Hi there.
I went to ye olde woodshoppe last week, plans in hand, very unsure of myself. Since I have absolutely no clue what differentiates an easy, beginning project from a master-craftsman project, I decided to not start with the garden arbor but opt for something smaller instead. After a long talk with Wes, though, I’m back to the arbor. Because the joinery is simpler1, even if the thought of transporting 8′ beams in my car is a little daunting. So, yesterday, Heather and I went to Home Depot to look at plans. The Despot was chock-full of idea books, but lacking in plans with cut lists and diagrams. However, I did manage to find something, so I’m happy. I’m also really happy about the general attitude at Home Depot, which is that girls are not dumb. In all the time I’ve been shopping there, I’ve only had one bad experience with an employee who far preferred talking to my dad than me about my home-improvement project. This is a good thing. Also, Home Depot is one of those places that excites me2. I could spend hours in there just looking at all the stuff, and hours more deciding what to do with it. Home Depot is all about finding the raw materials for making good things. When I think about all the crazy/stupid projects I could come up with, I get dizzy. I have to restrain myself, which is why Heather comes with me. If she starts slapping my hands and yelling, “I said, put that down!”, I know it’s time to go. I did find the main source materials from my homemade valentines at Home Depot, though. Tell me that’s not completely awesome. Yesterday, we also went to the yarn store (since we’re now officially knitters), and the craft store, about which I have recently had an epiphany, realizing that it’s chock-full of crap I need to buy and make stuff with3. And then in the evening, I went to the giant warehouse office supply store. And I have decided that what I need is a combination of all of these: hardware/home improvement store, craft/hobby store, office supply store, and maybe toss in some Goodwill and a hefty chunk of eBay. I demand raw materials, and the tools with which to render the raw materials into cool, useful projects. Don’t give me any of that already-made stuff. I’m a do-it-yourselfer. And I can promise you, should you choose to build this store, I will be the most loyal customer ever, and I will give you all my cash. Except for the cash I’ve already pledged to the coffeeshop. That goes without saying. Jenni1 You know your life has changed significantly when you can use the word ‘joinery’ casually in a sentence.
2 No, not in that way. Well, OK. Sometimes in that way, too.
3 Current turn-ons include: vellum paper, grommets, sheets of clear plastic, foreign-language flashcards, iron-on letters, felt, sandpaper, roadmaps, price labels, and tiny little silver things.