schnappsNsigi's Profile

Hurray, AT is getting back to solutions for real people. Isn't that what AT used to be about?

I'd like to see more CHEAP, CREATIVE DIY and CREATIVE REUSE - That, to me, is what green is all about. Green living is not about spending a fortune for some expensive gadget. I want to know how real people are solving problems on a shoestring budget. Need I mention the state of the economy and job market these days....

UPDATE TO ORIGINAL POST:

Thanks, everyone, for such great input. I just purchased the Gaggia Color Espresso machine from Whole Latte Love. It was on sale for $199.
http://www.wholelattelove.com/Gaggia/espresso_color.cfm

I had my doubts when I tried the "free" Illy pods. The espresso was like colored water. I called Whole Latte Love's support team and my next cup was THE BEST espresso I've ever had. I have a Starbucks Burr grinder (about 4 y/o now.) so I set the grind to the finest allowed. Filled the filter as high as I could, tamped as hard as I could with the plastic tamper and VOILA! Great espresso, easy to use and at a great price. (I used Starbucks espresso beans.)

Regards,
Melodie

Very clever and stylish. I do think the table is wide enough to comfortably seat 4 people without the cable getting in the way. Plus, it looks great. Well done, Jason!

In response to bepsf's issue with the cable, I suppose you could attach a pully on the beam directly above the table end. That way, the cable would run along the bottom of the beam and then straight down onto the table. Not being an engineer or that spacially adept, I don't know if the cable would be long enough for the table to fold back up against the wall. Just a thought.

I echo the posts that recommend ditching the fabric softener. While fabric softener makes towels nice to the touch, it prevents the cotton from absorbing water as it should. I'd rather have an absorbant towel that's a bit stiff than one that refuses to absorb water - be it wet skin or wet dishes. I'll have to try to vinegar idea - sounds like a great solution.

In case my instructions were unclear - I did the sewing before I glued the fabric to the roller. The only tough part was making sure the fabric was completely straight so the roller rolls up straight. I also had to be careful that the roller hardware was positioned far out enough so the fully rolled up fabric wasn't too thick that it made the roller stop rolling. Hope this helps.

Thanks everyone for such nice comments. I put up the gate because we are getting a puppy this weekend. I also bought a $24 baby bed from a local thrift store and turned all 4 sides into puppy gates. One long side you can see is now a puppy gate for the porch. (The two short sides are now gates for the kitchen and the top of the stairs). As bobbycat5 mentioned, eye hooks and toggle bolts are terrific. It's the first time I've used them and they are so easy and inexpensive. I hope the wisteria will eventually use it to climb on as well. Here's another idea I used that you can't see in the pics. I had a bamboo blind in an upstairs bedroom and the string broke. It was the kind that is attached to wood that bolts above the window. I cut off the blind, making it about 6" and leaving the hardware up so it acts like a valance. I was careful not to let the blind pull apart when I took it down. I then removed some ribs and tied the ends to keep the slats together. Now, it's a front door mat. Anyway, I was thinking of using the bamboo slats that I removed to make a vertical basket weave at the bottom of the garden gate to keep our pup from squeezing through. I should have taken before pics of the futon frame - it was a light oak color. Since the bamboo slats are greenish, I'll probably need to stain them as well. So, thanks again for your encouragement. I think my husband is now a believer and will participate in the next futon frame gate I build!! Regards, Melodie