Bday DIY

Last month on my birthday, we began a DIY project for the studio. A sewing studio needs a cutting table. After working at the kitchen table on many a project, I am looking forward to a table where my back won't hurt from bending over. I know, you know what I am talking about.

The best size table for the studio is 3.5' x 6'. Home Depot was nice enough to cut some birch plywood to the exact dimensions.













It is a pretty piece of wood. We also purchased some birch veneer for the edges.













This stuff is awesome. You iron it on to the wood. It works great. A couple of years ago, I received a new iron for Christmas, so I threw the old iron into the Goodwill pile. However, when I got to the Goodwill I had the presence of mind to snatch it out of the pile and save it for those other craft projects that are not fabric. This was such an occasion and the old iron worked perfectly. The veneer tape is a little bit wider than the 3/4" ply, so you sand down the edges.


























The hubby was a good help that day, then he got busy and it was up to me to finish it.

At first, I tried a spray varnish, but all I got was nausea and a barely coated piece of wood. On the return trip to Home Depot, I bought a paint on varnish and a face mask/respirator. What a difference the respirator makes! No nausea. No choking on dust. Note to self: always buy one when starting diy project. It's essential.

The varnish is oil based and I got three coats on, but I should have stopped at two. There is that point when you are all excited, tired out, and just want to get it done. That was me with the third coat. It doesn't pay to rush. The hubby was out of town when I took the top down to the garage. It is a big piece of wood, cumbersome, so I bashed it up on the way to the garage and left fingers prints in the tacky, meaning not dry, varnish. It's still in the garage waiting for more sanding and a couple more coats of varnish. Like most projects it is taking longer than I wanted. But I am taking my own advice after the varnishing. Don't rush it, take my time, and try not to bash it up.













I sure like making things, even big wooden things. It is so much fun.

A Room of my Own

Welcome to Sweetie Darling Handmade!

This is my new venture into business. This is going to be a crazy ride as I negotiate new and unknown (to me) territories as an entrepreneur. This will be evolving into a sewing based business and an esty site. There is an undeveloped etsy site just waiting for me to get me act together. When the shop officially opens you will be the first to know.

First, I needed a studio space. The hubby was all over finding me a space, with dreams of reclaiming the garage and what used to the be the office/guest room as a garage and an office. He found an affordable space in his old office building, which is less than a mile from the house so I can walk, skip or hop to work. Yay!

The space is about 180 sq. ft. and has two windows which provide pretty good light.


















This adjustable height table from Costco is just the thing to work as a temporary cutting table/sewing table/desk until I can kit out the space.



















The shelf and side tables didn't make it to the hubby's new office. The side tables have already been removed. The blinds need to be removed too. They are very cheap and therefore the dirt and dust just stick to the plastic. I gave them a good scrubbing but they are still dirty. There are lots of things to be done and I will document my adventures along the way.

Next up: turning a bare room into a workable studio from the gifting of the perfect bookshelf to DIY projects. Stay tuned.