Don't forget to poke the photos to enlarge!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

No Apron Today.....

Early this morning, I went into the workroom and started looking for my Russian file folder.....It was at the bottom of a pile on the floor....No...Don't ask how the workroom looks now.

I knew that, if I wanted to do anything besides make zebra skin aprons, this morning I was going to have to start early.

I found what I was looking for. I remembered a photo of a trestle table on one of the pages. We needed a small table for the main part of the cottage.

I made it smaller and made it a bit more rustic. The one in the photo was much fancier than a cottage table.

Here's the pattern for it if you wish to try it. It is drawn on quarter inch graph paper. If you can get it to that size on your computer, you can just use the pattern as is.

The wood that I used was 3/32" thick bass. You need a 3" by 3 1/2" piece for the top, the two fancy end pieces, two stretcher bars that are 2 1/2" long and one for the mortise and tenon that is 2 1/2" plus a 1/4" to 1/2" tab on both ends. The strips were5/16" X3/32".


In order to get the ends to match, I took some double stick tape and stuck the two pieces together before cutting. That way the two pieces will be exactly the same and I only have to cut once.

The only other fussy cutting I had to do was whittling down the ends of the boards for the mortise and tenon join.

Speaking of that, to get the rectangular hole in the end pieces, I used my pin vise drill and drilled a hole in each end of the opening. Then I took an Exacto knife and cut out the rest.

The next step was to stain all of the pieces. This photo was after a golden pecan coat. I didn't like the color so I went over it with Early American Minwax....OK, so I couldn't find Early Russian. I don't think that Minwax makes that shade.


I stuck all of the pieces together with Fast Grab Aleene's glue. I put in the middle stretcher bar first, making sure that the end tabs were seated into the holes with a bit of glue. The bottom bar lays flat at the center bottom edge and the top one goes vertically at the top edge. I clamped them all together and let them dry.


The last step was to flip the top over on its face and center the leg assembly onto that with glue.

I was just sitting here watching the glue dry when Tessie zapped herself in, grabbed the table and zapped herself out again.


I have to go now to see where she hid the table. I still have to work on the finish.... As she left, I heard her growl...."No apron, NO TABLE!!!!"


See you tomorrow.

16 comments:

Jean Tuthill said...

Thanks for the table pattern. I printed it out and it's just a little smaller than it should be, so I can just redraw it. I hope you find yours soon. I am having a giveaway for my 100th follower, c'mon over and enter!

Katie said...

It's beautiful Casey!

Unknown said...

What a great table! Haha poor Tessie, I hope you find your table soon!

Claudia said...

That is such a neat table but I'm sorry Tessie absconded with it. She is something else!

xo
Claudia

Papillon Bleu said...

She is such a strong tiny little lady! hehehehehehehe!

Carey said...

Hi Casey,
I am amazed at this table. What did you use to cut the detail in the legs? Did you use an electric saw or hand saw. I have always wanted one of those electric miniature saws, I can't remember the name of it. I saw them for sale at an east coast miniature show. I would love to know what you used. You really are talented.
Hugs,
Carey

iseecerulean said...

Fantastic! What did you use to cut it out with?

Caseymini said...

I used my Micro Lux saw from Micro Mark. I bought it a year or so ago and like it a lot. It is the most inexpensive one. I have, in the past used a jeweler's saw, but it is much easier with the power tools. I had a Dremel scroll saw for about 25 years and it finally bit the dust. Any good jewelers saw or scroll saw with a fine blade will do the trick.

If you notice, I did it by taking small bites out of the wood. You can't turn sharp corners with any of the saws easily. Just like getting to Carnagie Hall....It takes practice, practice, practice.

Heather said...

It continues to amaze me how you just whip things up! Beautiful table!

Cheryl said...

Veery nice piece Casey. Thanks for sharing!

miniacollection said...

Wonderful table!
Geneviève

Deni said...

your just so clever Casey!
the table is fabulous!
great work!!!
wish I had those talents!

Ilonka said...

whow Casey, this is so beautiful. Great Job!!

gr Ilonka

Lisette said...

Beautiful table made. I have exactly the same table as you.

Caseymini said...

Lisette, unless you designed yours by looking at a photograph of a real Russian antique table and made the dimensions smaller than the original, I doubt that it is the exact same table.LOL I would love to see yours to see how close they match.

Carla Alessandra said...

Parabens suas miniaturas são incriveis,prentendo chegar la um dia.