Morristown woodworker to demo “Board Certified: The Craft of End-grain Cutting Boards” at NCJW West Morris brunch Nov. 9
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Morris County) — Hobbyist woodworker Bob Small of Morristown, a retired IT professional who has designed and built furniture and built-ins for his renovated home, will share his techniques for crafting end-grain cutting boards during a talk and demonstration at the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), West Morris Section Paid-up Membership Brunch on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m. The event will be held at a private home in Morris County.
Small began making cutting boards from leftover scraps of his woodworking projects; after the pieces drew rave reviews, he started producing them in earnest about a year ago and now also takes commissions.
Speaking about his approach to woodworking, Small says, “I am inspired by this quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: ‘In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away.’ ” He notes, “What I enjoy most about this work is the constant opportunity to solve problems: Try the simplest thing that might work and is this good enough for now?” Small’s design aesthetic emphasizes elegance through simplicity and the principle that form follows function.
His presentation, titled “Board Certified: The Craft of End-grain Cutting Boards,” will cover topics including grain orientation, food-safe woods, and the “unlimited design possibilities” of end-grain work. He will also demonstrate, step by step, how end-grain cutting boards are made.
Annual membership in NCJW, West Morris Section is $40. Checks may be mailed to NCJW, West Morris Section, P.O. Box 533, Mt. Freedom, NJ 07970. RSVPs for the brunch and program may be sent to gmw1227@aol.com.
NCJW is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates that turns progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW works for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. More information about the West Morris Section is available at www.ncjwwestmorris.org.
