Cody Lester has been a woodworker since 2012, but one day on his way into work (he keeps a day job as quality improvement analyst for the UVA Transplant Center), inspiration struck: He’d been trying to dream up a new product for his business, The Fine Grainery, that would allow him to combine mediums and add a personalized touch, and he finally got an idea. He’d make tic-tac-toe—to go.
“The thing I like most about it are the contrasting types of wood and the contrasting acrylic pieces,” Lester says. “I think the look just kind of brings everything together.”
Acrylic pieces nestle into a maple and walnut frame, with magnets to keep everything in place (good for bumpy car rides or chaotic restaurant tables). And while Lester’s 2-year-old daughter doesn’t quite understand the game yet, he hopes the pieces can become heirlooms—especially given that he can personalize them.
“My favorite was an XOXO message from a grandparent to his grandchildren,” he says. “I think that is something that will be cherished for a long time.”
