My name is Robert LeHay, and I handcraft Shaker-style boxes in a small shop at my home in Embden, Maine. It’s a quiet place—woods, dirt roads, and few distractions. I’ve been doing this work since 1993, but the path that led me here started long before that.
I grew up building houses with my parents and brother—living in the bottom half of one while we finished the top, then selling it and moving on to the next. When my brother joined the Navy, our family's focus shifted to antiques. Some kids might’ve grumbled about weekends spent at auctions or yard sales, but I enjoyed every moment. There’s something satisfying about discovering a piece that was used and cared for over many years—something built by hand and made to last.
After serving in the military, I returned to Maine and started helping my parents craft Shaker-style furniture. In 1993, I visited the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village and learned to make Shaker boxes. I’ve been making them ever since.
Nowadays, it’s just me in the shop. I mill all my lumber on-site—from maple, birch, ash, and quartersawn pine—to ensure top quality from the beginning. Every box is handcrafted using traditional methods, fastened with copper tacks made on original 19th-century machines, and finished with milk paint, natural dyes, and tung oil. There’s no automation, no outsourcing, and no assembly line—just small-batch woodworking, done start to finish by one set of hands.
Many of my customers are antique collectors, needleworkers, quilters, and other craftspeople—folks who appreciate the feel of something real, not mass-produced; finishes that improve with age; and the care that goes into a piece made one at a time. These boxes have always been tools—used for sewing supplies, recipes, kitchen ingredients, and more—but they also carry a simple, lasting beauty.
I no longer accept pre-orders. Everything I make is listed for sale only once it’s finished and ready to ship. This method keeps the shop running smoothly and allows me to explore new ideas—often including a few surprises in each batch. I typically release about 150 pieces every couple of months, which are announced through my newsletter and social media a day in advance.
That said, I always welcome your input. If there’s something you’re hoping to see—especially for a special project or occasion—feel free to submit a request or send me a note. I track these and try to incorporate them alongside my other work.
The Shakers believed in building what they needed, doing it well, and letting the work speak for itself. That’s the mindset I try to carry forward. If one of my boxes ends up holding your craft supplies, cherished recipes, or a keepsake that matters to you, I’m proud to have played a small part in that.