Community Brag Posts

I have a friend who makes beautiful quilts. She's been doing this by sitting on the floor to cut her fabric and plopping her sewing machine on a wobbly folding table. When she decided to turn her guest room into a dual purpose sewing/guest room she asked me to build her something that would fit into a niche under her dormer window.
The built in table has two large drawers for sewing notions and is supported at the back by a shelving unit with adjustable shelves. She plans to store items that she seldom uses here. They will be accessible, but out of the way and barely visible when she has guests using her room.
I suggested that I also build Anna's sewing table for small spaces so that she use that as a night stand when not in use as a cutting table.
I usually don't finish projects I build for others - I'm just not good at it! But, my friend asked me to put a finish on it. She picked out the Minwax polyshades product, and I have to tell you that it was a nightmare! (You can read about that here: http://thewidowsworkshop.blogspot.com/2012/06/lessons-learned-again.html)
I ended up using a stripping product to remove that finish. The final finish, just a stain and rub on poly, turned out beautifully!
Installation was also a challenge, but using brute force - and a hammer! - I was able to fit it between those very out-of-square walls!
She's happy, I'm happy to be done!

I modified the plans so the top was 2 ft x 4 ft, more suitable for a college student like myself. I also used a full sheet of 3/4 MDF and used that for the top as well as all of the 3/4 plywood pieces. MDF was much cheaper but next time I would spend the extra money on plywood because the MDF cracked a bunch and was not as easy to work with. Thanks for the plans!

My version of the 8’ Grandy Barn Door Console. I made it deeper to accommodate a sink that we haven’t put in yet. It was so fun building again. I haven’t built a piece of furniture since high school. Thank you for your amazing plans!

This was my second project ever, so I know it is far from perfect, but I am so happy with it. It is super useful since I have 3 little kids that are so far the only grandchildren from both sides of the family and I have the impression that toys come to our house to reproduce.
I made a mistake on choosing the stain for the top, and had to adapt to what I wanted, but I kinda like the end result, although it is more formal than what I had wanted at first.
It is a gloss mission oak, from miniwax.
I built this without the Kreg, but I have bought one since, so my next project should be better!
The paint is Antique White from Glidden (DUO), distressed until my shoulders could not handle it anymore.
Building is so empowering, I am so happy I found this site! Thanks Ana for all the great work!

This build was done with all pocket holes. I used some pre-made project boards for the top and joined them with pocket holes and glue. Also I used all pine for this project. The chairs are just old chairs from my previous table. Stained with special walnut and finished with semi-gloss poly and finishing wax. I rubbed and buffed the finish to get the nice shine. This project took a while because I decided to let the poly cure for about a week before finishing and placing in my dining area.

Was super simple to make. Got our bookbags out of kitchen chairs. As suggested in plans we used 2x3. Its plenty deep for notebooks. Love all your plans. Thanks!!

Here are some of the outdoor projects that I do to make extra money, Adirondack chairs...adult and kids sizes....patio tables....garden benches, used old pipes for the slats!!!

This was my first project. It is for our nursery. Painted white to match the crib and dresser. So much fun. Plan was great and very easy to follow. Thanks to the other brag post which mentioned there was a missing cut for the box (bottom shelf). 28 3/4. I used countersink screws with a 1/2" countersink drill bit. I also used shelf pins to secure the shelf. With the paint I noticed the shelfs were very snug. I would probably take off 1/4" off the shelf size if I built it again. Can't wait for the next project! Thanks.

Created this as a gift for my uncle. I recycled an old pallet for the material. I used his birth date to create the ammunition shell specs and his name as the manufacturing company.  I found the vintage hardware on eBay and added a sliding shelf inside.  Lettering was created with stensils and spray paint. I distressed the lettering to match the vintage feel of the piece. 

Just built this today, very easy build. I used cedar tone treated lumber for the frame and the cedar pickets. I modified the size some, little smaller than the plans. Total material cost about $70.

This project has been one that I've been putting off for a while now. My wife was threatening to just go out and buy one so I figured it was either now or never! Our little girl loves to help in the kitchen and standing in one of our old wobbly dining chairs just wasn't cutting it anymore.

I knew that I wanted to build something that would be more like an heirloom piece of furniture instead of one of the cheap knockdown types that you see in stores. I am sure that I could have possibly come up with my own design, but Marc already had already come up with a good design in the arts and crafts style, which is my favorite style of furniture. I saw no reason to come up with a "new" design just to say I did, plus I was lazy, and Marc already had plans hahaha. In all honesty, I think sometimes as woodworkers we get in our own way trying to be "original", when at this point, it's pretty much all been done before.

I made this day bed with dividers for a friend who requested it mirror the farmhouse table. I think it turned out wonderfully! I replaced the 2x6's with 1x6's to cut down on weight since it was being fit for his 5th wheel trailer.

This is my first project and I am so happy with it! Thanks for the plans!

You can see my step by step process here:

http://ordinaryhappilyeverafter.com/blog/category/table/

I'm especially happy with how I was able to attach the top to the bottom without drilling through the top. I describe that here:

http://ordinaryhappilyeverafter.com/blog/2012/08/my-table-is-done/

Thanks for the inspiration!

Built this from a couple of the plans on here and ideas I have seen around the web. This is the very first project I did and with plans from Ana White I found it pretty easy to get through the whole thing. I built this to be bar height and now that it is done I might cut it down to be regular table height just because I didn't realize how big it would actually be. But first I will build a couple chairs and a bench to go along with it.

I needed more room, so I changed the dimensions to a 4 x 4 table.  Used the same amount of materials.  I made the side leg measurements 48" wide and the cross braces 45".  My top sheet of plywood is 48" x 48" and the bottom sheet is 48" x 41".  The rest of the leg measurements are the same. 

A little overkill on the screws, but made it extra sturdy. 

I saw this site, copied down the materials list, bought everything I needed and was finished before dinner.  I did it all myself, only had my husband cut the plywood, the rest was all me!  Woo hoo, so proud of myself!

I rough sanded the edges and corners to get rid of any splinters.

I think I Iove this bed more than my little girl. It's really a beautiful bed with lots of storage. I put magnetic closures on the insides of the cabinets to hold them closed. I also put the same applique on the headboard as Ana. I looked for a different one, but it's the girliest we could find at the time and my little princess loved it. It's a very sturdy bed. I put a week long project, but again, as I've stated before on other posts, it would probably not take nearly as long if you have help with the building or especially with the kids! When you have to stop every 5 minutes and take care of kids and home, it takes a little longer. All the building mommies out there know exactly what I'm talking about! Thank you so much, Ana, for all you do and for all of the empowerment and motivation.