About us

Peter at work

Peter Brulé of Brule.Design

In October 2021 while vacationing with some friends, we played cards and board games.  Many years ago, my father made a board game for each of his children. Our family had hours of fun.  He called it Aggravation.  It was made of thick solid oak with golf tees for pegs.  Each player used a playing card to count their move.  The board and the box with six decks of cards was heavy to carry around.  I said to my friends “As a retired graphic designer, I should design a small travel size 4 player board.”  I began that moment to come up with ideas.  My design would use dice to count and beautiful metal pegs.  I spent hours, days, weeks creating different designs.  The design everyone liked the most was this one.  I researched different methods of applying the design to wood.  Dozens of prototypes later, I found the best method was to apply a dye sublimate transfer to a laminated board.  I carefully selected some Baltic Birch.  I made a travel board for each of our children and some close friends.  Then I got the idea to design a 6-player board.  My friend, Adam Dunits, commissioned me to make 2 heirloom boards for his family.  One, my six-player game on a 30” live edge Ash oval and the other, a custom designed Cribbage board on a matching live edge oval.  Everyone encouraged me to sell my boards.  So, what started as a hobby and passion is now Brule.Design.

In March of 2020 I was a public transit worker.  I had read that the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) was recommending everyone wear face masks to protect themselves from contracting this virus called COVID 19.  My employer was not yet supplying us with masks, so I searched the internet and found a YouTube video tutorial on how to sew a multilayer cloth mask.  I modified the design, so it fit my face better.  I selected sport wicking fabric to be against my skin because I wore my mask 10+ hours a day.  I made almost 200 masks from shirts, blouses, dresses, and skirts.  I had customers on my bus offering me fabric to make masks.  I gave a mask to anyone who boarded my bus who didn’t have one.  Several people asked if I would sell some to them.  I said that I would accept whatever they felt the mask was worth to them.  I donated all the proceeds to the Ottawa Food Bank.  I learned how to sew.  Christmas of 2021, I made custom aprons for each of our children, their spouses, and our grandchildren.

After making the board games, I decided to make a cloth pouch to keep the board and the pieces together for traveling and storage.  Because I didn’t like the pegs and dice tossed in a bag, I explored different materials and came up with the Dice & Pegs Holder that ships with every board.

Every board is lovingly handcrafted with hours of care for detail, design, cutting, drilling, sanding, printing, and finishing.  Every pouch is sewn and stitched with attention to detail.  The Peg & Dice Holders are designed to keep the pieces together and protect the board are precisely cut by hand.  The Dice Rolling Box is designed to look good and to be functional.  It too is handmade by me. 

These beautifully handcrafted board games look great on coffee tables and on display for everyone to enjoy.

Now that I have retired as a public transit worker, I spend my time turning this passionate hobby into a business. 

More board designs are being developed. They will be revealed ...

The birth of a new board game and logo

 

Acknowledgements

To the following people and organizations for their help along this journey, thank you so much.

    • My wife Geneviève for her support and confidence
    • Our children for their encouragement and help
    • Mariève Harrison for her social media support
    • Nicholas Richer-Brulé
    • David Eavis Translations
    • Larry and Debbie Benson
    • Mark Veaudry for his innovative mind
    • Adam Dunits
    • Joe's Sport Barber Shop
    • Miller-McConnell Signs
    • My friends at the Ottawa Tool Library
    • Derrick Smiley at The Wood Source
    • KJP Select Hardwood
    • Sprintology Canada