mission accomplished

two years ago, i not only fulfilled my dream to take a woodworking class, but also embarked upon an endeavor that was quite an ambitious undertaking. i decided i was going to build a dining table that was featured in an Elle Decor article, and recreate the kitchen island/bench that was a part of it. at that point in time, we had broken ground on the construction project where said dining table & kitchen island/bench would be housed and projected another 6-8 months until it would be habitable. i figured 3 months for the class to complete the project plus another 3-6 months until the building was ready for the table to be used, no problem! boy, was that a major miscalculation!

here we are, 2 years later, and the table has finally come out from its hibernation in pieces, awaiting final assembly. and boy was it worth the wait. luckily, i had help with this, as being the visionary and perfectionist that i am was not enough to manifest this dream. i was told by contractors that the island/bench could not be done, as well as my parents asking where i would find a table to fit this so-called island bench and me responding with, "i'll make one!" (yeah right!). soon their disbelief was toppled by shear wonder as to how this was actually happening - their daughter and her then boyfriend, driving out to Otis College of Art & Design in El Segundo out from Huntington Beach 2, sometimes 3 times a week - me, an absolute beginner and him, having had some exposure observing as a young child in his grandfather's wood shop - a total recipe for success if i don't say so myself!

not only did we take on the largest project the teacher has ever seen, especially by beginners, but we also made something work that the teacher was not totally sure would! i had the magazine cutout and the will to make it happen no matter what and Conor had the engineering mind (it helps that he is a guy) and good sense of adventure. together we made it work and finally this weekend we put it all together: a 7 1/2 ft. long solid walnut table with stools. tada!!!!!