Posted on August 24, 2020May 20, 2021 by Tamara Wenderlich

On Cutting Boards

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Wood Cutting Board Safety and Care

… and a peek at how we make them.

It’s chile roasting season in New Mexico which means amazing smells are coming from every grocery store parking lot. The fire roasted peppers are dumped in a garbage bag that we take home to peel and chop. It seems like a good time to talk about cutting boards.

Collected Hands Studio cutting board, wood utensils and placemat.

Safety

For many years, conventional wisdom was that plastic cutting boards were safer than wood. It turns out, this FDA guidance was not actually researched until food safety expert Dean Cliver, of UC-Davis, tackled the issue in the mid-80’s. Professor Cliver found out that wood cutting boards actually have significant advantages over plastic:

While unmarred plastic is considered easier to clean, plastic is a soft substance and will accumulate many tiny cuts with use. These tiny channels not only harbor bacteria but are extremely difficult to clean. The right woods (hardwoods such as maple and cherry) are more resistant to these micro-cuts.
Unless properly cleaned, bacteria will persist on plastic surfaces for some time. However, bacteria on wood boards can often be absorbed away from the surface by the capillaries of the wood. Once pulled down, the bacteria is not likely to return to the surface but is held below the surface until the board dries and the bacteria die.

Stovescape: Wood utensils, cutting board and salt cellar by Neal, gauze dishtowels designed by Tammy

Random pattern cutting boards in various sizes.

Care of Wood Cutting Boards

Wooden cutting boards and utensils must be kept clean but are generally not dishwasher safe. They should get a good scrub (on both sides) after each use with warm, soapy water. Do not submerge or soak the boards in water – with too much moisture the board could swell and warp. Stand the board in an upright position to allow it to air dry on all sides. Another common cleaning technique is to rub the board with a lemon, cut in half and sprinkled with course salt. The salt acts as a mild abrasive and the lemon’s acid works as a disinfectant. This treatment should be followed by a quick wash with warm, soapy water.

Collected Hands cutting boards are finished with a mixture of food grade mineral oil and beeswax to protect the wood. Similar commercial finishes, such as Howard Butcher Block and Cutting Board Oil, can be re-applied once a month or so to maintain the finish. In time all cutting boards (wood or plastic) will show signs of wear. Wood cutting boards can be restored to their former glory with a little elbow grease and sand-paper to remove the marks. Please contact us if you would like details on the process.

Handmade for your Kitchen

Collected Hands cutting boards start with beautiful woods: domestic maple, cherry and walnut, sometimes accented with ethically sourced exotics such as padauk or African mahogany. The “random pattern” cutting board is one of our most popular products and is available in various sizes. We also make more regular patterns such as the two-toned checkerboard. Please contact us if you would like to discuss a custom size or pattern.

Neal’s cutting boards can be found in our Albuquerque brick and mortar stores or in our online store.

References:

A copy of Dean Cliver’s article (with full references) can be found on https://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infcuttingboard.html

Fast Facts About Cutting Boards and Food Safety in Your Kitchen, Matt Shipman, news.ncsu.edu

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Posted on August 9, 2020May 20, 2021 by Tamara Wenderlich

My Dream Car

My Favorite Car

My first car was an old Ford Galaxy that I bought from a friend of my brother’s. After I paid cash, my brother and his friend pleaded to take it out for ‘one more ride’. It came back much more broken and dirty than before. It was a ridiculously huge car. Not only did I have to sit on a pillow to see past the hood, it was a gas guzzling, high maintenance nightmare. On the day of its final breakdown, I pulled it into a median, called my mom to pick me up and then told my parents, “Just leave it there, I never want to see it again.” I have no idea what became of it, but it started me on a lifelong dislike of cars.

At one point in my adult life, I did have a car that I truly loved: a new Volkswagen Beetle, white, with a black leather bra embroidered with flowers. It was cute and comfortable. Then, one day it was creamed by a lady in a giant SUV who had decided to run a red light despite the fact that I was already stopped in front of her. Albuquerque really does have the WORST drivers. That car did what she was supposed to do to protect me but she couldn’t be repaired. I actually cried – and vowed I would never love another car again as long as I drove around these parts.

