Think you need a big, fancy woodshop to start woodworking? Nope! Regardless of the size of your work space there are ways to make it work. I started my woodworking hobby in a very small space – a 1 car garage so full of stuff you couldn’t walk through it. It wasn’t ideal, but I…
Over the years I’ve used circular saws for many different projects. A circular saw is a great and affordable tool to have in your workshop! If you’re just starting to build up your tool set, a circular saw can be a great substitute for a more expensive table saw. You can use your circular saw…
Something that often holds people back from getting started with power tools is the fear that they will get injured. It’s a common fear that I hear over and over again, and I totally understand where it’s coming from. It’s true that you can injured using power tools if you don’t use them safely. That’s…
Have a small workspace or garage? 🙋♀️ Need an easy way to store lumber that doesn’t take up much floor space? 🙋♀️ Or, maybe you live in a rental and need lumber storage that has little impact on your garage and is easy to remove when you leave? 🙋♀️ Those were all of my requirements…
There are lots of lists of the big tools you need to build up your woodworking shop (like this one), but what about the little, everyday stuff? Over my years of woodworking I’ve learned that there are a few items that I will ALWAYS need, regardless of what project I’m working on. I try to…
Back when I ran a small Etsy shop I spent a lot of time cutting shapes with my jigsaw. Many of the items I sold were decorative pieces with shapes cut out of the wood. I did animals, hearts, stars, a little bit of everything. A jigsaw is not the best tool for cutting shapes…
Most of my woodworking projects are built during the short periods of time that I can sneak away to the garage. This is usually when my toddler is napping or after bedtime. Because my project time is so limited, I have had to learn a few tricks to make the most of that precious time….
Learn 10 money saving woodworking tips from a frugal woodworker! Woodworking can be an expensive hobby, especially when you first start out. There’s always another tool you need and another project to build. As someone who loves woodworking, but doesn’t love to spend money this has been a hard reality for me! Over the last…
Power tools can be pretty intimidating to the beginner woodworker. I’ve been woodworking for nearly 6 years now, but I can remember a time when I was afraid to use the power tools in my garage. Big saws, fast moving blades – it can be scary if you don’t know what you’re doing! I talk…
Converting a kitchen cabinet into a pull out trash drawer has been my latest project around here and let me tell you, I struggled. It looks so simple! Why oh why did I have to make it so hard? I’m sharing 3 mistakes I made while installing drawer slides inside a cabinet and the solutions…
Woodworking is an amazing hobby and can even turn into a money-making side business if you work hard enough. While building your own furniture will save you money and maybe make you money in the long run, purchasing all of the necessary equipment can give you some pretty serious sticker shock. At least it did…
Buying wood for that very first woodworking project can be a bit intimidating, especially if you don’t quite know what you’re looking for. But don’t worry! This guide outlines what to look for when shopping for lumber. Let’s get started! This post is part of the Woodworking Basics Series. Find all posts in the series…
Woodworking is a rewarding, useful hobby that can save you lots of money while providing that sweet satisfaction of seeing your ideas come to life. Is there anything better? I absolutely love that feeling of accomplishment! Safety should always be the first priority when woodworking. There is a potential for injury if machines aren’t used…
Woodworking is my FAVORITE hobby – it is so so rewarding! But, in the beginning it can be pretty overwhelming. So I’m working my way through some basic woodworking skills posts to help you get the ball rolling and feel confident tackling your very first project – start to finish! In this series I’ll dive deep into…
Today I’m going to go over the basics of finishing with an oil-based wood stain. I’ll cover what stain is best used for, how to apply it and how to clean up. Wood stain is my go to finish when I complete a project. I love the warm look of wood grain, but also it’s just…
In a traditionally male-dominated space it is absolutely incredible and inspiring to see so many female woodworkers taking the lead online. When I started woodworking in 2012 there were very few female woodworkers in this space. And the ones that were around I had to REALLY search for. Slowly I started seeing women woodworkers show…
Our dining room table is a big farmhouse table that I built about 4 years ago. It was one of the very first things I built after we purchased our home. It gets more worn every day, especially with a toddler, but I love that it’s something I was able to build for my family…