Progress Report

This weekend we got lots of things done in the shop. We started the weekend with the dollhouse pieces roughly cut out, and finished with the main skeleton completed. It went together so nicely, no headaches...thanks to google sketchup!

The windows, doors, shutters, and shingles showed up in the mail this week, this is what they look like. Pretty detailed little stuff!

Here is one of the cutting boards soaking up some oil. We have two more of these to finish this week so we can deliver them to Ruth's parents this weekend.

Here is Ruth making sure every piece is nice and square.

Here it is...the main skeleton. It is super sturdy, and should last many generations. The next step in the process is to make the stairs. Then from there we install windows, doors and start with the details like carpet, wallpaper paint and siding!

Projects are started!

We have been working in the shop quite a bit lately. I even had the day off today, so after breakfast and a few chores, Ruth and I spent the rest of they day in the shop.

We have one cutting board almost complete, and we have all of the pieces for the dollhouse rough cut to size.

Here is a picture of the dollhouse plan we drew up on Google Sketchup. If you ever need to design a project, do yourself a favor and download Sketchup!

The dollhouse parts, roughly cut out of the plywood. Tomorrow they start to take shape and soon assembly begins.

Ruth is setting the cutting board pieces, preparing for the final glue-up.

My pictures uploaded out of order...this is me cutting the pieces Ruth was laying out in the previous picture.

Safety is serious!!! Look how serious I am.

Shop Cleaned...Lumber Moved in.

This weekend was a busy weekend in the shop. We did not cut any wood, or build anything, but we did get the shop cleaned out, and purchased all of the lumber and supplies to get started tomorrow.

I am super exited to get started on that dollhouse, and those cutting boards. It will be fun to get out there again and start making some sawdust.

Here is the "entertainment center" this continues to be the life-force of my shop. I have the i-pod plugged into the big stereo, as well as the T.V. which is great for watching the world series. These may be the most important tools in the shop. I loves me my tunes.

Here is a piece of Paduk...an African wood that we are going to try in our next round of cutting boards, it has great colors, and great grain patters. I have never used this wood before, so it should be fun trying out another wood species.

This is a closeup of the Baltic Birch Plywood we will be using to make the DollHouse. This is great plywood that is super stable, as you can see it has 7 separate layers that make it so strong and stable.

Here is the other wood to be used in the cutting boards. The old stand bye...hard maple. It was love at first sight when I layed my eyes on this beautiful piece of lumber at the lumber yard. It is 7' long, 11" wide, and a full 2 inches thick. There is not a blemish, or knot of any kind in this board, it really is perfect. I will almost feel bad cutting it into pieces.

Here is Ruth cleaning out the scrap wood area. This always fills up fast and needs to be re-organized. Although I hate it so...I had to burn some of this wood, because as much as you want too, you cannot keep it all. I had to part with some of it just to make room for more of it!!

Check back, I should be starting a few of these projects in the next two nights.

Is this thing on??

For those of you who have not totally given up on me.....I am back! It has been so so so so long since I have posted, well because I have not been in the shop for a long time. It was a busy summer with many things going on and I never had the itch to work in the shop. Now that the days are getting shorter and the weather is getting cooler I am getting the urge to work in the shop again. I have many things to start on, and many things to finish in a short amount of time. With Christmas approaching, I have some gifts to make.

I will be making three cutting boars as gifts. I am also making a full size Barbie doll house for my niece. It is a lofty project, but it should turn out great. I am looking forward to that one.

Stay tuned as I should be posting some pictures of projects while in progress.