I do admire the restored old farm trucks or vintage vehicles – especially those with a vibrant paint job. But, I don’t have the patience for that kind of hobby. So, these days when people start talking about their dream rides, my response is usually, “Meh. I just want a car that starts when I say ‘start’ and stops when I say ‘stop’.” Fancy cars mean nothing to me.

And then .. I see the cute tractor puttering down Rio Grande Boulevard and I think, “Yeah, that’s what I’d like to be driving!” Probably a green one.

Product Gallery

As with all of my “character prints”, my vehicle art is generally available in wall art, cards, pillows, tote bag (pockets) and 7″x7″ quilting squares.

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Posted on July 27, 2020May 20, 2021 by Tamara Wenderlich

Our New Favorite Restaurant

2020 has proceeded like a bulldozer through our lives. But, we tend to be the kind of people that look for a silver lining rather than wallow in unwanted change. One positive outcome of Covid life is that we now spend a lot of time in our kitchen. The benefits are tangible: the food we prepare is healthier and less expensive. Our kitchen is not only our favorite new restaurant, it is our break room and conference room. It is literally the center of our house.

Layout

Our kitchen is large and bright, but oddly shaped and lacking in a practical space for a farmhouse table. I think a table was supposed to go in the window bay. We tried that when we first bought the house but I found myself constantly squinting at the morning sun. Our solution was to tuck a small table under the center island so we can spread out onto the island if we need extra room. Then, I put a houseplant jungle and cozy reading chair in the window bay – the perfect spot for an afternoon coffee and sketching session.

Afternoon coffee and sketch break featuring “Dia De Los Muertos” (fabric basket and blanket) and “Mass Ascension” (pillow).

Coffee Station

Coffee is a big part of our day. I prefer dark coffee in the french press – so thick you could almost stand a spoon in it. Neal likes his coffee considerably more tame. Since we don’t have a lot of upper cabinets, Neal built the gorgeous shelves to organize our favorite mugs, teas and sweeteners. The white countertops are great for reflecting light but easily show the coffee station mess so a stack of wiping towels is essential!

Balancing the Overwhelming Whiteness

I’m not a huge fan of the white cabinets because of their tendency to show dirt. But, I do like the natural brightness of the room. I find the best solution to toning down all that white (and hiding some dirt) is to tuck colorful placemats in here and there. Bonus: on cleaning day, I can change the color scheme with new placemats. As with our business, we mix the warm wood with the textiles throughout our kitchen.

Placemats

Living with Old Appliances

Most of our appliances are close to 30 years old and they all have their issues. The gas stove igniter hasn’t worked in years, so I use a lighter. The oven door leaks and the microwave occasionally loses its mind. I worry about the planned obsolescence of modern appliances so I don’t want to replace them unless I absolutely have to. I have learned to live with their quirks and I surround them with colorful textiles to hide their age.

Dressing up the oven door with dishtowels. L-R: “Tangerine Stars“, “Sunbeams“, “Traffic Jam”

Functional Beauty

Our kitchen may not be the perfect embodiment of our “less is more” ideal, but we working on it. Over time, we are replacing clutter with functional beauty. While we are having fun exploring recipes and fine-tuning our cooking chops, we will also continue to do what we can to support our favorite local food-based businesses. For the foreseeable future, we are sticking with to-go orders and curb-side pickup followed by a picnic in our kitchen. And, grocery delivery is my new normal. All that time saved driving around and shopping can now be directed at reading old cookbooks in my cozy chair with a cup of coffee in a mug made by a friend.

Dinner salad featuring Collected Hands salad tongs, trapezoid salt and pepper shakers and cottonwood lazy Susan with “Traffic Jam” placemat and “Sunbeams” dish towel.

Snack break featuring a Collected Hands cutting board and jam spreader and “Roadrunners on Desert Rain” cloth napkin.

Ahhh. Covid life.

Posted on July 20, 2020May 20, 2021 by Tamara Wenderlich

A Custom Conversation Table

Most of my custom projects begin with a client sending me a photo with the message “Can you build me something like this?” As was the case for this project – a financial advisor was remodeling his office and wanted a conversation table for meeting with clients. He originally sent a picture of something that was multi-level so that he could stack important papers and brochures.

