Console, sanded and stained

The console has been sanded and stained.  I need to find a good resource for lumber.  The stuff from Home Depot and Lowe's is warped and bowed.  Very annoying to work with at times.

Here it is in the entry way:

Console in progress

I had fun today figuring out how to use the brad nailer and air compressor.  I remember when my dad bought his air compressor many years ago--it was a few hundred bucks.  I got a refurbished one for about $40 or so on Amazon.com.  Since we have Amazon Prime, two-day shipping was free!

Anyway, here's the console put together.  I'm debating whether I need to add a shelf.

Breakfast bar stools

We've been needing stools for the kitchen/family room breakfast bar.  Stools are kind of expensive for what you get, and I haven't really seen any that I loved.

I found a plan on Knock Off Wood for tall bar stools, and started my first one this week.  In between my job search and working on my web development course, I started putting one together.

Here is what I have so far:

Here it is modeled by my 12-year-old:

I think this is a good height for the bar.  Here is the stool with stain:

The plans for these bar stools can be found here:

Extra Tall Bar Stool

Home projects

I'm using my hiatus from the work force to take care of projects around the house.  Things I've been wanting to do for a while and haven't had time.  Here's the first project, a pair of benches made from a tutorial I found on Pinterest, which was a knock off of a Ballard Designs upholstered bench.

Ballard Designs knock off bench

We needed more seating in our family room, and I wanted a couple of benches that would fit neatly into specific spaces.  Here's what I came up with:

I purchased legs from the Home Depot as well as Lowe's.  They are pine and were about $10 each.  I stained them with Minwax Jacobean and sealed them with a satin polyurethane:



The blogger who inspired me to do this used MDF for the seat, which I don't see how that would hold an adult.  I used 3/4" plywood instead.  One large sheet was enough for a couple of benches, plus plenty of leftovers.

Another project I am planning is this console:

This will go in the foyer by the front door.  The space is empty and we just need something there.  I'll be grouping it with a mirror from the old house and some kind of non-breakable accessories (since we have both a cat and a toddler).

Thanks for looking!

Little Ruffle Skort

I've made a few of these skorts for Charlotte.  The pattern takes less than a yard of fabric, and it's a nice way to use up larger remnants.

Style Arc Abby cardi

Finally figured out why my camera wouldn't work, so I can take photos again.  Here is the Style Arc Abby cardigan, which I got for free with my February order.