Genesis

First post, and I'm going to try to make it a good one.

A bit of history.  My grandfather (my dad's dad) built furniture from scrap, "junk" and otherwise unsellable lumber he got from people he knew in the furniture business.  He would go to burn piles and dump sites, as well as home remodel dumpsters, etc. and take lumber that was otherwise going to be disposed of.  He would use this imperfect lumber and build gorgeous pieces of furniture ranging from planter stands and side tables for his own home, to doll houses, small barns, trucks, cars, and other wooden toys for his grand children.  He lived in Iowa, so I rarely saw these items, but they always took my breath away.

Fast forward a few years.  I am dating a wonderful, intelligent woman who is a college student working at Best Buy to pay her bills.  Much of the furniture she owns (like most college students) is comprised of that fabulous Ikea/Meijer particle board.  Being that she is an intellectual, an actress, musician, reader, and writer, books are a bit of a hassle for her.  I was strapped for cash, being a poor, unemployed college student myself, and decided that creating a present would be much more meaningful than purchasing one.  I spent a lot of time talking with my dad, who showed me some of my grandfather's "early works" as well as some of his own works.  I wanted to emulate some great things I have seen, but add my own flavor.  I did the math, discussed materials, and decided to take one 4'x8' sheet of maple plywood, and create a 4 foot bookcase with 5 shelves, and a nightstand for beside the bed.  The bookshelves would be adjustable, the nightstand would have a shelf for a book, space on top for a phone on a charger and a lamp, and a door on the front to provide some storage.  These were to be christmas and birthday presents.  I started them in July, and spent about a month cutting, gluing, nailing, applying vaneers, drilling holes for shelf brackets, staining and varnishing.  What came out of this process was two things, as imperfect as they are, that made me more proud than any other accomplishment to date.  I had taken $90 in materials, and creating useful and beautiful (albeit a bit utilitarian) pieces of furniture.

Fast forward three years.  I am now married to that lovely woman, and get to behold my successes daily.  In between then and now, I've also had the pleasure of happening upon some less fortunate dumpster-bound furniture.  I took the time to refinish this furniture, and now have lovely installments in my home. (Photos of aforementioned pieces will be coming shortly.  We're still moving in.)

This blog is a way for me to finally showcase some of the before and after shots of builds, refurbs, refinishes, and home improvements that I have undertaken with limited equipment, funds and talent.

I hope you enjoy.

Josh