Another Recycle Project. Router Bit Storage Cabinet

Again, I've decided to make something that would make me happy.  I love organization and can't work unless everything is organized.  So when I was thinking about what to do with all my scrap wood I decided I would make a cabinet to hold all my router bits and accessories.
I didn't have a plan so I had to plan as I went.  I wanted at least two drawers and enough space for all my router bits and future router bits.  This cabinet is the perfect size for me.  To make the groves in the sides of the cabinet for the drawers and the bit shelves I lined the sides up on my work bench and clamped them together and used a 3/8 straight bit to make the groves.  This worked out perfectly because all my groves lined up perfectly.  I did however have a few errors in my calculations so I only have 3 router bit shelves instead of the 4 I had planned on.
Here are some pictures of my cabinet.  I did not paint and it's not perfect but it is perfect for me.  :)

Up-Cycled project, small parts bin organizer

About 2 years ago I purchased a small parts bin organizer for my garage.  I used it to hold all my nuts, bolts, screws and nails.  I paid about 24.99 for it and it really was a worthless bunch of junk.  If I needed a bottom bin then I had to take all the bins on top of it off and half the time I ended up playing pick up nails, screws, bolts and nuts!  So I finally did a bit of cleaning yesterday and I had an old drawer that I used to hold paint junk.  Not a really good solution because like any drawer, you can't find anything you need when you need it.
So I decided that this old drawer would make the perfect cabinet for my parts bins....oh the idea went swimming through my head.  I marched out into the garage this morning and got started on my new project.  A project that was for me!  Something I really wanted so I was so excited.  With a little less than 1/2 sheet of 1/4 inch plywood left over from the hutch project, a drawer, a good length of left over 1x12 that I glued a 1x6 to to make wider and some other left over bits and pieces I made myself this wonderful parts bin cabinet.  No I didn't paint it...and I didn't make sure each door was exactly the same size and I had to cut off a bit of the front of each bin...BUT I AM SO HAPPY about this project that I could just have a big ole garage cleaning party! <wink>

New Project "China Cabinet"

Do you want to see what I'm making now??? Here it is, all I have left to do is make the bottom drawer and the doors, the doors will be glass pane doors. Then I can paint it! I was thinking of robin egg blue with antiquing...what do you think?
Well, I'll post more pictures soon.  I'm off to make my Christmas cookies, I'm running out of time for the cookie exchange...and then I have more stockings to make for the guild...I am so over extended that it is just plain crazy around here!

With doors, bottom shelf support and decorative bottom skirt complete... drawer is sitting on top at the moment. Have to put slides on the drawers. Will work on some more tomorrow I hope.

Okay so here it is with the drawer in, the bottom shelf is completed. All I need to do now is sand, paint and distress then put on drawer pulls and door knobs... Yippee all most done!
I'm going to paint this in robin egg blue and distress with a dark ebony....I'll show you when it's done...so excited.

The last few days have been burrrrr cold, so painting was out of the question. Instead of painting I decided to give carving a try...well it's not perfect but I carved a Fleur-de-lis with some scrolls across the drawer. You'll see it soon because I might be able to paint this weekend. Suppose to be in the 70's a couple days....Let's hope so, I'd sure like to get this piece finished!

Can you believe it...the first layer of paint on...need to hand sand then antiqued and seal and I'll finally be done with this monster!

as hard as I try I can not capture the antiquing that I've done on this piece.  I used a dark ebony to antique it.

Can you see the carving in the picture above?  It's more apparent in person.

You can slightly see the antiquing on the sides in this image.  I'm going to get the glass and the baskets for the bottom shelf today....this piece is nearing completion... Yippee!

And Finished!

Handmade distressed writing desk

Here it is, I finally finished this little gal today!  Took me 5 days on the finish to get it just right.  You can't see the finish in these pictures so much but it matches a piece I purchased at Star Furniture.  The grandma's attic collection.  The top is done in a mahogany satin finish.  I added the hardware to the top so that it would stay up when you open it.  This was a fun project and I think I'll be making a few more of these.  If you haven't tried wood working then you really should.  If I can produce something like this then so can you!
Here are Ana Whites plans:
http://ana-white.com/2012/05/plans/stair-leg-flip-top-console-table

Ceramic painting not just for kids.

 Here are pictures of my Ceramic projects.  These are all dry brushed.  The Nativity set has 14kt gold accents.  This Nativity set is a large set; the tallest piece being around 9 inches tall.  The little barn I made using old fence pieces.  I love Nativity sets.  It is amazing how paint can bring a ceramic piece to life.

Hempstead 2012 Quilt Show

Me and a friend of mine went to the Hempstead quilt show.  Here are my favorite quilts.

This little piggy pig pot holder

Pig Potholder!I'm part of a group called Secret Sisters.  We send out a little love each month and on birthday's and sometimes "just because".  I've had this SS for about 6 months now.  I try to hand make something each month for her.  This month I made her a little pot holder and sent a movie, pop corn and candy so she could have a movie night with the kiddo's.  I had never heard of Secret Sisters before and am so pleased to be a part of something that puts a smile on someone face.  That unexpected little surprise in the mail, well I love it.  Here is the pot holder.  She posted she loves it so much she wants another one so off I go to try and recreate this thing.

