A *Big* Thank You...

...goes out to Amy Preiser, associate editor for AOL's (fabulous) Shelterpop site, who wrote a sweet piece about our beloved lego bench.

Read the full story here.

Now, who's planning on BBQing during this fabulous 3-day weekend?! Or will you be carried away...like me?

How It's Made: Lego Bench Edition

First off, we'd like to thank everyone for their sweet comments on our George Nelson Platform bench made of Lego (you seriously made this past weekend uber fun!)

Before we close the Lego Project file, we'd like to take you behind the scenes of the lego bench process. Featured below is our Lego Bench documentary dedicated to Sesame Street's "How Crayons Are Made" episode; our inspiration and more importantly, my English teacher (I learned to speak English by watching Sesame Street). 

Enjoy!

The Lego Project

Ahhhh the Lego project. It has been talked about for months, but never seen. You know, it occurs to me that this lego project actually has a lot in common with the mythical sasquatch Bigfoot. Both are shrouded in mystery...and both appear blurry in all known photos. (clear shots below).

With all this build up, I can't help but to think that this will end up being a bit of a let down for some readers. After several months I'd be expecting no less than a 1/2 scale model of Mount Rushmore or the Statue of Liberty. But no...all you get is this lowly bench/coffee table. 

It all started about six ago when I became obsessed with the George Nelson Platform Bench by Herman Miller.

I just had to build one. I don't know why, but I did. Like a pregnant teenager on her tenth month, or a gentleman with irritable bowel syndrome after a 12 course Mexican dinner; this thing was in me...and it was coming out!

So what's a fellow with no discernible woodworking skills and no tools to do? Turn to Legos of course.

Actually, first I turned to my good friend Terry. He was able to help me out by granting me access to his childhood stash. After I had become familiar withe the little plastic rascals, it was time to start designing. 

Using sketchup I would eventually settle on a design. A few re-designs later, reality set in; this project was NOT going to be cheap. You see…when you buy legos individually, they are about a 10 to 26 cents per brick…and this bench is just a few bricks shy of a small fortune.

Still, I wouldn’t take it back. It’s cheaper than the real thing (though admittedly, a lot less useful)…but who cares. It goes in the boring room that nobody sits in anyway. It’s an art piece…it will make an impression (weather good or bad) on all who see it. It’s a conversation piece…and it’s an idea that has come to reality. If that’s not worth a couple hundred bucks, then I don’t know what is.

-Chris

All pictures taken by Chris and Rosemary of Ro Ro Ro Your Blog. 
(except for the one obviously stock photo of the real bench)

Thanks again...the checks in the mail.

Something Borrowed, Something Glued

This past weekend Chris and I had a long Sunday date with this little guy...

A (borrowed) compound miter saw (thank you Corin and Brent!). We worked on installing baseboards in Operation Oscar's Room and you know what? It wasn't so bad. I do, however, have one word of advice; invest in knee pads! I swear I felt as though my knees and quads were flame broiled by the end of the night. (I think the medical term is "El Pollo Loco Legs")

Coincidentally we paired the date with catching up on the latest season of Dexter (oh mylanta, the finale was a total jaw dropper!) Perhaps that wasn't such a good idea considering how paranoid I was every time the saw was in gear. I unplugged the brawny tool every few seconds when we weren't slicing and you can imagine how ornery Chris was about it.

Three hours later we wraped up the baseboards and dispatched onto our mounds of legos.

And here is what's left.

The glue we used to interlock the bricks for life did a number on my body and lets just say I woke up looking like Quasidmodo this morning. Allergic to pvc pipe glue...check!

Legos are done and pending its starshots shoot.

Speaking of starshots, I have a shoe box full of the Barbara-Walters-soft-filter wallet size pics never to be seen again. 

Goooooal!

It's a new year for new beginnings and new DIO (do it ourself) projects! I've already complied a list of new home renovation projects and goals I would like to complete throughout the course of this year; I've also added in a few little artsy doodads. 

Twenty-Ten Projects/Goals

• Remodel guest and master bathrooms (we are going bananas here and renovating both lavatories simultaneously)

• New tile flooring for kitchen and bath (might as well spruce up the kitchen to match the bath)

• Make a recipe journal...and use it!

• Makeover Oscar's bedroom (uf, there's a story behind this one and it's a doozy!)

• The 1,060 Lego Piece Project (legos have been ordered and they are in commute to our mailbox. I just hope that our math and sketches are plausible)

• Add recessed lighting in the kitchen and hallway

• Add kitchen backsplash (time to get our handy-on)

• Stain kitchen cabinets (though Chris would like to replace the existing doors. Apparently they are too country-ish)

• Rejuvenate botanical life in the backyard 

• Start a vegetable garden (or just a pumpkin patch. I kid you not, I've always wanted to grow my own)

• Dabble with Hudson Paint colored chalkboard paint

• Plant a pink Crate Myrtle tree in our front yard

• Clean the 'man cave' room

• Match all doorknobs (I don't have a single matching set in the whole house. Kind of embarrassing....)

Phew. I think this list should keep us occupied this whole year. Kind of a crazy list but I like to dream big. I'd be content if we're able to scratch at least 2 things off the above list.

Complete dressing up the Family Room is of course our number one priority- including replacing that offensive 70's wicker fan...I know it shouldn't be taking us this long to chuck the brass trash. Hi. My name is Dolores and I'm a procrastinator. 

I'm just glad our home went from looking like this:

To this:

Anyone else have a crazy twenty-ten projects/goals list?