Shed Building Plans: 2015

Showing posts with label 2015. Show all posts

GoodBye 2014 Hello 2015!!

Said Goodbye to 2014 and Hello to 2015 in best possible way with cosy clothes, a 300m2 "cottage" in the forest with Takeaway, champagne, hours by the lakes fishing for salmons. Family Berg together with Bendsen couldnt ask for a better New Year celebration.
Im hoping to fill the new year with lots more of exactly that! Quality time with people in surroundings that give energy!!
I can strongly recommend Bondemölla as a recreation place for your soul and to fill you freezer with salmon!

GoodBye 2014 Hello 2015!!

2015 ARRL Field Day

Basic 20 meter inverted Vee dipole at 25 feet.

This past weekend I took part in my amateur radio clubs Field Day activities as usual. This year the big factor was the weather. I had planned on just using a pop up shelter to better enjoy the outdoors but after watching the weather forecast for a week before hand I decided to err on the side of caution and go ahead and break out the extreme weather tent.

I am so glad I did too. It was pleasant and dry Friday night when we set up but soon after we arrived back at the site Saturday it started raining and it never did let up. Along with gusty winds we ended up with 3.5" of precipitation before all was said and done. Dealing with the weather is what Field Day is all about. While it did add quite a challenge my old gear and some new pieces came through with flying colors

In the above picture at the far left is a small shelter I constructed to keep the elements off my new 1000 watt inverter generator.

Inverter generators are a relatively recent technology that work great for powering sensitive electronic gear like amateur radios. The generator works by first producing AC power output like a traditional generator but next converts the current to DC then back to AC. This "inversion" creates a clean output with a true sine wave at the required voltage and frequency.

The engine is a four stroke so no premix fuel is required and a feature I really like that this little gen-set has is called Auto-Idle. Unlike a traditional generator that always runs at full throttle this unit idles down and then increases engine speed based on the load applied. This does two things. First it saves fuel and second with a light load such as my ham station the generator barely came off idle. With a 100 ft extension cord between the generator and the operating position the generator could not be heard.

We used maybe a gallon and half of gas for the 18 hours of time we spent on the air.

A couple months ago when the clubs sign up sheet came around I signed up for the 20 meter (14.000MHz) band and CW (Continuous Wave Morse Code) of course. In the past years I had to tear down my permanent station and transport it to the Field Day site. I have several ancillary devices like computer interface, antenna tuner and electronic keyer connected to the rig in my home station and it was always a bit of a pain to disconnect all this stuff.

Ive been active in the amateur radio hobby now for seven years. I figure its something thats here to stay so I decided to add another new piece of gear to the station. Something to make the logistics of portable operations easier. I took a trip down to Columbus Ohio to visit Universal Radio where I source most of my radio gear and picked up a Yaesu FT857D amateur transceiver. The 857 is a full power HF, VHF and UHF multimode radio that has most of the features found in a full sized rig but comes in a very small package aimed at mobile use.

The pink cell phone and glassed belong to my lovely assistant the RoadQueen, who handled the logging chores on a spreadsheet program she created herself with a dupe checker even so we wouldnt waste time and effort working a station we had already contacted. In contesting these are called "Duplicates" and are to be avoided because duplicate contacts to same station cannot be counted for points.

The only other thing I added to the Yaesu was a Collins 300Hz mechanical filter to help navigate the busy and crowded Field Day band conditions. Most amateur transceivers come without filters which can then be added as needed depending on the type of activity the operator persues.

In the upper right hand corner of the circuit board are two slots where filters can be installed. One space for CW and the other for SSB (Single Side Band) voice mode. The Yaesu is set up with simple push pin sockets so I didnt even have to warm up my soldering iron.

What the filter does is drastically narrow the receivers passband. When the band is crowded with lots of stations operating side by side close in frequency to one another the operator can engage the filter and as a result of the narrower passband only hear one or two station instead of several. A radios receiver without a filter in line normally samples a segment of spectrum that can contain four or five or more CW stations all transmitting at once. Each station is transmitting on a slightly different frequency which makes the tone of the signals a little different in pitch but it still ends up being a wild cacophony of senseless noise.

In preparation for Field Day I limited all my operating to using CW only and the 857 to not only learn the new rig but to hone my CW skills for the event. It all paid off and I set a new personal best logging 159 contacts with stations in 34 different states, three Canadian provinces, the island of Puerto Rico and Argentina way down south.

Unfortunately the weekend wasnt without incident as wind driven rain did invade some club members tents and curtail operations while soaked ground loosened the guy wire stakes of the 6 meter antenna causing it to come crashing back to Earth sometime during the night. But I can happily report no loss of life or limb and we all managed to have a good time and eat lots of great food as is one of our clubs main objectives.

Did I mention it was wet?

