Handmade Book Shelf

When I started this blog a few months ago, it was because I was inspired to do some new projects and document the before... middle... and after of my random projects.

I've done a couple of big projects that I just adore.  Like my 'new' chairs and dining table and my favorite, the vintage vanity transformation.

But during a break in my projects (it's still well over 100 and I just cannot bring myself to work out in the garage in these conditions), I've realized my husband and I have done a few blog-worthy projects that are on topic with the projects I love to write about here.

I told you about the checkerboard cutting boards we made one year as Christmas gifts. My husband Joseph gets all the credit on those. I was just his lovely assistant.

There's another project we did together.  Joseph used the power tools and table saw and did all the measurements. I helped hold things while he glued or nailed and then I got to paint it.

I'm talking about this giant bookshelf in our office.

When we moved into our first home, we didn't have a lot of furniture. A book shelf was something Joseph thought he could handle making at home. It turned out great! It's solid wood and put together very nicely.

Joseph used a router to make grooves in the sides, and then glued the shelves into them.

I love how the crown molding turned out. It really finishes off the piece.

We didn't take any photos as Joseph was building it, but recently, we took out all the books to do some dusting and reorganizing (don't worry, we only do this once every 4 years... that's a lot of books to move!).

And no sooner did we get it in the office, we had it filled up.  Joseph is the reader in the family. I contributed with books from college ranging from journalism materials, literature and meteorology text books.

My shelves :)

This piece is solid wood and very sturdy. It stands about 6.5 feet tall and is 3 feet wide. Joseph made the bottom shelf the largest to fit textbooks.

As you can see form the pictures, he may need to make another one to fit the books he's bought since building this shelf.

What's your favorite piece of handmade or solid wood furniture?

Food Storage in Reused Glass Jars

Well, it's just too darn hot to paint anything or work out in the garage on any of my pending projects. I think it was 115 today?! Whew, it will all be worth it when the heat breaks and we're enjoying the 70s for months.

Since I can't transform some beat up furniture... like a vanity or chairs... I've exercised my creativity in the kitchen. Not really cooking anything exciting, but with organization.

I've been saving glass jars for the last few months without a real plan of what I would eventually do with them. They are mostly pasta sauce jars, salad dressing bottles or jelly jars, and all are glass with their own characteristics. I just think glass jars are cute. :)

Recently, I've found some practical uses for them.

We have been buying some dry goods, not really in bulk, but from the bulk section where you scoop out your own portion - mostly nuts, trail mix and dry pastas.

So, we come home with plastic baggies and bread ties.

Trail Mix

Finally, I have a use for the glass jars! haha!

Dry Ravioli, Trail Mix, Tortellini, Pasta, Almonds, Steel Cut Oats

Brown Rice Pasta & Steel Cut Oats
(Salsa Jar & Salad Dressing Bottle)

Almonds & more Steel Cut Oats :)
(Jelly Jar & Pasta Sauce Jar)

I haven't really done any comparison, but we feel like we're saving some money because the dry goods are so cheap (at WinCo) and it makes sense that we're not paying for packaging.

You might be able to see that I haven't been too successful on getting rid of all the stickiness from the previous labels. Do you know of anything around the house that takes the sticky residue off? (I don't have Goo Gone)

While I'm using these jars for real storage, they could also have a decor value, of mixing different types of jars with different textures inside. For now, they'll be inside my pantry or on my counter.

How do you stay organized?