On occasion, I can be a little stubborn (my friends might disagree..they would say more often than 'on occasion'). This particular time, I said "No thank you," to the clerk. "I'd like this kit." He was suggesting a model that was already put together and cheaper. "I'm not sure why, but I really want to make my own." He looked less than supportive. I came back two more times that day, much to his dismay. Once to purchase a jigsaw, and once to get more supplies and tell him that the directions to the kit were wrong. That was the first time he thought I knew what I was doing.
Deciding to make the bench was easy. I wanted to hang some pictures and had misplaced my hammer (translate that to: My daughter borrowed it and I haven't seen it since). I knew it was in her room, but had searched to no avail. She was at work and I didn't want to bother her, and my son was gone at a friend's house for the day. An unusually quiet weekend day at home. One thing led to another, and it occurred to me that if I had a workbench, I would have a hammer.because the hammer would have a home. So, I scooted over to Home Depot and checked out the situation. This kit contained metal parts that when combined with 2 x 4's and some screws..a workbench would be created.
I could even have the pieces cut at the store. Wow! I could do that.seemed no different than a pre-cut quilt kit to me. So, I gathered up the wood lengths and had them cut on something that looked like an industrial size wall mounted rotary cutter, mat and board. Still feeling comfy in this zone, I headed home. The first problem I encountered was that I didn't have a workbench to work from..ha ha! So, I tailgated the whole project from my PT Cruiser..love that car! The second problem was in the first step. "Using a hammer to set the screws, place the horizontal boards in the metal jig and fasten." I used the backside of a wrench instead. It worked fine for one pound, then it popped open and had to be reset. After a few of these, I found myself in my daughter's bedroom going through her laundry baskets looking for my hammer...still to no avail, I accepted the humor of the situation and decided that the wrench would do.
A couple of hours later (yeah.right!), I had the first section together and the song, "If I had a hammer." floating in my head. I stood back to admire my work. I laughed out loud with no one around to share this moment. Well, this is like making a quilt! I now needed to put the drill in reverse and unscrew about 30 screws! One board was turned on its side and the whole thing was crooked as a result.like a sideways block in a finished quilt top! Upon completing the 'ripping', I read the sparse directions more carefully and eventually ended up with a piece to be proud of. well except that it did not have the tables or pegboard on it, and the directions stopped there. A lot like: "quilt and bind as desired!' I suppose it could always function as a quilt rack.a rather rustic one, but all in all.you could swing a couple of quilts over this thing!
There was one looming problem I had had all along
and kept thinking that I would deal with it later. It was now
time to cut the corners. And, I couldn't cut any corners.quite
literally! The friend that I had thought might do that for me was out
of town. So, I took my quilting knowledge and decided I
could do it myself.all I needed was the right tool! Off to the
store for a jigsaw and blades. My friend in hardware seemed
surprised to see me. Even more surprised when I didn't buy the
cheapest jigsaw. "How is it going?" he asked
apprehensively. "Great!" I said.like making a quilt." He
laughed. He still had no faith.
I got home, now late in the afternoon, and measured the corner cuts
with my Plexiglas quilting ruler and sawed away. Not as clean as
a rotary cutter, but pretty quick, and not to worry, I made sure I had
band-aids close by. Upon completing the cuts, I tried to
put the table on the frame..no way! The finished picture looked
as though there were cuts in the back two corners.but the illustration
showed none. So, I went ahead, and cut them anyways.and yes.it
worked!
I returned a third time to purchase some wood plugs, a sink drill bit
and wood glue to 'bind' the table top. I took the directions with
me, and a digital photo of the almost completed workbench. I
showed my friend in hardware the photo and the directions. He
smiled bigtime, and said, "I knew you could do it!" Liar.
On the way home, I picked up my son and daughter,
well timed. "Just where is that hammer?" She located it
quickly and I sunk the screws and pounded in the plugs. My son
delighted in setting up all the hooks and pegs in the pegboard and we
ceremoniously hung 
the hammer
first. It was beautiful! Like a quilt complete.with
embellishments, I had the satisfaction of a project well done.
Who do you call? I called my mom, and told her about the day, how
I had always admired my beloved Dad's workbench, and how I created one
that was just like his. She was delighted that I had done this,
and asked if I would like to have some of his tools to hang on
it. I said that would be great. She said, "I know he has a
good hammer, you can have that when you come home next time."
"Mattie"
12/08/06
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