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.
That is gorgeous, you did a great job!
Posted by: tricia | September 13, 2012 at 05:06 PM
Thank you Tricia!
Posted by: Autum | September 13, 2012 at 05:09 PM
Whoa Nellie! There's no stopping you now!
Posted by: Bridgette | September 13, 2012 at 06:37 PM
P.S. I just might have to tell your Bernina you're cheating on her ;)
Posted by: Bridgette | September 13, 2012 at 06:38 PM
Ha! That poor Bernina has been so neglected : )
Posted by: Autum | September 13, 2012 at 08:29 PM
Looks fabulous!
Posted by: Pine Tree Home | September 13, 2012 at 08:36 PM
Wow Autum -- that's Awesome! I LOVE that you made it yourself. Now you'll have to may YOU one too!!!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | September 14, 2012 at 08:49 AM
Thanks Anna! I definitely will be making one for ME : ) It was a mistake to bring this one inside to take pics. It took me about 2 seconds to become attached ; )
Posted by: Autum | September 14, 2012 at 09:04 AM
I am an Ana White site stalker as well. I'm curious, when you got the Kreg Jig, which one did you get? What other tools would you recommend for a starter?
Posted by: Cheryl | September 14, 2012 at 09:47 AM
I forgot to write that I am impressed with your work. Great job. I love the rustic look.
Posted by: Cheryl | September 14, 2012 at 09:49 AM
Hi Cheryl,
I got the Kreg Jig master set and I ordered it from amazon. Recently I saw in Lowe's they had the master set on sale and it came with the right angle clamp for a limited time. I don't know if that sale is still going, if so, it is a great deal.
I didn't have the right angle clamp to begin with but have since added it to my growing collection and highly recommend it.
OK, coming from a complete newbie, to get started, of course you need a drill and various screw drivers and hammer. We have a miter saw that I purchased on Black Friday years ago as a Christmas gift for my husband. It is a very basic miter saw, but I would hate to be without it.
All the tools I used are my husbands, with the exception of the Kreg Jig and my little palm sander. Here is the list of things I have stolen from him and have used in my limited list of build projects.
Cordless Drill
Circular Saw
Miter Saw
Jig Saw
Saw horses
For this coffee table project clamps were quite valuable. I used the face clamp that came with the Kreg Jig as well as the right angle clamp and regular c clamps.
I realize if I had to purchase all these tools to get started, I wouldn't be saving much money by building my own furniture, so I'm lucky that Mitch had them for me to steal. There are some other tools I'd love to have, but before that, I want to build a work bench for the garage, to keep things organized. Maybe down the road I will get a router (and learn to use it).
I watch a lot of You Tube videos to see how things are built and that also helps me visualize how the tools are supposed to be used. Then I go to amazon and read reviews on various tools. You get so much info from the reviews.
I hope this helps! If you do get a kreg jig, the picture ledges on Ana White's site are a great project to start with. Quick and easy and lets you get the hang of how the tool works.
Posted by: Autum | September 14, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Love the table and I love the tray with the rulers!
Posted by: Shannon | September 14, 2012 at 10:34 PM
Thanks Shannon! I bought the tray over a year ago at a thrift store with plans to do something like this in the bottom. It took me a while to find all the yardsticks. They aren't easy to find and when you do, they aren't cheap. Take a look at them on ebay sometime. Crazy!
Posted by: Autum | September 14, 2012 at 10:41 PM
Thank you!!
Posted by: Autum | September 14, 2012 at 10:52 PM
Fantastic coffee table ! Love the tray also ;-) - Eye-Candy !
Posted by: sabine | September 15, 2012 at 05:13 AM
Love the table! It looks great. I too have been looking at her site for years! (at least 2) and would really love to build something!
Great job. Keep up the good work! I really enjoy your blog!
Posted by: Mary Claire | September 16, 2012 at 12:09 AM
Thank you Mary Claire!
If you have a few tools, go get some wood and build something. You will be hooked. The first thing I tried with my Kreg Jig was the picture ledge on Ana's site. Just joining two pieces of wood, but it gets your little toe wet in the water of sawdust and tools. This table is far from perfect, but that's why I chose a "rustic" piece. You don't want it to look perfect. Any imperfection that is noticed, I can say I meant for it to look that way.
I had a very nice man give me some barn wood yesterday. I say barn wood, but actually it was from his great grandparents home that had partially burned in the early 1900s. Some of it had been stored in his barn so it is in really good shape, for something that old. I am so excited to have it and plan to build a new table for my kitchen.
xo Autum
Posted by: Autum | September 16, 2012 at 07:58 AM
So good to hear from you Autum:) Just checked out this website and I can see why you have been MIA. Checking out the website it wasnt more than a couple of minutes that I found something to build :)
Posted by: Shannon | September 16, 2012 at 08:46 AM
It looks beautiful! I certainly can not see any imperfections! I would love one like that for my home.
Posted by: UK lass in US | September 16, 2012 at 12:47 PM
Beautiful table! Love the style, the color, the fact that you made it, everything. It looks awesome!
Posted by: calbrecan | September 16, 2012 at 02:19 PM
Thank you so much!
Posted by: Autum | September 16, 2012 at 02:39 PM
Thank you! There are imperfections, the rustic nature of the style hides them well : )
xo Autum
Posted by: Autum | September 16, 2012 at 02:40 PM
Thank you Shannon. I just get lost looking around the Ana White site. I want to build every thing I see! Isn't she amazing?
xo Autum
Posted by: Autum | September 16, 2012 at 02:42 PM
Gosh! That is gorgeous! I would find it hard to give away. So glad to peek in on you today.
Posted by: jm | September 17, 2012 at 11:46 AM
That is Awesome! You should be proud.
Posted by: Carol | September 17, 2012 at 02:36 PM