Thoughts, feelings, and another crate!
It has been two weeks.
I have had a lot to ponder and reflect on since the events of two weeks ago. I have said many prayers for people I don’t even know, and for those I do know. The Lord will give them peace and comfort, he answers prayers, and I know he will bless those involved in the Boston tragedy, and other tragedies.
I haven’t done any blogging, since then. I wasn’t planning on not blogging, I just didn’t. You see, I qualified for Boston last year and could have been running this year. But like many times before, money and regular life never took me there. I still want to run it someday!! Maybe next year.
Since then I have reflected on the fact that it could have been my family watching at the finish line, just like so many families were. I love my family. They are the most important thing in my life and they have been my priority the past two weeks. Not that they weren’t before, but I just wanted to enjoy them fully and it has been wonderful!
I usually just share what I create on this blog, but please know that my life is filled with so much more than my projects. While I really love doing them, I am first a wife, a mother, and a daughter of God. So, creating memories with my family will always come first.
I choose to blog and share because I have learned so much from other bloggers. They have inspired me to do things I never thought I could. I hope to someday do the same for you, so Thank You for taking the time to come to my little corner of the blogging world! I love having you here!
Okay! Enough of the deep stuff! Check out these cuties!
I know, I know, another crate….I am sorry, I digress. I am sure there will be more…
On Saturday we had our city spring clean up. Everyone puts their unwanted items on the curb and they collect it all on Saturday, free of charge.
It is a playground of happiness for someone like me! People drive around and collect other peoples junk! I love it! I got some great treasures, but this is the one that inspired the above crates.
How cute is that?! And someone was throwing it away???? I love it even the cute chippy paint on one end. I had to make one….or two…
This is how I did it,
I took the crate and grabbed some wood from my stash of free wood. (If you are new here I am a free wood junkie) I found these awesome pieces and they were the perfect thickness, about 1/4 in thick.
I just used the box as my guide to get measurements. (ignore the paper with measurements that is for another project I am working on, hopefully ready next week!)
The box was 15 1/2 inches long, 3 1/2 inches tall (that is the thickness of the wood) and approx 4 inches deep.
I cut the bottom piece at 15 inches. Then the sides at 3 /12 inches (this made them a square). In the top left photo you see the bottom and side, and then I have another board sitting on the bottom and next to the side piece, I used that to measure the divider pieces, then cut 3 of those, they were 3 1/4 tall.
In the photo on the right I am using the mason jar to space the dividers. Once I knew where the board should go, I traced around it right onto the board. I wanted to make sure the jars would fit. You can see the lines on the board.
Next I glued and nailed on the end pieces. In the right picture you can see the line for the divider piece, I added glue…
…then flipped it on it’s side and (as you can see I added lines to the bottom too) held the board in place while I nailed the boards together from the bottom.
I did all three dividers and then glued and added the side board. Making sure to nail it to all pieces of wood: ends, bottom, and divider pieces.
Then I finished off the other side! It would be cute like that too, without the other side…make the pieces longer and you have mail slots!
Not quite as weathered as the original, but I LOVE them!
Sorry for the blurry picture…
I sealed the crates with a coat of laquer and sanded it smooth. (Why laquer? Well, I got a whole gallon from the restore for a $1, and I like how it adds a deeper tone to the wood, but you could use poly or any other sealer) I did not stain the wood or anything, it is so pretty!
I wanted to try some different handles and so I just nailed them to the outside edge, with carpet tacks.
They are perfect for all sorts of fun jobs, like craft supplies…
Or flowers,
Anything you can think of to fill them with will work!
I wish I could always have fresh flowers in my home….
These are brightening the homes of a couple of dear friends.
What would you do with these crates! I would love more ideas, any excuse to make a crate, makes me happy!
Thank you so much for visiting!
Hugs,
Mindi
I will be linking to these parties.
I'm so glad you enjoyed your time with your family. Times like these definitely make you more aware of what you are so thankful for everyday.
And I love your crate! I cannot believe someone would throw that away! Cool for you though! Thanks for sharing!
Selene @ Restoration Beauty
I too am dismayed that someone would throw that Beauty away, and more importantly that I didn't find it first:)j/k. Love your crates and love the handles – I think they're my favorite.
Also, thank you for sharing that little bit of insight into your feelings; I appreciated it and I know your other readers will too. You rock!
Everyone must have crates on the brain this week! I posted a similar project last Wednesday and Thursday Ana White posted plans to make one. Great minds think alike! I love what you did with the handles. Very creative!
I am impressed you qualified for the Boston Marathon…but glad you were not there…and I love the creates…as usual…because I just LOVE crates
Pinning to my tote board.
Bliss
Love these! Wish my neighborhood had that kind of trash day. I would be walking on clouds!!
