Next I am going to share benefits of using QuickBooks. I have them separated into three (3) categories… Income, Expenses and Taxes. This was the easiest way I found to help highlight most of the benefits.
All in Personal
Building A Covered Patio With a 30ft Span!
So let’s start from the beginning with the design. My husband wanted the biggest deepest patio we could get with unobstructed views. Our current patio was 30’ long and that length was good so that we didn’t cover the windows to two of our bedrooms. Our house is already on the darker side and we wanted to keep as much natural light inside as possible. So we knew 30’ long, but how were we going to that big of a span without posts in the middle? I didn’t think it was possible, but my husband wouldn’t give up on it. So I went and talked to an architect friend and he said it would be possible with an 18” glulam.
DIY Outdoor Cooler Deck Box
I’ve teamed up with a group of other blogger for another challenge this month. This time the theme is DIY Outdoor…. so of course I wanted to make something else for my soon-to-be new patio!!! This time I choose a DIY Outdoor Cooler Deck Box. Within the last year I had to retire my first build ever, see it here…. so I needed some place for hidden storage. Someplace to maybe hide a cooler? or some pillows? or charcoal? However I end up using it most all I know is that it has to look cute.
DIY Outdoor Tic-Tac-Toe Game
Spring is in the air, well almost summer here in Arizona. But either way it is a nice time to be outside. So I thought I would build a something that would fit right in on my soon-to-be new patio. Something that would not only look pretty and match the look that I am going for, but something that is functional and entertaining. So I thought a tic-tac-toe game! Everybody loves tic-tac-toe and there aren’t any crazy rules to learn.
DIY Flip Top Workbench
Once I built my Modular Miter Station I knew I couldn’t stop there with my shop projects because I still had two major tools that didn’t have a home…. my Kreg Foreman and my Ridgid thickness planer. Both are pretty big tools and are a pain to have to move to a workbench when you need to use them so I came up with a plan to give them a permanent home and fit right in with my new shop furniture….. or Modular Miter Station. So this is de facto Phase 5!
Modular Miter Station - Phase 3 - Assembly Cart
Have you ever assembled something on the ground? Or been assembling something at your workbench, but the tool you need is across the shop hanging on the wall? So for Phase 3 of the Modular Miter Station series I knew that I wanted to make the ultimate “Assembly Cart”. A cart that would house everything in arms reach when I assembling my next project… clamps - all kinds of clamps, screws - and all kinds of fasteners, and anything else I can fit on it.
Modular Miter Station - Phase 2 - Air Cart
Have you ever walked around your shop and tripped? Well I have plenty of times and am I just fed up with it… plus it could potentially be dangerous. So for Phase 2 of the Modular Miter Station series I knew that I wanted to make an “Air Cart”. A cart dedicated to housing my heavy, hard to move around, super loud air compressor and all the tools, hoses, and accessories that go along with it.
Awesome Shop Overhaul - Garage Shop Makeover Series
Things tend to slow down for me in December as far as commissions. Most people are busy buying holiday presents and aren’t ready to think about that big furniture purchase. So this year I decide to dedicate basically the whole month of December to making over my workshop… aka garage shop! And I am so excited. Ever since I started building it has been so hard to make time to improve my work space… yeah I had made stuff here and there, but nothing with a real plan. Well this time I had a plan!
Modular Miter Station - Phase 1 - The Foundation
Workshop upgrades have never been fun. Usually because I am doing them at odd hours or on the weekends because they just had to be done. But since teaming up with Kreg Tool to create a series of workshop plans to put on their DIY project plan site BuildSomething.com, I have been having a blast with shop upgrades. I think its been so fun because I got to plan my workspace around what was going to work for me and something that I could grow into…. always want to be planning ahead!
How We Raised Our Ceilings
We have been in our house for about 3 1/2 years now and have slowly been remodeling as time and money allow… well over Thanksgiving weekend we were able to tackle one big job that I have been wanting done since we moved in. Raising the ceilings in our entryway!!! This project has been part of the overall plan since the beginning. It will give our 1970’s ranch house a much more updated and modern feel… plus it makes it feel bigger!
Guest Bedroom Makeover - Before & After
Let me paint you a picture of the before…. We moved into our current house about 3 1/2 years ago. We downsized from a 2500 square foot home to a 1800 square foot home. I kept a lot of the decor and furniture from that home not knowing if it would work in our new place. But I also knew I wasn’t doing to have a ton of money to decorate the new place considering my husband and I were starting brand new career fields. So it all got put into the guest bedroom or like I called it the spare bedroom, because it housed all the spare stuff that didn't quite have a home. Also, since my new job (building) involved taking over the entire garage space all our camping and backpacking gear was in this room as well. Oh, plus a queen sized bed. So to say the least, no guests were sleeping in there.
