Doesn't My Wife Deserve A Nice Shoe Rack ?

Among my many hobbies is an interest in making things out of wood.  I can't carve or whittle, but if it is made of wood, and of relatively basic construction, I am reasonably confident I can re-create it.  I also, often, have my own ideas on things I would like to own, but would rather build them myself than spend time and money looking for something that meets my vision.



This is my original shoe rack which I made
about 3 years ago (just from scrap wood)

An example is the picture on the right.  I was tired of the pile of my footwear cluttering the corner of our closet.  So shortly after we moved into this house, I crafted my own shoe rack to fit into the space available.

Whenever I am making a project for the first time, I use leftover materials, rather than nicer wood, so there is vitually no cost.  This allows me to forgive myself too, if the project doesn't turn out.  Mistakes in pieces of left over scrap wood are not worth being sad over.

Once I "know what I'm doing" I'll use better wood, even purchasing specific styles or pieces to achieve a desired look or design.

An example of this would be the shoe rack I made this past week for Karen (pictured below).  Some of the wood was "hand me downs" from my dad's workshop, but they were certainly not scraps and worked perfectly into the design and space I had available.

This is the 90% finished shoe rack I made for Karen.
The design has improved and obviously she has more shoes.

My next project is a trash can holder for the dining room and kitchen.  I made one out of MDF before, which didn't take long to break down.  But that's okay because it was my test project.  I am finally ready to make a long-lasting one, with some nice wood that I also salvaged from my dad's stock.  Thanks old man!  :)


Song Of The Day:
What better song than "Knock On Wood" by Amii Stewart for this wood-themed post?  I'm a big time hater of most 70's or disco music ... but some tunes are just too good even with that terrible tie in.

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Tired Of Shoes In The Entry Way ?

One of my favorite hobbies is to build things.

Below is a picture of a relatively simple shoe rack, which I built a few months ago.  I say relatively simple, but the construction of it was not easy at all.  I used many different tools and there was a lot of measuring, cutting, planning, gluing, drilling, fastening, and installation.

The "front" door has a Christmas decoration on it,
and the "other" door is to our coat closet.
There is no good place for a bench or basket for shoes.
What to do ?!  Oh wait!  How about a shoe rack built like a coat rack.

I had complained many times (and had heard my wife lament it too) about the annoyance of pairs of shoes (some just half of a pair) littering our entryway to our home.  At some point, I decided to stop complaining and just do something about it.  The result isn't a thing of beauty or some amazing solution that everyone should make or try to buy.  It is basic.  It is functional.  It is only 90% finished (I really should rout the edges, fill the screw holes with pegs, and then sand and stain it).  But it works!

I'm always pleased (and grateful to my Heavenly Father for the talent or gifts He has blessed me with) when I imagine something and then build it.  I'm especially pleased when I have less silly reasons to complain.  :)


Song Of The Day:
Today's song is by the great Jimmy Durante.  I am not ashamed to admit the only reason I know this song is from the Sleepless In Seattle soundtrack.
"Make Someone Happy" is a main reason I make little projects like this.  I feel no guilt when the someone being made happy is ME!  :)

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