Truly enjoyed your post – we all need to take time to treasure our families. Thanks for the inspiring words:)
I'm also hooked on building crates! I think you got me into that 🙂 They are so useful and easy to create, thanks!
Hey Mindi! First I wanted to say that you are so right when it comes to blogging. Family comes first! It is so important to be present when you are with your kids and I too have taken a step back these last couple of weeks. I hope you do run Boston next year…how absolutely fabulous that you qualified! I know how hard that is!!! As for your crates….I LOVE them!!! I saw something in your 8th picture where they were all stacked on top of one another…If you hung them on the wall you could display all sorts of cool things in them…How cool would that be in a little boys room with baseballs and cars and nature collections displayed! You nailed it again!!! Take care friend! Nicole
Mindi, these are wonderful! One can store all kinds of goodies / treasure in them. 🙂 Love the rope handles.
I completely understand about taking a break (even if unintentional) from blogging. We only get one chance to enjoy those years with our kids. It is all about balance and making sure there is family time and me time. I am a better mom when I can let my creativity have fun. 😉
Super congrats on qualifying for the Boston Marathon! Wow! 😀
This project is so cute! I think I might even be able to do it myself (thanks to your amazing instructions!
🙂 Linda
What a great project – I love the boxes! Thank you for sharing on Fluster’s Creative Muster Party!
Robin
Fluster Buster
I do hope you get to run next year! That would be great. What an accomplishment just to qualify.
Oh, and the crate is such a fun project!
Deb@LakeGirlPaints
Never enough crates, Mindy! I am totally with you, especially if you fill them with those super adorable flowers!!!
Keep ‘em coming… 🙂
hugs xx
Crystelle
Crystelle Boutique
Im building me some of these!!! Love them! Thanks for sharing at the Give Me The Goods Link Party!!
Love the versatility and how cute they look with flowers!
Love these! They have a great rustic look! Thanks for sharing! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
Hi, Love the crates. You could put silver ware in them. That would look cute somewhere in your kitchen. Great job…Connie
Beautiful. I am junk collector. You did a great job. Thanks so much for linking up to The Gathering Spot. Have a wonderful week!
Super cute idea!
Have a great week!
Hugs from Portugal,
Ana Love Craft
http://www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com
I thank God, with you, that you were not in the marathon this year. How awesome that you qualified though. In God's time you will run it. The crates are just awesome. Thank you for the tutorial! A couple of ideas you could use them for just off the top of my head: To corral silverware on a buffet or picnic, to hold buttons or beads in the craft room, and to hold different sized nails or screws in the workshop.
Thank you for sharing it at to What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a great week!
Hugs,
Deborah
Those are perfect!! Thanks for linking up!!
Mindi–I can only imagine how you must have felt watching/hearing the coverage of the marathon. So sad.
your crates are perfectly wonderful. I love them with the flowers in the jars…my niece was just asking me about something for her table. She'll see these when I pin them, cause oh yeah, catching you again! I can't help it, I have to!
gail
Sure glad you weren't there. It's very hard for me to forgive the people involved in Boston marathon killings. Why anybody would want to do that to innocent people to me is unimaginable.
Then we should feel sorry for the pain they suffered? Excuse me but I'm having a very hard time even considering their pain. Seems from what we've seen on news there were several more people involved in the conspiracy, even those young mens' Mother. The russian govt warned our govt. about her 3 yrs ago.
You only have one life to give your family love, good for you taking the time to do what is always most important in life. Nothing else is more important than your family.
I so love your crates, I can't seem to get enough of different styles. You solved a problem for us with your handles so thanks a bunch.
If it ever stops the stupid raining here (western CO) we'll get out there to make some more. We make several versions, they're so versatile and cute.
Happy days
Hi! I found you via MRL and now following along 🙂 This is such a versatile project. Indoor, outdoor, dressy or rugged. So many uses… Wouldn't these be great as centerpieces for an outdoor wedding? Love them!
Hi~ Stopping by from Wowza Weekend Link Party~ I love your crates~ I grow herbs on my windowsill to use in cooking and this would be perfect~ now following~ Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines
Oh so pretty! Thanks for sharing & hope to see you again soon! Theresa
I love these crates! & those flowers are so pretty! I'm featuring you today at the circle of faith link party! 🙂 > http://www.kaylascreationsblog.com/2013/05/link-party-6.html I hope your having a great weekend!,
-Kayla 🙂
Absolutely love these crates! So many uses for these 🙂
Looks like you are our first double feature! Congrats!!!
Just wanted to let you know our 6th Circle of Faith Link party is up and running and you were featured on my blog. Come on over and grab a featured button, and link anything you want 🙂
http://www.heatherlyloves.com/2013/05/circle-of-faith-link-party-6.html
xoxo – Heather
Love this! I pinned!
These are so cute I had to pin them . Thanks for sharing at Throwback Thursday.
xoxo
Denyse