Office Makeover: Part 2

I hope everyone had a relaxing Labor Day weekend. We were going to tackle painting the garage but we were predicted to get rain for 3 days so thought it was best to postpone that big of a project and work on something smaller instead. In the end, we probably could have painted the garage on Sunday and Monday because we barely got any rain and it was just on Saturday. Back in August I showed you some sneak peaks of my office makeover. Our "little" project over the weekend was to complete start building the new desk for the office area. The plan to complete the desk went out the window when we starting having equipment problems. We finally ended up going to Sears and buying a $30 Craftman Evolv jigsaw, which I have to tell you that I can make pretty straight cuts with it all by myself! So proud of that! 

All we were able to  build was the legs. I did all of the cutting, drilling and screwing myself with just holding help from my husband. We are making this desk based on the Narrow Farmhouse Table plans on www.ana-white.com. It won't be exactly like the plans as we've modified it to fit our space, our needs and the size of the pre-cut top we will be using but the plan was a great guide to build the type of desk we wanted.

*I am not affiliated with Sears or Craftsman. I purchased the Evolve saw with $30 of my own money.

Budget Book Ledge

I couldn't wait for our second wood working project to be completely done to show you. This is number 1 of several book ledges we are building for L's room. So simple and so easy! The plans are the $10 Ledges from Ana White. All you need is 2 1x4s and 1 1x2 cut to your desired length. These ledges are 35" long to fit in a short wall between a corner and a window.
I did all of the cutting, drilling, screwing, sanding and painting on this project - Cowboy just lent a hand when I needed something held.

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First Completed Build!

I have been drooling over Ana White's sight for far too long. My husband was interested but not as willing and confident to build all of the things I wanted to build. Our first project was her Spa Bench that caused lots of headaches but lots of learning. It is still sitting in the garage with it's end yet to be determined!

So Cowboy decided that I should try using the saw. Now mind you, I had never picked up a saw in my life. I watched my dad use his plenty of times but I always had to leave the workshop room when it was time for him to turn the big table saw on. I was a little nervous turning the circular saw on for the first time but we clamped a make-shift jig onto where we needed to cut and I just followed the guide. Success!! Me doing the cuts was the key to building things together!! This was our first project that we got through it without too many hiccups and without any arguing about the best way to build it!

No, it's not a fancy piece of furniture but we built it ourselves. It's a slightly modified version of Ana White's Laundry Basket Dresser. We built it to hold outdoor toys that stay in the garage so it may or may not get painted because the garage walls are unfinished. We used 2 - 1 by 2s screwed together instead of the metal angle. The basket on the bottom we just chose to sit on the bottom. We also put it up on small plastic wheels we picked up at Menards to keep the bottom dry plus it will be easy to wheel it out to clean behind it.

Power tools!!

My sewing machines have been wondering where I've been and this time it's because I've been in the garage with power tools!! And working a LOT but the power tools are more exciting. Can't wait to get some pictures after I do some more sanding and a final coat of paint. I've been working for a non-profit for the past couple months and while it's rewarding and a very good cause, it is taking up way more time than I originally had thought it would. Can't wait to show you my new found love of using a saw!