A Spool of Beauty

Out on a morning jog I found 2 old wooden spools. I looked them over, connected loosely with an old metal rod, and continued on my run. I played them over and over in my mind, "could I do anything with it?" And this is somewhat the image that came to mind. I knew my in-laws were needing a new coffee table for their downstairs to better match the media center I had built them 2 years ago. So I put to work before Thanksgiving (I know this is quite a belated post) to have it down prior to the holiday so that we could transport it down to them. I am in love with how it turned out that,.....I may just make the other for us!

Cafe Table of Reclaimed Wood

Drove out to Sedalia to pick up some wood one Friday afternoon. Little did I know most of the pieces in the pictured pile were all nailed to each other.  I fit what I could in the back of my car and dismantled upon my return. I tend to favor pieces with nail wounds.  Scars always are adorned with a story.  So I think with wood, but with endless possibilities of new chapters.
Found these caster wheels at a yard sale and you would have thought I found a pearl in an oyster.  They are sincere heavy duty metal through and through. The stain on this piece gave me 2 rounds of trouble. Couldn't seem to get the hue I was hoping for and ended up creating an amalgam of color.
In the end, she turned out just as necessary and with a new story to be found.

Cafe Tableau

This was another of those moments that the vulnerability can take you by surprise.  I had this little table envisioned for a bit and found the perfect person to build it for.  I drove out to a town east of Denver out in the rolling hill country where the bus stops every few blocks to drop off a kid near their little ranch property.  I had no idea the country was a stones throw from the city. My friend had driven in truck loads of old barn wood from his parent's Nebraska farm. I picked out a few to fit my liking, and knew I had a big long board for the sides at home I had picked up at a home demo site.  Also, picked up an old dolly and screwed her wheels off to be used for a better day.
I am often surprised that I'm still surprised my projects can be so frustrating with the varying sizes, depths, and bends of an old piece of wood.  They are not perfect, which is precisely why I end up preferring them.
Anyhow, I worked on a time crunch for a birthday and popped this sleek baby out. Will continue to be in awe that the Creator would allow us to participate in co-creation. To envision and carry out.  To labor over and delight in another's enjoyment of it. What a gift.

Chic Chevron: Coffee Table from scratch

Step 1: get some wood from an old wood pile:

 

Step 2: Begin to make some 45 degree cuts.

 Step 3: Attach the pieces

Okay well that's not your step-by-step how to, obviously; but, I thought it might be nice to include a few photos from along the way.  I went one Saturday to pick up some wood from a local cinematographer who had at one point refinished his gate.  I very lady-like picked out a few boards that I found a bit of life still in and loaded 'em up.  This project took a few curve ball turns.  I originally had a whole different vision in mind, that gradually took on a different face at every step.  I was pretty thrilled to get to use a miter saw, particularly because it made the cuts so quickly and with such precision.  The problem I continued to run into, and will continue to if I persist to use discarded materials, is the boards were 1. old 2. warped 3. varying sizes and depths.
This as you may assume can create a few problems when you are wanting some fluidity and smoothness to your pieces.  I also came across the trouble of needing the table to be sturdy.  I rebutted with the thought that I am not making furniture for people to stand on and dance upon (though I wouldn't be fully opposed).  I failed to recognize the naturalness to sitting on the ledge of a coffee table while chatting with someone on the couch.  Needless to say, I wanted my project to withstand a decent about of wear and tear.  And withstand it she does!
I tried to create some legs that could portray a bit of modernity and simplicity to offset the detail and interest of the top.  When all put together, while very modern, it was a tad too short for my liking.
So I screwed on some hefty casterwheels which complement her whole image quite nicely.

I am consistently surprised at how varied my responses are to these projects as they develop.  How often I am thrilled and inspired, and at many times frustrated and in disgust, only to consistently see a thread of potential and hope. Their finished projects rarely disappoint.
So many alterations and adjustments, hours of sanding and refining. What glory to behold a beauty that could never have been realized without the vision and labor of another.  Again, I am in awe.