a garden gift

I found all these crates at the flea market last time I went and I thought they would be so fun to use for plants or even as little herb boxes.  So, as usually happens with me when I am sitting in my craft room, I start to think of what fun little bags and packagings I can make to go with these boxes to create cute little individual gifts...  I have said it 1000 times, my craft room is my therapy.  And I had a lovely little session last week putting all this together...  I am going to put seeds in the little bags and fill the big "grow" bag up with some of our super fertile soil from the garden.  Throw in a watering can, some tools and even a cute little tablecloth and there you go.

Would you think it was fun to receive a vintage crate full of gardening supplies as a gift?

never too old for a tree house

We built this tree house for our son Alex when he was younger and he and his friends used to spend hours playing in it. It has been a little neglected in more recent years. The grandkids love playing in it, but it definitely needs a little love to bring back that magic that it used to have. I saw these amazing fun sheds on Pure Style Home last May and decided this was going to be my next little project. The one with the chandelier? I mean, come on. Not that mine will be quite to this level - I still want it to be a playhouse - but I have a few little ideas brewing around in my head. I was thinking of painting it taupe and the swing white, adding some curtains and maybe even a little chandelier.

Anyway, just as I was starting to make plans for this project, my son Al came home from college. Seeing as I had sort of kicked him and his friends out of the guest house, I guess they were looking for a new place to hang out. Seems you are never too old for a tree house...

So, instead of curtains and a chandelier, the tree house got a dart board and guitars. They have moved on from the guest house though, so its fine be me. It really just kind of makes me giggle that these college boys that used to play in this tree house have returned back to it.

The downfall is that now, instead of finding them sprawled about the guest house, they have just taken to sleeping on the back patio... oh, college boys.

I actually don't even know who this is...

Well, Alex leaves for Rome in just a few short weeks (*sniff, sniff* this is where I get emotional and decide he can sleep on the back patio as much as he wants if he just stays home with his mom a little longer...), so I guess the tree house will be mine again. Thus, it is time to start the planning. So, ladies (and any of you fellas that are reading out there), what fantastic ideas do you have? Please do share! What would you do to fix up this lovely old tree house?

Woodworking Wednesday’s – Show off your projects

Welcome to the 4th Woodworking Wednesday.  It has been a while since I did one of these and thought it was time to do another one and also had a request for it as well so what better time.  

I hope you will take the time to add your project to the list.

<a border="0" href="http://groverwoodworks.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz56/groverwoodworks/wwwed.jpg" /></a> Grab the button link from the textbox.

Have a Great Day!

Here are the Rules:
1. Select any project that you created using any type of woodworking.  If you cut, beat, sanded or just did something with wood consider that woodworking.
2. Add a link of you post to the party – This is a link to the actual post not the main page of your blog.
3. Give a description of your project so everyone knows what you are featuring.
4. Grab the button above and add a link to this party so that your readers can join in on the fun.

Technorati Tags: Woodworking Wednesdays,woodworking,projects,diy

No Shop Time – BOO HISS and Grumble even

I am sure I am not the only woodworker that feels this way, but I feel like I don’t get enough shop time.  Actually I don’t get enough consistent shop time.  I will go through phases where I will be out there most every night for a week or so and then guess what happens life gets in the way again and I have a slump. 

My wife and I started a project together that I mentioned in a previous blog.  This was a momentous occasion for me finally something that I am interested in that we can share together. 

I mean I have a BUNCH of hobbies to many sometimes and some I just can’t afford right now.  I have been a pilot since I was 16 years old, I fly stunt kites, remote control airplane and play guitar among a few other hobbies. 

However woodworking has started becoming more of a passion than just a hobby.  I am finding myself wanting to learn more about the artistry of working wood and learning all the techniques both old and new. 

So for her to express an interest in learning this hobby I couldn’t have been happier, but unfortunately life tends to get in the way of hobbies and we have yet to be able to finish this project.  I am looking forward to completing it with her she is very close and as I mentioned in the previous blog she is doing a great job.  I hope this is a start to a shared addiction hobby for the two of us. 

It will totally be easier to convince her we need more tools if she wants to use them as well.

Keep your eyes peeled and hopefully sometime this week we can finish out the project and get it posted.

Have a Great Day!

Technorati Tags: Shop,time,projects,life,hobbies