Saturday, March 31, 2012

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:


Friday, March 30, 2012

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

Thursday, March 29, 2012

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!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

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.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

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.