Monday, September 20, 2010

IKEA - full assembly required.

Last weekend Carrie and I went to IKEA with our friend, Janae. We had a great time, and Janae and I finally got a fabric fix - found some cool IKEA fabric on sale. I was shopping for a sewing table for my craft room and ended up finding something that would work - along with a cabinet with drawers that was marked way down too. Nice!
.
If you've ever bought furniture from IKEA you know that it comes in a super flat box with a bag of screws and random parts. Doug had to work on Saturday and I knew the last thing he'd want to do after working all day was put something together from IKEA (actually, even on a day when he's fully rested it's not his favorite thing to do!). I decided to tackle the project myself and it really wasn't too bad. Funny how that works when you follow the step-by-step photos, eh? (Don't know about your household, but in mine boys "don't need directions.")
I did have to borrow a power tool from Doug for one step of the process and Carrie was quick to help with that. In fact, she helped with some of the tighter screws to save my shoulder.
Now I have a nice workspace where my sewing machine can stay out all the time! And some bonus drawers to store sewing supplies that I hadn't even counted on in the beginning. I love it!

And a couple of extra photos that belong with this post:

Whisky Jay the Rotten Cat - supervising the action from my craft chair while we put the cabinet together.

And my pincushion now has a home on the top of this new table. I made this about 20 years ago from scraps left over from a quilt that I made for Carrie's first "big girl bed."

I love how fabric scraps can bring back memories,
kind of like an old familiar song that takes you back
when you happen to hear it.

Thanks for visiting my craft room.
:o)

22 comments:

Mom said...

Back in the old days when I HAD to put things together, I read the instructions and followed them to the letter. Now that I don't have to put things together, instructions might as well be written in a foreign language--it's all greek to me! Great job, Sweetie--don't think there's anything you can't do! Love the little pin-stuck turtle! And I see pretty fabric!

Off to Aunt Betty's today. Gonna miss your blog while I'm gone! xo

helena said...

Been doing lots of IKEA construction recently and find the instructions fine to follow. Clearly I need a cat to add the final element to the process.

So true about fabric and meories Deb, I made a patchwork when I was about 15 from scraps leftover from clothes made for me and my sister -it sparks memories everytime I see it.

scrappyjacky said...

Ours is a 'don't need directions' household as well....until things go wrong,of course!! Your sewing area looks great....and so much better when you don't have to get the machine out each time.
I know just what you mean about fabric and memories.

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

It looks great. Sometimes a little IKEA just hits the right spot! And I love your pincushion turtle - so sweet!

Sian said...

Well, good for you :) Power tools and all! It looks great too. The Accountant loves Ikea with a passion - he even chooses it for a birthday trip - so I've never had to break open the box myself. I probably should give it a go lol

Yes, I love the memories that come with finding a scrap of something.

Valerie said...

LOVE it---man is there ANYTHING that you can't do?????

Maria Ontiveros said...

I bet Whiskey Jay would have loved that bag of screws! When DS started Jr. High, we redid his room and assembled a bunch of ikea furniture for it. Happy memory! Although the dressers were not substantial enough to last in the long run, the rest has held up just fine.
Rinda

Lizzie said...

Aha! I have that desktop and the same drawer unit too! I bought some of the adjustable legs that clip to shelf supports (from their laundry room range) and altered the desktop to attach to these - it means I can adjust the height of the desk and use it for sitting or standing up (bookbinding work often needs you to work standing). So the drawer unit actually has a handy space on top, where I can store my laptop! And I also assembled the drawers myself (but needed help with my big bookcase unit - def. a 2-person job).
Well done you - looks wonderful! And I love the turtle pincushion. I keep meaning to make myself a pincushion but never seem to get round to it. So sad...

Unknown said...

Jealous of your new table! And the directions for putting together my shelves were SUPER hard to understand. IKEA just does the pictures so they don't have to print them in every different language, but it was confusing!

Rachel Brett said...

Yes we have a 'boys don't need instructions' household too, but in the end I am always asked to come and help! My version of helping though is to read the instructions to him!!! Then all I do is smile......

Anonymous said...

Oh I am envious of your new sewing table. My machine lives in a blanket box and doesn't get as much use as it should because it is such a pain to get out.

traci said...

i love ikea, i just don't love all the assembly. i am getting lazy in my old age. i just want to buy it ready to go.

Amy said...

giggle, giggle ..... The Engineer, because he is an engineer, decides to completely ignore all instructions because, what would they know that he doesn't? Ahem .... many a time I have had to dangle the instructions in front of his eyes while his ears are steaming in frustration! Well done to the two of you for getting this all together - it looks fabulous and I love, love the little turtle pin cushion!

Daniela Dobson said...

I love IKEA...so many great things in my room are from there. I was just thinking how I needed to take a trip there soon. Love your pincushion. I should make one.
FYI about the Prima alphabet stamp...it is one solid image. I guess you could "cut" the letters apart, but if you notice, some of the letters are missing (w x y z).

MarleneMAZ said...

Your new table looks great, got to love Ikea!

Denise said...

Wow, I'm very impressed at your new table and I love that turtle :-)

Margaret said...

So basically, putting together furniture is just another type of crafting. Yes?

Becky said...

I agree - the men in my house just do not read the instructions! Love the desk and the turtle is gorgeous! Your cat is very like our cat called Willow - I will have to post a photo of her soon - at the moment she is supervising my blog hopping, sitting on the arm of the sofa whilst I am on my laptop!

humel said...

That is the cutest little pincushion! And a *fab* workspace :-) I'm the Ikea putter-togetherer in our household.... I'm due a trip to Ikea next week actually, but I'm building up the necessary stamina!

Anonymous said...

Does your blog have a contact page? I'm having problems locating it but, I'd like to
send you an email. I've got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.
Here is my site ... michael kors hamilton bag

Anonymous said...

Hello, its nice paragraph concerning media print, we all know media is
a wonderful source of information.
Here is my page - michael by michael kors bag

Anonymous said...

e cigarette, ecig forum, electronic cigarettes, e cigarette, electronic cigarette starter kit, electronic cigarettes

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...