Community Brag Posts

After living in a house with a fireplace for 7 years, we recently moved to a house without one. When unpacking the Christmas box, our boys asked where we would hang our stockings this year and that got me thinking about how much I'd like a mantle for the holidays. After searching online, I found Ana's plan (of course she has one!) and scaled it down to fit the one small open wall in our living room. I didn't trust myself to cut an even arch, so I used an idea from another brag post and added architectural elements with leftover 1x2 & 1x3 to a 1x10 (which was a better size for our scaled down version) Lastly, I knew I wanted a chalkboard backing, but having no scrap plywood, I covered a large piece of cardboard with chalkboard contact paper and tacked it on the back before installing. Super happy with how it turned out and look forward to using it for many years to come! 

Outdoor coffee table...2 side tables and 2 side tables with cement tops.

I made some slight udjustments on the ladder and rail. Other than that i folllowed the plans and flew through this project. My mother in laws boys love it.

Modified the plan to be suitable for outdoor use.  Built for a daughter who did not want the look of a traditional picnic table.  Use the X bench plans on this site for the benches.  Top is recycle 5/4 decking lumber.

I loved the style of this bench but wanted to make it kid/toddler sized for my best friend’s daughter. I LOVE how it came out!! Final dimensions were 36 in long, 17 in deep, and 24 in tall. I followed the plans but adjusted the measurements. Thanks so much for this plan!! - Jess

The cost was very low as I had recently purchased a pick-up truck load of maple (around 1300 bdft) at a local Northeastern Woodworkers Association auction for $1/bdft. This was the first furniture type item I had done and I was tickled to death with the results. The design was based on a number of "Big Box" examples of disposable furniture that looked very nice but would never last. I added the mahogany trim because I like the contrast (and I have a ton of it in the shop) and the sort of copper color it exhibits.

Took about five hours to make and $25, looks very nice and have been asked to make more by others who have seen it.

Slightly modified bottom shelves to be heavy duty. Used salvaged 60yr old mahogany paneling for shelves surface.

I knew I needed to have this bed the second I saw it. Living in a condo I didn't have the space or the patience to try this project on my own so I hired Brown's Hill Construction and Remodeling (Maine) to create it for me. I feel like I'm sleeping in a hotel every night! Love. Thank's Ana!

This was my first woodworking project! Thank you Ana for the easy to follow plans. Making this end table has given me the confidence for my next project - bathroom vanity unit, which is almost completed.

Slightly modified version replacing the "X" with a Truss design on the ends. The table top uses a 2x8 in the center and 2x6 boards for the rest. This is because when you rip the edges off the 2x6's for a nice gap free table top the total width of the top is too small so the 2x8 in the center re-gains the lost width. Finished with Minwax Expresso and Spar Urethane Ultimate!

I built this as a prototype for myself because my daughter requested one for her dog food cabinet. We are going to build hers together. I'm excited about that.

This project was around 2 years in the making after the initial idea, which consisted of adding a "small" water play area that would utilize a manual pump and some chutes to carry the water. It turned into a rather elaborate play structure that appeared to never get done. Luckily the weather played along and we were able to finish by late Fall and still run water through it. There is around 20 yds of black dirt and 2-3 tons of medium size boulders. The main structure sits on treated 4 x 4 posts and 4 x 6 joists. The decking and chutes were all made from cedar.

About 2 years ago when we were redoing our kitchen, I made these ledge shelves inspired by Ana White's $10 Ledges.  I originally wanted to use them as storage for spices and our olive oil, but once our vent hood was installed, there just wasn't room for them, at least not as I had originally intended.  Since mine are made of yellow pine (harder wood) and I used a 1 x 6 for my platform instead of a 1 x 4, my ledges cost more than $10.

Beautiful table! So heavy but gorgeous design.