Workshop

When James Ernest created Tak, he also discovered woodworking. He needed to design and build the game’s earliest prototypes, and no other medium would do.

What started as a necessity became a new magical playground, as James crafted pieces, boards, and accessories for some of his own favorite games.

Now his obsession has produced far more objects than one person needs. So from time to time, we add some handmade items to our web store, in an attempt to get this stuff out of the basement.

We’re sure this will only encourage him.

The pieces below are handcrafted by James Ernest, in the sense that they were made with the finest woodworking machines that a game designer’s budget can afford. Everything is made in limited quantity, sometimes just one or two pieces. So if you see something you like, grab it!

A couple of caveats: We currently ship only to US addresses. Also, these items are handmade from wood. so they will have imperfections and character, and you should treat them like anything else made of wood. Except trees. Trees you should treat differently.

Lejano Game Boards

James Ernest has recently become obsessed with these unique 5x5 game boards. The design features a single color of square, separated by thin lines of a contrasting color.

Nicknamed Lejano, after the city in northwest Sierin, these boards are perfect for games including Tak, El Oso, and dozens of traditional and modern abstract games. 

Our first collection of Lejano boards features a mix of different woods, as James experiments to find the perfect process. All of these boards are unique, and they will go fast!

(Coming Soon)

Linos Piece Set

A limited run of handmade Linos pieces in maple and walnut.

These “standard” sized pieces are 4.2 cm long by 2.1 cm wide, hand-cut and lightly finished with food-safe oil and beeswax.

This set includes twelve playing pieces, a 16mm die, 25 scoring coins, and a handy carrying bag. Everything you need in a happy lil’ kit!

Leopardwood Game Boards

This is a 6x6 board for Prudh, Tak, or any other game that uses such a board. These boards are 8.25” square and just over a quarter inch thick, nicely portable while still reasonably sturdy.

These boards were made from leopardwood and birdseye maple, in a limited run of just eight boards. Priced at $85. Check them out!

Purpleheart Tablero Boards

This is a standard-sized board for Tablero di Berona, made from purpleheart and maple. The board is rougly 9.25” x 7.25” x .325”.

This item comes from a limited run of eight, and is available with or without the pieces for Tablero di Berona.

Ashtrays

A locked-in-the-house Covid project, these two handsome cigar ashtrays are cut from single blocks of wood. They are a handsome and elegant design, suitable for ashes, dice, or anything else that goes in a bowl.

More Items Coming Soon!

We are just beginning to sell real physical items. Give us a tick and let us know what you’d like to see. Perhaps we’ll add even more strange and wonderful things!