Do You Love Being Alone in the Shop?
My first DIY in the new house. The former owner had this shop for over 50 years, and someone else worked in …
One Day Upcycling Makeover
In the morning there was nothing in this nook. Now it’s an built-in vanity made from several pieces acquired at the #habitatforhumanity …
History Lesson
Casters with used up clay wheels off a restoration project (remember roller skates with clay wheels?)
Before and After
This stump was not a table Now it’s a table #upcycle
School Supplies
When you’re me… You get a call from a friend when something like this shows up on a curb #upcycle
Do You Even Lift?
Missed the gym today, but spent an hour lifting, lugging, sorting & chucking logs, doors, rocks, farm implements & bob wire. Now …
The GMC DIY Challenge: As It Unfolded
For the GMC DIY Challenge, they labeled my competition an Interior Designer and a Custom Fabricator, and me a Professional “Maker” (their …
Making an Upcycled Bench and an Upscale Gin and Tonic
There was nowhere to sit on the porch of my 101 year old craftsman style house, so I built a bench out …
Making a Mannequin Stand
I acquired two mannequins from a store that was going out of business. They’re only torsos, so to get them up off …
Moto Ramp Wine Rack (and tool review)
You know I have a cool, upcycled bar for whiskey and spirits, but I didn’t have a place to show off my …
Tool Support
You never know when an opportunity might present itself. I’ve had luck with fixtures, furniture and equipment before. Sadly, I couldn’t get …
Are You a Maker?
I’m a maker. Are you? If you are, or if you’d like to be, or if you just like to watch things …
10 Tips to Make a Lamp out of Anything
I was at the Torrance Habitat for Humanity ReStore to lead a DIY workshop on how to epicycle anything into quirky, funky or even traditional …
DIY Workshop: You Can Make a Lamp out of Anything
Seriously – you can. Everything in this picture is about to become a lamp. I’ll be at the Torrance Habitat for Humanity …
I Build a Stand for the Dyson Hot+Cool Fan & Review It in the Process
The master bedroom of #1915house has exterior walls to the east, south and west. That means constant sun exposure all day, and …
Go To the ReStore – Make a Franken-Chair
For the second of my fresh ink/low dust projects, I got a couple of sad and lonely chairs from Habitat for Humanity’s …
My Vanity Was Way Too Big
The sink in the master bathroom takes up too much space, so I’m building a pedestal sink out of welded steel and …
Came off a Movie Set – Now I Watch Movies on It
There’s almost no furniture in my new house, because I haven’t built it yet – but I do have a place to …
A Serving Tray from an Oak Stump (put a pie on it)
My friends at MYFixitUpLife gave me a DIY Dare to find something out on a hike and make a serving tray for …
Raw materials pay off
Remember this?
Can’t Resist the ReStore
200 miles from my house I haven’t even moved into yet. Still can’t resist going to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
This fence…
…was broken when I got here.
Yes, this Scimitar is for #BackToTheFutureDay (it’s also a knife review)
Everyone’s taking about #BackToTheFutureDay. I want to build something, but I’m not a high tech guy. So, of course – scimitar. And …
They Were Everywhere
Always be on the lookout for raw materials. Fight the spiders.
More Things
Still no place to put them, but I got this lamp and this case with a secret project inside.
My 10 Rules for the ReStore
The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is an excellent DIYer and Maker resource for tools and materials at a good price – and for …
Vintage Craftsman Drill Find (might electrocute me)
Found this vintage Craftsman drill at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Let’s plug it in and see if it electrocutes me. The …
Will This Blow My Hand Off?
Found this cool, vintage Craftsman drill at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. I’m gonna plug it in and see if it electrocutes …
Build this Oaken Lamp and Take a Tour of My Shop
Couch surfing with family while my new house is in limbo, I still can’t stop making things – so here’s how to …
Creeper
I have a lot of mirrors waiting to be upcycled. And I keep thinking someone’s sneaking up on me.
Mega Drought
7 years of drought. Move my shop outside to sort and pack it. 7 days of rain in the forecast. (this is maybe …
8th Wonder of the World
Crating art like King Kong on his way to Carnegie Hall. (made with parts scrounged from an IKEA table broken during …
Shopping for Pens, But…
Went to Office Depot for Sharpies to label my boxes for moving. I’ll take 4 sets of lockers please. …and 4 Sharpies.
The Scrap Steel Haul
50 pounds of 4-inch angle iron, plus other random metal, loaded into my brother’s truck.
Me and Nico Down by the Steel Yard
Digging through the off-cut section at the steel yard in Santa Maria, California. Because that’s what you do on vacation. BTW, I …
Bad Medicine
Why would someone throw away this perfectly good medicine ball?
