It's a treat to have G in your life. We had a quick midnight chat tonight about projects. I think the fact that I am ready to actually even visit the shop and pick up a tool is a good sign. I have been recovering from a little knee problem, and today I just had my first ever root canal. The dentist said that I was grinding my teeth and actually loosened a filling. I remember when I did it. It was during a particularly difficult time working through sport admin back in January. I am a big baby at heart, but I do heal quickly compared to most, and am no stranger to pain. The fact that I even want to get back to work is a clue. Accountant tomorrow morning, which will be nothing compared to the root canal. Then bank. Then I can start having fun again, and get on with a very interesting and wonderful life.
G floated the idea of incorporating some of my latest 'quest for drawer' urges into the list of existing Camp Projects. She is really good. Immediately after our midnight chat, I headed straight for the shop and did an inventory of what I had on the floor. I have a little maple. I have 9 cherry table legs, and some finished cherry shorts. I suppose I should be building a proper computer desk and a small knitting table out of my cherry inventory before it warps.
Here was G's suggestion. Why don't I complete the matching bedside table (One is done), and incorporate some of my drawer ideas into the piece? It must be nice to be right handed once in a while. You see, her idea was very, very practical. My first table, made during my first cabinet making course, uses hand cut dovetails for the joinery. I remember my teacher laughing at me. He called me the 'Dovetail Man'. That little bedside table is a two or three lifetime piece (300 years). It's put together like a puzzle. The pieces actually hold themselves together. The forces balance very nicely. Every day, the piece gets a little stronger. It has one simple drawer. I will build a similar piece, and use a 'mass production' drawer technique to test some of my recently acquired knowledge. Time to buy a little maple and a little maple ply. With G's idea, I can explore many techniques I will require for Graham's Bookcases, and home storage while filling a Camp need.
G tried to talk me out of the 'Dressing Table' concept for the bedroom. Anyone that knows her will agree that she has a very 'pink' side to her that compliments her professional side quite nicely. This is a design issue that I am sure the two of us will discuss further. If I created the 'Dressing Ledge', or 'Dressing Perch', I may be assured success. At least my insight still works.
Showing posts with label The List of Camp Projects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The List of Camp Projects. Show all posts
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Some Context
Before I start on my next project at camp, I would like to supply loyal camp followers with a little background so that they can better understand why the camp upgrade is so important to me and G's role in the process.
I have lived on my own at camp for quite a while. My son Leo stays with me for a couple of weekends every month and on holidays. I work full time, and my sport keeps me quite busy over the spring and summer months. When Leo is here, I try really hard to keep it fun and lively for him. This leaves me with only small windows to affect any physical changes to my home environment, and like G, I really am on my own when the tools come out. In August 2007, I returned tired, from a long road trip, dropped my suitcases in the front hall, looked round, and said 'I can't live like this any more'. At that point I identified a few things that I could do to make my house a little more like a home. I realised that on my own, there was only a finite amount of work that I could accomplish and came up with a plan and set realistic goals that could be attained by the end of 2007.
When the possibility of G coming for a visit arose, I modified my timetable a little so that we could enjoy a little more camp comfort together. Upon arrival, G walked in to tacky walls and quite a bit of dust, but quickly embraced the essence of what I was trying to do and why it had to be done.
G is an amazing woman you know. She has done a remarkable job in renovating her lovely London home, and has obviously learned through practical experience what works in home projects. She is a skilled designer, who understands space, colour, and light. She is an extraordinary cook and therefore understands how a working kitchen should be planned, and how food should be served and enjoyed. As part of her responsibilities at work, G manages what could be described as projects that border on the monolithic scale, so she can basically create a project plan for a home renovation project in her sleep. If you said to her, 'G, I want to go to Mars next year', she would go 'hmmm, let's see. Well, you would need to get organized and you would start by....'.
On my own I can do many things, but with a proper vision and plan, I can accomplish miracles. I have never had the benefit of someone to help me before, and what may look like a 'honey do' list to some, represents a path for me to improve the quality of life for my son, G, and I. With our approach to project documentation on the blog, I feel like G is right there with me whether I am in the shop or on the couch thinking about what I am going to tackle tomorrow.
I have lived on my own at camp for quite a while. My son Leo stays with me for a couple of weekends every month and on holidays. I work full time, and my sport keeps me quite busy over the spring and summer months. When Leo is here, I try really hard to keep it fun and lively for him. This leaves me with only small windows to affect any physical changes to my home environment, and like G, I really am on my own when the tools come out. In August 2007, I returned tired, from a long road trip, dropped my suitcases in the front hall, looked round, and said 'I can't live like this any more'. At that point I identified a few things that I could do to make my house a little more like a home. I realised that on my own, there was only a finite amount of work that I could accomplish and came up with a plan and set realistic goals that could be attained by the end of 2007.
When the possibility of G coming for a visit arose, I modified my timetable a little so that we could enjoy a little more camp comfort together. Upon arrival, G walked in to tacky walls and quite a bit of dust, but quickly embraced the essence of what I was trying to do and why it had to be done.