DIY Modern Twin Bed
My guest bedroom used to be more of a spare bedroom… it had a queen bed in it and the room was a catch-all of stuff decor stuff (from when we downsized) and camping stuff (my shop took over the entire garage)! So it was definitely time for a makeover. As part of my Guest Bedroom Makeover I got to build new beds! I have never built a bed before, but have been wanting to for a long time. So when my friends at Kreg asked me to partner on a project for BuildSomething.com I knew the perfect project! You can read more about the entire room makeover at Guest Bedroom Makeover - Before & After, but the real star of the makeover are the beds!!! At least IMHO, so lets get to them!
DIY Modern Scrap Table
Every time you make a piece you always end up with scraps! And I hate throwing away scraps. So I am always looking at ways to utilize them in some way. Recently I built some DIY Modern Deck Chairs that I absolutely love! And while building them I had to cut this cool angle on the side pieces and was left with some triangles. I knew when I started the DIY Modern Deck Chairs that I wanted to build a side table to go with them to set your drinks and whatever on, but didn't have a plan until I saw these scraps!!!
How To Install Drawer Fronts
Alright, alright, alright.... I am ready to tackle another step in my closet renovation, drawer fronts!!! Since this project is for me and I am doing it all in between clients builds I wanted to pick a material that would be quick and easy to work with. I thought about using 3/4" plywood for the drawers fronts, but then I wasn't sure on how well the edge banding would hold up with heavy everyday use. I like the idea of shaker style, but that is just a little bit too much work than I have time for right now. Then I thought how about solid pine, but then remembered how hard it is to find straight non warped pieces let alone 10 of them. So, I decided to go with some project panels from Lowes. They are made from pine and are fingered jointed together. They are probably made from all the scraps left over at the factory. But since they are small pieces and glued and joined they are really flat and I think they will be more stable than the other two options.
DIY Modern Deck Chairs
It seems like everybody is always focused on decorating the interior of their homes, but what about the backyard? Here in AZ we spend a lot of time in ours, maybe not this time of the year, and well why shouldn't it look AWESOME too? So when my friends at Kreg asked me to partner on a project for BuildSomething.com, I was excited to design and build a piece that would give life to our backyard. Plus add some much needed seating! We currently only have some of those plastic adirondack chairs that have seen one to many summers in AZ, if you know what I mean.
How to Make Drawer Boxes - The Easy Way
There are so many ways to make drawers boxes, but since I am making these for my master closet renovation I decided to go the easy way. The easy way not only because they are fast, but also since they wouldn't be holding a ton of weight. So, I didn't feel the extra work was necessary. My drawers are roughly 21 1/2"W x 20"D x 8"H to give you some perspective. I am am super excited about the size because that means a ton of storage!!! I am planning on getting rid of our huge oversized dressers we have in our master bedroom once the closet is finished, so that will mean a little downsizing. But I am all for the minimalist life! But it does take time, in my opinion, to become a minimalist. It is hard to just sell, donate, or throw away everything over night. I really want to have a plan of things that are gonna make me happy and still look good. That way I won't miss all those things!!! Things being the key word.
How to Make Modern Shiplap Shutters
When we bought our house a little over 2 years ago the exterior needed some much needed updating. It is a slump block house, which is awesome, but the trim is like a reddish orange color with a cream color around the windows and the block on the back of the house. Eek!
Top Builds of 2017
Sometimes I question if doing this business is worth it. The long hours, the wondering where the next job will come from, the not so glamorous wardrobe that I wear all the time, the messy hair/no makeup look..... and then I sit down and review all the things I built in 2017. Yes, yes, yes it was all worth it!!! I can't believe I get to and was able to make so many awesome things!!!!
The Green Woodworker Podcast Interview
Have you ever heard a recording of your voice? Isn't it so weird?
Well when Donny Carter, an AWESOME woodworker, turner, maker, youtuber, and now podcast host, asks you to be on his new podcast "The Green Woodworker Podcast", you can't pass that up. Well, at least I couldn't. And after I said yes, I was like "What the heck happens on podcasts?". I have only listened to a couple of them before. So, being me, I did my research and listened to all his current podcasts in one sitting! And after I did I was much more relaxed. Donny has ease and charm about him that makes his questions seem like a conversation. And he gives a lot of praise, so who wouldn't want to talk to him!!!