Playing Carpenter

by Annette Dashofy

In the past, I’ve blogged about some of the jobs and careers I’ve had. Today, I thought I’d write about one professional that I never had. Carpenter.

I love creating things. Stories, of course, but other kinds of things, as well. Quilts. Photographs.

Furniture.

Granted my husband is definitely the handy one around here. He has a workshop out back and builds muzzleloader rifles, wooden storage boxes, and shelves to name a few of his specialties. He has a Shopsmith and loads of nifty tools and gadgets. Better yet, he knows how to use them.

As for me, I can’t even hammer a nail straight. Drills and power saws strike fear in my heart along with visions of blood and amputations. And after reading Rebecca Drake’s Don’t Be Afraid, no way will you ever catch me with a nail gun.

So, you ask, how can I possibly enjoy creating furniture? I have one word for you. IKEA.

I first discovered that I could put together a kit and create something that looks half-ways decent back in my teen years when my parents bought a do-it-yourself stereo stand for my bedroom. Unwilling to wait for Dad to get home the next day to put it together, I started reading the directions and figuring out what pieces were which. A little glue and a few dowel rods later and I had the thing built! I could even screw the hardware into the pre-drilled holes.

And I might add, that first creation of mine lasted for several decades until I sold it a few years ago at a yard sale.

Since then, I built the computer desk I’m currently sitting at. A massive chunk of lumber, I can honestly say that I did it all myself. Well, sort of. I followed the directions while my hubby was at work (we’ll have to discuss my impatience with waiting until the man of the house gets home another time) and put it together on its side. What I couldn’t do was tip it upright and hoist the upper part onto the lower part to bolt it all together. Hey, I work out, but this thing weighs a ton.

I also built the two matching storage cabinets that grace my office, but those were a joint effort. I’m not entirely sure it wouldn’t have gone a lot smoother, though, if I’d done it myself. Sometimes, hubby and I just don’t work all that well together. “Are you SURE those are the right screws?” “Yes, DEAR.” Sigh.

The other night, I went to IKEA once again. This time I brought home two hefty boxes containing what will be a three-door wardrobe. It will definitely be a two-person venture, especially since I want more shelves inside than what come with it. That will require cutting wood with power tools. I don’t do power tools. Maybe a rechargeable screwdriver, but that’s about it.

However, once we get all the pieces in the house, there is a good chance that I’ll be tinkering at putting it together as much as possible on my own. With no one to argue about whether I know the difference between sizes and types of screws and hinges. In fact, while you’re reading this post, I may very well be playing carpenter.

Did I mention we built our log cabin ourselves? Yep. It was a kit.