Adventure on the high Seas - SAILBOAT - Recycled wood

  – Knot So Perfect Designs – BLOG

Explanation: Knot = wood knot, crochet knot etc. So = So, let's get started or, Sew =I sew just enough to get by; sow- seeds for gardening either flower or veggie. Perfect = absolutely exquisitely done but KNOT by me (sometimes). What I do sometimes I have never done before so the results are Knot Perfect! Design = Could be most anything. A crocheted rug, a kitchen makeover, a patio, garden, a new recipe or decorating something - maybe even some awesome pictures. 

So – you are likely to see and read about most anything here. Dreams, schemes and basic things.

ADVENTURE ON THE HIGH  SEAS - let's make a SAILBOAT from recycled pallet wood.

Because my brother will be visiting soon, I thought I'd make him (& wife) a sailboat seeing how they have had a big sailboat for many years.  He was also in the Navy.  I figure that if I can make the owl ....did you see my blog on the owl?  You better back up kids and check it out.  It is so darn cute.  So if I can make the owl I should be able to make a sailboat.

First off I found a very basic clip-art of a sailboat; went to Staples and had it enlarged 250%, shizam - that's big - so I could make a pattern.  Next I traced this onto cardboard so I could cut it out and use as a pattern.

 Who knows, someone else might like one after they see this!!!??  $$$  ha ha ha.  

Ok, so next I cut the pattern out.  Darn, I get so caught up in doing this I forget to take pictures...senior moment?  Possibly but more likely that of a creative mind at work!!

Next, choose your wood and lay out the pattern to trace onto it.  Again, the hardest part is picking out the wood. And again, keep in mind there may be nails or nail heads still in the wood as it looks like it has been used in pallet making more than once prior to my getting them. (Sorry the picture is blurry but I think you get the idea).

 

Now it's time to cut out all the pieces.  And, it's time to get the power tools out! Get your jigsaw and fire that bad boy up.  Yup, forgot to take more pictures but hey, I'm excited about this as it is starting to take shape.  

Next you will need your palm sander to smooth edges and to clean up the front of each piece.  This helps to get rid of any markings from where you traced the pattern onto the wood.

Lay the pieces out, tack and glue where needed and mark where pieces should "meet".  I say this because now you have to flip it to hook it altogether on the reverse side.  And yup - still forgetting to take pictures.

After you have it all tacked together, stand back and GLOAT!  Goodness me - this came out pretty darn good.  Look at that will ya' - 3D even. How awesome is that? 

Damn, almost broke my arm from patting myself on the back!!  ha ha ha  Not sure if I will stain, paint or leave as is.  I guess this will be determined by my brother once he sees it.

And did you see the ball on the top of the mast?  Pretty cool huh? Thought you'd like that.  That was tricky.  Yes it's a bead which I drilled a hole through.  I took thick wire and threaded it through then drilled another hole in the top of the mast which I inserted the wire into.  I put glue on the wire and the bead - hopefully it will stay.  I'll know better tomorrow!

I still need to fine tune putting these together and making the back look nicer but hey - I can't see it from my house!! Nor can I see it now - it is the BACK and you won't see it.  Why else do you think this is called KNOT So PERFECT Designs?

Remember I keep saying this isn't just for girls?   

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This is for anyone. 

You don't have to know HOW - you just need the DESIRE to TRY.

By all means leave me comments or ask questions if you have them and as always, feel free to share this blog with your friends.

Never wrestle with plastic wrap again: Store cellophane wrap in the freezer.  Yup - you heard me. The cold air reduces the plastic's static electricity, so it won't stick to the roll (or your hands) when you pull off a piece.

Note:  **** unknown origin

BACKYARD RETREAT WITH FIREPIT

 – Knot Sew Perfect Designs – BLOG

Explanation: Knot = wood knot, crochet knot etc. Sew = I sew just enough to get by; Sow- seeds for gardening either flower or veggie.Perfect = absolutely exquisitely done but KNOT by me (sometimes). What I do sometimes I have never done before so the results are Knot Perfect!Design = Could be most anything. A crocheted rug, a kitchen makeover, a patio, garden, a new recipe , decorating something or something basic.

