WOOD ON WEDNESDAY

I enjoyed a different kind of wood building project!  I purchased the round 'tray' from Hobby Lobby and the added the piece of pallet wood to the underside so that it could anchor the tray next to me without it tipping each time I get up or down!

Then I stained and sealed the wood. 

 I have several more 'building' projects in mind

 for the coming weeks!

 

PAINTING AND KNITTING

I painted both of the vegetable beds yesterday--the day was a bit less humid than it has been so the job was more easily done! It helped to see how pretty they were turning out

 as I painted the old wood!

The sweater's colorwork is done as I race down the body now!  

I have a lab appointment first thing this morning but the rest of the day will be centered around some sewing room time!  

 

TICK IT OFF THE LIST!

When I bought thesse stools a few years ago, I wanted to make them 4" shorter but didn't know how to make the compound angle cut to do so.  Yesterday, I tackled it and it was so easy I couldn't help but laugh!   

 I fnished painting the wrought iron fence that is around the birdfeeder--I had run out of paint a few weeks ago when I started it!

The heliopsis is still blooming--it is so pretty.

  All of the flowers enjoyed the 1.5" of rain we had over the weekend!

My caladium are so full and colorful!  I love this kiind of plant because they arealmost care free!

As I knit another scrappy dishcloth, Lena had a good nap on my lap. It is hot out and I do NOT need a blanket on my lap

 but she hates 'skin' and won't sleep on my lap 

without proper skin covering attire! lol

 

WOOD, FABRIC AND YARN

The shelves and their inner frames are all glued, screwed or nailed together.  I will tackle the sanding and finishing today. 

I was given some 'crafts' and in the box was some fabric to cover tope to make a placemat-that didn't interest me but I enjoyed using the precut strips to make some blocks.  I still have one fabric to sew to the top and bottom of the blocks and it will be ready to square up.  I will combine it with some fabric from the stash to make some more blocks for a kind of I-Spy quilt.

This evening while we had a bit of rain with a bigger T-storm, I enjoyed some garter knitting.  It is a nice pattern to use gradated skeins or to use up scraps with their instructions! 

 I will be trying another one today!

LUMBER and LIMBER!

Yesterday, in the afternoon, I tackled cutting the lumber for a small floating shelf.  I did this one all on my own (except for ripping the 8' piece cuz I needed two people for that!) 

and because I had already made one with this plan, 

it went much smoother this time.  (and quicker!)

I have my notes-much like I make when I am 'building' a quilt!  

I put a cheat sheet right on the table saw!

Just like I use when I use the rotary cutter!

And then cut my pieces.

  I am still using Bill's reclaimed lumber so the next step 

is an hour of sanding which I will tackle today. 

 The shelf box is glued and nailed already--

but the inner frame support is only glued and today it will be dry enough to predrill to screw together.

The shelf I made last week is completed-stained,

 buffed and polished!

Later this week it will be screwed to the wall in the church kitchen and ready for use!  I hope to have at least one more small one made to be hung also!  NO, I am not going into business-

this is definitely a one-off job!

When I got home from quilting group-I tossed the quilt down and headed for the rest room;  when I got back, Miss Lena was in full ownership!  (see, I did finish the binding!)  

But what she really wanted, 

was some of this! 

 She is totally addicted to being brushed!  

She practically bowls me over when I head to the studio

 so she can get there and beg for a good brushing! lol 

 I hope you are smiling now!

 

GOODBYE AND HELLO!

Eli found a scrap from my wood to make the candleholder and the chunk of wood for the planter he found while on a golf cart ride with Grandpa.  He works with tools well and enjoyed the first few coats of shellac!  Patience is acquired through much practice, you know!

He packed up his bounty and we headed north to out rondevous point after church so he could go back to real life.  

What a great week with him!

Today, I will be adding the other 5 blocks 

with gray stars at Quilt Group!

 

Solutions!

I was able to find a solution to my 'peak of the roof' problem of mismatched angles!  The rest of the house glued together very easily.

This is a very old one that is being retired-but see what they did with their peak?  I found a dowel and did the same thing!

I drilled a hole for the hemp hanger and now for a spray of sealant and it will be hung out front!  

I also loaded up my SAHRR quilt top and am waiting for inspiration for quilting!

