With the end of the year approaching I’m a little nostalgic. I keep thinking about last month’s trip to New York City and the question asked of me over and over,” Why are you here?” At first I’d answer in my most practical Midwest way,” I’m on vacation! Yay!” but then realized what was really being asked: What was my purpose (as in aspirations and determinations)? And so this refreshingly grounding inquiry came home with me to Chicago and is still on my mind.

Three years ago I started this site and it’s grown slow and steady. Often I wish to progress Ashes & Milk faster, grow it bigger, include more artists and their work, photograph artwork in amazing ways like Ditte Isager, increase sales through more aggressive marketing and restock sold-out pieces for all of you wonderful people who write asking me for more. -Perhaps I will give you just that, minus the fast part. Please bare with me because the truth is, I’ve always taken life slow to savour its details and in turn can promise to stay true to what this project is all about.

With all this said, I’m really happy to introduce to you the newest addition to Ashes & Milk, Geoffrey Lilge who created a collection of hand-crafted Wood Serving Boards.

Above are a few of Geoffrey Lilge’s Walnut Serving Boards. Each piece is a unique functional object fashioned by hand from a single piece of wood.

The story behind the creation of these boards is sweet and born out of love. Geoffrey sought to find the perfect cutting and charcuterie boards to outfit his wife’s restaurant. After about 4 years of prototyping and restaurant testing he came up with these beautiful simple solid wood boards.

A sneak peak of Geoffrey’s warm and inviting studio.

[ Be sure to check out the entire colleciton of Geoffrey's Wood Serving Boards
at Ashes & Milk. ]

[ For those of you in Canada, see Geoffrey's boards in action at Culina and Highlands Kitchen Restaurant. ]

The moment I laid eyes on the work of Anya Jindrich my heart beat faster and I knew her jewelry would be a wonderful addition to Ashes & Milk. Her pieces are hand-carved and designed to bring out the natural quality of each type of unique wood. Reclaiming bits of wood from other artisans, Anya’s method of sourcing her materials embodies the idea that “a lot can be created from very little.”

With all that said, I am so happy to announce that Anya created a very small and magnificent collection of her wood jewelry especially for Ashes & Milk.

Above left, is a collection of  Arrow Necklaces made up of a variety of woods. On the right, is a sculptural piece called Ebony Crescent Necklace.

The beautiful Anya Jindrich is at work in her studio (photographs courtesy of Leslie Williamson).

Nikko I’d love to talk a little bit more about your process of creation and what influences you and your work. Would you mind sharing these things? Could you tell me where you source the wood that you use. Does each piece have a story behind its design?

Anya Since the pieces of wood that I use are small, I am able to use offcuts from other woodworkers. I received a box of tiny offcuts from my dad that is full of beautiful and unique pieces. I just look through the box for a piece that sticks out to me and then I try to come up with a shape that might compliment what already exists in the wood. For one commission the customer supplied me with lilac wood that he wanted his jewelry made out of. I also find inspiration and ideas through my husband. He is a guitar maker, and we share our little shop space. We enjoy exchanging ideas with each other. I guess what actually got me started making jewelry was a pair of earrings that he carved for me. I always received a lot of compliments when I wore them, so I decided to make another pair to sell.

A pair of Ebony Earrings in the making (photograph courtesy of Leslie Williamson).

Nikko You mentioned that you are going to school for furniture making. Would you show me a sneak peak of some of the work you are doing along these lines?

Anya I completed the nine month furniture program a little over a year ago. Currently I am focusing on making jewelry. I enjoy the creative and meaningful process of working with my hands. I use knives and files to carve and shape each individual piece.

Above left is a stool that Anya made by hand. I just love the detail of the joinery in the middle image. On the far right, Anya is carving out joinery by hand only (no electric router).

A special thank you to the exquisitely talented Leslie Williamson who so kindly gave me permission to use her photographs.

[ Check out the full collection of Anya's hand-carved wood jewelry at Ashes & Milk. ]