After the initial contact comes the conversation to glean project details. I learned that not only did Keith want something with the right look (interesting, modern, clean) but it had to fit in his office comfortably with room for chairs and up to 3 people. Sometimes the table would provide an inviting seating and discussion area. Other times it would be used to spread out papers. We decided together that instead of fixed shelving levels, we would design a table that could easily be reconfigured from multi-level to single flat level.

Once we had agreed upon the concept, I worked on detailed design drawings and electronic product mock-ups to flush out the desired shape. As we circled in on the organic “bean” shape, I built a cardboard mock-up and took it to Keith’s office so he could get a feel for the size of the table in his space. The mock-up also helped us determine the best height of the table so that people could comfortably reach for a cup of coffee or sign a paper. Our final decision had to do with the type of wood based on the desired color and figure of the wood grain that worked well with Keith’s other office furnishings.

Here is a view of the finished product:

From the close-up, you can see that the top “bean” simply rests on top with padded feet. It is heavy enough to remain in place but very simple to tuck it under the table if maximum surface area of the main level is required for spreading out papers.

I hope you will agree that the finished product is visually stunning as well as highly functional.

Posted on July 17, 2020May 20, 2021 by Tamara Wenderlich

Wood Shop Tour

When we were young, we went furniture shopping for our first apartment and were pretty quickly put off by the high cost yet cheap quality of what we saw. At some point, I thought, “Maybe we should buy some tools instead.” Thus, a hobby was born. I started with a handful of tools in my garage. In 2002, I realized my dream of building my own workshop.

My Process

I am strongly influenced by the 20th century American Craftsman ideal of surrounding yourself with things that are beautiful as well as functional and durable. I have designed some standard furniture pieces, including a collection accent tables, that highlight my design aesthetic.

In addition to my standard designs, I also love to work closely with clients to design and build heirloom-quality furniture that meets their individual needs. I will consult with a client to discuss needs, measurements and wood preferences then I design on paper. Once the client and I agree on the final design, I will start building.

And, if I’m lucky, I get visited by unicorns while I work.

Posted on August 11, 2017May 20, 2021 by Tamara Wenderlich

The American Craftsman Movement

The American Craftsman Movement and its Influence on our Work

A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brains is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist. – Louis Nizer.

Fresh out of college in the mid 80’s, fueled by two decent jobs, we set out to furnish our first apartment. Our expectations weren’t high as we both came from middle-class backgrounds. Wood, we thought, sturdy and easy to clean (we already had 1 cat). As we went from store to store, what we found instead was mass produced laminated junk held together with glue. Once in a while, we’d come across something that felt like ‘real furniture’ but the price was way out of our comfort zone. Neal finally suggested we buy tools instead and then we poked around bookstores for inspiration.

stack of woodworking books — Woodworking and furniture building books we have collected over the years.

At first, we were attracted to Shaker styles. The slender tables and chairs had simple lines and were easy to understand, not overdone. As Neal’s skills grew, however, we started to consider furniture that had a bit more of a presence in a room. We found ourselves slowly pouring through books featuring American Craftsman masters such as Gustav Stickley and the Greene brothers. These books featured jaw-dropping furniture but discussed an entire way of life: properly designed homes and fair employment for the builders. And, so, we dug deeper.

Craftsman Roots: The English Arts and Crafts Movement

The American Craftsman movement is rooted in the English Arts and Crafts movement which started in the mid-1800’s. The English Arts and Crafts movement has been described as a rebellion against the excesses of the Victorian Age and industrialization. Thought leaders such as William Morris (1834-1896) and John Ruskin (1819-1900) were champions of the working class. They advocated the honesty and integrity of the craftsman and the sustainability of handmade versus factory production. Eventually, the movement was a victim of its own success. Embracing a strictly handmade policy resulted in furnishings that were priced way outside the range that a working person could afford.

cherry and walnut bookshelf — Craftsman style bookshelf of maple and cherry designed for our granddaughter.

Handcrafted and affordable

The American Craftsman movement started at the end of the 1800’s. The American Society of Arts and Crafts developed a credo that emphasized respect for workmen and orderly, restrained design. American masters applied harmonious design to the home, furnishings and landscaping. A cornerstone of the movement was that it should be accessible to the middle-class. Craftsman bungalows were designed to embrace a housewife preparing meals and the family gathering for casual dining. These bungalow designs were available as affordable mail-order catalog kit homes in the early 1900’s. My grandparents, working class survivors of the Great Depression, had one in New Jersey. I still remember the smell of the oak trim in the dining room and the awesome staircase with little stained glass window.

