Artist ~ Barry Rubenstein ~ Coventry
Artist’s name: Barry Rubenstein
Shop name: Barrysboxes.com
Facebook: facebook.com/barrysboxes
Instagram: Instagram.com/barrysboxes
1. Tell us about your work.
I design and make wood jewelry boxes and related items from exotic and domestic hardwoods.
2. Is there a story behind the name of your business?
Not really. In the age everything-on-line, I kept it simple and easy to remember, Barrysboxes.com.
3. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter/designer?
About 25 years ago I began woodworking and made most of our home furniture. I retired 3 years ago and branched out into designing my own lines of jewelry boxes.
4. Where do you draw your inspiration?
Nature is my inspiration. You can see it in my "Windswept Collection". That line of jewelry boxes has an abstract tree growing up and over the box and lid. Other examples of nature's beauty in my work can be seen in my wrist watch/eyeglass boxes. The design is simple yet elegant, and the lids catch your eye where I use spalted maple. Spalted maple is partially decayed maple; during the decaying process Mother Nature lays down exquisite and totally random features in the wood. To make them stand out even more, every box is velvet lined.
5. What’s your favorite item to create?
The "Windswept Collection".
6. What’s your best seller?
Both at craft fairs and in my Etsy store, the best seller is the wrist watch/eyeglass box. I make it in two sizes and three designs.
7. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I've lived here 19 years.
8. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
I was born and raised in New York City and have lived in Philadelphia, Albany, and Rhode Island. The quality of life in Rhode Island surpasses all of them.
9. Favorite place to take out-of-towners?
Beavertail State Park.
10. Any advice for new/wannabe makers?
Make what makes you happy. Think of new designs, especially before you fall asleep! Your mind is clearest at that point.
11. Please include anything else you’d like to add:
I also incorporate torriefied ash in my designs. This is ash which is heated in a vacuum for about 20 hours; the process caramelizes the sugars in the wood and turns it from cream colored to very dark brown. Love the look. I've started using reclaimed American chestnut as well. In the 1920's a fungal blight from Asia attacked the American chestnut and today it is almost extinct. I use reclaimed chestnut obtained from dismantled barns, factories, etc. The patina gives these boxes a distinct look. I also attach brass plaques to these boxes, describing where the wood came from.
Shop name: Barrysboxes.com
Facebook: facebook.com/barrysboxes
Instagram: Instagram.com/barrysboxes
1. Tell us about your work.
I design and make wood jewelry boxes and related items from exotic and domestic hardwoods.
2. Is there a story behind the name of your business?
Not really. In the age everything-on-line, I kept it simple and easy to remember, Barrysboxes.com.
3. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter/designer?
About 25 years ago I began woodworking and made most of our home furniture. I retired 3 years ago and branched out into designing my own lines of jewelry boxes.
4. Where do you draw your inspiration?
Nature is my inspiration. You can see it in my "Windswept Collection". That line of jewelry boxes has an abstract tree growing up and over the box and lid. Other examples of nature's beauty in my work can be seen in my wrist watch/eyeglass boxes. The design is simple yet elegant, and the lids catch your eye where I use spalted maple. Spalted maple is partially decayed maple; during the decaying process Mother Nature lays down exquisite and totally random features in the wood. To make them stand out even more, every box is velvet lined.
5. What’s your favorite item to create?
The "Windswept Collection".
6. What’s your best seller?
Both at craft fairs and in my Etsy store, the best seller is the wrist watch/eyeglass box. I make it in two sizes and three designs.
7. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I've lived here 19 years.
8. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
I was born and raised in New York City and have lived in Philadelphia, Albany, and Rhode Island. The quality of life in Rhode Island surpasses all of them.
9. Favorite place to take out-of-towners?
Beavertail State Park.
10. Any advice for new/wannabe makers?
Make what makes you happy. Think of new designs, especially before you fall asleep! Your mind is clearest at that point.
11. Please include anything else you’d like to add:
I also incorporate torriefied ash in my designs. This is ash which is heated in a vacuum for about 20 hours; the process caramelizes the sugars in the wood and turns it from cream colored to very dark brown. Love the look. I've started using reclaimed American chestnut as well. In the 1920's a fungal blight from Asia attacked the American chestnut and today it is almost extinct. I use reclaimed chestnut obtained from dismantled barns, factories, etc. The patina gives these boxes a distinct look. I also attach brass plaques to these boxes, describing where the wood came from.
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