We design and craft single-handed beverage and appetizer plates from cherry, mahogany, maple and walnut hardwoods. We design images of landmarks and flora and fauna of New England which we have engraved on them. We also design vector graphics for custom engraving on the plates, from images submitted by clients in a range of formats. The plates are 100% handmade in Rhode Island by the founders and owners of the company. We use a long time vendor to do the actual laser engraving.
A neighbor, Bob Barrow, and I designed the plates on a dare. He ran a company that made top of the line Windsor chairs and I had spent 40 years in finance. We had both retired and were at a party where we couldn't eat and drink comfortably. The question was: could we design a tray that would be light enough to carry for more than 10 or 15 minutes, and that wouldn't look junky. He and his wife got the idea when they went to Italy and saw people using artists palettes for hors d'oeuvres. Perferct ergonomics and classic design. All we needed was the right material. We tried ceramics and plastics. But wood was far and away the best. My niece, Allegra -- a fabric artist -- joined us in 2022 and brought the drawing, design, vector graphics to the the plates. She also did the QC for finishing. She is now responsible for production and customer service as well as the QC and engraving businesses, and is part owner. She will be the majority owner of the business. Over 90% of our revenues come from onsite sales primarily at boat shows and art shows. We are members of the Hotpoint Emporium Artists Collaborative in Bristol RI and were admitted to the prestigious Foundry Holiday Market this past December.
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