This mission style oak credenza was originally designed to be executive office furniture for Tammy. It has been repurposed to storage of our barware. The lamp and standing frame are also our designs.

Adapting the craftsman Style

We were immediately hooked by the photos of bungalow homes in harmony with their furnishings and gardens. At first, we studied designs in reprints of old craftsman furniture catalogs. We were primarily drawn to the bungalow style of Greene and Greene and the mission style of Roycroft and Stickley. After a time spent trying to reproduce these designs, our own aesthetic started to emerge. We went back to that idea of balance: balancing form and function, building furniture that fits in our home and that suits our lifestyle. The size of our designs are scaled back so they are moveable and fit our narrow rooms. We also balanced the sturdy, boxy shapes tapered legs and interesting angles. We add interest to common building materials such as cherry and maple with accents of exotic hardwoods. While we tend to use neutral textiles in larger areas such as drapes and seat cushions, we love to add pops of color with pillows and throws. This allows flexibility for our modern tendency to redecorate seasonally.

Collection of our work. — Collected Hands Studio style: handcrafted home accessories. Classic wood styles, vibrant textiles.

Modern Relevancy of the Craftsman style

The American Craftsman movement fizzled by 1930 as middle-class America became interested, once again, in the more cost-efficient modern styles. Since the end of World War II we’ve seen a steady progression of industrialization: housing developments, shopping malls, IKEA stores and plastic everything. Americans are becoming more aware that this endless pursuit of cheap goods has a dark side in the loss of middle class jobs and industrial toxins. However, I see hope as the millennials bloom into adulthood. Online forums for DIY and handmade topics are very popular. Conversations about individuality vs. mass-produced convenience are taking place. The connection to our natural world is also becoming increasingly important. People want to know about the sustainability and environmental impact of the things they buy.

Photo of our work showing our style. — A sample of our current designs: a conversation chair, small table, clock and textiles.

Collected Hands Studio

Collected Hands Studio home furnishings are modern interpretations of the American Craftsman movement. We provide an eclectic blend of bungalow, mission, art deco and modern styles. We design and build our collection in our home studios in Corrales, New Mexico. Smaller items, such as textiles, clocks and keepsake boxes, are available in our Etsy store. Larger furnishings are available at local markets and pop-up shops and through our showroom by appointment. In addition to ready-made items, we love working directly with people to design beautiful furnishings to meet particular needs. Our items will certainly cost more than items from the big box store but we do strive to make them affordable.

Please contact us to discuss commissions or shipping details of larger items if you don’t live in the Albuquerque, NM area. Many of our smaller items are also available in our online store.

To Learn More

Refer to this previous post for a tour of Neal’s workshop. This wikipedia article is a useful starting point if you’d like to learn more about the American Craftsman Movement.

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Posted on August 4, 2017May 20, 2021 by Tamara Wenderlich

2018 Along the Rio Grande Textile Collection

Textile Collection Inspired by Corrales, New Mexico

The village of Corrales, New Mexico is nestled in the Rio Grande river valley between the cities of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. The village, as locals call it, is part farmland and part bedroom community. You will also find a handful of local shops and restaurants but no chains. The bosque, a dense ribbon of trees that follows the Rio Grande, blocks our view of nearby Albuquerque. Rio Rancho is hidden by a tall mesa to the west. The iconic Sandia mountains shimmer on the horizon. Like most agricultural areas in central New Mexico, villagers receive irrigation water by acequias – man made canals that divert water from the Rio Grande through the farmland. It is along these acequia trails, in the bosque, that we gathered inspiration for our 2018 Along the Rio Grande textile collection.

Prickly pear and cholla cactus along an adobe wall.

Gardens

The properties along the acequias tend to be well irrigated and familiar cottage garden plants. Lilacs, honeysuckle and roses spill over fence lines and courtyard walls. But the real stars of Corrales gardens are the native high desert plants that thrive in the hot sun. Sages and pentstemon send up flowering spikes all summer long in shades of red, purple, pink and white. Bright orange trumpet vine and delicate silver lace vine provide thick fence line coverage and food for hummingbirds and bees. Chamisa spends most of the year looking like an ordinary, muted desert shrub then erupts into cascading golden branches in the late summer. Prickly pear cactus and cholla cactus gather in the un-irrigated areas.

