Thread: First Project - desk

Hi Jill and Danita

Fantastic! I wish I had started to learn to woodwork when I was 15 yrs old! I stuck to "girlie" crafts like painting, pottery, sewing and cooking. I wasn't allowed to do manual arts at school, I got talked into doing home economics! Grrrr.... I spent more time rolling out ravioli than anything else!

Lucky for me I finally started woodworking at 25 yrs old and haven't looked back. Warning though - she will get stuck with requests from friends and family to make them custom built furniture! Occasionally Tom requests home made pasta for dinner, but that's okay! I can do BOTH now!

Woodworking is a great way to release creative energy, learn new skills and spend time with her Mum.

Love the design and recycled timbers. Can't wait to see your next "joint" efforts (bad joke).

Well done ladies!

Cheers
Danielle

As my daughter's woodwork teacher used to say, not bad...for a girl.

Actually, it's bloody terrific. Danita obviously has a heap of talent that is being encouraged by your close family. Go for it.

Terrific work for an experienced woodie let alone a first project. With the effort gone into that desk I see a great future ahead for that young lady whatever she decides to do.

There's something happening in those Jill genes. Fantastic work. The generous drawers and sturdy legs fit well with the overall weight of the piece. The horse-shoe detail on the back gives visual interest, and fits the old-style rusticity. The repeated horse-shoe on top is a nice touch; and even the metal drawer handles match the horse-shoe theme.

Congratulations Jill's daughter. I'd give you a greeny, if you had your own membership. Meantime, I'll send a greeny to Jill for passing on those genes.

Hi Jill,
Exceptional piece of furniture, regardless of age! I love the tilting top for drawing. I tried sending a greenie, but spent them on previous posts of your house...
I can't imagine Danita will look fwd to moving out of home with a heavy stash of jarrah furniture to consider !

Cheers,

Fantastic work, very well proportioned with cool details.

congrats Jill & Danita. a beautiful desk.

have to ask though Jill, how do you get your kids to be interested in the same stuff as you. all my 15yo son does is pull cars to bits and rebuild them, costs me a fortune in parts

and just how big is your workshop going to be, with the family all in there

Danita definately takes after mum, in skill and looks. Truely amazing stuff!

Thanks so much for the overwhelming response, everyone!! We had some laughs, too, and some slight head swelling that should go down with another day struggling on our next projects! I'm glad for the great satisfaction of being able to give our kids this opportunity - to grow up rarely feeling "I can't do that", but just to have a go, use your brains, and do your best! I can't wait to get the house finished, now, so that we can have more time building furniture, etc. It was great having all your encouraging responses yesterday, too, as our eldest was in a minor crash in Perth, so it helped to have this connection on here at a difficult time. She's fine, apart from some whiplash, a bit of bruising and being shaken up, plus the car will probably be written off. She's home now with us, too, for the w'end, so that helps reassure us!

Thanks again, everyone,

Jill

Hi Jill

If my first project would look like this one, my coffee table would look much better.

Very nice work

Regards and fast recovery
niki

Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for all your awesome comments and encouragement, etc!!! I planned to get my desk done before I had to start school again. Btw, I still do normal girl stuff! I love quilting, sewing, knitting, artwork, cooking, permaculture, architecture (particularly passive solar design and vernacular buildings from natural materials)... and i LOVE agriculture!
Anyway.. You'll see more of me around here! I'll probably join soon.
Thanks again,
~*~Danita~*~

Well done Danita, a greenie on its way, clever design and workmanship, a family heirloom has been born!
My daughter did some beautiful woodwork at school, topped her class, made a coffee table for her final project that has a working N gauge train set built into it ... and then her teacher said 'lovely work but that's it because girls won't do any good in this business".
Don't listen to the luddites, you have real and precious talent! Fletty

Danita, the 'greenie police' won't let me give you a greenie yet because I recently sent one to your mum ... talented family!
Fletty