And man, I have I fallen hard.
Yes, I'm a fickle lover. One week I'm all a flutter about fabric and sewing, the next I've been wooed by a can of paint.
This week my heart belongs to lumber and power tools. I've had a flirtation going for a while and finally took the leap. I've stalked the Ana White site for months, building pieces in my mind. It was over a year ago that I asked for a Kreg Jig for my birthday. I used it to join some boards together and made my own headboard. I love my headboard and am proud that I made it, but it wasn't until this past week, I really built a piece of furniture. I went to Lowes by myself, purchased the wood, and with very minimal assistance, I built a coffee table.
Because of the wonderfully generous Ana White and her clearly written plans, I was able to build something I think is pretty cool.
Those X's are the one area I had to suck it up and ask for help with. They are cut at 60 degrees, an angle I can not reach with my miter saw. My cousin cut the ends at the proper angle and I was able to finish the rest.
I followed the plans exactly and finished it with the same vinegar/steel wool oxidizing solution used and explained in the example built by Hilary of The Friendly Home. I was unsure of how to finish it, but in the end went with a wax finish. I used one coat of clear wax mixed with a little dark wax, followed by a coat of liming wax and finished off with a final coat of clear.
It produces a silky finish that feels so good.
Is it wrong to say I kind of love it? I do.
It isn't staying though. I built it as a gift for my bff Kelli's son. He is graduating from Flight School and will be returning home as a helicopter pilot for the National Guard, so the table is a graduation/house warming gift.
It cost around sixty dollars for the wood, the other materials I already had. I can't even tell you how happy it makes me to be ale to give a gift that came from the heart, is useful, and was within my budget.
In case you are wondering about the waxes I used, they were all different brands.
I purchased the SC Johnson (clear) wax at Lowe's or Home Depot, don't remember which. The Liming Wax by Briwax was from Amazon and the Fiddes and Sons (dark wax) was ordered online as well. They are a little pricey but a little goes a long, long way.
Thank you for those who have kindly checked in on me. I am good, just not feeling the blog vibe lately. My house has had some pretty major changes since I last checked in here. I'll be back soon to share. Pinky promise.