2015 ARRL Field Day

2015 In Review My Favourite Projects

As usual, this year whipped by! I do have a lot to show for it - could be why the year went so fast!! Here are a few of my faves from 2015:

Click on the following images for more details.

The free chandelier I found at the dump:

2015 In Review My Favourite Projects

Unexpected Kitchen Project Kicks Off 2015!

Hello! Happy 2015! Lets start the year with a little quiz.... On New Years Eve, and all of a sudden I heard....

A. Fireworks to celebrate the arrival of a new year

B. Party horns and the sound of a fab party

C. The collapsing of dishes in a kitchen cabinet!

If you answered C you are absolutely correct! All of a sudden two of the shelves gave way in the main dish cabinet in my kitchen. The little plastic things which hold the shelves in place all seemed to give way at the same time. Very interesting! And frustrating.

I have always had trouble with this cabinet pulling away from the wall, etc. It is a large cabinet which holds a lot of stuff. Thankfully, nothing broke! I have no idea how that happened but I am extremely grateful! Most of the items in that cabinet have sentimental meaning such as Disney mugs which are no longer available and family heirloom serving plates. But now, I am face with the dilemma of what to do.

It definitely needs to be attended to and I dont want to risk just fixing the shelves and losing all the dishes the next time it decides to misbehave! But out of adversity comes creativity! My head is spinning with ideas!

The area where the cabinet is supported on each side by a microwave and glass cabinet on one side and the pantry wall on the other. So I really dont have to put the cabinet back if I dont want. I have always been intrigued by the concept of open shelving and this would be the ideal situation to give it a try.

Since the area above the cabinets houses electricity for over the cabinet lighting, the top of the cabinet cannot be removed. So as an option, I found this adorable cubby hole system on Pinterest which would work out perfectly! The instructions and blog post on Shanty 2 Chic can be found HERE.

I would make it a bit wider and only one level but it would also free up space in my pantry. WIN WIN!

Then still exploring ideas and options on Pinterest, I found these rustic and cost effective open shelves which I LOVE! These would be perfect! I think I also have a few pieces of stone left from the backsplash to fill in if I made the shelf level with the microwave. The tutorial and blog post from The Woodgrain Cottage can be found HERE.

So I am kind of being forced into jump starting projects for 2015 which isnt such a bad thing I guess. I am going to think about it for a few days before I decide to simply reinforce the existing cabinet or throw caution to the wind and try something new! This is starting off to be an interesting year already! Happy 2015 - I hope your DIY dreams come true!

Unexpected Kitchen Project Kicks Off 2015!

Shed of the Year 2015 Inshriach Distillery

Arguably, this years Shed of the Year is a garden office. The Inshriach Distillery in the Scottish Highlands Inshriach Distillery, once a hen house, now a farm shop, bar, general nice place to relax in, and of course, a gin distillery. Lots more information and photos at shedblog.--------------------------------------------------------------------

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Shed of the Year 2015 Inshriach Distillery

The Perfect Commute Show Garden for Malvern Spring Festival 2015

Almost certainly the most shedworkingy of this years show gardens will be The Perfect Commute, designed by Deborah Bird from Beholders Eye at this years Malvern Spring Festival. Heres how she described what looks like a must-see garden specially for Shedworking readers:

"The Perfect Commute is being created for a designer who runs a consultancy from their home. They have allocated a space at the end of their garden for their working area. The design is to be imagined as part of a larger space, sectioned off with a low boundary to demarcate the area from the rest of the domestic garden. It has a sheltered indoor working area in the form of a building being supplied by The Posh Shed Company. This is mirrored by a sunken seating area for relaxing and meeting clients. The garden is bounded by Jacksons Venetian fencing, sat on top of steel gabions which will be backed with natural materials.

"A focal point of the design will be a metalwork sculpture by Paul Margetts, a sculptor from Worcestershire. This piece is called ‘Focus’ and will be positioned in a raised bed and surrounded by multi-stem birch trees and soft planting. Throughout the design, planting has been chosen for year-round structure with an emphasis on spring/summer flowering specimens for the show.

"The design was inspired by a desire to minimize the daily commute, an escape from rush hour queues and the encasement of fluorescently lit office blocks. (Truth be told, it’s me building my own personal fantasy)."

