Here’s a quick update picture on the two bookcases that will form the base of my new sewing desk. They’re a little dark, because it’s threatening to rain today. I just rushed out to put a second coat of paint on the outside, so hopefully the rain will hold off for an hour so I can bring them in. The outside and trim work on the case is pale green, and the inside is pale yellow. The colors are exactly what I was hoping for. My sewing room is going to be so cheerful! If the cases look a little odd to you, it’s because they’re missing something–the top. The tops you see here are the “sub-tops” and the design calls for an additional top that is a bit larger. Since these will be under a big desk top, the desk will be the “top-top.” Clear as mud?

It only took about a month, but finally Big G thinks grass is fun. When we first got here, he’d never played on it, and cried when we put him down on it (then screamed while backing away to the safety of the concrete patio).

But now:

I still have no sewing or knitting to show you. I’ve been too busy building my new dream sewing table.

I decided that if I had to cram a two-car-garage worth of crafty goodness into a 10 by 10 bedroom that I’d better have the coolest, prettiest, just-what-I-want desk in here. And since I can’t afford to buy one, and couldn’t find one that I liked anyway, I got right down to designing one for myself.

Every day since Erik started work I’ve been working on it. I would scan in my original plan for you to see, but my computer is not a happy camper this week. I’ll just have to show you pictures as I finish it instead. The desk itself is fairly simple: two book cases and a table top. Because I don’t own many tools, and was planning on doing the whole thing myself anyway (DH is not handy) I wanted simple construction that I could do with hand tools only.

I’m using 3/4″ birch plywood (about $60/sheet)
A sheet of 1/4″ beaded plywood panneling (I forget how much this was… I’ll find my reciept)
1×4 by 8 feet long pine boards (about $6/each
some assorted trim boards (not neccisary, but pretty, various prices per foot)
I’ll be sure to tally up all of my costs when I’m finished.

Here are the two bookcases, without most of the trim boards. The mitered corners are terribly uneven (I blame it on the miter box, but I guess it could be me, too…). But that’s okay, because WOOD PUTTY is magical. Liberally squish it in the cracks, let it dry, then sand it off, and *poof* no more mistakes.

I don’t have any pictures from the last couple of days. The cases are completely built and trimmed out, all of the cracks filled with putty and sanded smooth, dust vaccuumed out, and first coat of primer/sealer on. Actually, I only had time to put the first coat of primer on the big bookcase today, because it started to rain. (Take that, 29 Palms!) Tomorrow I’ll do more painting, but in the garage, since it’s supposed to keep raining. (Again!! Ha ha!)

I can’t wait to show you the colors I picked!