It's Friday afternoon and for Meryl and myself (and one very lucky customer) that means the beginning of a new chapter in our blogging history.  Today after work we are meeting with a woodworking enthusiast in an effort to make this blog more about you (less about me and my projects).  So, here's to hoping that you all have a nice weekend; should that include a nice beer on the porch or not.  Check back next week to read about our adventure at Odell's Brewery with Dean Arneson.
 

The great box making project is well under way.  As you all know, I have been working with Harlan who is a patient and wise woodworking mentor.  Some of the lessons we have learned so far:

1. Don't let Laine use the Domino machine
2. Measure 8 times, cut once (still make mistakes)
3. Be happy with imperfection

In all seriousness, I am a true novice and it has been really great working with such a knowledgeable woodworker.  Whenever we get a free moment here in the showroom Harlan has been gracious enough to spend time with me in the classroom, working on my nightstand, and slowly (but surely) progress has been made.  The wood has been milled and finally, the box has come together.  Take a look:

Many of you probably know that here at Sears Trostel we are equipped with a CNC router.  For those of you that are unaware that we have this, or simply don't know what a CNC router does, take a look at the latest improvement we have made to Sears Trostel:
 

Here is some Friday trivia for you:

Q: What is the most popular month in which to be married?
A: June.
Q: What is the most popular month in which to become engaged?
A: December. 
Q: What is the average cost of a wedding these days?
A: $27,000!
(information attained from a popular radio show during a recent morning commute)


While it's true that June is quickly coming to an end, wedding season is nowhere close to being over (I myself was invited to three different weddings this summer).  With this in mind, we wanted to share with you a great custom wedding gift idea: the ever-popular breadboard.   

We think they are so great because they are completely customizable.  You can pick your wood, the size and design and even take it one step further by having it engraved with the couple's initials or a special message to the bride and groom.  Speaking personally, one-of-a-kind gifts (especially of the handmade variety) have always been my favorite because it's clear that the gift-giver has gone the extra mile to show me just how much they care. 

Take a look at a recent breadboard that was commissioned for a friend's wedding next weekend.  I chose to make it out of quilted maple and wenge, because I love how the contrast of the two woods compliment each other so well.  And isn't that what marriage is about, when two people come together to become one?  Too cheesy?   

Lately I have been talking to Harlan about building a custom sewing table.  I have been bouncing around ideas with him wondering if my idea is even feasible (remember I am not a furniture designer).  But I want something functional, and while the table I am using right now certainly works for my purposes, it's not the most ideal solution (think panel screwed to two metal sawhorses).  Without talking too in depth about my design ideas, I will just say that the process came to a standstill last week when Harlan asked me what I envisioned for the table legs.  Without knowing exactly what I wanted (or was willing to pay for) we did some initial searches in our vendor catalogs and online, without yielding great results.

Everyone knows how much I love Ebay and Craiglist by now, right?  Well, even more than that, I really like the idea of re-purposing old furniture and in this instance specifically, old table legs.  So, I found a used conference table online, bought it the next day and stole the legs right out from underneath of it; paying a fraction of the price I would have otherwise paid for new legs.

And this got me to thinking, what else could we use these legs for?  For one, yesterday we used them to finish a table we are putting in our showroom.  I have gotten plenty of feedback today on the legs, because they are great quality and as my co-worker Steve put it, "a really good find."  And simple table legs like these lend themselves to really any idea for a table or workspace.  Don't you think so?
Well, we want to hear your ideas.  In the near future Sears Trostel will be holding its very first design contest, using these metal table legs.  The criteria will be explained further this week, so check back... and start brainstorming.