Cabinet project

Pretty sure I bit off more than I can chew on this project.  I've worked very hard the last two days.  My legs are so sore from constantly being up and down.  My whole body is sore.  I've made over 100 pocket holes (the slanted hole for hidden screw joinery) and I'm just now to the "hard part."  So here is a play by play...frame of 2x2s half built...

 Frame finished....

Board for drawer fronts and doors cut.  Got the doors put together.

Whew!  getting that top on was a job.....cause the corners and boards weren't exactly square.

 Figured out several ways to make things work.  Clamps are a must.

 Played with stains....decided on special walnut.

 This Kreg tool is 'da bomb for making pocket holes....

 One side going in....

 This is how the doors and drawers will look when the hardware is installed.

Making progress. The plywood pieces are in.

 On one board the grain goes horizontal.  To get all the plywood pieces out of only one board, I had to cut it like that.

 PLENTY  of mistakes were made, but that is how I learn.  Forgot to check the size of the nails in the nail gun. Oops.

 That's better. Nice and level.

Some of the problems I had to deal with were because of the imperfect boards.  However, if you are going to use the cheaper stock lumber from Lowe's or Home Depot, this is what you have to deal with sometimes - warped boards.

Ran out of the 1x6 boards, so decided to end the day with a little stain.

There are three different types of wood on this project so it will be very 'rustic' due to the imperfect wood and the different way each wood takes the stain.

The doors are just leaned against the frame below.  Just wanted to get a visual of how it is going to look.

Only one minor injury today. Honestly, I don't even remember doing this.

Tomorrow I plan to take a break on this project.  I'll get back to it on Monday and hopefully I'll have some ideas of how to get those drawers built and mounted, and the doors hung.

Cold MLK Day

It was a cold, cold day and a good one to stay inside.  I admire those who were out celebrating the life of Martin Luther King. "The time is always right to do what is right."

I celebrated at home sewing, decorating, and enjoying the day.

First up, I finished the sewing and quilting on the new Plus quilt.  Just need to do the binding.

I've really enjoyed making these quilts.  It's always fun to make one using nothing but scraps and stash.  Not too long ago I began adding some curtains and shades to some of our windows.  I am really liking the look.

 I've also been changing up the master bedroom a little and wanted to soften the look by adding the sheers in that room too.  Here is the before curtains.

 And here is after I got one set hung today.  I really love the difference they made.  :)  It is subtle but so nice.

 Jesse, the one-eyed kitty, also enjoyed staying in the warm house today.  He wanted to go outside but each time we opened the door, he got a sense of the cold and turned around. Nope, not today.

 My son and family are currently in Oxford.  He was invited to be a guest lecturer. Yes, this momma is proud of her son.  They were able to do some sightseeing while there, and visited The Eagle and the Child, the restaurant where famous authors such as J. R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis would meet to discuss their writings.

Working tomorrow and dreading getting out in the frigid air.  Brrrr.....

2020 is Here

Hard to believe we are in the year 2020.  I read the other day that we are as close to 2050 as we are to 1990.  Crazy!  So, I have a lot of things planned, but first wanted to document some photos.  I've got the "twins" dressed for a new season...

 I've got a finish for the new year and this little pattern is addictive.  I've already started another.  And all from scraps, which is the best kind of quilt!

Like the quilts on the twin beds, these will be a boy and girl version that I will eventually use for gifts or donations, if I can part with them.  :)

I think I've finally got my wild yeast sourdough bread down pat!  This was a boule version. It is now to the point where I only feed it once a week.  I split a 1/2 cup out on Friday evenings, feed it, then feed the mother and put her back in the fridge for another week.  The part split out will make bread for that week....or rolls, or muffins, or cinnamon rolls, etc.

I also have a woodworking finish to start the year.  The hubby got me a jig saw for Christmas so I made him a fishing rod storage rack.  Hopefully we will get it mounted on the wall today.

He has a two week fishing trip coming up and I've been wanted to build a console table to go under our TV.  I found this plan and have decided to make it.  Eek!  it is really out of my building comfort zone as I've never done drawers and doors.  It is a faux printmaker's cabinet.

 It has three drawers at the top and three doors, that look like small drawers, on the bottom part.  Jen Woodhouse www.jenwoodhouse.com build the piece in 2012 (if you don't follow her, and you love wood working, you should!).  She asked Ana White (of DIY fame, another one to follow) to write the plans.  They are free on her website, www.ana-white.com

 This piece from Restoration Hardware, below, is the inspiration for the piece.  It will set you back over $1600.  I think I can build it for about $300 in supplies.

I found this pic on Ana Whites website of one someone made.  They adjusted the height some, but isn't it beautiful?? I love the texture of the wood pieces....and her pulls!  I can't find these pulls that are not crazy expensive so I decided to go with the small black cup pulls like in the inspiration picture above.

Stay tuned....I hope to have this baby build in about 3-4 weeks.  I won't start until the hubby is out of the garage....

I'm still running to prepare for a half marathon.  I am signed up for one in Cambridge, England with my daughter in law, but right now not for sure I will go, since I made a visit just in December.

I'm experimenting with the decor in our master bedroom.  It needs some work.  I also plan to paint an old dresser while the hubs is away.  I picked up these two lamps yesterday.  I'd love sconces but the bed is so big and sits away from the wall enough that it wouldn't be comfortable to turn them on and off.  I thought about putting these on the night stands but they fit fine on the headboard.  Not sure if I'll keep them.  I have plans to put up curtain rods and sheers so I'll see how that looks before returning them.  I actually like them a lot, but the hubby doesn't like change so he is.....not a fan yet.

 So this morning I am sitting drinking some hot tea and enjoying the views around me. I don't know what it is but it really does bring a smile on my face to decorate our home.

I'm one of those people who get my energy and peace from being at home. Hope you are enjoying your space as well, or if you are one of those who gets it from being around other people and out and about, enjoy your day as well!