I also resurrected one end of the shuffleboard out on the pool decking!  I will be tackling the second end today, when the cement warms up a bit!

 

Exciting Mundane

First thing I will do today, is put the binding on the table runner and put it on the table in the dining room!  I sewed those borders on yesterday and even loaded it on the frame.  In no time, I was done quilting the panto and by then the sun was out and I wanted to get outside!

I puttered in the woodshop, painted the shelf that will be going up next week, I hope!

I cut and nailed some strips of trim that was never finished on the kitchen cupboards-done.

I cleaned and laundered and put in a pretty good day until I had to rest and put a warm cloth on my eyes.   Much better each day.    Once I finish the table runner today, I will make another vase!
 

Goldilocks is Quilting!

I felt like Goldilocks trying to find 'just the right size' of the blocks for the crosses!  First they were too big, then I made them too small (on the mid-left) and finally I settled on medium and they were just right!  I was able to rip out the old blocks and remake them with only a bit of fabric waste!  It just goes to show that on paper it might look right but in actuality, it can be quite different!  I'm on track now.

After lunch, I was itching for a project in the woodshop.  I wasn't feeling able to think at the lathe so I pulled out some boards for two shelves to go in my studio.  I will put some of the knick-knacks on them that had resided at the recently sold house.  I was able to rip these on the table saw, use the jig saw to round the edges and glue on the support braces.

One of the shelves is four inches longer than the other--they will be placed over the doorway-which is up very high so it will mean some ladder work, finding studs, and getting Bill to help me!

Last night, I tried to start a new colorwork pattern for mitts but the colors are too close in tone and the contrast of the pattern is lost!  I will rip it out and try something else!

First thing today, though, it is off to the doctor's to get some help for my eyes, they are still too painful-something is going on with them.  Sigh.  Too much fun.
 

Would I?!

I'm making a square bowl on the lathe!  What a great exercise!  This is the bottom.  Today I will be turning this around and scooping out the bowl portion.

This is the other half of the maple log so it , too, has worm holes.  It is so pretty to work with!

I signed and sealed the first maple bowl.  The signature is working out now and feels natural.  (I sign with the wood burner.)

I also did an hour of sanding on the table top for the drafting table.  I am not taking the wood back to original colors but removing a few decades of dust and grime!  It is smooth and polished now.

I can't wait to sit and draw out the plans for putting base boards in the house!  I have to figure out how many boards we need for each room-I am going to do it a bit at a time-I will put the miter saw to work on this job.  

I also cleaned several old tables and cabinets that will be in the garage sale-there is so much stuff, we could fill another two more portable garages!

It's hard to see, but I also sanded an old cutting board and then polished it with food-safe polish.

I have to figure out what this little table would be good for?  It is only a foot high.  Perhaps we have a piece of glass to go in the top.   

I also finished the table runner on the frame and added my other two borders on the SAHRRQ!

Today we go and sign papers to turn the properties over to the new owner.  It's good timing for us.
 

The Beauty of Wood-New and Vintage

After church and lunch, it warmed up enough for me to go in the garage and play in the woodshop.  (5 1/2" wide and 1 1/2" tall)

The Maple bowl is finished--it is thrilling to make something beautiful.  This bowl was finished way too quickly!

Here is the size of the split log the bowl started as; I can't wait to try another one, I have a fun shape in mind for this one.  First thing tomorrow-well after it warms up again, I have a project to finish since the tool I needed arrived Saturday.

Bill discovered this drafting table in pieces, filthy and covered in cobwebs.  Thankfully, there were no living insects to deal with!

The wood drank the Howard's Feed 'n Wax but it immediately brought the beauty of the wood and metal back from its doom!

The elbow grease paid off and this is indeed a thing of wonder!  The label (in the center of the top horizontal brace) which says it is a Hamilton wood goods, steel goods, Two Rivers, Wisconsin, made in the USA.  A quick search on Ebay says that it is selling for $900-$1000.   New ones sell for $675.

Bill had hoped to get at least $50 at the garage sale!

  Now I have to decide to if I will sell it or to keep it!

It is really a thing of beauty 

and history just oozes from every inch!  Sigh.

I started a pair of socks with the little lacy insert....it is calming.