The Bookshelf Begins

Like many readers I know, I feel as though I’m always short of bookshelf space. So, to deal with my problem, I decided I was going to build myself a new one that fits the space in my office that’s open for it.

I’m not really a carpenter, but I’ve made a few odds and ends around our house, including two bookshelves, two DVD shelves, a little spice rack, and a picnic table for our backyard. They are all imperfect (some more than others), but there’s a joy to figuring out how to build something by hand.

I’m going to challenge myself on this one. The shelving I’ve made in the past has typically been fairly simple fare — screwing boards together at right angles isn’t the most challenging task in the world (although to do it well takes a bit more work than I’d expected when I set out to make my first shelf).

For this shelf, my goal is to create a design that doesn’t have any screws or nails. I’ve been inspired by this video — and though mine will look absolutely nothing like that, it is my inspiration.

I also took a lesson from my writing for this project. Usually, when I’m working on a project like this, I get eager to be done pretty quick, and I don’t obsess about the details as much as I should. This project I hope will be different. I’m slowing down and learning to enjoy the process, much as I enjoy the process of writing.

I’ll keep you updated as we go, but for now, a quick snapshot of my first cuts: