From a Rough Sketch to Your Counter

How a spark of an idea became a set of acacia cutting boards unlike anything else — and everything I learned along the way.

Every product has an origin story. For StellaGene’s first collection, mine starts in August 2025 — with a big idea, a modest dream, and some truly questionable Photoshop work.

I had been thinking about this concept for a while: what if cutting boards didn’t have to live in a drawer or tucked away behind a cabinet door? What if they could sit on your counter the way a beautiful set of books sits on a shelf — organized, beautiful, and ready to use at a moment’s notice? The more I thought about it, the more I believed it could become something real.

So, I did what any determined, design-loving, mildly overconfident person does: I opened Photoshop and put my pen to paper, or at least some text on a page. The mock-up I sent out to suppliers was not exactly polished — but it communicated the heart of the idea. Three acacia cutting boards, standing upright, their spines etched with titles like books on a shelf. From the Garden. From the Farm. From the Sea.

Finding the Right Partner

I reached out to a handful of suppliers with my rough concept, and a few came back with samples. What I was looking for wasn’t just technical ability. I also wanted a partner who understood the vision, who would push back when something wasn’t right, and who would take as much pride in the result as I did.

One supplier stood out. From our very first exchange, it was clear they were invested. They weren’t just executing a spec; they were asking questions, sending options, and genuinely engaging with the problem. That was the beginning of a relationship I’m incredibly grateful for.

The Back-and-Forth of Getting It Right

What followed was months of image sharing, sample reviews, and detailed conversations about every dimension of the product. Sizing of the boards. Placement of the spine text. Depth of the etching. Curve of the edge. Whether the groove should run horizontal or vertical. These decisions feel small in isolation, but together they define whether a product feels considered or compromised.

We went back and forth on the wood colors more than anything else. Acacia is a living material — its natural variation is part of what makes it beautiful, but it also means no two boards are identical. Learning to embrace that, to celebrate it rather than fight it, was a turning point in the design process.

The Spine That Started Everything

The etched spine is the soul of this product. It’s what makes a cutting board into a conversation piece — what turns “where should I store these?” into “I want everyone to see these.” Getting the engraving right required just as much care as the boards themselves. Font size, letter depth, finish — we tested multiple options before landing on something that felt timeless rather than trendy.

Seeing the three boards together for the first time — From the Garden, From the Farm, From the Sea — standing upright in their holder, each a slightly different tone, each with its spine glowing in the light, was one of those moments I’ll always remember. All those months of back-and-forth had led to something genuinely beautiful.

Everyday Beauty, Everyday Function

These boards aren’t just décor. They’re meant to be used — for chopping vegetables, slicing herbs, breaking down a fish fillet. The acacia is dense and naturally antimicrobial. The surface is smooth and kind to knife edges. And after years of use, a simple oiling brings them right back.

That combination, something beautiful enough to display and functional enough to use every day, is what StellaGene is all about. I never want to make products that people feel too precious to touch. The whole point is that they live with you.

The Box Is Part of the Product

I knew early on that the packaging had to live up to the boards. When someone receives a StellaGene product — whether it’s a gift for someone they love or a treat for themselves — I want that unboxing moment to feel like an event. My supplier worked with me to show me a mockup of what this box looks like in 3D before we went to print.

The box was designed to look like acacia wood. It’s warm, it’s substantial, and it immediately communicates that what’s inside is worth caring about. Inside the box, you’ll find an insert that’s two-sided: a personal thank-you note on one side, and care instructions on the other. Because a beautiful cutting board deserves to be cared for properly, and we want to make sure you know how.

Watching It Cross the Ocean

There’s something humbling about watching a product you’ve invested yourself into move through the world without you. I received photos of each stage: the finished boards stacked on pallets, the quality inspection of every single piece (yes, all 500 pieces in this initial round have been hand inspected), the loading onto the truck. I had my hand in every part of this process — and the logistics partner who helped navigate the journey from factory to fulfillment center became another relationship I deeply value.

Watching the shipment tracker, knowing those boards were on a container ship somewhere in the Pacific, was a strange and wonderful feeling. Months of work, condensed into a series of GPS coordinates, making their way to me.

The Relationships Behind the Product

I could not have done this without the people I have met along the way. My supplier didn’t just make my product — they helped shaped it. Their craftsmanship, their patience, and their willingness to be a true creative partner elevated this collection beyond what I could have achieved on my own. That relationship is one I treasure and intend to build on for years.

The same is true of my logistics partner. International shipping is complicated. Having someone who understands the details — the product inspection, the shipping documentation, the timelines, the contingencies — and who communicates with care and clarity made an enormous difference. I went from anxious first-time importer to someone who feels confident navigating the process.

StellaGene is a small brand. But the network behind it is full of people who believe in doing things well. That’s the foundation I’m building on.

What Comes Next

The boards are here. They’re beautiful. And I am so proud of them.

This is just the beginning of the StellaGene story. I have more ideas in the works — products that carry the same commitment to quality, the same attention to the details that people actually notice, the same belief that the things we use every day deserve to be beautiful. I can’t wait to share what’s coming.

For now, I hope you’ll give these boards a place on your counter. I hope you’ll use them, love them, and maybe think of me a little every time you reach for them.

Thank you for being here at the beginning.

— Jen

Shop the boards on Amazon