Building things

One of the things I really wanted to do with my time here is learn how to make things. To create things. Some of these projects have worked out better than others. For example, the pond I built was really pretty until Bo the dog decided to swim in it, and broke the liner. This latest thing I made was inspired by my friend Emilia Oije's blog (you can check it out at www.oije.se, she is an amazing photographer). About a year ago she posted this picture of a bath tub shelf made out of solid wood:

It looked amazing, and being an avid bather I just wanted it so badly. But it cost a thousand bucks so I just forgot about it. The other day I was walking around out in the yard and realized that those pieces of wood that Jon got for free from work actually kind of looked like it. So I decided to buy some kind of tool that would help me make it, walked into Home Depot and asked around. Quite literally - I just found a guy, told him what I had (a plank of wood) and asked what I needed to do to it. He was very helpful and it worked out really well! I just have to find some better "stoppers" to put underneath, then it will be all done. It works the way it is right now, too, but stoppers would be good.

1. The untreated wood

2. Sandpapered the whole thing, starting with 80, finishing with 220. Added some temporary stoppers with the only thing I had available at home...

3: Fits well in the oversized tub.

4. And holds ALL my stuff!