“Chap’s Choppin’ Tops started with my grandpa. He was a dentist, good with his hands, crafty and a great wood-worker. He can make just about anything with his hands from desks and tables to rocking chairs. About two years ago, he taught me how to hand chisel initials into mesquite wood. I started doing it as a hobby and one day, I made a cutting board. It happened out of nowhere- the cutting board was in constant use in College Station, people saw the board and ordered and kept ordering. Then, it was substantial enough to set up an LLC and start a company out of it.
All of the mesquite is homegrown, Texas Hill Country mesquite. I source and harvest all of my wood, looking for age, mistletoe, intense weathering, harsh winds, regrowth and healing in order to revitalize the story of the tree.
I set up shop in Fredericksburg and I’m working on a new shop out here. I market primarily to Fredericksburg wineries, San Antonio stores and pride the company on a true Texas story when marketing. All of my cutting boards are handmade, personalized and custom to the client’s liking. It’s been so much fun, especially around the holidays and Christmas time, to think of cutting boards being opened. It’s exciting that people really appreciate the natural beauty of the wood, the story behind the craft and my business as a whole.”
Story: Claire Schenken, Photos: Hannah Gibson @hannahvistaphoto
Follow Chappell on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/chapschoppintops/