One of the more interesting aspects of these products is the real and imagined stories behind this wood. Whether the wood comes from a turn-of-the-century home, or the early 1800's, it's natural to start imagining what life might have been like. I'm often asked about the actual histories and how I learn about them.

The reality is that each time I source wood, it's unclear what will be possible. Some information can be learned from the wood itself: was it hand-hewn? Does the milling look rough or more refined? Is it quarter-sawn, which is a more involved milling process suggesting a more affluent customer? Are there hand-forged nails? These all help figure out  hints on the family and at what point in the house's life the wood was used. Notches, angles, signs of horsehair plaster, thicker beams, and tongue-and-groove milling help suggest how the wood was used.  

State and town historical sites sometimes identify the property and its owners. That information, coupled with Ancestry and other genealogy sites, digitized newspapers from the 1800's and 1900's, and other online sources can help tease out the people and stories. Even when there are knowledge gaps, any information - including of the neighborhood or an owner's ancestors - can become interesting points to ponder.

Sometimes there are dead ends. But there have also been barrel-makers, sea captains, grocers, grain merchants, and early real estate speculators among others. Regardless of occupations and bygone eras, there are similarities with our lives today: they had hopes and dream, failures and setbacks, triumphs and tragedies, loves and losses, and laughs and tears, all while watching their lives and the lives around them unfold. 

Each purchase has a card with a summary of what is known about the history. As each new load of wood is different, those that revealed enough secrets have a longer document that is written up. This can be emailed to a customer. It can make for interesting conversation and a small but good moment in the arc of your own lives.

Invented by a British soldier as a tweak to a game called "Noddy", it came to the colonies and was particularly popular in New England. As sailing expanded and whaling led to multi-year expeditions, cribbage was a perfect game. It required only two people, was quick, and men could pass time carving boards from resources such as whale bone or walrus tusks. Given New England's and Cape Cod's maritime and whaling history, it's unsurprising that cribbage would be a local hit.

These cribbage boards are two-player boards, although teams allow for four players as well. Three-player boards can also be done upon request. They're made from antique wood reclaimed from places such as a sea captain's house, a farmhouse near one of the Cape's many harbors, an old general store, or a barn. They're all on antique wood with the character preserved and nautical artwork added, such as a compass, an anchor, a folk art whale, and other options. The origin of the wood is noted on each piece. These can also be hung when not in use, to feature as a piece of local art if desired.

If someone buys a house on the Cape and rewards themselves with a charcuterie board with a Cape Cod image on antique wood from a house in the same town, it’s easy to see why that would be a fun present for themselves. Similarly, if someone gets married on the harbor and is given a large serving tray with a compass rose, dock cleats for handles, and name, date, and location added to the artwork, it’s a unique gift that they can continue to appreciate over time. But these products are also intended to maximize the little moments, too.
 
It can be easy to recognize the big events like a move or a marriage. But what about the end of a tough week, the small victory at work, a family member coming to visit, or reconnecting with a spouse over a homemade romantic dinner?

​The charcuterie boards, serving trays, cribbage boards, and most other things I create are made of antique wood, often from the 1800’s. I’m sometimes asked why I use it, given the time spent tracking it down, efforts to repair it, trying to keep prices low, and the added challenge of painting on an uneven surface. The short answer is, “because it’s so important to the product itself.”
 
New England Good Life’s products started off with reclaimed pallet boards. But the antique wood soon became a critical piece of the artwork. For example, a piece of wood from the 1860’s that was part of the wall of a porch was used to make several trays. Yes, it required time and effort just to find the wood. But this piece easily illustrates why antique wood is so meaningful.
 
Several days of repair were needed to make use of as much of this wood as possible. The original piece had witnessed so many days of families and friends sitting on the porch. They likely had plenty of laughs and probably some tears over the course of countless conversations. Pieces of their lives and relationships unfolded on that porch. Those lives ended long ago and became largely lost to history.

​The main focus of what is created by New England Good Life is functional art. This involves having something that is both visually interesting and that is interactive. In fact, functional art central to why these pieces are created in the first place.
 
There are countless versions of beautiful artwork to be found. But sometimes when they’ve been hung on the wall long enough, you can walk past them and they start to become more invisible. Functional art, on the other hand, is something that serves a purpose. You interact with that art. People engage with it.
 
Serving trays, for example, are made so that they can be hung on the wall when not in use. You can admire them when you walk past. But when you have that dinner party, they can become a focal point. The trays can serve up dips, cheeses, or glasses of wine. And they can become their own story, allowing you to share your discovery, why the compass rose spoke to you, and the fun of using it over time.