G is an amazing woman you know. She has done a remarkable job in renovating her lovely London home, and has obviously learned through practical experience what works in home projects. She is a skilled designer, who understands space, colour, and light. She is an extraordinary cook and therefore understands how a working kitchen should be planned, and how food should be served and enjoyed. As part of her responsibilities at work, G manages what could be described as projects that border on the monolithic scale, so she can basically create a project plan for a home renovation project in her sleep. If you said to her, 'G, I want to go to Mars next year', she would go 'hmmm, let's see. Well, you would need to get organized and you would start by....'.
On my own I can do many things, but with a proper vision and plan, I can accomplish miracles. I have never had the benefit of someone to help me before, and what may look like a 'honey do' list to some, represents a path for me to improve the quality of life for my son, G, and I. With our approach to project documentation on the blog, I feel like G is right there with me whether I am in the shop or on the couch thinking about what I am going to tackle tomorrow.
Honey Do...The List of Camp Projects!
B, I can see why D thinks that I am standing over you with this list, cracking the domestic whip! I have even joked about hefting a skillet. Hmm, perhaps I should offer more carrot than stick in future?!
Just as clarification (and in my defence), when I stayed with B back in October, he talked about all the things that he would like to do to his house, just to improve it for him and his son, L. He had made a start before my visit. Although B's house is fine as it is, it was possible to see how lovely his house could be if he continued his work and how certain things on the list would enhance his enjoyment of his home. E.g. the new dining table is beautiful and the old table can now serve as a proper permanent desk for his PC - two problems solved.
I know a little bit about doing house improvements as I had to renovate my 1880s terraced cottage in London. Doing up my house took a long time and occasionally, I would feel overwhelmed by the list of things to be done, just to get it functional and clean. In those moments, progress stood still as I would be paralysed by the enormity of the tasks.
So rather than allow B to get swallowed up by his list of projects, I wrote up everything that he mentioned he would like to do when I got back to London after my visit. It is at the very start of this blog. Just so that I can help him to prioritise, focus on manageable projects and be a sound board for his ideas, as he works through each piece of work.
It's a bit frustrating as I would love to be there, helping B to work on his house in person. However, at least this way B gets some support and I still get to feel involved (from a long way away). Also, it gives us both something positive to talk about as we do not see each other for weeks at a time, rather than moan about the fact that we are missing each other.
In reality, although I joke about the skillet and B does listen to my input, he does what he wants to do - it is B's house, so while I might suggest destinations, I am not the one steering the boat.
In terms of my own Honey Do list. B knows that he doesn't have to set me one - he knows that I am groaning under the load of my own, self inflicted set of tasks related to home admin, sport admin and knitting projects with deadlines. I am quite happy to share it, if B promises to help me prioritise, give support, input when I am stuck and crack the whip when I am flagging on the job!
Just as clarification (and in my defence), when I stayed with B back in October, he talked about all the things that he would like to do to his house, just to improve it for him and his son, L. He had made a start before my visit. Although B's house is fine as it is, it was possible to see how lovely his house could be if he continued his work and how certain things on the list would enhance his enjoyment of his home. E.g. the new dining table is beautiful and the old table can now serve as a proper permanent desk for his PC - two problems solved.
I know a little bit about doing house improvements as I had to renovate my 1880s terraced cottage in London. Doing up my house took a long time and occasionally, I would feel overwhelmed by the list of things to be done, just to get it functional and clean. In those moments, progress stood still as I would be paralysed by the enormity of the tasks.
So rather than allow B to get swallowed up by his list of projects, I wrote up everything that he mentioned he would like to do when I got back to London after my visit. It is at the very start of this blog. Just so that I can help him to prioritise, focus on manageable projects and be a sound board for his ideas, as he works through each piece of work.
It's a bit frustrating as I would love to be there, helping B to work on his house in person. However, at least this way B gets some support and I still get to feel involved (from a long way away). Also, it gives us both something positive to talk about as we do not see each other for weeks at a time, rather than moan about the fact that we are missing each other.
In reality, although I joke about the skillet and B does listen to my input, he does what he wants to do - it is B's house, so while I might suggest destinations, I am not the one steering the boat.
In terms of my own Honey Do list. B knows that he doesn't have to set me one - he knows that I am groaning under the load of my own, self inflicted set of tasks related to home admin, sport admin and knitting projects with deadlines. I am quite happy to share it, if B promises to help me prioritise, give support, input when I am stuck and crack the whip when I am flagging on the job!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Keeping Up Project Momentum!
Okay, I appreciate it is polite to allow a decent period of time to elapse before I shout, "Next!" across eight time zones.
Absolutely, you should revel in the glory of your beautiful table and allow its loveliness to shine out from the top of our blog for a few days. But do you know what fella? Right now, I think that we both need to keep busy.
So...
...what do you fancy doing next?!