Inspiration for some of the design elements is detailed on a Pinterest page set up by Deborah and she will be writing a blog during the build and run up to the show. The garden also has a twitter page @perfect_commute

I know there are many of you who like a full breakdown of garden details so here it is:

Designer:
Deborah Bird, Beholders Eye, Birmingham, 07931 728 007, beholders_eye@outlook.com
Diploma in Garden Design (Pickard School of Garden Design) | MA in Garden Design (Staffordshire University)
Previous awards: 2 x Bronze Medals at Malvern Autumns Shows; 2 x Silver Medals at Malvern Spring Shows and one ‘Best Border in Show’

Sponsors:
The Posh Shed Company, Eardisland, Herefordshire
Paul Margetts Sculpture and Metal-Work, Belbroughton, Worcestershire
Jacksons Fencing, Ashford, Kent
Nature First, Down Hatherley, Gloucester ----------------------------------------------------

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The Perfect Commute Show Garden for Malvern Spring Festival 2015

Jo Thompsons garden office for Chelsea Flower Show 2015

Shedworkings favourite garden designer Jo Thompson is putting together a lovely garden - A Sylvan Retreat - for this years Chelsea Flower Show. Commissioned by M&G (who sponsor the whole show), the garden is a retreat featuring a two-storey oak-framed shedworking structure inspired by author Vita Sackville-Wests writing room at Sissinghurst Castle. It also features a natural swimming pond, woodland area and a really beautiful garden. Jos sixth garden is being put together with her all-female gardening team. Well post updates on this as it unfolds...

Day 7: the steels are being bolted in, in preparation for the arrival of our writers retreat @MandGGarden pic.twitter.com/fFOr51VxIE
— Jo Thompson (@gardendesigner1) May 6, 2015

Wednesday posts are sponsored by The Stable Company®, the UKs premier supplier of garden offices and garden rooms. Click here

Jo Thompsons garden office for Chelsea Flower Show 2015

Sheds at Chelsea Flower Show 2015

Off to #RHSChelseaflowershow tomorrow to see @PlantBelles garden & our hut. Apparently it's causing a bit of a stir.. pic.twitter.com/oNfvF7Rz8W
— Barrel Top Wagons (@barreltopwagons) May 18, 2015

For more photos of these and other working retreats, take a look at this post by Shedworkings literary editor Sarah Salway who was there yesterday for press day.

Nice alternative view of our ale-themed Chelsea Flower Show garden, Brewers Yard. pic.twitter.com/bTTpY0dMDX
— Tom Ashurst (@Tom_Ashurst) May 18, 2015

Love how autocorrect keep telling me this is a thug garden #rhschelsea2015 pic.twitter.com/0tzvHEPexP
— Sarah Salway (@sarahsalway) May 18, 2015

Here's another writer's retreat! Have always fancied writing in a greenhouse. #RHSChelsea2015 pic.twitter.com/wo2KmjZg2o
— Sarah Salway (@sarahsalway) May 18, 2015

Clever @gardendesigner1 and her writer's retreat garden at #RHSChelsea2015. Museful. pic.twitter.com/nNOaR5rPnQ
— Sarah Salway (@sarahsalway) May 18, 2015

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Sheds at Chelsea Flower Show 2015

My 5 Favorite Things For Today Thursday November 19th 2015

My 5 favorite things for today...

1. Today is my daughter Rachels 11th birthday! She is the true animal person of the house, she really has a natural knack for communicating with cats and dogs and all types of animals. Probably because she is so sweet and kind. Happy Birthday Rachel! :)

2. This pressed red glass heart window ornament. I have a small collection of these pressed glass ornaments; a green frog, a cobalt lighthouse, and a purple rabbit are a few of the others.

3. This mosaic birds nest bowl that I made a few years ago is one of my favorite things. Its made from antique china, and has a little bird salt shaker perched on the rim. I love the way it turned out with the nutmeg colored grout.

4. This quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson.

"Be silly.

Be honest.

Be kind."

I wish more people would be more silly, more honest, and more kind.

5. This Chai tea! Celestial Teahouse Decaf Mountain Chai. I just tried this for the first time and I really like it. Its yum!

Enjoy your day!

Love,

Laura

Check out my new DIY jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

My 5 Favorite Things For Today Thursday November 19th 2015

My 5 Favorite Things For Today Friday November 13 2015

My 5 favorite things for today...

1. Vanilla Chai decaf tea from Stash Tea in THIS mug. Add one tablespoon of honey and a splash of lowfat milk and Im a happy girl. I love the mug. I found it at Kohls.

2. Sara when she lays around like this and watches me. Oh Sara, you look so bored!

3. My fireplace mantle in my music/family room. This is a collection of a few of my favorite things; the ceramic reindeer bust, my thrift store Buddha collection, the tall candle jar that was a gift from my late brother, and the twig and branch peace sign wreath that I made a few years ago. I love the way it looks with the white lights. Want to make your own? Check out the tutorial here!

4. This quote: "Dont ruin a good today because of a bad yesterday" reminds us that each new day is separate from the previous one, and that we should not carry the previous days troubles into the next day but instead try to leave them in the past. Ive been going through a hard time lately, and so I am holding on with both hands to any advice like this.

5. This photo of leaves in our front yard that my daughter Erica took on her way to school one morning. The colors are perfect.

What do you think?

Enjoy your day!

Love,

Laura

Check out my new DIY jewelry instruction books and DVDs!

Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

My 5 Favorite Things For Today Friday November 13 2015