BACKYARD RETREAT WITH FIRE PIT

Here is what I used & how much it cost:

$40.00 river pebbles
$40.00 slate pieces
$5.00 ea. for the windows
had the chairs
pallet was free
had the coffee table base
had the fire place chiminea
had the granite base
knockout rose bush - on sale  $5.00
time
sweat
muscle

Serious equipment was used on this only because my neighbor has this nice little Kubota tractor with every (so it seems) attachment they make for it!!  I think I introduced him before, and again, I think he wishes I had more money to do more projects because he gets bored easily.

I had this space right behind my deck that use to be a flower garden (I think) with a water feature which was no longer there.  It did however have lots of weeds.  I cleaned this out a number of times over the years and just kept the weeds mowed until I decided what I would do with it.  And, I finally decided.  I would make a sitting area - retreat with a fire pit...not so much a pit as an iron chiminea kinda' sorta'.

As I said, my neighbor brought over his tractor and rototiller attachment and chewed up the dirt and roots etc.  My daughter was here as well and she got right in there and pulled the roots once they were loosened. She's such a good girl.  

The next step was to put down a weed barrier so I used white house wrap I had left over from wrapping my shed/garage.  Works great and, this being white and the stones natural and whitish looking, it conceals an area should the stones get moved around where black weed barrier would show in a heartbeat.  Next, we laid out the slate which was purchased from a contractor that had taken it up from a project he was doing....yes, I did have to pay a nominal fee which was not much considering this slate was about a half inch thick and about $12-15.00 each, retail. I have about 40+ pieces!! Next we filled in with the river pebbles.

Didn't buy enough (as you can see) so  I had to get more the next day and finish up by myself; but that's okay, I'm a tough ol' gal!!  

Actually ended up doubling the size that I planned!  Imagine that!  I thought the slate would take up most of the area but it got spread out and wa-la, bigger area. I like it better - bigger  For the fire pit area, I had a granite slab that used to be part of a coffee table and we edged  it with brick. 

I planted a knockout rose bush on one end, put herbs in a wooden ground planter on the other side. I put chairs and a pallet table (the base from the granite coffee table).  Okay, I know what you're going to ask...why didn't I use the granite coffee table?  Well, it was kind of falling apart.  This too had been handmade by someone and had set out in the weather a long time.  It was time to re-purpose the materials, so I did.

 I hung a grapevine wreath in the middle of the lattice at the base of the deck along with 2 windows. Isn't that cute??  At first I wanted to put some curtains there but decided it wouldn't look good. I also thought of using bar height chairs and table but decided that would hide the windows...so I didn't as you can see.

This project is not complete. Okay - I'll tell you what it is.  The next step is to hang a porch swing to the right (where you see the landscape tie on the ground).  This requires posts and digging and it is just too dang HOT to be digging holes. (I still have that northern blood in my system I guess) Will wait 'til it's a little cooler and for the neighbor to bring his tractor back with the post hole digger! (hopefully!!!) I think deep down I want this swing on my deck... maybe that's the reason for stalling.  You'll have to wait to see where it ends up!!

This project was done in the spring when it was a little cooler and by the time I found a porch swing that didn't look like it would fall apart in a month and wasn't $400.00+,  it was hot, hot, hot.  I did find an awesome handmade swing for $50.00.  This thing will last forever if the carpenter bees will leave it alone.  I did paint it and is now ready for hanging.  Guess I had better get to the lumber store and get some posts. 

 I am also waiting for a little cooler weather to fire up the fire pit.  So get your sticks ready for some S'mores and maybe a little wine  (that really doesn't mix well but have enough wine and you won't know the difference!)

It seems funny that if there is no breeze coming across my deck, there is one on the ground where my new sitting area is.  It's very nice and actually private as I have a rose of sharon bush to the left (you can see a little of it) and it blocks the view from the road.  I have maybe a 20 ft. section with no bushes roadside but at 50+ mph you can't really see what's happening in the yard.

So don't be afraid to try something new.  Guys - girls, we are all not die hard do-it-yourself-ers but you'll never know WHAT YOU can do if you do not try.

There is also another section planned for this but that will be another project blog!!

***Dryer tip - (again) I know you are still wearing the summer weight clothing...cotton, linen, etc. so don't forget to SHAKE OUT your wet clothes before putting in the dryer - they will have less wrinkles when they come out - as long as you take them right out and hang up when done!!