High Priority/Quick Wins
Absolutely, you should revel in the glory of your beautiful table and allow its loveliness to shine out from the top of our blog for a few days. But do you know what fella? Right now, I think that we both need to keep busy.
So...
...what do you fancy doing next?!
High Priority/Quick Wins
- A Must for the bathroom: bug shield for window to keep out flies and spiders (proposed by L and seconded by G who is absolutely delicious to biting flies)
- Dining Area: clean windows and rub down window paintwork (to get rid of the glue-on, velcro strip residue), undercoat and then gloss all window frames Brilliant White?
Once this is done, we can investigate blinds when I am there to protect you from your neighbour's morning attire?! - Veranda: clear clutter and consider whether table and chairs have had their day. If so, dispose of them...?!
- L's Bedroom: refresh paint and put up proper, interlined curtains (both of L's choice)
Medium Term, Larger Projects
- Veranda: design (and make?) dining table/chairs (or benches?) for next summer. Consider outside grill/BBQ for the summer?
- B's Bedroom: make 2nd bedside table and refresh wall colour!
- Living Area: remove knotty pine cladding and 60s-70s cupboard-shelving add-ons to reinstate original room finish? Then replace mantelpiece with a simple section of wood that you really like and consider making complementary, more efficiently planned bookcases for book storage?
- Kitchen: tackle lack of storage and food preparation areas by replanning cupboards and counter surfaces. Include dishwasher in replanning process! And also relocate corner recipe bookcase to maximise space for dining table? If so, add storage for recipe books and dining table items (napkins, table mats) into kitchen cupboard plan!
- Bathroom: hunt down a sink in a colour and style that goes with the existing bath and toilet and redo the surrounding bathroom cabinet, sink and mirror piece. New bath taps?
- Living Area: when heavy duty work is done - new drapes or blinds (warmth and privacy)! Then, smaller footprint fish tank and hang pictures of your own choice!
- Garden: redesign for ease of upkeep during summer months?
- General: protect and enhance all beautiful wood floors by refinishing them.
- General: brighten and warm rooms by phasing out green paint - suggest introduction of lighter colours in keeping with age-style of house?
- Basement: set up proper office-computer-games room space?
- Longer term, aspirational project: add big white, sunny room to top of house?!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
West Shore - Camp Projects
In no particular order:
Inside Camp
Kitchen:
Inside Camp
Kitchen:
- Tackle lack of storage and food preparation areas by replanning cupboards and counter surfaces. (Include dishwasher in replanning process!)
- HIGH PRIORITY ITEM! Install bug shield for window to keep out flies and spiders (proposed by Leo, seconded by Gabrielle)
- Hunt down a sink in a colour and style that goes with the existing bath and toilet and redo the surrounding bathroom cabinet, sink and mirror piece.
- It might be time to look at new bath taps too?
- Clean windows and rub down window paintwork (to get rid of the glue-on, velcro strip residue) and repaint all window frames white?
- Relocate corner recipe bookcase to maximise space for dining table? If so, add storage for recipe books and dining table items (napkins, table mats) into kitchen cupboard plan!
Living Area:
- Remove knotty pine cladding and 60s-70s cupboard-shelving add-ons to reinstate original room finish?
- Replace mantelpiece with a simple section of wood that you really like.
- Consider complementary, more efficiently planned bookcases for book storage
- When heavy duty work is done - new drapes or blinds (warmth and privacy)!
- Smaller footprint fish tank.
- Hang pictures of your own choice!
- Proper, winter weight interlined curtains (fabric of Leo's choice)
- Refresh wall colour (colour of Leo's choice)
Brian's Bedroom:
- 2nd bedside table
- Refresh wall colour!
General:
- Protect and enhance all beautiful wood floors by refinishing them.
Brighten and warm rooms by phasing out gloomy green paint. Suggest introduction of lighter colours in keeping with age-style of house.
Basement:
- Set up proper office-computer-games room space?
Outside Camp
Veranda:
- Clear clutter
- Consider whether table and chairs have had their day
- Look into design of outdoor dining table/chairs (benches) for next summer
- Outside grill/BBQ?
Garden:
- Redesign for ease of upkeep during summer months.
Longer term, aspirational project:
- Add big white, sunny room to top of house?!
Completed Projects!
- Dining Table - beautifully completed by B on 09/01/08!
Make new table (to seat 6). This needs to suit/fit space without encroaching on kitchen entrance/route to living area. You mentioned a Christmas deadline for this?
Original Blog Post Intro
Brian - I send early November greetings from London! Okay, over the past week, we have discussed a wide range of West Shore Camp projects. I have jotted them down from memory for you to see. Naturally, these require discussion/validation with all full and part time West Shore Camp residents. Agreed projects will then require prioritisation in accordance with need, urgency and budget. Once this is done, I can help you to identify project tasks, then plan and track progress as necessary?
(Can you hear the left brain, project planner chuckling from 8 timezones away?!)
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