First up I built some retro-style lamps from lots of cast iron pipe fittings I got from the hardware store... The bulbs are old-fashioned "Edison" style with long thin filaments that are wound in interesting shapes. I like the result of the lamp stand best :)
Then I set about building the rest of the night-stand that goes with that Maple-burl table-top that I built earlier. I chose to build it with contrasting woods... The frame and legs are made from Jatoba ( A fairly common South American hardwood with a rich red color) and a pale "tiger-stripe" maple veneer on plywood panels. I joined all the pieces together using pocket hole screws with turned out to be a good system... All the parts are simply cut to size and but-jointed together with screws that are driven at steep angles into the wood (uses a jig mechanism to drill the "pocket-holes" at the very steep angles... Anyway, its very effective and very quick to do with no complicated joinery cuts and no gluing time needed.
I like the result though it looks a little bland at this stage because the wood is new and has not yet developed the warmer colours from exposure to warmth and UV light ( give it a year or so :))
And I built another vegie box for potatoes... I used concrete paving slabs stood on their edges for the box walls and I held them in place with some steel straps and masonry screws... worked very well and if I were to build more then Id use the same technique again...
The new potato box
The original veggie box is a bit overwhelmed by the yellow zucchini plant at the moment :)
And since the night stand worked out so well, I decided to build a Hall-stand too. It will be mostly used to put motorcycle helmets in rather than having them cluttering up the kitchen counters all the time ...
And then I built a couple of gifts for a friend... A Jewellery box and a jewellery tree (to hang necklaces on).
And now Im all out of time for domestic projects because another work contract has started. I think its been quite a creative and productive summer at home this year... But this will only be a short one and I don't know if there will be more to come, so Im thinking I will engage in a bit of a job search... That should be interesting :)