Prickly pear, chamisa and cholla cactus along a wood fence.

Wildlife

Wildlife provides a constant source of wonder and amusement. Coyote can often be seen trotting casually along the trails but will quickly disappear into a field if a human gets close. Bunnies are everywhere. Comical roadrunners run along fence tops, stopping every few feet to fluff their feathers. And silly quail dart across the trail in groups, changing direction several times before they decide where they really wanted to go. Coopers hawks lurk in the trees and blue-tailed lizards scurry on garden walls.

Pillows based on Corrales prints. — Corrales print pillows available from our online store.

Architecture

Geometric motifs can be found in both local architecture and tracks on the sandy acequia trails. Adobe is a common building material in New Mexico. These naturally insulating earthen bricks are used to build houses, churches and fences. Another popular fencing method uses rows of latillas – long, narrow timbers with the bark left on – stacked tightly together and wired to a fence frame. Tracks along the trails are made by animals visiting the acequia for water – racoons, skunk, rabbits, ducks and porcupines. The mesmerizing trails of shoe and paw prints mixed with tractor and bicycle tracks show that these country lanes are well traveled.

An adobe barn in a filed of chamisa and sage.

Sky

Looking up, the New Mexico sky is another constant source of amazement. For most of the year, it is a dazzling azure blue with the occasional fluffy white cloud. Most of the annual rainfall comes from summer monsoons, heavy thunderstorms that build throughout the day and explode in the late afternoon. The thunder and lightening rattles windows and the heavy rains leave huge roadside puddles that become instant toad habitats. In the fall, the bosque skyline turns in to a bright gold as the cottonwood leaves change. The combination of green and gold against the bright blue New Mexico sky dotted with hot air balloons is just magical.

The 2018 Along the Rio Grande Textile Collection

The Collected Hands Along the Rio Grande textile collection draws inspiration from trekking the acequia trails. The designs blend vibrant hues from native flowering plants with the muted tones of the high desert. The collection includes whimsical wildlife and repeating patterns of overflowing gardens and rhythmic fences. Together, the collection evokes that sense of wonder – of “Hey, did you see that!” You can purchase these textiles by the yard via spoonflower.com and in completed products, such as pillows and notebook covers, in our retail store in Albuquerque’s historic Old Town. You can also visit us locally at the Sunday morning Corrales Makers Market. Please contact us to discuss customization of any design to meet your particular needs.

Click on any of the images below to go directly to our spoonflower listing:

Posted on October 7, 2016May 20, 2021 by Tamara Wenderlich — 2 Comments

Textile Studio Tour

Textile Design in the Collected Hands Art Studio

My Workspace

My art studio is located in Corrales, New Mexico, USA. This is where I sketch, paint, dye, cut, glue, print and daydream. I have tons of natural light, built-in shelves for storage of supplies and an easy-to-clean floor. It’s hardly ever this clean and often shared with dogs, cats, a house pig and grandkids. Beyond the art studio, I have a small sewing space. But, these days most of the sewing is done in a workroom at the back of our retail store. That helps me stay efficient when I am minding the shop. The shop is also a cat-free zone which turns out to be super important when I’m sewing.

My Process

My textile designs starts with sketches and doodles as well as colorful mixed media artwork such as mono prints created with a gelatin plate, stamps and stencils. I tend to find my inspiration in the natural environment of the New Mexico high desert and the vibrant New Mexico culture. I digitize my sketches using Inkscape and use the art prints to fill in the simple, whimsical shapes. A lot more work in Inkscape and Gimp to clean things up, then I organize the designs into collections and send my favorite designs off to Spoonflower for printing on fabric.

sketches of Corrales wildlife — Corrales Motif original sketches

Some days I make art and some days I make tools such as screens, stamps and stencils. And, sometimes my workbench is a mess of fabric scraps, wood pieces, paper and glue because I’m thinking up new product ideas. I do struggle to find the balance between productivity and creativity, I find lots of coffee helps.

It feels like Christmas when the Spoonflower packages come with my new designs. I like to lay them all out on the workbench and just take a minute to soak it all in. Then, I start planning production activities for my next day at the shop.