Some shanty sawhorses

My new sawhorses! [7.29.12]

I bought these sawhorse brackets at Hardware Hawaii about 2 months ago, and as you can see, they've been sitting and collecting dust.

As I was checking one of my favorite blogs ( http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2012/07/my-shanty-sawhorse.html ), I saw that Ashley had just made herself some sawhorses, using the same pieces I had sitting in the garage waiting for me. Her post was just the kick in the rear I needed. I took a little while today to work on them and they turned out great. I'm so excited to be off the garage floor! And, it only cost me 21 bucks and took me about an hour, plus some time to dry that I used to pick up the disaster I have happening in my garage. (My brackets were 5.99 a set, and I used 3 2x4s at 8 feet, plus some scraps. All of you on the mainland can totally build them for cheaper, things just cost more here.)

I choose to make mine a little taller so I would NEVER have to bend over a project again. I cut my 2x4s up, making 8 pieces 34" and 2 pieces 28". The 34 inch pieces are the legs and the 28 inch pieces were my top. Then I just screwed them all together. (They say to nail, but I don't nail or glue anything big because I know it's all going to have to move. I know I can always take screws out and put things back together wherever we end up next.) I left out the screws on one side of the top so I could still fold them up and slide them next to my new table saw. Yes, I just said my new table saw! My parents gave me a Rigid 4512 table saw for my birthday, and I love it so much. It is so quiet and smooth! Here's a pic of my new beauty.

Back to the sawhorses...

I loved Ashley's yellow, and I just happened to have enough yellow paint left from my pallet table and chairs to make my sawhorses yellow too! For the sake of time, I skipped the pattern today, but it might be coming soon. I don't think I can resist for long.

Here's the sawhorses folded up.

Thanks for the inspiration Ashley, to get a project finished and make it super cute!

And I got rid of a paint can too. Since we're always moving, I try to keep my liquids to a minimum. That's really hard to do when you're a crafter, builder, diy-er, but that's a lot of money that we'll eventually have to donate or throw away.

Copycat Pottery barn shelf

I had a customer who wanted this,

but not at the $400 price tag (ouch!) And we all know how hard it is to find quality decor on this island without paying an arm and a leg.

So I decided to recreate it.

I got a few 1x4s, a 1x6 and some crown molding and went to work. Just like I am with every project, if I had to do it again, I would do it differently. I think it's going to be a little difficult to hang...

I basically just built a 3-sided box out of 1x4s, put the 1x6 on top, built another 3-sided box (a little smaller) and put it on bottom. I added one more 1x4 on the very bottom to give it a finished look.

Then I added crown molding where the boxes joined together.
Here's a picture of it while I was working on it.

Here's my version, just finished in my garage. I can't wait to see it on the wall and decorated!

[7.25.12]

I primed, then painted the whole thing dark brown. Waited patiently (or not) for it to dry, and then layered on white and sanded it down between coats to distress. Finally, I sealed it with two coats of flat sealant.

UPDATE:
Here it is hanging in her house.

Problem solving

I have this notion that if I create enough sources for information around my house, my husband will stop asking every time he needs something. Of course, that notion is incorrect, it is always going to be easier to ask me than find the solution himself, but I can't seem to stop making projects to help the situation anyway.

That is the source of my menu board, extremely organized (and labeled) pantry, hall closet, closet, and laundry room. And the source of my newest project, a magnet for the dishwasher that tells if the dishes inside are clean or dirty. I'm not holding my breath that it will stop the questions, or better yet, make sure he puts the dishes in the dishwasher, not the sink, because "He wasn't sure!," but it's cute nonetheless.

Clean or dirty dishwasher magnet. [7.14.12]

O is for ocean

I just finished two projects, one big and one little. Both are very beachy. Thought I'd share.

Set of three wooden seahorses. [7.12.12] 

Bistro table and tall stools. [7.1.12]

The table plan is from Ana White, and the stools I kinda made up. I wouldn't do it the same way next time. But I always say that.