First Order of Business

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! This past week we completed our first order of business!!! Friends of ours were enamored with our Farmhouse Benches(plans found here) that they "ordered" one for their table. Ok this was like months ago that they ordered this. But you know, because of work and family scheduling was difficult until this past weekend. The way this bench turned out is AH-mazing!! It's giving us bench envy lol. We want to scrap ours and build ones like these. We changed up a few things. First, we used 4x4's instead of two 2x4's on the legs. The we used a 2x12 for the seat and cut it down to size instead of using four 2x4's. This allows for less cleaning. No food escapees in the cracks. They purchased the top portion for about $45. It's Number 2 pine. Alle the other wood we had on hand(I believe).

Here is the 2x12x8 cut down to size and being sanded.

My husband did a nicely rounded edge.

Hubbs using a 20lb. weight to keep the wood in place a add pressure while waiting for the wood glue to set on an end apron. 

When you don't have a workshop or a real garage with proper equipment, then you have to be inventive.

Another piece drying.

Legs, feet(the hubbs) and aprons

Applying more aprons

Lylian riding Maddalaena's trike.

Ok onto the staining. This was an awesome opportunity for my friend and myself. I had never stained with stain and poly in one. And she is new to this DIY stuff(me too :)). So we both learned something. One, this stuff dries fast. Two, it's really HARD to apply even coats. Three, no real need for wiping, but we did anyway. And Four, use a staining brush to a foam brush.

The stain on the Douglas Fir legs. It's gorgeous isn't it? And this was one coat. She did three.

This is the frame next to one of her dining room chairs. We were trying to match this color.

The underneath of the board top. 

Minwax's PolyShades in Tudor Stain. I LOVE this color after a few applications!

Second coat on top!!

It's beautiful. That's all I can say. The bench itself was gorgeous, but now with the stain...it's like they were meant for one another, like my hubbs and me, or like chicken and dumplings! They are so good.

Here is the pretty much finished product. She sanded a little and added one more coat of stain.

And just some humor for your day :)

So any locals looking for some furniture? My hubbs is turning out to be quite the woodworker wink wink :).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Whew!! I have NOT been on here in a looong time! How's everyone's new year going so far? Any new resolutions? Break em yet? I have a decent set of resolutions. Well I have a set that I'm imposing onto my wonderful husband Richard. Hehehe. This year we have resolved to be more frugal with our spending. I'm a shopaholic. There, I said it and admitting it is the first step to recovery right? 

To start, we will be tackling the mess that is our home. Yes, believe it. The ENTIRE thing is an unorganized mess. I can't find things to save my life. So first order of business is the closets. Cleaning them out, refolding all of the blankets towels and whatnots. Then the cabinets and drawers in the bathrooms. Hair ties and brushes don't stand a chance of surviving in those pits of despair. Then the kitchen. That we just won't even talk about.

During all of this, my wonderful hubby will be building me custom made furniture. I mean like everything in the house will be solid wood. He's done the coffee table. It just needs to be sanded, stained and lacquered. Next, is a bookcase. It's tall, about 6' and 39" wide. I know right??!! I'm already excited! After those comes the computer desk, dining room table and benches, our bed frame, nightstands and dressers. Then a cabinet for me to cure my cold processed soap in. I know it's a lot. But the goal is to have these things done by the time we transfer.

What our table should look like when finished.

The pile of wood that cost $40 including getting it cut at Home Depot

Richard putting up the legs

Building the frame

The frame and legs finished

All puttied up

Angled shot

Hubby's new tool: Rigid Orbital Sander sold at Home Depot

 See we're also building up his man scape. By buying tools every time he's about to start a new project. At the end of this month he'll be getting a new drill. His other one died.

That's basically the latest info. I'll be posting pics as each project becomes finished and I'll have a detailed account of the drama behind it all. Keep checking back for more updates. Next I'll be showing off my Julep Mystery box!!! I received about $120 worth of product for $19.99. I know totally amazing!!!

Love,