Loose Ends

Wow, can't believe the Beer/chips table was my last post! Just means I've got some backtracking to do! Doesn't mean I've been sitting around craftless, quite the contrary, I've been so busy with my projects I haven't had time to sit down and write about it. Most nights, when not working, I just fall into bed, but everyday, no matter what I'm doing, I've committed to working on my projects, even if it's only 30 minutes...that's my time.
    Okay, on to my spool organizer, I've built a hutch, I'll blog about in a sec, and now am building a 2nd one, 6 pieces total, so when it's all done, I'll have builtins, something I've always wanted. Years ago, before I was handy, a carpenter came in, quoted us 4800 US DOLLARS< to make some builtins, Ha, So far I've spent 60 dollars, not yen, and it looks beautiful!!!!

This second hutch I'm working on, will have a pull out, dropleaf sewing table. I need to get more PureBond, so I'm working on details today.
Things I used for my spool organizer:

• 1x2, measured to fit your spot...mine is 12 inches long
• Fruit sticks, sold in produce aisle, 30 for 1.59 at Albertsons (for kabobs, candy apples)
• wood glue
• hammer
• drill with a 3/16 bit, this is the perfect size for fruit sticks, Believe me, I've already split 3 pieces of wood
• little bit of sandpaper, just for your stick edges

Step 1: Cut your 1x2 to size, might as well sand it and paint it too. Once your sticks are in place, it will be torture to try to paint in between them. Once your paints dry, mark a spot to drill 1 inch in from the end, and 1.5 inches along one side of your board, making sure not to closer than 1 inch to each edge lightly sand over the holes you just made, just to make it look finished. And P.S. you can make your spool organizer any size, just make sure you evenly space your holes with enough room for all of your thread, for me, that's 1.5 inches apart.

Step 2 : Not that your board looks like a pegboard, time to make the pegs. The length of your spool holders is up to you. I like to make them different sizes, because I've been known to use embroidery thread. It's totally up to you, this is your custom piece, make it how you want it. I used my miter saw to cut my sticks, which are 6 inches, tip to end, in half. This is a DANGER ALERT!!!

Fingers are wayyyyy too close to the blade, and if you go COMPLETELY through the stick, one end is going to fly off into the abyss...and you'll never find it :), so be safe, don't do this step after you've taken your nightly Xanax. If you need to put your wine glass down in order to use the saw don't do it. Step away, this is the step that I believe is the trickiest. Halfway through, remember, run that saw slow, and count your fingers when you're done.

Now, break them in half with your hands. You'll get a cleaner break if you snap the cut end towards your self.

Step 3:

Rub your raggedy ends across the sandpaper, just to clean your "dowels" up. And speaking of dowels, yes, you could buy some, VERY expensive, and not really the best size for this need. Besides, I never pay for what I can make, I compared...1.49 fruit sticks, 6.80 for tiny dowels, which are bigger, ergo, bigger holes, and they still need to be cut.

Step 4:  whichever end looks the most jagged, the pointy side, that goes in the hole. Doesn't need to be sharp, but you DO NOT want the sharp edge pointing up, trip and fall, and poke your eye out. Blunt side up! Dab the tiniest amount of glue and push it into the hole. If you doesn't fit, don't worry. That's what the hammer is for. Tap it in, not to hard, so you don't damage your dowel.

Viola!!! (french for yeah!!!)

Step 5: Continue tapping your dowels in, don't forget the dab of glue, til you get to the end, and try it out..

VERY IMPORTANT!   don't forget to pat yourself on the back, you just made awesome happen~!

Imagine a pegboard in place, and a homemade huge pin cushion...

on the back of my homemade door...you get the  picture :)