wood to choose but I prefer the curly maple on the outer edges now.  It adds to the beauty.