Chasing Wood Dreams at Appelson Woodworks
So, let me paint a picture for you. It was a crisp fall afternoon, leaves tumbling down like confetti at a tiny parade, and I found myself wandering out to my garage, coffee in one hand and a head full of ideas. You’d think this was all sunshine and rainbows, right? But let me tell you, the journey of Appelson Woodworks was anything but smooth sailing.
The “Brilliant” Idea
A while back, I thought it would be smart to try my hand at making a live-edge coffee table. You know, the kind that makes you feel like you’ve got a slice of nature right in your living room? I had seen them online for what felt like a million bucks, and I figured, “How hard can it be?” Oh, how naïve I was.
So, I grabbed a piece of walnut at the local lumber yard—man, that smell when you slice through that luscious wood! If heaven has a scent, that must be it. But it was also a real challenge, getting the grain just right. I had watched countless YouTube videos, so I thought I could wing it, but I’ll tell ya, watching something is way different from doing it. Was I going to be the next woodwork wizard? I was about to find out.
The Tools of My Trade
Now, let’s talk tools. I’m a proud owner of a decent circular saw and a fairly reliable jigsaw, but I was feeling brave that day. So, I went and borrowed my neighbor Bob’s table saw. I mean, Bob’s been at this woodworking gig for years, so his tools were practically golden. Little did I know, borrowing tools is a slippery slope.
As I fired up that table saw, the sound reverberated through my chest. It felt like I was revving up a motorcycle, but instead of freedom, I was about to slice through a beautiful chunk of walnut. And I did it—oh boy, did I cut that wood. But the second I pushed that board through, I almost had a heart attack when I saw some awkward gaps in the cut. Yup, mistakes were made.
The Moment of Truth
With a heavy heart and a lot of wood filler, I pushed through. I thought, “I can fix this; it’ll be fine.” Spoiler alert: It wasn’t fine. I applied the wood filler like I was icing a cake, thinking I was a true craftsman. I laughed at how ridiculous I looked, covering up my mistakes like a kid with school glue on their hands. But I guess that’s part of the charm, right?
After finally sanding it down—not my favorite part, by the way; that dust gets everywhere—I moved on to the finish. Man, the smell of tung oil wafting through the garage was divine, though I should probably add that I overdid it and got a little dizzy. Safety glasses? Who needs ‘em when you’re high on woodworking fumes, right?
Almost Giving Up
And here’s where I almost threw in the towel. I was so close to finishing, but the legs I made from two-by-fours weren’t matching up, and it felt like I was trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. I remember staring at that table, ready to give it a one-finger waving goodbye. Sometimes, the weight of a project sinks in, ya know? Like, “What have I done? Should I just stick to being an amateur?”
But then I caught a glimpse of that beautiful walnut grain shining through. It reminded me of my grandpa George, who taught me that things worth having aren’t easy to come by. So I took a deep breath, put on some music—James Taylor’s “Carolina in My Mind” always gets me—and got back to it.
Failure Somewhat Turned Success
I finally nailed those legs down and looked at it—my little piece of furniture pride and joy. I couldn’t believe it; I felt like a million bucks. It wasn’t perfect, maybe had a tiny wobble if you pushed it just right, but it was mine. I laughed when it actually worked. My family thought I bought it, and I smiled like the Cheshire Cat.
But you know, beyond that, it taught me something vital. Life is a lot like woodworking. It’s messy, unpredictable, and sometimes the things you thought were flaws can actually become the best parts of the experience. I learned to embrace those imperfections—yes, they’re unpolished and rough around the edges, but they tell a story, don’t they?
So, Here’s the Thing
So, if you’re sitting there, thinking about picking up your tools or even exploring a new hobby, just go for it. Dive in, make those mistakes, and don’t forget to laugh at yourself along the way. Seriously, if you’d have told me I’d be sitting here, sipping coffee out of my fabulous walnut coffee table that I crafted with my own two hands, I would’ve thought you were crazy. But here I am, a little worse for wear but so much richer for the experience.
In the end, whether it’s wood or life itself, the journey is half the fun. Embrace the chaos, savor the smell of fresh cuts, and just let the shavings fall where they may. You might surprise yourself—and who knows, maybe someday you’ll have your own Appelson Woodworks story to share over coffee.