You can get this pattern at http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/home-decor/this-little-piggy-potholderpot-holder/113428

Bon Appetit Rustic Kitchen Island

So as you must be able to tell by now that I'm a glutton for anything crafty ..I can't get enough.  And I probably make something most everyday.  My mind is always ready to tackle something new.  I found this plan on http://ana-white.com/2012/07/easy-kitchen-island and wow she has tons of really cute plans that I intend on making some more of.  I decided against the wheels on this one and I didn't take pictures of the whole process as I should.  I also added corner block on the inside to attach the top rather than the given instructions.  I used oak for the corner block so that this piece would be sturdy for many years to come.  I used all pine and this thing is one heavy mama!  I hand painted the Bon Appetit onto the front apron, that was sure time consuming but I think well worth it in the end.  What do you think?

Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits

Ingrediants needed:
1 Stick of real butter cubed
5 tablespoons shortening
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl and then sift. Add the butter and shortening and using a hand held pastry blender cut the butter and shortening into the flour mixture until the butter bits are about the size of peas. Place the bowl with the flour mixture into the freezer for 30 minutes. Once butter shortening and flour are frozen take out of the freezer and create well in the center and pour the buttermilk into the center. Stir together until just combined. Flip onto a surface to knead together until it forms a loaf that holds together (kneed 3-4 times). Flatten the loaf into a sheet 1/2″ thick and cut biscuits. Re-kneed leftover dough to form more biscuits. Place of a cookie sheet. Brush the tops with heavy cream. Place into a pre-heated 450 degree over for 5 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 400 for 10 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

My baby is all grown up.

It seems like yesterday that this wonderful little baby came into my life.  He has been the blessing from God I never deserved.  I often wonder why I was so blessed with such a wonderful son.  I hear so many horror stories of the terrible twos, the crazy teens etc. and I never lived through any of those things.  My son has never given me an ounce of pain.  The only pain I have ever felt was when something went wrong in his life, such as his divorce.  I cried for days and didn't want to get out of bed as if it were happening to me.  I'm still heart broken about it.  He's moved on and is doing great!  He's met a wonderful girl who he's been dating for almost a year now. He's bounced back but I haven't...weird huh?
Now my baby is going to purchase his first home, can you imagine...(I am sure you can)  I am so over the top excited for him and so is he.  He started looking and today went on his first couple of home viewings and invited me to go with.  I feel like I am the luckiest mother in the world.  He visits me at least once a week, and now he's asked me to come along to help him find a home.  I can tell you this, I do not deserve it.
I am so proud of him, he is so focused and worthy.  I pray he finds something like he dreams of....
Not sure why I needed to post this but I did.

http://www.adventure-journal.com/2011/02/25-awesome-hearts-found-in-nature/

A new discovery Yonder Way...

Even though I'm not fit, and I never diet enough or get enough exercise I do try to only eat whole foods.  I like to get organic and natural where ever and when ever possible.   I figure out how to make things like beef stroganoff hamburger helper but all from scratch using the best ingredients I can get my hands on.  I joined a organic vegetable co-op a while back and have been enjoying the heck out of it.  I also am growing my own veggies as you can see from my picture below.  You might be able to talk me into making you a couple of these counter height gardens, you never know.

I have found a few farms that sell organic, all natural meats from grass fed free roaming farm animals online and have ordered from a couple and have been pleased so far.  But to my surprise I found a local co-op delivery for Beef, Pork, Poultry, Eggs, Raw milk etc that is like almost walking distance from my home.  I am so excited about this and have placed my first order for pick up on the 16th.  I've ordered eggs and raw milk and cream along with my meat purchase.  I am so lucky to live in an area where I can get these things.  Even Costco's carries organic flour and sugar!  I feel so good about the food that my family is putting into their bodies...we are so abundantly lucky!
Here is the website for ordering and local pick up.  Look at the calendar for local delivery locations.
http://yonderwayfarm.com/

Your Heritage is important.

Sometimes I wonder what things were like for my ancestors.  I read about the American Indians, I watch documentaries but really these only give the bits and pieces.  I know my tribe was a peaceful people, and I know they did some extraordinary things with what they had.  They were spiritual people and made the most of the land.  Because I wanted to bring some of my heritage into my life I've learned how to hand build pottery and also how to weave.  I love both of these crafts and when I sit down to do either one I imagine what it might have been like for my ancestors.  What I mean is...the weavers and pottery makers were important to the tribe, thought highly of.  Today artisans aren't really held in such high regard even though if we didn't exist this world would be so boring...<S>.  Because my core being is artistic and I couldn't live without having this creative outlook I often ponder how it would be to be important because of  this gift from God.   
About 12 years or so I decided to be a part of keeping the art of weaving alive.  I decided to make and offer some weaving tools at very reasonable prices to help with the start up cost of this beautiful art.  I think I have managed to help 100's of people begin their journey with weaving.  I go by the name Handywoman in my shops, I have a shop on Etsy and Ecrater I also have my own website and a few other less busy sites.  But I also love to weave!  I don't get the time to weave often but I love making scarves and dish towels. Once I have that loom warped you'll find me sitting in front of that loom till the warp runs out!   For Christmas I looked up the tartan pattern for my husband's family name and designed scarves using this pattern.  I made a scarf for his mom and dad and his brother and sister In-law. Not much more trouble to make four as it is to make one, I just warp the loom with enough warp to cover it all.  Here they are on the loom and also some of the weaving tools I make.  Hope you enjoy seeing my creations.