This post contains affiliate links. We may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. Also, as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases
Where have we been?
First, let us reintroduce ourselves. We are Teri & David, and WE LOVE TO TRAVEL! Back in early 2020, we envisioned and created this website/travel blog, entitled “It’s Take-Off Time”. The idea is that we would use our travel experiences to excite readers about travel–all the while enjoying the journey along the way as much as the destinations that we shared. Well, Covid-19 had other plans for us–the travels quickly ceased due to the pandemic that swept the country, and the world. I ended up in Virginia with family for 6 weeks when it hit full force, and David transitioned to a “temporary” work-from-home position in Chicago (lasting 18 months)! When I finally made it back home to Illinois though, the real fun began!
New Business Venture is Born
Since David was home 24/7, he was able to spend more time on his hobby, woodworking. (He is VERY talented–years ago he made beautiful Windsor chairs that were actually commissioned and used in the HBO movie series, John Adams). One day he made a small board with a palm tree inlay to remind me that we would soon be able to travel again to our favorite island, St. John, USVI. It is the cutest board. I posted it on one of my St. John Facebook groups, and everyone loved it and said they wanted one too. Voila!, this is how our new business venture, Under the Palm Palms, was born.
Under the Palm Palms
We create custom, hand-made charcuterie boards inspired by our island travels! Although our inlays represent anything found “under, near, and around palm trees”, ( my favorite), we design other fun inlay boards based on the interests of our friends and family. We also produce charcuterie boards without inlays to showcase the beautiful wood patterns alone. Since we have been in business, we have expanded our products to include serving boards with or without handles, and cutting boards of all shapes and sizes. David is the real talent here, but I am learning about all the different species of wood. I do some of the sanding of the boards, and the branding (our logo on the back of each board), along with the oiling and finishing. I also make homemade board butter, which is a food-safe conditioner to keep the board healthy, and I am responsible for all the packaging and marketing of the boards.
It’s A Tradition – Bizarre Bazaar!
I have a friend who owned a part-time business–she had a very lucrative, large “booth” that she took to various bazaars in the springtime and in early December for the Christmas/holiday shopping season. Along with my sister, daughter, and other family members, we helped Mary with her booth each year. I lost track of how many years (over 20?), but I even continued this after moving to Chicago; flying back to Virginia to work during the holidays. This past holiday season we “retired” her business together, after all those years, so that she could spend more time as Gigi with her new grandson! Happy Retirement, Mary! Well deserved! We enjoyed every (well, almost every) minute working the booth at the Bizarre Bazaar!
I am referencing this because her booth gave me the idea that once the pandemic was behind us and the world opened back up, we could do something similar with our charcuterie boards. If we could get our products out for people to see, they would love and want them! Due to my experience working with Mary, I knew exactly how I wanted my “booth” to look and feel, and knew what was needed to bring this to life. (Thanks, Mary, for the experience you afforded me all of those years. It really helped shape the backbone of our business, especially refining the set-up and take-down of our booth. David and I have this down to a science now! You, and all others who worked Bizarre, know what I mean by that, wink wink!).
Farmers Market, Here We Come!
Fast forward to our country finally opening back up, and charcuterie boards with yummy snacks piled on them seem to be the “in thing” at parties and gatherings. We can officially be in business!!
Through a little research, I found out that our village has a seasonal Farmers Market each week, and thought this would be a good way to get our feet wet. We applied, and the market accepted us! After a logo was created, we began ordering all the supplies needed to have our very own booth! David and I were very happy with the way our booth turned out!
Hands Down – A Successful Season
Under the Palm Palms joined the Farmers Market half way through the season in 2021, and we felt like it was a success! We did a lot of networking, meeting new people, and showcasing our charcuterie boards. People love our boards, and they have great ideas for other boards as well. It was decided that we would take custom orders, and make what people wanted. Custom orders have become very popular, and David especially loves the challenge of bringing to life our clients’ vision for a charcuterie/serving/cutting board! Now with only a few weeks into the 2022 market season, we have already expanded our booth.
David and I enjoy seeing repeat customers, as well as meeting new faces! You can find us at the Mount Prospect Lions Club Farmers Market every Sunday, in downtown Mount Prospect, from 8am-1pm, until October 30th. We will also be at the Mundelein Farmers Market on select Friday evenings only. Come out and see us! We would love to chat about our boards!!
Travel is Back!
Lastly–we have really enjoyed our new “Covid-19 born” charcuterie board business, but our first love is and will always be TRAVEL! We have cautiously traveled during Covid, and have added to our blog series featuring St. John, USVI. However; since that trip we have traveled to Cancun, Mexico- enjoyed a Carnival cruise to the Bahamas- relaxed on a Royal Caribbean cruise to the Caribbean- and have taken our oldest daughter and her family (4 grandkids) on a 1st visit to Disney! Also, right before Covid made it’s debut, we took a very special trip to Hawaii with my parents!
So much to write about! Our board business has been our primary focus these past 12 months or so, but I feel we need to share our adventures of travel again–so be on the look-out for blog posts on the above destinations, along with more pictures documenting our travels! We will be managing and maintaining both the board business, Under the Palm Palms, and the travel blog, It’s Take-Off Time!
Travel is Back! And. So. Are. We!! Welcome Aboard, Buckle Up, and Get Ready—because, finally, again- IT’S TAKE OFF TIME!!
Join Us at Under the Palm Palms
If you are interested in our charcuterie/serving/cutting boards, we can be found on Facebook and Instagram @underthepalmpalms. Pictures are posted regularly on both. I can also be reached by email for orders or questions at teri@underthepalmpalms.com.
