A Humble Highland Woodworking Black Friday Tale
You ever sit down with a warm cup of coffee and just let your mind wander? I do that sometimes, especially when it’s chilly outside, and this time of year, you can practically smell the winter in the air. Just a couple of days ago, I found myself thinking about my Black Friday experience from last year at Highland Woodworking, and man, was that a day.
It all started with me thinking I was some kind of woodworking wizard. Little did I know, I was more like a rookie in a pro’s league, not saying I didn’t have my moments. I had this bright idea to build a small side table for my living room instead of fighting the crowds for that last-minute holiday gift. I mean, who doesn’t love handcrafted items? Especially when the phrase “one-of-a-kind” gets tossed around like confetti at a parade. And the thought of trying out some freshly milled walnut — oh, boy, that was the dream.
The Plan and the Shopping Spree
So, on Black Friday, I woke up at the crack of dawn, just buzzing with excitement. I grabbed my favorite old thermos, filled it up with coffee — strong enough to wake the dead, mind you — and headed to Highland Woodworking. Walking into that store was like stepping into a candy shop for grown-ups. I swear the smell of sawdust and freshly cut wood made me giddy. I could practically dance down the aisles between all those chisels and clamps, the sound of the sliding doors opening felt like a fanfare.
I started with the basics, some beautiful walnut for the table top. I had read somewhere that walnut would darken beautifully over time, and I could only imagine how gorgeous that would look in my living room, especially next to my grandmother’s old green couch. Of course, I decided to go all out and bought some fancy dovetail saw too. I mean, why not, right? This was the day to snag the deals, and I felt like I was on a roll. Although, I did glance back at my wallet a couple of times, shaking my head, wondering if I’d gone a bit crazy.
Where Things Went Awry
Fast forward to me back home, with my spoils spread out on the workbench. Ah, that glorious moment when everything seems perfect. I can still hear the sound of the saw blade cutting through the wood — a nice, rhythmic “zzzzzz…,” like a lullaby for a woodworker. But let me tell you, it wasn’t long before I hit a wall.
I set out to cut the top, and my hands were shaking a bit as I started measuring. Like an absolute rookie, I mixed up my measurements. Tension had been building; my heart was racing, and, well, I just messed it up. There I was, staring at two mismatched pieces of walnut, and I almost threw in the towel right then. I thought about packing everything up and joining the chaos at the department store down the street, but I took a breath, maybe downed another cup of coffee, and pushed on.
Reassessing the Situation
After a little mental pep talk, I pivoted. Sometimes, you just gotta adapt, right? In the back of my mind, I remembered this one time my buddy Gary told me about how he turned a mistake into a beautiful piece of art. So, I thought, “Why not use those misshapen pieces as sides for a small drawer?” And surprisingly, that’s when things got interesting.
I ordered some beautiful maple for the drawer fronts to contrast against the warm brown of the walnut. And as I let the pieces sit and acclimate in my garage, I envisioned the little drawer holding all those random things we keep around—small tools, maybe some receipts from that very same Black Friday.
When I finally assembled everything, it all clicked together. I still remember the smell of the wood glue drying, that slightly sweet aroma wafting in the air, and I chuckled to myself thinking about how close I was to giving up. Can you believe that?
The Final Moments
The first time I actually got to see the table standing upright, it was like staring at my own reflection but in wood. There it was, my little side table, with its slight imperfections telling a story—my story. I did the final sanding and finished it with a coat of Danish oil. Honestly, that first brushstroke was like unwrapping a gift; the richness of the walnut color just popped, and I swear the table glowed.
And you know, in all the chaos of life, I found a sense of peace in that moment, sitting in my living room, staring at this beautiful, imperfect creation. I learned that it’s okay to make mistakes. They can lead you down paths you never thought to explore. Every imperfection had meaning, rooting the piece in reality rather than the sterile perfection of mass production.
A Warm Takeaway
So, if you’re sitting there, maybe contemplating what to do this upcoming Black Friday or thinking about your first woodworking project, just go for it. Seriously, don’t let a little fear stop you. Mistakes? They’re gonna happen! And they might just turn into something even better than you imagined.
Enjoy the process, the messiness of it all. Pour yourself that cup of coffee, dive into the smell of wood, and let your creativity lead the way. Who knows? By the end of the day, you might just surprise yourself with something beautiful.
