In a small Vero Beach workshop filled with the earthy scent of sawdust and the honey-like aroma of curing resin, Michelle Nevaeh transforms forgotten wood into functional art. What began as a creative escape for this former executive chef has blossomed into a celebrated woodworking practice that has captured her community’s imagination.
From Kitchen to Workshop
After years of crafting culinary masterpieces at Michelin-starred restaurants, Nevaeh found herself longing for a more tangible creative outlet. “In cooking, your art disappears the moment it’s appreciated,” she reflects while smoothing the edge of a walnut slab. “With woodworking, the appreciation lasts generations.” Her transition wasn’t conventional—armed only with a few Highland Woodworking video tutorials and boundless curiosity, she taught herself to marry traditional joinery with modern resin techniques.
Signature Style
Nevaeh’s work stands out for its harmonious balance:
Live Edge River Tables where indigo resin streams through granadillo wood like tropical waterways
Carved serving boards that make even weekday charcuterie feel special
Whimsical music boxes with secret compartments, each telling its own story
Her materials tell their own tales—reclaimed barn wood from upstate New York, exotic offcuts from instrument makers, even driftwood collected during her sailing adventures. “Every piece of wood has memories trapped in its grain,” she says, running a hand over a particularly knotty maple slab. “I’m just helping it share them.”
Community Connection
The Vero Beach neighborhood Facebook group first discovered Nevaeh’s work through a simple post showing her resin-coating process. Within days, the video amassed 12,000 views—unprecedented for the local forum. This organic support led to features at “Under the Oaks” and recognition at the Art by the Sea Show.
The Maker’s Philosophy
Though her pieces command premium prices (a single river table can take 80 hours to complete), Nevaeh maintains an accessible approach:
Offers studio visits where clients can touch works-in-progress
Creates wooden business cards as tangible introductions
Hosts occasional “bring your own slab” workshops
“People think this is about the finished product,” she says, brushing sawdust from a half-carved cheese board. “But the magic is in the making—that moment when the resin pours just right and suddenly there’s a river where there was once just wood.”
For those lucky enough to own one of Nevaeh’s creations, every meal served or coffee cup placed becomes a small ceremony—a daily reminder that beauty often lies in life’s imperfect edges.
Visitors note: Her workshop door is always open to those who don’t mind the sawdust—and the occasional appearance of Mr. Whiskers, the resident tabby quality control inspector.